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Causes Of Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia in Indians: How to Prevent it?

With inputs from Dr.Jisha B, General Physician

Updated on: December 2023

With inputs from Dr.Jisha B, General Physician

Updated on: December 2023

Reviewed by Dr Raja Indana

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Table of contents

Key Takeaway:
● Diffuse unpatterned alopecia is a condition characterized by widespread hair loss and thinning that permeates throughout the entire scalp. About 2-6 % of men have this pattern of hair loss.
● The symptoms of Alopecia include:
– Rampant thinning of hair throughout the scalp and frontal hair loss which looks like unpatterned hair loss. Hair thinning occurs on the front, back, or sides of the scalp.
– Miniaturization or shortening or hair strands
● Common causes of diffuse unpatterned alopecia include: hereditary reasons, stress, anxiety, unhealthy lifestyle, excessive tension in hair, autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorder, and iron deficiency.
● Treatment of diffuse unpatterned alopecia is based on the underlying cause. Consult a dermatologist to understand appropriate treatment options suitable for your body.

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Chapter 1: What is Androgenic Alopecia?

Diffuse unpatterned alopecia is a condition characterized by widespread hair loss and thinning that permeates throughout the entire scalp.
About 2-6 % of men have this pattern of hair loss.

Commonly referred to as male pattern baldness or Androgenic Alopecia, this is a hormonal and genetic condition that causes men to lose their hair in the later stages of their lives. It affects almost 50% of men when they touch 50 years of age. While Alopecia can occur in women too, the percentage is very low. Hairfall in men is much more common. Although male baldness mostly occurs post 50, many men observe hair balding symptoms much earlier in their late 30s and 40s. Hairfall in men and receding hairline are some common early signs of Androgenic Alopecia. If you notice hair fall on your pillow, excessive hair on your comb, your forehead becoming a lot more conspicuous than usual, bald spot on your head, or bald patches on the head, it may be a good idea to see a dermatologist.
Androgenic Alopecia is genetic in many cases. If your father or grandfather has a receding hairline, there’s a good chance that you will too. Hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone also affect hair growth for men as men begin to touch 50.

Consult a top dermatologist to diagnose and treat male pattern and unpatterned baldness.

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Chapter 2: What are the different types of Androgenic Alopecia?

There are two types of Male pattern baldness:

Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia
Diffuse patterned Alopecia

What is the difference between Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia and Diffuse patterned Alopecia?

Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia, also known as DUPA, follows a sporadic hair loss pattern. Hair loss in men is not just restricted to the front and crown as in the case of diffuse patterned Alopecia but also occurs on the back and sides of the scalp. Here hair transplantation is not recommended because the hair from the back cannot be used in the front. Thinning of hair happens across the scalp, making transplantation a poor choice of treatment.

Diffuse patterned Alopecia affects only the front of the scalp. You will experience frontal hair loss starting from the forehead all the way to the crown of the head. But it stops there. So a large part of the sides and the back is left untouched. Hair transplantation is often recommended in this case.

Consult a top dermatologist to diagnose and treat male pattern and unpatterned baldness.

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Chapter 3: Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia

What are the symptoms of Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia?
The symptoms of Alopecia include:

Rampant thinning of hair throughout the scalp and frontal hair loss which looks like unpatterned hair loss. Hair thinning occurs on the front, back, or sides of the scalp.
Miniaturization or shortening or hair strands

With proper, timely treatment from Mfine’s best dermatologists and hair fall specialists, you can recover from this condition

What are the causes of Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia?
It’s important to know the underlying causes of your unpatterned hair loss to figure out a targeted course of treatment. Here are the most likely causes of DUPA that affect a large percentage of the male population today:

Hereditary: As mentioned before if hair balding runs in the family, there’s a good chance that you’re next in line. Unfortunately, treatment options for genetic conditions are limited because there’s not much you can do if it’s hereditary. A good dermatologist, however, will tell you how to manage your existing hair and give you guidelines to take care of your hair.
Stress and Anxiety: In today’s cut-throat competitive world, people are more stressed-out than ever. Today, several people are facing anxiety ,depression and other psychological problems and are unable to manage stress. Unfortunately, mental health issues also affect physical health. They manifest as cosmetic issues – hair fall and balding being one of them.
Unhealthy lifestyle: Good nutrition is extremely important for hair growth for men. One of the most common reasons for Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia is a lack of essential nutrients in the body. A diet devoid of nutrients, vitamin deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances also weaken the roots in the hair follicles, leading to DUPA. Lack of exercise, smoking and drinking alcohol also reduce blood flow to the follicles, causing hair thinning.
Excessive tension in hair:
Your hair needs to breathe just like your skin does. Wearing tight hairbands, using helmet for long periods of time and exerting too much pressure on your scalp, leads to thinning of the hair follicles. Tying your hair more loosely, or letting your hair flow help your hair follicles grow faster and also reduce the tension in the strands of your hair. Otherwise, your bald spot will only get worse with time.
Diseases such as anaemia and liver failure are also responsible for Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia
Autoimmune diseases
Iron deficiency
Thyroid

What is the treatment for Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia?

1. Self-care:
Your dermatologist will diagnose the extent of Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia to see what course of treatment will work best for you. Hair transplantation is not an option for this type of hair balding because it is not a safe option in the long term. The hair follicles have lost the ability to produce healthy hair and since a transplant requires the hair to be dissected from one part of the scalp to another, it would not work.
Self-care through eating healthy food, exercising, and managing stress will certainly help you manage Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia much better. These are some useful self-care male pattern baldness treatment options.

