DUPA Hair Loss: DUPA is a form of diffuse unpatterned alopecia. It’s a type that causes hair to thin all over the head instead of the usual pattern of baldness. This condition is more common in women than in men, and it usually affects the back and sides of the head. DUPA hair loss can be rare and sometimes overlooked by doctors. Doctors may attribute thinning hair to malnutrition, stress, or other external factors.
Definition
DUPA is a faster pattern of hair fall than traditional hair loss. Instead of hair falling slowly in one place and then spreading to others, DUPA causes hair loss almost simultaneously throughout the entire head. The hair loss is most noticeable on the sides and back. In equal numbers, hair thins and falls out. Sometimes, short hairs grow to replace the lost hair. However, those hairs also fall out quickly. Although the cause of DUPA remains a mystery, it is believed to be either genetic or hormonal.
- DUPA is a faster-than-traditional pattern of hair loss.
- Instead of hair falling slowly in one area and then spreading to others, DUPA causes hair loss almost simultaneously throughout the head.
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Diagnosis
DUPA refers to hair loss that is equal across the head and has not been caused by obvious chemical or physical effects. It can be diagnosed if it is advanced. Ask the patient if they have been losing hair, and then look at the head to see if you can see the scalp. An expert can use a magnifying glass to find the early signs of hair loss.
Time Frame
DUPA can appear at any age. Patients in their 20s are most likely to develop DUPA, while those in their 60s and older are more common. The signs may not be obvious at first. You may notice your hair falling out more often than normal when you style or brush it. You may notice hair falling out more often, depending on your age. This can happen in a few years for younger women and men, and it can take as little as one to two years for older women and men.
- DUPA can appear at any age.
- This progression can take up to a decade for younger women and men.
Treatments
Unfortunately, DUPA patients do not make good candidates for hair transplants. Donor hair must be taken from another part of the head. Most DUPA patients don’t have any quality hair. The scar from the transplant can be easily seen due to the thinness of the hair. Patients suffering from DUPA will eventually lose their entire hair. Many men choose to shave their heads completely to deal with DUPA. Most women prefer to wear a hair wig.
- Unfortunately, DUPA patients do not make good candidates for hair transplants.
- Donor hair must be taken from another part of the head. Most DUPA patients don’t have any quality hair.
Prevention/Solution
Patients with DUPA will eventually lose all their hair, even if they use hair loss treatments such as minoxidil and finasteride. Depending on the severity of the case and the age of the patients, these treatments may slow down the progression of DUPA. However, they can prevent complete hair loss for 10 years. The medications mentioned above are only effective in half of the patients.