This study was performed from April, 1995 to December, 2000. Among 854 new alopecia OPD patients 161(19.0%) were children under 15 year old with alopecia (A. areata: 118, A. totalis: 32, A. universalis: 10 and trichotillomania: 2) Results were as follows:

1) The average age of alopecia in children was 7.8 years, and 55.9% were primary school students.
2) The most common type of alopecia in children was alopecia areata (73.3%).
3) The previous episodes of alopecia were observed in 12.4%, and family history was observed in 6.8%.
4) Atopic dermatitis was the most common associated disease (23.0%).
5) The eldest sibling or the children with stressful condition due to school task and extracuricular works had high morbidity (45.3%, 29.1%, respectively).
6) On the neuropsychiatric consultation, psychiatrically problematic cases were observed in 51.7%, and neurotic children and adjustment disorders were the most common problems among them.

These results suggest that alopecia in children was predominantly developed in primary school students, the eldest sibling, children with atopic dermatitis or deficient parent-child relationship.

Psychologic stress is an important factor in the development of the hair loss disease or may contribute as an aggravating factor.

Baldness is widespread across the globe, victimizing 50% of males and a similar percentage of females above the age of 40 years. However, in this group of females, 13% of premenopausal patients express only slight signs of the disease. Nonetheless, the chances of falling prey to Alopecia Barbae increases after menopause that 75% women over the age of 65 years of age get affected by this problem. Before reaching the age of 40 years, the sufferers bear signs of Alopecia Barbae, and some depict this even before they turn 30. 

Alopecia is a psychological torment for the sufferers. Hair loss allows the head to be exposed to the UV rays, giving rise in actinic infliction. Cardiac ailments could be accelerated by Alopecia in males, and increase in mild prostatic hypertrophy could be associated with this problem too. If the ongoing research studies evidence that the above relations are valid, then the clinical implications with Alopecia would increase too.

White males are the most affected by baldness in terms of frequency and severity while the second most affected are Asians and African Americans. The least affected are Native Americans and Eskimos.

Onset of the Ailment

Alopecia Barbae begins slowly. In men, it starts with hair loss in the temporal region which reshapes the posterior hairline. Then, it develops with the usual anterior and apex hair loss. While in case of women, it begins with scattered hair loss in the crown. The temporal hair loss is similar to men, but generally, females retain their anterior hairline.

Physical Changes

The sufferers of both genders experience the transition from healthy, pigmented terminal hair to weak, short and scattered hair. The end result is stunted, flimsy, non-pigmented hair in the affected areas. With time, the anagen step decreases while the telogen part is unaffected. It gives rise to the hair fall among the victims. Though it provides a generalized picture, the differences in the development of ailment always persist among different individuals. In case of females, usually, the patch of hair loss cannot be specified. Generally they lose hair in all areas over the crown. The core difference is that the anterior hairline is safe in case of females while that is lost right at the onset of the problem in case of males.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a natural metabolite in the human body that is the main cause for hair loss.  The trouble starts once testosterone combines with an enzyme present in the oil glands found in hair follicles. DHT shrinks the hair follicle which causes the hair follicle gets smaller and finer. This is referred to as miniaturization with which the hair ultimately falls off. This is how DHT is responsible for about 95% of hair loss. The men or women who lose more hair are those who are genetically pre-disposed in producing more DHT than others.

2. Miracle Hair Care Products for Baldness?

 There is no miracle hair care product that will stop balding. However, if a product blocked enzyme production in the oil glands and DHT it should result in blocking the hormone that causes balding.

3. FDA Approved Propecia for DHT Hair Loss

 Finasteride is a drug that was used to treat prostate cancer but the FDA has tested this drug and found that it reduces the production of the enzyme 5 alpha thereby reducing DHT levels. Hair loss is prevented when using this drug, however it is only intended for males to use as a preventative hair loss solution.