Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine Ma'ayenei Hayeshua
Hospital
I decided to write a column about a part of the human body
that is a cause of much worry and time in all humans, yet is
essentially unimportant in medical terms. I am referring to
hair.
Hair is a material that is made of protein and is not alive.
It serves to keep us warm. Indeed "goose bumps" are the
body's attempt to fluff its hair where hair hasn't grown. In
humans, of course, men are hairier than women, but just why
hair grows where it does (ever wonder why in many men, they
have beards that cover their chin, but just have a strip of
hair that goes up to their lower lip?) is unknown. Let's
speak about men's hair first.
Men start to get body hair in their teens, but at the same
time, baldness can start to develop. Only men get bald and it
is related to genetics and hormones. There is no way to
prevent it, and while there now exists creams that can regrow
hair in bald spots, as soon as the creams are discontinued,
the hair falls out again.
Sometimes we encounter men who have very small beards. Again,
this can be normal and be related to genetics. But men who do
not develop beards should be evaluated for hormonal failure,
or Klineflelter's Syndrome, which has other
manifestations.
Shaving does not affect hair quality or quantity. However,
shaving in some individuals produces hair that curls up and
then grows inward, creating pain and infection. These people
should avoid shaving at all. Dandruff can develop in any area
that has a lot of hair -- so dandruff on the face and head
occur with many men. Recently we discovered that this is due
to a fungus. Head and Shoulders shampoo appears to be the
best therapy.
Women have different hair concerns. First, the longer lengths
lead to problems with weather and lice. Let's explain a few
facts first. If you are a blonde, you have a high
concentration of hair, while redheads have the least. Dry
hair and oily hair, curly and straight hair, are all related
to genetics. Since hair grows out of glands that secrete an
oily substance -- if there is oversecretion the hair is oily.
If the gland is blocked, pimples or abscesses can occur.
The solution to this is: on the head -- a good shampoo; on
the face (men) benzoyl peroxide. Under the arms -- a good
antiperspirant with aluminum hydroxide. I don't believe any
one shampoo is healthier for the hair.
Baldness in women can be hormonal failure, as can
overabundance of hair.
Alopecia is a disease where the body attacks the hair glands.
Here, prednisone is indicated. In men, there is usually
complete baldness as a result, whereas in women, patches of
hair are the norm.
White hair comes from failure of the cells that produce
pigment. Early white hairs are not a sign of any disease;
however, total lack of color cells leads to pale skin, red
eyes, sun sensitivity, and white hair at birth. These people
are called albinos. What is the one place on the body that
women have no hair cells at all? If you said the ear you were
correct. Write me in care of the Yated.
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