Why some people can't stand the 'phandlane'

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Friday August 20, 2010 00:00

Baldness or 'phandlane' - as it is derisively called - is not a life-threatening condition, but for many people, it is a big issue. Many would rather keep a clean-shaven head or 'cheese-kop' than have phandlane.

Perhaps this is because the general public has come to accept the shaved head as well. They believe that a shaved head will grow stubble in the same manner and at the same rate as a shaved face.

Others would prefer to put on a hat, a cap or hairpiece as a way of concealing their baldness.

'A friend of mine always wears a cap everywhere, even when he is sleeping,' taunts 31-year-old Monametsi Kgotlaetsile of Francistown's White City location.

According to experts, thinning hair can cause much anxiety. They say most people tend to be worried where their hair is concerned.

Of late, many companies are running successful businesses, selling products that reverse baldness, by allegedly re-growing hair, transplanting hair or hairpieces.

However, experts warn that many treatments marketed as hair loss cures are ineffective, stating that people should think twice before using any of the so-called remedies because the treatment options are so limited. Dr Grace Munyadzwe-Gabe, a dermatologist at Medcare Skin and Medical Clinic in Gaborone, told The Monitor that some people, especially women and younger men, find it difficult to cope with hair loss. She says this manifests as loss of self-esteem, anxiety and in severe cases, depression. 'This is another reason why seeing your doctor is necessary. Using wigs, and hair pieces to conceal baldness may be a sign that an individual has difficulty with baldness and may be suffering from the psychological problems associated with hair loss,' she says, indicating that one of the coping strategies that is advised is to use wigs, hairpieces, etc, during treatment or permanently if hair loss is irreversible.

But Dr Munyadzwe-Gabe is clear about the limitations of medicine in this area. She points out that although there is no cure for baldness, there are some treatments used to promote hair growth. She however says it is necessary to ascertain the cause of hair loss so as to come up with appropriate solutions for the baldness in each individual. 

'For example, treating the infection or skin condition that caused the hair loss may prevent further hair loss and in most cases the hair will re-grow.  It is therefore advisable to see your doctor who will examine the area of hair loss and decide whether some tests such as skin biopsy are required and also what treatment is appropriate,' she advises.  She also notes that there are medicines that can prevent, stop or slow hair loss in common baldness. 'These can be applied or used as pills and they are usually used for the long term because when you stop hair loss recurs. Not all who use these medications have re-growth of hair but the good news is that most stop becoming balder. It is therefore better to see your doctor before purchasing products. A healthy balanced diet is essential for hair growth too.'

The causes of hair loss, according to Dr Munyadzwe-Gabe, includes genetic - androgenetic baldness, which is often referred to as male-pattern baldness that is inherited. She says common baldness usually refers to permanent scalp hair loss in men though women are also affected. This type of baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, she says, is inherited and is the commonest cause of hair loss in men and it appears very early during the teens or early 20s and worsens with age. 'The two types of common baldness are male-pattern baldness and female pattern baldness.

In male pattern baldness hair loss starts with a receding hairline and/or hair loss on the top of the head. With female pattern baldness there is thinning of hair at the front, sides and crown of the head and in some people the entire scalp is affected. However, women do not lose the frontal hairline. Women develop baldness usually after menopause due to hormonal changes. Complete hair loss is rare in women,' explains Dr Munyadzwe-Gabe.

Wikipedia defines baldness as the state of lacking hair where it often grows, especially on the head. It says the most common form of baldness is a progressive hair thinning condition called androgenic alopecia or 'male pattern baldness' that occurs in adult male humans and other species. Male pattern is characterised by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as 'receding hairline'.

Receding hairlines are usually seen in males above the ages of 20 but can be seen as early as late teens as well.  Alopecia refers to any hair loss, thinning hair or baldness. 

However, people commonly refer to partial or complete hair loss on the scalp as baldness.

Depending on the cause of hair loss other hairy areas such as eyebrows, eyelashes and pubic area may also be affected.Normally 50 to 100 hairs are lost each day and baldness develops if larger amounts of hair are lost daily. Both men and women are affected. It was previously believed that baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather.While there is some basis for this belief, experts say both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss.

Most likely, inheritance is technically 'autosomal dominant with mixed penetrance'.

There are also many myths regarding the possible causes of baldness and its relationship with one's virility, intelligence, ethnicity, job, social class, and wealth etc.

While skepticism is warranted due to lack of scientific validation, some of these myths may have a degree of underlying truth.