Chapter 5 Diseases that Cause Hair Loss

In This Chapter

Differentiating between scarring and non-scarring scalp diseases

Understanding how lupus can affect hair

Knowing what medications can cause hair loss

Exploring other causes of hair loss
Although the most common cause of hair loss in adults is pat-
tern thinning, it’s not the only cause. A number of medical
conditions can cause alopecia, the medical term for hair loss.
Alopecia can occur as a disease in which hair loss is the predomi-
nant feature, or it may be a side effect from a disease or treatment
of disease, such as alopecia caused by chemotherapy drugs.
Alopecia breaks down into two main categories, non-scarring and
scarring. If properly treated, a non-scarring disorder can subside
and hair can potentially grow back. With a scarring hair loss disor-
der, the hair follicles are permanently damaged; the chances of
hair regrowth after the disorder is treated are very slight.
This chapter looks at the common medical causes of alopecia and
their causes, courses, and cures.
Visit the following Web sites to see photos of the various disorders
discussed in this chapter:
http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/cd_lists.cfm
www.dermnet.com/moduleSearch.cfm