ALOPECIA OR HAIRFALL OR BALDNESS AND HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

                                                                 ALOPECIA

                The term alopecia or hair fall, baldness means loss of hair. Partial loss of hair is common during old age (senile baldness). However, loss of hair in younger persons is pathological. The aetiology remains unknown.

                Probable factors likely to cause alopecia can generally be divided into three broad groups.

a.       DESTRUCTION OF THE HAIR FOLLICLES:-

      Alopecia is due to atrophy, scarring or disuse of the hair follicles. Causes under this group are generally known and include physical or chemical injury, inflammatory conditions of the scalp and local or systemic dermatoses.

b.      DYSFUNCTION OF THE HAIR FOLLICLES-

      There is no destruction of the hair follicles and in fact, no local or systemic disease to account for the loss of hair. The cause remains unknown and may possibly include such factors as heredity, auto immune damage and psychic trauma.

c.       FRACTURE OF THE HAIR FIBRES:-

      In this group of cases, the hair is coarse, brittle and lustureless and easily break away from the roots leaving behind tiny, little stumps (so called fracture of hair fibres). Some of known causes include frequent trauma, use of irritant chemicals and infective conditions of the scalp. Unexplained causes may possibly include hereditary factors, metabolic influences and autoimmune damage.

 CAUSES OR AETIOLOGY:-

                The following factors have been directly or indirectly held responsible for the causation of alopecia or hair fall.

-          HEREDITY – a family history of baldness is present in majority of the cases.

-          AUTO IMMUNE DAMAGE- loss of hair due to follicular dysfunction (e.g. alopecia areata) may be caused by autoimmune damage. Baldness is frequently associated with thyroditis, diabetes mellitus or others.

-          DAMAGE CAUSED BY PHYSICAL TRAUMA- trauma caused by the use of tight curlers, frequent combing or massage may initiate or precipitate baldness.

-          DAMAGE CAUSED BY PHYSICAL AGENTS- alopecia may follow x-ray irradiation or burns.

-          DAMAGE CAUSED BY CHEMICAL AGENTS- irritation caused by the use of irritant soap, shampoo, hair spray or hair dye.

-          EMOTIONAL STRESS- stress is decidedly an important cause of baldness.

-          NUTRITIONAL FACTORS- deficiency of protein or that of vitamins or minerals, particularly the trace elements (copper, zinc, manganese).

-          ENDOCRINAL CAUSES- deficiency of oestrogen or that of the thyroid hormones. Alopecia following pregnancy or childbirth.

-          ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN SYSTEMIC DISORDERS- anaemia, leukemia, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, carcinoma or lymphoma. Loss of hair may follow an acute illness such as typhoid fever, pneumonia, measles, small pox, viral hepatitis and several other such conditions.

-          SECONDARY TO CERTAIN SKIN DISEASES- a number of skin diseases are known to cause baldness. Dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis, tinea capitis, folliculitis, syphilis, leprosy, herpes zoster, lupus vulgaris, vitiligo and scleroderma.

-          FOLLOWING USE OF CERTAIN DRUGS – drugs such as thalium, nitrogen mustard, cyclophosphamide, tranquillisers and weight reducing agents are known to cause or precipitate baldness.

-          IDIOPATHIC – the fact remains that all the above mentioned causes put together may not be able to account for all cases of baldness. Unfortunately, in a majority of the cases, the cause remains unknown.

TYPES:-

                 Clinically, there are four types of baldness

1.       MALE TYPE BALDNESS.

-          This is the commonest type of alopecia and occurs in adult males.

-          Baldness occurs over the temples and the vertex in a typical v- shaped fasion.

-          Surprisingly, hair follicles are present over the affected area but are unable to grow hair.

-          Regrowth of hair over the affected area is not possible.

2.       ALOPECIA AREATA (ALOPECIA CIRCUMSCRIPTA).

-          This is a type of baldness that occurs in younger people.

-          Cause is unknown.

-          Heredity, emotional, hormonal disturbance and presence of a septic focus are factors suspected.

-          Circular patches of baldness appear over the scalp, beard area, eyebrows or other parts of the body.

-          The patch is smooth and shiny with no evidence of any inflammatory reaction.

-          The extent of a patch may increase subsequently or a few smaller patches, any coalesce to form bigger patches.

-          Patches may appear suddenly (even overnight) or appear slowly over a period of weeks, months or years.

3.       ALOPECIA TOTALIS.

-          The scalp is totally bald.

4.       ALOPECIA UNIVERSALIS.

-          The whole body is devoid of hair.

-          No hairs on scalp and body.

TREATMENT:-

-          Prednisolone `given orally (15-20 mg daily) may be useful.

-          Hair transplantation.

-          Keeping wig on scalp.

-          Apply coconut oil daily.

-          Have highly rich in vitamins, proteins, iron etc.

-          Fish.

-          Avoid night watching, stress.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT:-

1.       AURUM METALICUM.

2.       CARBO VEG.

3.       FLOURIC ACID.

4.       GRAPHITIS.

5.       KALI CARB.

6.       KALI SULPH.

7.       LACHESIS.

8.       LYCOPODIUM.

9.       NATRUM MUR.

10.   NITRIC ACID.

11.   PHOSPHOROUS.

12.   SEPIA.

13.   SILICEA.

14.   SULPHUR.

15.   THUJA.

16.   ACID PHOS.

17.   ALUMINA.

18.   VINCA MINOR.

DRUGS FOR ALOPECIA AERATA:-

1.       APIS MELLIFICA.

2.       ARSENICUM ALBUM.

3.       CALCAREA CARB.

4.       CANTHARIS.

5.       FLOURIC ACID.

6.       HEPAR SULPH.

7.       IODUM.

8.       PHOSPHOROUS.

9.       PSORINUM.

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