Akademik

Baldness

Medically known as alopecia. There are many types of baldness, each with a different cause. Baldness may be localized to the front and top of the head, as in the very common type of male-pattern baldness; baldness may be patchy, a condition called alopecia areata; or it may involve the entire head, as in alopecia capitis totalis. The word "alopecia" comes from the Greek "alopex" for "fox." Foxes are less furry when afflicted with a skin disease called the "mange" which causes them to lose their hair. When a fancier word for "baldness" was sought, the mangy fox supplied it, "alopecia" or, if you wish, "fox-mange", not a very positive image to associate with baldness!

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SYN: alopecia.

- common b. SYN: androgenic alopecia.

- congenital b. SYN: alopecia congenitalis.

- male pattern b. SYN: male pattern alopecia.

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bald·ness n the state of being bald see MALE-PATTERN BALDNESS

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n.

see alopecia

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bald·ness (bawldґnis) alopecia, especially of the scalp.

Medical dictionary. 2011.