Hair Loss

Calif Med. 1958;89:322.

Noncicatrizing alopecias; with special reference to hair loss due to alopecia areata.
NEW WN, NICKEL WR.

edited for blog use

....there has been general acceptance of the causal relationship of the male sex hormone testosterone, age and inheritance in development of male pattern baldness. snip... Hair loss that accompanies disease states is probably due to generalized toxemia and disturbances in metabolism. Sometimes male pattern baldness occurs in physiologic states, as exemplified by diffuse hair loss occasionally in the postpartum period. snip... The development of alopecia totalis or universalis in 50 per cent of the prepuberal cases of alopecia areata is of real significance, especially since so very few patients regrow normal scalp hair....snip... A few conditions simulate alopecia areata. Probably the ones which are seen most often are trichotillomania and patchy baldness caused by agents used in hair waving and straightening. In 22 cases we found an inflammatory perivascular and perifollicular infiltrate, massive plugging of the ostia, disappearance of robust hair follicles and diminution in total number of hair follicles and sometimes fibrosis are not necessarily diagnostic of alopecia areata but seem to be very definitely characteristic.Treatment for hair regrowth in alopecia areata is of little avail. snip....