hair and hair diseases

The Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris presents an exhibition dedicated to hair and body hair in the Western world until September 17. Martin Ducret, doctor and journalist at Doctor’s Dailytook this opportunity to talk about hair and hair diseases.

franceinfo: Many people encounter problems with their hair system or hair during their lives?

Martin Ducret: Yes, absolutely, last weekend I saw the exhibition “Hair and hair” at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, and it reminded me of pathologies or anxieties encountered in my patients. A good opportunity to sort out the subject.

Are there any issues that relate to excess hair?

Yes, and we must differentiate between two types of excess hair! There are people with a lot of body hair, female or male, due to their ethnic origin and genetics. This more pronounced growth of hair in normally hairy areas is called hypertrichosis. It’s not a disease at all, but it can lead to aesthetic and even psychological problems.

On the other hand, is hirsutism pathological?

Exactly. Hirsutism, which exclusively affects women, is a condition where hair grows excessively in areas that normally have no hair. A woman who has a beard, or hair on her back, for example. It’s linked to too much hormone secretion, and it requires a search for the cause by an endocrinologist.

Conversely to excess, there is the loss of body hair or hair called alopecia?

Yes, by the way, I have already done a column on androgenic alopecia, a very common natural hair loss, which mainly affects men. In women, hair loss is generally less severe and may vary seasonally, or occur during pregnancy or menopause. There are also iron deficiencies, thyroid problems or even certain medications that may be involved.

In addition, there is a somewhat special form of alopecia?

Yes, it’s alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease of unknown cause, which manifests as rounded areas of hair loss or hair loss. These are called plaques. Very often, these plaques are restricted, and the hairs grow back on their own, in a few weeks.

But sometimes alopecia areata can become generalized, as we saw with the former Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, who lost his eyebrows and part of his beard. In this case, the areas without hair, or hair, do not necessarily grow back, even with the help of drugs such as cortisone or other therapies. Fortunately, this disease is not serious, but can, on the other hand, cause some aesthetic discomfort.