DermHairClinic » Hair Loss Caused by Pathological / Disease Conditions

A Medical Mystery: Cutis Verticis Gyrata

Alanna — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:08:14 +0000

Cutis verticic gyrata is a rare disorder affecting the scalp, wherein the scalp skin thickens into raised ridges. As yet, there is little research and thus much unknown about the condition. What is known or speculated about CVG is that it seems to be a superficial condition—meaning its physical damage is confined to cosmetic deformity—and it is not strictly a congenital defect. As a primary ailment, the cause of the disorder is unknown. However, studies show that it has manifested as a secondary symptom to many other diseases, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and acromegaly.

Appearance Of Cutis Verticis Gyrata

CVG in 15 year old male with cerebral palsy and obesity. Image courtesy of Derm Atlas.

CVG appears as folds or creases in the scalp that resemble a cerebriform pattern. The bunched ridges usually feels soft and spongy. There can be as many as ten or as few as two of these folds, which usually form at mid or rear-scalp (though they may sometimes occupy the entire scalp). Over time, hair loss may occur over the bunched or raised surfaces, while hair remains in tact in the furrowed parts.

Cutis Verticis Gyrata Treatment

At this time there is no cure for CVG. Treatment is limited to surgical excision, which may mean scalp reduction or scalp subcision.

A Cutis Verticis Gyrata And Hair Loss: A Testimony

Aside from the obvious cosmetic concerns of CVG, one may secondarily wonder what to do about the resulting hair loss. Can hair transplant be successfully performed on someone with CVG? If so, would it help conceal the larger problem? What about someone with CVG who also has pattern baldness? One sufferer of this mysterious disease and member of the Hair Restoration Network community asked about advancements in the treatment of cutis verticis gyrata.

Acne Keloidalis Nuchae: A Major Cause Of Cicatricial Alopecia

Alanna — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:45:44 +0000

The Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation describes cicatricial alopecia as an assorted group of uncommon disorders that devastate the hair follicle and cause permanent hair loss by riddling the area with scar tissue. Falling within this definition is the condition acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN), which many consider to be a primary cause of cicatricial alopecia (similar to scarring alopecia). AKN is not to be confused with acne vulgaris, as it is not a disorder of the skin but rather the hair follicle.

How Does AKN Happen?

It is most common in the U.S. among African American males, but can also occur in other ethnicities. While the etiology of this condition remains unknown, it is thought to ultimately be the result of short haircuts or frictional trauma (close haircut with an electric razor or repeated rubbing of the shirt collar on the back of the head/neck) that cause the growing hair to curve into the skin. Possibly for this reason, AKN is rarely seen in women, with a male-female ratio of 20:1. Other contributing factors may include:

Chronic irritation (similar to the shirt collar)
Seborrhea
Androgen excess

Once the cause were to take place, the next stage is the formation of small papules and pustules in the hair follicle, occurring on the nape of the neck or occipital scalp. The irritation within these follicles then grows to a keloidlike, scarring mass, whereupon hair no longer grows. (Hair growth is sometimes seen around the mass in disjointed tufts.) These AKN masses can be painful, itchy, and uncomfortable, and bear an obvious cosmetic deformity.

Appearance of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae And Consequent Treatment

Acne keloidalis nuchae has different stages and may appear differently on different people. It may start off appearing as razor bumps on the back of the head and neck, which grow to a disproportionate size. At this earlier stage, topical agents may prove sufficient treatment, to include:

Antibiotics
Corticoteroids
Retinoids
Immune modulators

At slightly more advanced stages, regular corticosteroid injections to the affected area or carbon dioxide laser therapy may be administered. Some combination of these treatments may also prove effective. However, at advanced tumor-stage AKN, these measures will prove futile. The best treatment option at this later stage is surgical excision of the mass.

Example of a patient before and after surgical excision of AKN by Dr. Umar

Alopecia Universalis – The Most Severe Hair Loss Condition

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:39:19 +0000

What could be a more extreme hair loss condition than balding? Alopecia universalis is a disorder with which the sufferer experiences the complete loss of all body hair. And hair loss with alopecia universalis is also unpredictable.

Alopecia universalis is an extreme manifestation of the hair loss condition, alopecia areata. The main symptom of alopecia areata—thought to be an autoimmune disorder for which the triggering mechanism is unknown—is patchy hair loss over the scalp. Alopecia universalis is a different hair loss condition in that research has pegged it as an inherited autosomal recessive trait.

Residing in chromosome band 8p21.2, a mutated HR gene is the cause of alopecia universalis. A child born with this hair loss condition may have some hair at birth, but will start losing it rapidly. Alopecia universalis causes the sufferer to lose valuable protective hair as well, such as the eyelashes and nostril hair. This hair loss condition can also cause distorted fingernails and toenails in the victim.

More than just a severe hair loss condition, people with this mutated gene may be more susceptible to vitiligo and thyroid disease. However, apart from genetics, it is not known what else might cause or worsen alopecia universalis.

