Glossary for Baldness
- Ablepharon macrostomia syndrome: A rare disorder involving a number of mainly physical abnormalities.
- Adrenal Cancer: A malignant cancer that develops in the adrenal gland. The tumor may be nonfunctioning (does not produce hormones) or functioning in which case excessive levels of hormones can cause a variety of symptoms depending on which hormone is involved. Adrenal hormones made in the cortex (outer part of the gland) are aldosterone, corticosteroids and androgenic steroids. Adrenalin and noradrenalin are the hormones made in the medulla (central part of the adrenal gland).
- Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms: A tumor that develops in the adrenal gland. The tumor may be nonfunctioning (does not produce hormones) or functioning in which case excessive levels of hormones can cause a variety of symptoms depending on which hormone is involved. Adrenal hormones made in the cortex (outer part of the gland) are aldosterone, corticosteroids and androgenic steroids.
- Adrenal adenoma, familial: A benign tumor that develops in the adrenal gland and tends to run in families. The tumor may be nonfunctioning (does not produce hormones) or functioning in which case excessive levels of hormones can cause a variety of symptoms depending on which hormone is involved. Adrenal hormones made in the cortex (outer part of the gland) are aldosterone, corticosteroids and androgenic steroids . Adrenalin and noradrenalin are the hormones made in the medulla (central part of the adrenal gland).
- Adrenal gland hyperfunction: Excessive activity of the adrenal gland which causes excessive production of one or more adrenal hormones (aldosterone, corticosteroids, androgenic steroids, epinephrine and norepinephrine). The increased adrenal gland activity may be caused by an adrenal gland tumor or by excessive stimulation of the gland. Pituitary hormones stimulate adrenal gland activity.
- Adrenal incidentaloma: A tumor of the adrenal gland that is discovered incidentally while performing an imaging examination for reasons other than an adrenal tumor. The tumor may be asymptomatic or can causes excessive secretion of adrenal hormones and resulting symptoms. The tumor may also be malignant or benign.
- Adrenocortical carcinoma: A condition which is characterized by malignancy which affects the adrenocortex.
- Alopecia: Various types of hair loss or balding
- Alopecia Areata: A condition involving one or more bald patches on the head. These patches may merge and lead to complete baldness.
- Alopecia Totalis: An autoimmune disorder where there is a total loss of all head hair i.e. complete baldness.
- Alopecia universalis: A condition where there is a total loss of all body hair.
- Alopecia, mental retardation and neurological problems: A rare, newly described syndrome characterized by baldness, mental retardation and neurological problems.
- Alstrom syndrome: A rare genetic disorder involving a group of abnormalities affecting vision, hearing, kidney function and also characterized by obesity and diabetes mellitus.
- Androgenetic alopecia: A form of hair loss that can affect men or women. In males, the hair loss starts over the temples and the hairline recedes gradually and sometimes complete baldness results. Women suffer thinning of hair all over the head and there is no receding hairline.
- Atopic dermatitis: Skin disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, and pruritis. Often hereditary and associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Bald: A condition which is characterized by the loss of hair in an anatomical location
- Biotinidase deficiency: A metabolic disorder where the body lacks the enzyme biotinidase needed to process the vitamin called biotin (vitamin H) into carboxylase enzymes.
- Cantu syndrome: A rare syndrome characterized by mental retardation, short stature, large skull, heart anomaly and various other abnormalities.
- Chagas disease: A parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by insect bites or blood transfusions. The disease primarily involves the heart and gastrointestinal system.
- Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver from alcohol or other causes.
- Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: A malignancy of the T-cells which make up part of the body's immune system. The cancer is characterized by the excessive proliferation of T-cells which are a type of white blood cell. The degree of skin involvement is variable.
- Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by increased skin pigmentation, thickened skin on palms and soles and reduced sweating.
- Dubowitz Syndrome: A rare genetic and developmental disorder characterized by infantile eczema, small stature, microcephaly and peculiar facial features.
- Erythroderma: Condition with thickening and flaking skin
- Hair conditions: Any disorder the affects the hair
- Hair loss: Loss or thinning of head or body hair
- Hyperadrenalism: Excessive levels of adrenal hormones in the body. Symptoms depend on which hormone is involved and the degree of involvement. Adrenal hormones are aldosterone, corticosteroids, androgenic steroids, epinephrine and norepinephrine.
- Hypopituitarism: A disorder caused by reduced pituitary hormone levels. Hormones produce by the pituitary gland produces growth hormones, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, antidiuretic hormone and others.
- Hypothyroidism: Too little thyroid hormone production.
- Hypotrichosis: Reduced amount of hair on head and/or body.
- Hypotrichosis simplex: Abnormally sparse hair caused by a genetic anomaly.
- Ichthyosis, Keratosis Follicularis Spinulosa Decalvans: A rare inherited skin disorder where the skin around hair follicles becomes stiffened and the resulting scarring causes hair loss.
- Incontinentia Pigmenti: A rare genetic skin pigmentation disorder characterized by eye, teeth, bone, nail and hair malformations as well as central nervous abnormalities and mental deficiency.
- Iron deficiency: When there is a deficiency of iron in the body
- Keratosis pilaris: A condition characterized by hyperkeratosis which is limited to the hair follicles
- Monilethrix: A type of hair shaft abnormality involving constrictions at various points along the hair shaft which gives it a beaded appearance. The severity of the condition is variable.
- Orofaciodigital syndrome type1: A rare genetic disorder characterized by variable malformations of the face, digits and inside the mouth. Type 1 is distinguished from the other types of this condition by the presence of polycystic kidneys and a X-linked dominant inheritance.
- Pseudoprogeria syndrome: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by absent eyelashes and eyebrows as well a mental retardation.
- Psoriasis: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition where the defective immune system causes skin cells to grow rapidly. It affects a significant number of people. Arthritis, which can be severe, is associated with the psoriasis in up to a third of cases. Not all patients who are susceptible to the condition will develop it - roughly 10% of those susceptible will actually develop the condition. There are various environmental factors which can trigger the onset of the disease e.g. strep throat (common trigger), some medication, stress and cold weather. Once the disease develops, it may resolve on its own or with treatment or may become a persistent chronic condition. The severity and duration of symptoms is variable.
- Schopf-Schulz-Passarge syndrome: A rare syndrome characterized by thickened skin on palms and soles, missing teeth, sparse hair and eyelid cysts.
- Secondary syphilis: A condition which is characterized by fever, multiform skin eruptions, iritis, alopecia, mucous patches and severe pain in the head and joints
- Siemens syndrome: A rare inherited skin disorder where the skin around hair follicles becomes stiffened and the resulting scarring causes hair loss.
- Steroid abuse: Steroids are man-made chemicals that can be used to promote muscle development and increase male sexual characteristics. Steroids are a prescription drug usually used to treat disorders such as delayed puberty and body wasting in AIDS patients. Excessive or improper use of steroids usually occurs in athletes and can result in a range of unwanted symptoms.
- Tinea capitis: A condition which is characterized by tinea of the scalp
- Trichotillomania: A mental disorder where a person feels compelled to pull out their own hair.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel
- Virilizing ovarian tumor: An ovarian tumor made up of hormone secreting cells which results in excessive male hormone (androgen) production.
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by poliosis and hair, skin, eye and ear abnormalities as well as retinal detachment and neurological involvement.
- Zinc deficiency: When there is a deficiency of zinc in an individuals body
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