Hairloss Terminology

Aldactone

Brand name for spironolactone, a prescription high blood pressure medication that is also prescribed to treat women’s hair loss.

5 Alpha Reductase

5 Alpha Reductase is an enzyme which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is the hormone that triggers Androgenetic Alopecia in individuals who are genetically susceptible.

Alopecia

Loss of hair as a result of illness, functional disorder, or hereditary disposition. The medical term for hair loss..

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is the medical term for hairloss which occurs in patches on the scalp.

Alopecia Totalis

Alopecia Totalis is a term for hairloss which occurs over the entire scalp.

Alopecia Universalis

Alopecia Universalis is her term for hairloss which occurs over the entire body.

Anagen

This is the growing phase of the hair cycle which lasts about seven years in a healthy person.

Anagen Effluvium

Loss of hair that is supposed to be in the anagen or growing phase. This is the type of hair loss that is associated with chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

Androgenetic Alopecia

This is the term for male or female pattern baldness which depends on the genetic predisposition of the hair follicles and the levels of DHT in the body.

Androgens

Androgens are often referred to as male hormones.

Antiandrogen

An antiandrogen blocks the effects of androgens, normally by blocking the receptor sites.

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid like Retin-A is more commonly used in the treatment of acne and other skin conditions. Recently the potential effect of using azelaic acid in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia has been looked at and discussed.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasma

Benign prostatic hyperplasma is an enlargement of the prostrate gland.

Bonding

A term used to describe the simple act of gluing a hairpiece onto the scalp.

Catagen

The intermittent stage between the growing (anagen) and resting (telogen) phases of the hair’s growth cycle.

Cortex

The cortex is the main structure of the hairshaft. The cortex determines the colour and texture of the hair.

Crown

The highest part of the head.

Cuticle

The outer surface of hair, composed of overlapping scales made of colorless keratin protein. It gives hair luster and shine and also provides some of its strength.

Cyproterone Acetate

This drug is normally used to reduce sex drive in men who have an excessive sex drive. It is also prescribed to treat hirsuitism and androgenetic alopecia in women.

Dermal papilla

The dermal papilla is situated at the base of the hair follicle. The dermal papilla contains nerves and blood vessels which supply glucose for energy and amino acids to make keratin.

Diazoxide

A drug that dilates blood vessels by opening potassium channels and also promotes hair growth.

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)

DHT is a male hormone that is suggested to be the main cause for the miniaturisation of the hair follicle and for hair loss. DHT is formed when the male hormone testosterone interacts with the enzyme 5-alpha reductase.

Donor Site

Area where pieces of hair-bearing skin are taken from during a hair transplant.

Estrogen

The female hormone secreted primarily by the ovaries.

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB)

Progressive thinning of hair throughout the entire head caused by genes, age, and hormones. It usually develops at a much slower rate than male pattern baldness.

Finasteride

Finasteride is the generic name of the brand name drug Proscar. Proscar is manufactured by Merck and is FDA approved for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. More recently 1mg tablets of finasteride have been marketed under the brand name Propecia as a treatment for hairloss.

Follicle

The hair follicle houses the root of the hair.

Follicular Unit

Natural groupings of hair that grow together as a group in the scalp and share the same blood supply.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Modification of the standard follicular unit transplant where follicular units are removed individually from the donor area.

Follicular Unit Transplantation

An advanced form of hair transplantation in which the surgeon harvests hair in naturally occurring follicular units and grafts them to balding sections of the scalp.

Frontal Alopecia

Hair loss at the front of the head.

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a treatment method which involves the manipulation of and individuals genetic makeup. Keratin Keratin is a kind protein that is present in hair and nail.

Genetic

Pertaining to genes or any of their effects. A gene is the smallest physical piece of heredity. It determines what features we will pass on to our children as well as which ones we have gained from our biological parents.

Grafting

A variety of procedures describing the removal of hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head to a recipient site. The most widely used types of grafting are slit grafts, micrografting, and minigrafting (all outdated).

Grafts

Transplanted hair.

