1. By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael
Life cycle of hair
By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael 2 / 8 / 2013
1
Hair loss
2 / 8 / 2013

2. By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael 2 / 8 / 2013
2
Hair loss affects both men and women.
Hair is classed as either terminal or vellus hair. Terminal hair is longer
and thicker and found on the scalp and eyebrows. Vellus hair covers the
remainder of the body and is shorter and downy. In androgenic alopecia
terminal hair follicles transform in to more vellus-like hair follicles as a
result of preferential binding by dihydrotestosterone (produced from the
conversion of androgen by 5-alpha-reductase) to hair follicle receptors.
Clinical features androgenetic alopecia
1- Thinning of the hair.
2- Frontal receding hairline that might or might not be accompanied
with hair loss at the crown.
Conditions to eliminate ( Not androgenic alopecia )
1- Pregnancy
During pregnancy, circulating levels of oestrogen increase, with a
resulting rise in the number of follicles in anagen (growth phase); the
hair therefore thickens.
However, after delivery the hair follicles return to the resting phase and
the hair is shed. Women might believe that they are experiencing hair
loss when in reality the hair is returning to the normal pre-pregnancy
state.
2- Stress
Stress is known to induce hair loss.

3. By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael 2 / 8 / 2013
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3- Nutritional factors
Iron deficiency is associated with female hair loss. If iron deficiency is
the cause, a 2-month course of iron supplementation should result in
thickening of the hair.
4- Fungal scalp infection
The first signs of infection are the appearance of a well circumscribed
round patch of alopecia that is associated with itch and scaling.
Inspection of the area might reveal ‘black dots’ on the scalp as a result
of infected hairs.
5- Traction alopecia ‫بقوة‬ ‫الشعر‬ ‫شد‬ ‫نتيجة‬
Most commonly seen in women, traction alopecia refers to hair loss due
to excess and sustained tension on the hair.

4. By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael 2 / 8 / 2013
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6- Medicine-induced causes
Cytotoxic medicines being one of the most obvious examples
7- Trichotillomania ‫اراديا‬ ‫ال‬ ‫او‬ ‫إراديا‬ ‫مستمرة‬ ‫بصورة‬ ‫الشعر‬ ‫قلع‬ ‫نتيجة‬ ‫يحدث‬
This refers to patients who have an impulsive desire to twist and pull
scalp hair.
Treatment
1- Minoxidil (2% for female , 5% for male). ‫ي‬‫آ‬ ‫العالج‬ ‫عتبر‬‫نتائجه‬ ‫رغم‬ ‫من‬‫المتوسطة‬
The dose for minoxidil is 1 mL applied to dry hair to the total affected
areas of the scalp twice daily.
Minoxidil therefore appears to delay and slow down hair loss in less
than half of its target patient population.
Hair counts appear to be greatest after 12 months of treatment but, by 30
months.
If treatment is stopped any hair growth achieved is lost within 6 to 8
weeks on discontinuation of therapy and baldness returns to pretreatment
levels.

5. By Ph. Adnan Mustafa Ismael 2 / 8 / 2013
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If these occur the patient should stop using the product immediately
chest pain, rapid heart beat, faintness or dizziness.
Side effect (common):
local irritation, redness and itching.
2- Finasteride ‫جيدة‬ ‫نتائج‬ ‫العالج‬ ‫ھذا‬ ‫يعطي‬‫و‬‫نھائيا‬ ‫مقبولة‬ ‫غير‬ ‫جانبية‬ ‫اثار‬ ‫له‬ ‫لكن‬
Oral finasteride (1 mg per day) is used to treat androgenetic alopecia in
men because it has shown to promote hair growth and prevent further
loss in a significant proportion of men with male pattern baldness.
Side effect
Impotence, decreased libido, ejaculation disorders, and breast tenderness
and enlargement.
References:
Community pharmacy 2nd edition, Paul rutter.