2. Medication:

Medical treatment for male pattern baldness cure is the best option for in the case of androgenic Alopecia treatment. Medication options include Minoxidil and Finasteride. Minoxidil is usually available over the counter and must be applied to the scalp twice a day for hair growth. It will prevent further hair loss. Finasteride is a pill you need to take everyday, as prescribed by your doctor. Platelet-rich plasma including medication is the best. You may have to take medication for prolonged periods of time to prevent further hair loss. It may return within a few weeks if you are not regular with your medication. Anti-hair loss serums are also available today. But, discuss the same with your doctor.

Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia is treatable. All you need to do is consult a top dermatologist on Mfine!

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Chapter 4: Diffuse patterned Alopecia

As defined before, diffuse patterned Alopecia only causes frontal hair loss and on the crown of the scalp, causing a very predictable bald spot. It doesn’t affect the sides and back as compared to its unpatterned counterpart.

What are the causes of Diffuse patterned Alopecia?
The main cause of male baldness include:

- Genetics:
  Both Diffuse patterned Alopecia, as well as Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia, can run in the family. If your forefathers had it, you have a good chance of getting it too.
- Hormones:
  Testosterone releases a by-product known as Dihydrotestosterone which accumulates in the scalp tissues. This blocks the flow of nutrients to the hair follicles leading to shortening or miniaturization of hair follicles. As a result, growth is compromised. Hormones play a large role in male pattern baldness. Since women don’t have much testosterone, they are not affected by this condition as much.

Stress, poor nutrition, and unhealthy lifestyle also contribute to diffuse patterned Alopecia.

What is the treatment for Diffuse patterned Alopecia?

1. Medications:
Diffuse patterned Alopecia can be treated by medications such as Minoxidil and Finasteride. Minoxidil stimulates the growth of the hair follicles by strengthening the follicles and elongating the growth cycle of the hair. Finasteride, on the other hand, works on reducing the impact of Dihydrotestosterone on male baldness.

2. Hair transplantation:
It is also a viable option for treating diffuse patterned Alopecia. Since the hair at the back and sides are strong and healthy, it’s possible to transplant them to the balding areas in front. However, it is an expensive procedure and should be discussed with your dermatologist first.

3. Mesotherapy:
It is a form of injection therapy wherein a chemical mixture containing drugs, enzymes, and minerals are injected into the scalp in the affected areas to promote hair growth. These chemicals strengthen the roots of the hair follicles, thereby promoting hair growth for men.

Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia and diffuse patterned Alopecia are both common cosmetic issues that several men above 45 years of age face. While they may not be entirely curable in some cases, both conditions can be managed through medication and lifestyle changes.

For medical and androgenic Alopecia treatment, contact a hair fall doctor or a skin specialist. At Mfine, our only priority is to provide you with the finest range of doctors who can provide you with the best healthcare treatments. Download the app and book an appointment with a hair fall clinic near you!

If you’re worried about your bald spot, simply consult a dermatologist on Mfine to get diagnosed and treated!

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References

Q1. What causes Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia?
The most common causes of Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia are genetic factors, stress, and anxiety caused due to work and other pressures, poor nutrition that interferes with hair growth for men and slows down the absorption of nutrients by hair follicles, diseases such as anaemia and liver failure, and lastly exerting too much tension on hair follicles such as using hair tightening accessories. Try to manage these conditions to avoid bald spots and hair balding. Associated findings such as autoimmune deficiencies, Iron deficiency, and thyroid issues also cause hair loss.

Q2. What are the symptoms of Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia?
The symptoms of Alopecia in and men include: Rampant thinning of hair throughout the scalp and frontal hair loss, miniaturization or shortening or hair strands.

Q3. What is the difference between Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia and Diffuse patterned Alopecia?
Diffuse unpatterned Alopecia, also known as DUPA, follows a sporadic hair loss pattern. Hair loss in men is not just restricted to the front and crown as in the case of diffuse patterned Alopecia but also occurs on the back and sides of the scalp. Diffuse patterned Alopecia, on the other hand, affects only the front of the scalp. You will experience hair loss starting from the front above the forehead all the way to the crown of the head, but it stops there.

Q4. Can diffuse Alopecia be treated?
Diffuse Alopecia (patterned or unpatterned) may not be fully treatable but can be managed to a large extent. Medications can significantly hamper the process of further hair loss in men and in the case of patterned Alopecia, hair transplantation is also an option.

Q5. How do you prevent Alopecia from getting worse?
Use a wide-toothed comb and a soft brush to comb your hair. Avoid unnecessary hair accessories such as hairbands and products like hair gels. Nutrition plays a very important role in hair growth, so make sure you eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins, protein, and minerals. Try to minimize stress and seek counselling and stress management assistance if required. All this will help Alopecia from getting much worse.

Q6. How do I book an appointment with a dermatologist?
You just have to download the Mfine app, or log onto Mfine, search for a dermatologist near you and book an appointment by filling out your details. You can teleconsult with your dermatologist online on Mfine and discuss your Photomelanosis condition comfortably with him/her.

Q7. Is my information secure on the Mfine app?
Mfine takes your privacy very seriously. At Mfine, we provide the utmost confidentiality to all our patients. No information is exchanged between your doctor and anyone else.

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