Over 4.7 million people in the U.S. suffer with alopecia areata, and it affects two percent of the worldwide population. Only a fraction of these will experience alopecia universalis.

It is possible for alopecia universalis to be a temporary or permanent hair loss condition. Regrowth is always feasible, even for people who suffer this most extreme hair loss condition for several years. However, hair regrowth and loss are unpredictable, cyclical, and different with each person.

There are treatment options for alopecia areata, but their effectiveness decreases with the severity of the hair loss condition. Possible treatments for alopecia universalis are as follows:

-Cortisone pills or injections.

-Topical immunotherapy, or chemically inducing a rash where the hair loss condition is prevalent.

Hair Loss in Younger Men: How Young is too Young for Transplantation?

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:55:11 +0000

This is a very sensitive subject and a hard choice to make, which is one of the reasons you will get an array of answers, depending on who you ask. I feel the simplest and most sound decision for a surgeon to make is not to offer treatment to a young patient, period.

While many would argue that this choice does not help the young patient with his suffering because of his early hair loss, this is really not the case.

In choosing whether or not to treat a young patient, it is best to know how traumatized they have been by their hair loss. This could potentially root itself in a lack of self-esteem, depression, and withdrawal. While a lot of men can deal easily with their hair loss, many more can’t bring themselves to ever feel the same again.

Before turning to hair transplantation, young men should first exhaust all other non-surgical resources. The best option for young men seeking hair transplantation is to do what they can to postpone it a few years, perhaps by using available medications. It would be a shame to have hair transplanted only to lose more hair elsewhere on the head.

Have more questions about young men with hair loss? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

Ringworm and Hair Loss – Is There A Connection?

admin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:40:34 +0000

Contrary to public belief, ringworm has nothing to do with having worms, it’s a fungal infection. Think of it as a bad case of athlete’s foot. It can break out anywhere on your body, and for many people a ringworm outbreak on the scalp contributes to hair loss because the fungus can cause your hair to become brittle and break.

Ringworm is nothing to be afraid of, yet it is important to catch it early in order to avoid hair loss. Your first step should be to consult a medical professional or dermatologist if you think you might have ringworm.

Have more questions about ringworm and hair loss? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

Black Women and Alopecia

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:48:06 +0000

Alopecia is a form of baldness that can affect all people, but some forms uniquely impact black women.

Traction Alopecia is caused by continual pulling of the hair from tight braids, ponytails, and weaves. Over the years, bald spots can form along your hairline and above your ears, and your hairline will steadily recede. If not treated, scarring may result. If you find yourself struggling to move your forehead or experience headaches while you sleep from tight braids, and scalp soreness, these may be signs that your hair is styled unsafely.

Traumatic Alopecia is caused by improper use of products that alter the texture of natural hair, such as relaxers, hot combs, blow drying and gluing extensions onto your natural hair. It begins at the center of the scalp and rapidly advances, leaving patchy areas from damaged follicles which can no longer grow hair. Dermatologists suspect that hot oil during hair pressing escalates the problem.

Even Madam C.J. Walker, the first black female millionaire, suffered from hair loss after straightening her own hair. This experience inspired her to pioneer more gentle and safe products specifically formulated for black hair.

Dr. Umar – board certified and with years of hands-on experience – has restored the hairlines of every ethnic group, and understands the individual needs required. Hair restoration is for everyone, as his track record proves.

Have more questions about the role of ethnicity in hair loss? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

Hair Transplant Success Through Head and Body Hair

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:10:45 +0000

This patient’s severe baldness was exacerbated by bad transplants and several failed restoration surgeries done elsewhere. The aftermath:

Several large widened strip scars that wrapped around his head.
Scars in the crown and front from an attempt to suture a wig permanently to his head.
Poorly angled large plugs consisting of five- to six-hairs.
Severe pitting.
Depleted donor supply from his head.

He was told by several hair transplant doctors and clinics that he was beyond repair, and would have to wait for hair cloning or hair multiplication. By the time he came to Dr. Umar, he was desperate.

Using Follicular Unit Extraction, Dr. Umar transplanted over 16,000 grafts from the man’s chest, stomach area, arms and legs, along with 2,000 grafts from his beard and another 1,500 grafts from the nape of his neck.

By the time he was finished, Dr. Umar restored the patient’s receding hairline from and hid his scars, a hair transplant repair that would be impossible to achieve using outdated methods.

Curious about ways to repair failed transplants? Contact Dr. Umar for a free online consultation today.

Be Proactive About Your Follicle Unit Extraction

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:14:46 +0000

As the benefits for Follicle Unit Extraction is increasing, more and more people are beginning to resort to the Body Hair Transplantation to cure their hair loss. As patients research, they find that Body Hair Transplantation is linear scar-free and scalpel-free. Apart from graft placement, no technicians should be performing the fue hair transplant except for the dermatologist; there are not stitches after the hair restoration; and there is no use of mass production graft-damaging machines. In addition, your body and head hairs are used to treat the needed hair loss area and patients have the freedom to style their hair anyway they want.

