ὀφίασις
κατὰ τὸν δεύτερον, φασί, πλοῦν τὰ ἐλάχιστα ληπτέον τῶν κακῶν → we must as second best, as people say, take the least of the evils
English (LSJ)
-εως, ἡ,
A ophiasis, bald place on the head, of serpentine or winding form, Gal.12.381, 10.1004.
2 a form of leprosy in which the patient sheds his skin like a snake, Ps.-Gal.14.757.
German (Pape)
[Seite 426] ἡ, eine schlangenartige Entblößung des Kopfes von Haaren, Medic.
Greek (Liddell-Scott)
ὀφίασις: ἡ, ὀφιοειδὴς τῶν τριχῶν τῆς κεφαλῆς γύμνωσις, Γαλην. σ. 267, 386, κτλ., Κέλσ.
Wikipedia EN
Ophiasis is a form of alopecia areata characterized by the loss of hair in the shape of a wave at the circumference of the head.
It gets its name from Greek ὄφις ophis 'snake' because of the apparent similarity to a snake-shape and the pattern of hair loss.
The term "sisaipho" is used to characterize the inverse pattern. Sisaipho is, almost, the reverse spelling of ophiasis. It is also called "ophiasis inversus".
This form of hair loss "...targets the body's own hair follicles, resulting in hair loss..." and although the immune system could be attacking hair follicle melanocytes, dermal papilla cells, and keratinocytes,” the foundational cause of this disease is yet to be confirmed.
