Unusual Hair Loss Conditions
Most of us have heard about hair loss conditions such as male pattern baldness and Alopecia, but there are other, more unusual conditions which can affect men and women of all ages. Some of these are more rare than others, but the good news is that most are treatable with a visit to a hair loss specialist or your GP.
Pityriasis Amiantacea
It might be a hard condition to pronounce, but luckily Pityriasis Amiantacea is easier to treat, although in some cases it can re-occur. The condition involves the accumulation of white, thick scale at the base of the hair; often this is so thick that it sticks the hair to the scalp. The causes of Pityriasis Amiantacea are still unknown, but as it often occurs alongside Psoriasis, it’s thought to be auto-immune based.
Trichotillomania differs from some other hair loss conditions as it’s regarded by doctors as a psychological disorder.
Bald patches caused by Trichotillomania hair pulling before shaving head
Those experiencing the condition are obsessed with their hair, twisting, pulling or tugging it, which leads to areas of thinning hair or bald patches. If left untreated over a number of years, irreversible scarring can occur and hair may not grow back.
It’s estimated around 2-3% of people experiencing hair loss are affected by Trichotillomania, and it can affect areas other than the scalp, with 50% of cases involving eyelashes and brows and 20% relating to body hair. The condition can be successfully treated with medication, depending on the severity if hair follicles are still functioning, treatment is usually successful. Many people affected by the condition opt for non-surgical hair replacement using a hair integration system offered by specialist hair loss clinics.
Pseudopelade
Pseudopelade is sometimes also known as Alopecia Cicatrisata, and is a very rare hair loss condition which usually affects women and occasionally children. Initial symptoms include well-defined patches of hair loss, and in some individuals the condition could lead to total hair loss, with only a few individual hairs surviving on the scalp.
Because hair loss caused by Pseudopelade can often be confused with other conditions such as Lupus Erythematosus or Lichen Planopilaris, diagnosis can be tricky, but it’s important to contact your GP for an assessment as soon as possible, so that treatment can be started. The causes of the condition are still unknown but thought to be auto-immune based. Unlike Alopecia Areata, Pseudopelade is a condition which progresses over the course of several years and then stops.
If you are experiencing hair loss, it’s important to visit your GP to discover why this is happening; as you can see there are a number of rare conditions as well as more common conditions which can cause this, and it can also be a symptom of stress or poor diet. Your GP will be able to offer advice and recommendations for treatment, depending on whether your condition requires referral to another expert such as a dermatologist; you may also wish to see a hair specialist for dedicated care and hair loss treatment.
Pityriasis Amiantacea
It might be a hard condition to pronounce, but luckily Pityriasis Amiantacea is easier to treat, although in some cases it can re-occur. The condition involves the accumulation of white, thick scale at the base of the hair; often this is so thick that it sticks the hair to the scalp. The causes of Pityriasis Amiantacea are still unknown, but as it often occurs alongside Psoriasis, it’s thought to be auto-immune based.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania differs from some other hair loss conditions as it’s regarded by doctors as a psychological disorder.
Those experiencing the condition are obsessed with their hair, twisting, pulling or tugging it, which leads to areas of thinning hair or bald patches. If left untreated over a number of years, irreversible scarring can occur and hair may not grow back.
It’s estimated around 2-3% of people experiencing hair loss are affected by Trichotillomania, and it can affect areas other than the scalp, with 50% of cases involving eyelashes and brows and 20% relating to body hair. The condition can be successfully treated with medication, depending on the severity if hair follicles are still functioning, treatment is usually successful. Many people affected by the condition opt for non-surgical hair replacement using a hair integration system offered by specialist hair loss clinics.
Pseudopelade
Pseudopelade is sometimes also known as Alopecia Cicatrisata, and is a very rare hair loss condition which usually affects women and occasionally children. Initial symptoms include well-defined patches of hair loss, and in some individuals the condition could lead to total hair loss, with only a few individual hairs surviving on the scalp.
Because hair loss caused by Pseudopelade can often be confused with other conditions such as Lupus Erythematosus or Lichen Planopilaris, diagnosis can be tricky, but it’s important to contact your GP for an assessment as soon as possible, so that treatment can be started. The causes of the condition are still unknown but thought to be auto-immune based. Unlike Alopecia Areata, Pseudopelade is a condition which progresses over the course of several years and then stops.
If you are experiencing hair loss, it’s important to visit your GP to discover why this is happening; as you can see there are a number of rare conditions as well as more common conditions which can cause this, and it can also be a symptom of stress or poor diet. Your GP will be able to offer advice and recommendations for treatment, depending on whether your condition requires referral to another expert such as a dermatologist; you may also wish to see a hair specialist for dedicated care and hair loss treatment.
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.