Hair Lift

Surgical procedure used to eliminate large areas of bald scalp by lifting and advancing the entire hair-bearing scalp in an upward and forward direction.

Hair Cloning

Currently not available, but cloning hair may make it possible for you to have an unlimited crop of donor hair for a hair transplant.

Hair Weaving

A process by which a hairpiece (synthetic or human hair) is attached to existing hair on scalp through braiding or another interweaving process.

Hamilton Scale

Method used to rate hair loss. See also Norwood Scale.

Hypertrichosis

Excessive growth of hair all over the body.

Hypothyroid

Deficiency of thyroid hormone normally made by the thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck. Hypothyroidism can result in hair loss.

Juri Flap

Surgical procedure that takes a large section of hair-bearing scalp from the side of the scalp and rotates it 180 degrees to the front, forming a hairline.

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB)

The most common type of hair loss; caused by hormones, genes, and age, it is usually progressive in nature. It affects the central and frontal area of the scalp and often results in a pronounced U-shape configuration.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is the generic name of the brand name drug Rogaine. Rogaine is manufactured by Upjohn and is FDA approved for the treatment hair loss. Minoxidil is available in the form of a topical lotion with varying strength from 2% to 5%. Minoxidil was the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

Medulla

The medulla is a central zone of cells present only in large thick hairs.

Norwood Scale

A scale for the classification of hair loss.

Postauricular Flap

Surgical procedure that takes hair-bearing scalp from the area behind the ear and rotates it 90 degrees to the front, forming a hairline.

Preauricular Flap

Surgical procedure that takes hair-bearing scalp from the temple area and rotates it about 90 degrees to the front, forming a hairline.

Retin-A or Tretinoin

Retin-A is a brand name for a topical gel or cream normally used in the treatment if acne.

Rogaine

The brand name for minoxidil topical hair growth solution, available over the counter in 2% solution and in a 5% extra strength solution.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is a Natural Herb That has been shown to be an effective antiandrogen.

Scalp Reduction

Surgical procedure in which an ellipse of bald scalp is removed from a small midline bald spot and the hair-bearing scalp between the ears is pulled together and sutured closed. This reduces the bald area.

Scleroderma

A disease of the skin and connective tissue that can cause hair loss over the affected areas.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Sebhorrheic dermatitis is a condition marked by small discoloured patches or spots on the skin and frequently occurs on the face and scalp.

Senescent Alopecia

The type of hair loss that naturally occurs with age, when both the duration of hair growth and the diameter of the hair follicle decrease.

Shock Fallout

The condition that occurs when hair transplantation is performed on men with a significant amount of naturally occurring hair left on their head. Trauma due to the procedure itself induces a telogen phase for much of the hair around the implanted grafts. Hair lost due to shock fallout returns in some cases.

Sprionolactone

This is a drug normally used to treat high blood pressure, however is also acts as an antiandrogen and is used in the treatment of androgen related disorders such as female pattern baldness and hirsuitism.

Suture Implants

A method of attaching a hairpiece that involves sewing stitches in the scalp and securing the hairpiece to them.

Telogen

This refers to the shedding or falling phase of the hair cycle.

Telogen Effluvium

The second most common form of hair loss (androgenetic alopecia is the first). A condition that causes an increased number of hairs to enter the telogen or resting phase. The additional shedding usually occurs in response to various stresses such as emotional trauma, post-pregnancy and illness, major surgery, and certain medications. Telogen effluvium can be delayed (occurring a few months after the stressful incident) or chronic (unresolved).

Telogen Loss

Loss of hair during resting phase of hair or “natural” loss.

Temporal Recession

Hair loss in the temple region.

Terminal hair

Large, heavy pigmented hairs with a central medulla.

Testosterone

A predominantly male hormone which promotes the development of male characteristics.

Topically

Directly applied on the skin.

Traction Alopecia

This refers to hair loss which occurs do to traction place on hair. Traction alopecia is commonly seen with braids, pony tails and other hairstyles which create traction on the scalp.

Vellous hair

Vellous hair is very short, fine light coloured hairs.