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Alopecia

»	How is alopecia classified?
»	What are some common types of patterned hair loss?
»	Can cicatricial and noncicatricial alopecia be differentiated clinically?
»	What causes common balding?
»	How effective are medical treatments for common balding?
»	Is common balding in women managed differently than in men?
»	What are the surgical options for treatment of balding?
»	Discuss the common causes of circular bald spots.
»	What is alopecia totalis?
»	How is alopecia areata treated?
»	How is tinea capitis treated?
»	What is trichotillomania?
»	Who is most likely to be affected by trichotillomania?
»	Why do cancer patients lose their hair?
»	In what other clinical settings can a telogen effluvium occur?
»	To what forms of hair loss are black patients susceptible?
»	Discuss the mechanism of central, centrifugal, cicatricial alopecia (CCCA).
»	Name some medications that cause hair loss.
»	What is alopecia mucinosa?
»	What is meant by the term “moth-eaten alopecia"?

How effective are medical treatments for common balding?

About one third of balding patients who use topical minoxidil solution experience significant (cosmetically obvious) hair regrowth. Any regrowth that occurs is only maintained while the drug is used. If therapy is stopped, hair density reverts to its pretreatment state. Oral finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, is somewhat more effective, and can be used in combination with topical minoxidil.

Rogers NE, Avram MR: Medical treatments for male and female pattern hair loss, J Am Acad Dermatol 59(4):547–566, 2008.