Scarring Alopecia: Affecting Men, Women And Children

Scarring alopecia may be characterized by smooth and clean affected areas where there may also be redness and scaling. The surface may also have increased pigmentation, raised blisters with fluid or pus. Diagnosis may be hard but it helps to know the types of scarring alopecia.

Scarring Alopecia is also known as Cicatricial Alopecia. This kind of hair loss occurs in men, women and children. This refers to a collection of hair loss disorders. This kind of hair loss may also be a part of a much larger condition such as chronic lupus erythematosus, where many organs of the body can be affected.

This common form of alopecia occurs first as small patches of hair loss that may expand in time. In some cases, the hair loss is gradual and there may be unnoticeable symptoms that may go unnoticed for a long time. There are instances where hair loss maybe associated with sever itching, burning, and pain that may rapidly progress.

Diagnosis for scarring alopecia

Scarring Alopecia is difficult to diagnose just from the pattern of the hair loss and the nature of the scalp skin. Skin biopsy is usually done to confirm the kind of alopecia an individual has. This type of diagnosis examines further the cause and the right treatment for the patient.

Types of scarring alopecia

There are several terms which are associated with the scarring of the scalp and which eventually lead to hair loss. These concepts include the following:

• Hypotrichosis. This condition may affect individuals right from their birth and usually stays throughout their lives. Understanding the genetics and biochemistry behind this condition is important because the proper treatment for this kind of hair loss is very difficult.

• Congenital Aplasia. This kind of condition is a developmental defect where, for reasons not understood, the skin does not fully form as an embryo develops. A baby may be born with a patch of skin that is like an open wound or ulcer. This defect may often be seen at the back of the scalp, at the center of the pattern of hair growth. The baby is left with a scar if there is a scab on the skin.

Sometimes this defect happens in the womb and at birth a patch is seen on the scalp where there are no hair follicles. If the baby is born with a large congenital aplasia, surgery is recommended to cut out the affected area and to close up the skin. The quicker the defect heals the better for the patient.

• Triangular Alopecia. This is a condition that is similar to congenital alopecia. It is usually apparent at birth and tends to affect a triangular patch of skin hair above the temples. The affected area can be surgically removed or implanted with hair follicles taken from elsewhere in the scalp.

This particular type of hair loss is somewhat alarming as you have visible signs of scarring. What may be more threatening is the fact that it is not merely hair loss but another skin disease may be associated due to the leakage of fluid from blisters on the scalp. This condition could be properly treated through consultation with your doctors.

Tags: cicaticial alopecia, congenital aplasia, hair loss, hypotrichosis, scarring alopecia, triangular alopecia

Click here to see Top Rated Hair Loss Treatment Products Reviewed by Our Staff