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Pigmentary Skin Disorders and Hair Loss
What are pigmentary skin disorders?
Pigmentation is a term that refers to the depth of colour of your skin, which can be affected by skin pigmentation disorders. Melanin is a pigment that’s produced by skill cells and gives your skin its colour. Melanin production is affected when these cells become damaged or diseased. Some pigmentation diseases only affect a small portion of the skin, while others have an impact on your entire body.
Types of pigmentary skin disorders:
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Melasma
- Solar Lentigines
- Ephelides
- Café au lait macules
- Vitiligo
- Pityriasis alba
- Tinea versicolor
- Postinflammatory hypopigmentation
How are pigmentary skin disorders treated?
Treatments for pigmentary skin disorders can include:
- Chemical Peels: a chemical peel is a procedure for enhancing the appearance of the skin on the face, neck, and hands. The skin is treated with a chemical solution that causes it to exfoliate and finally peel off. The new skin, which has been regenerated, is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. The new skin is also more sensitive to the sun for a short time.
- Dermabrasion: dermabrasion is a treatment that removes and levels the top layer of skin using a wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges. New skin grows in its place as the treated region heals. It is frequently utilised in face surgeries.
- Laser Resurfacing: laser resurfacing is a procedure that removes layers of skin to improve the appearance of the face or repair minor facial defects.
- Hydroquinone: hydroquinone is a lightening agent for the skin. It bleaches the skin, which might be beneficial when treating hyperpigmentation of various types.
- Tretinoin and corticosteroids: your dermatologist may prescribe a second medication to help with skin whitening. This drug may be tretinoin or a corticosteroid. In some cases, a cream contains three medications (hydroquinone, tretinoin, and a corticosteroid). This is referred to as a triple cream.
- Other topical (applied to the skin) medications: your dermatologist may recommend other medications to treat or reduce the severity of the disorder.
What is Hair Loss?
Alopecia (or hair loss) can affect your entire body or simply your scalp, and can be temporary or permanent. The condition could be caused by hormonal changes, medical issues, ageing or can be hereditary. Men are more likely than women to lose hair on their heads. Excessive hair loss from the scalp is commonly referred to as baldness. The most prevalent cause of baldness is hereditary hair loss as people become older. While some people may leave their hair loss untreated and unnoticed, hairstyles, cosmetics, caps, and scarves may be used to conceal the condition. For those who wish to prevent further hair loss or restore growth, treatment options are available.
How is Hair Loss treated?
There are effective treatments for some types of hair loss, which may be able to stop or halt hair loss. Hair may recover without therapy in some circumstances, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), but medications and surgery are often required to effectively treat hair loss.
Medications include:
- Minoxidil (Rogaine)
- Finasteride (Propecia)
- Other medicines such as spironolactone (Carospir, Aldactone) and oral dutasteride (Avodart) can be used.
Hair Transplant Surgery:
Only the top of the head is affected in the most prevalent type of permanent hair loss. Hair transplantation, often known as restoration surgery, makes use of your existing hair. A dermatologist pulls hair from a hairy area of the head and transplants it to a bald spot during a hair transplant. There are one to numerous hairs in each hair patch (micrografts and mini grafts). A broader slice of skin with various hair groups is sometimes taken. Although this procedure does not necessitate hospitalisation, it is uncomfortable. Therefore, you will be given sedative medication to help you relax. Bleeding, bruising, oedema, and infection are all potential dangers. You may require more than one surgery to achieve the desired result. Surgery does not prevent the progression of hereditary hair loss.
Laser Therapy:
Low-level laser therapy can be used to treat genetic hair loss in men and women.
Pigmentary Skin Disorders and Hair Loss FAQ:
Is hair loss preventable?
The majority of baldness, also known as male-pattern baldness and female-pattern balding, is caused by genetics and cannot be prevented. Androgenic alopecia is a kind of hair loss that is caused by a hereditary disease. Androgenic alopecia cannot be prevented, although it can be treated, and the condition's progression is halted. If a genetic issue does not cause your hair loss, it is most likely preventable. Hair loss caused by stress, menopause, pregnancy, smoking, or other lifestyle or medical factors can be prevented and sometimes even restored.
Are all skin pigmentation disorders genetic?
No, skin can become discoloured when injured or burned. The severity of the injury determines the permanency of the discolouration.
How long is the typical recovery period after a hair transplant surgery?
Two to three weeks from the surgery date is when the hair will fall out, but most people notice a difference within six to nine months. Most people can return to daily activities between two to five days.