So it is no surprise why Follicle Unit Extraction is becoming the most popular hair transplant for those suffering from hair loss. But patients must be careful-in an effort to make Follicle Unit Extraction a production-line procedure, some clinics allow non-licensed personnel to perform FUE graft extractions. In some parts of the United States, it is actually illegal for non-licensed personnel to perform the Body Hair Transplantation on their own. Another thing that patients must look out for is if the clinic is using a mass production machine to virtually vacuum out the graft-literally air-drying the grafts to death in the hair restoration process. These vacuumed grafts are transported at high speeds through tubes, leading to a receptacle. The process is harmful to the integrity of the grafts and risking viability in the hair transplant process.

Although you may be suffering from hair loss, do your research before settling for a surgeon to perform your fue hair restoration. At DermHair Clinic, Dr. Umar subscribes to the philosophy that all Follicular Unit Extraction is a surgical procedure and a licensed personnel performs the Body Hair Transplantation. If you are a prospective hair restoration patient researching a Follicular Unit Extraction-type procedure, ask your clinic about the qualifications and licensure of the personnel extracting your grafts as well as the type of machine they are using to treat your hair loss. Be proactive. More importantly, you can come see Dr. Umar at DermHair and he will assure you that you are receiving the best possible hair transplant treatment.

Hair Loss: Why it happens to us and Why we lose our hair

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:20:08 +0000

The reason for hair loss resides in the genetic predisposition of the hair follicle itself, rather than that of the scalp. Therefore, transplanted hairs will continue growing because the hair follicle keeps its original genetic coding, and thus these are the follicles that are not affected by Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the hormone that causes male-patterned baldness. In addition, despite being moved into a formerly bald area, it still maintains its donor hair characteristics, which is to not fall out and keep regrowing hair. When DHT resistant hair from the back of the scalp is transplanted to the top, it will continue to be resistant to DHT in its new location and grow normally. Immediately after the follicular unit hair grafts are extracted and transplanted into the scalp, the surrounding tissue will begin feeding the transplanted follicle and the healing process begins. The hair shaft may also shed, but the hair follicles will stay and often go into telogen (resting) phase. It is surveyed that hair graft survival rates are nearly 100%, although about 85-90% would manifest above the skin at any given time due to cycling.

Dr. Sanusi Umar, a renowned Los Angeles hair transplant surgeon, is able to use advanced Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) methods to extract hair from the body and hair areas and use them as sources for hair transplantation. This process is known as body hair transplantation (BHT), for which Dr. Umar is the leading surgeon and pioneer in the field. Since areas of body hair are different in both quality and cycling, shortage of head donor supply is an issue of which a hair transplant surgeon should be aware of. The level of hair restoration depends on a patient’s degree of hair loss and their desired outcome.
At the DermHair Clinic in Los Angeles, board certified dermatologist and hair surgeon Dr. Umar is the first FUE-only clinic. For more information, contact the DermHair Clinic for hair restoration consultation from a board certified Los Angeles hair restoration doctor and dermatologist. Please call the Los Angeles hair restoration clinic at (310)318-1500, or visit http://www.dermhairclinic.com

Follicular Unit Extraction: Natural Hair Restoration, Linear Scar Free FUE

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:31:09 +0000

Follicular Unit Extraction is becoming a popular method for hair restoration. If you are experiencing hair loss, during your inquiries via the Internet or library, you have surely come across the term Follicular Unit Extraction or “FUE.” Thus, many people want to know what FUE truly is, and how it works. FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction. Follicular unit extraction is a specific technique used in hair transplant surgeries because of the natural looking result and accelerated post-operation healing. Before the invention of FUE, hair transplant procedures required the doctor to remove a strip of flesh from the back and sides of the head which creates in the process a linear strip of scar that can become visible. This type of hair restoration makes it mandatory for the patient to keep the hair in the back and sides of the head long enough to cover the scarring. Such a procedure additionally opens the patient to a myriad of untoward side effects such as nerve damage leading to numbness or pain, disruption of the harmony of hair on the back and sides of the head, elevation of the neck hairline etc. These side effects are not likely to occur in FUE type procedures.

Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUE, creates a natural look for patients while minimizing the appearance of a transplant, hiding most if not all of the donor area, and accelerates post-operative healing. Most important to the patient seeking hair restoration is the fact that Follicular Unit Extraction eliminates traditional hair restoration’s most invasive aspect, the surgical removal of a strip of tissue from which the units are taken. Dr. Umar at Dermhair Clinic is a leading hair transplant surgeon specializing in FUE, including new procedures he has helped pioneer such as Body Hair Transplants and Single Follicle Transfer Extraction SFET, or the “Umar Procedure”.

If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Umar and his advanced hair transplantation methods, please contact the DermHair Clinic in Los Angeles for a free consultation. For an in-office appointment, please call the office at (310)318-1500. For a free online consultation, please visit our website at http://dermhairclinic.com/free-online-consultation-hair-restoration-los-angeles.php