Few Common and Rare Medical Observations
1) Number of Atoms present in the average hair fiber diameter? Hair fiber diameter varies depending on the location of the hair follicle, the ethnicity of the individual and the activity of hair diseases. The diameter of the average hair fiber is 800,000 - 1,200,000 atoms.
2) Can adult pattern baldness be observed in a baby? Yes, the frontal areas of scalp skin may have very thin hair in babies, especially those born prematurely. Babies may look like they have a widow's peak
3) Can children develop pattern baldness pre-puberty? There is a condition called infantile geroderma (Variot and Cailleau's syndrome) where children age very rapidly. There are more significant symptoms other than baldness for individuals with infantile geroderma, Marie-Unna hypotrichosis, or trisomy 21 including dwarfism and mental retardation.
4) Can smoking cause hair loss? Smoking may possibly promote hair loss in men and women by increasing the production of androgens including testosterone and DHEAS. It may also have a direct effect on hair follicles killing the cells that normally make hair fiber.
5) Can naturally high testosterone levels trigger androgenetic alopecia? High testosterone levels can trigger androgenetic alopecia if the individual is genetically susceptible, but people can develop androgenetic alopecia even when free testosterone levels are at normal levels or below.
6) Can high insulin levels cause hair loss? Insulin may have an affect on pattern alopecia, but the weight of evidence indicates that it is only a potential influence when other factors such as steroids and SHBG are involved.
7) Can DHEA supplements cause pattern baldness? It may be possible.
8) Can birth control pills promote androgenetic alopecia in women? The best birth control pills for acne, alopecia, and hirsutism: Desogen, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, Brevicon, Modicon, Ovcon-35, and Demulen-35.Also note that stopping birth control pill use can cause a telogen effluvium type hair loss unrelated to androgenetic alopecia.
9) Could a hormone imbalance be responsible for androgenetic alopecia? Women after menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, most androgenetic alopecia is idiopathic in nature. There is no detectable hormone imbalance causing the onset of hair loss and blood tests show nothing out of the ordinary.
10) Can women and men have pattern baldness due to adrenal hyperactivity but not have the typical associated clinical symptoms of ovarian or adrenal disorders
Yes.
11) Can a woman develop a male pattern of baldness? Yes sometimes.
12) Can a man develop a female pattern of baldness? Yes sometimes.
13) Why doesn't one single treatment work for everyone? Different types of pattern baldness where contributing factor important in promoting hair loss in one person is different from the factor promoting hair loss in another person.
