The Major Types of Hair Loss

Though a small amount of hair loss is normal in both adults and children, some hair loss cases involve an unordinary amount of hair loss, resulting in thinning or patchy hair, or baldness.  The medical term for hair loss is Alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shya), but this doesn’t refer to any one specific type of hair loss.  Hair loss types are wide and varied, and they can be caused by any number of external or genetic factors.

Below are the main types of hair loss experienced in men and women:

Androgenetic Alopecia

This is the most common type of hair loss.  Typically known as male pattern hair loss or male pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia is a hereditary or genetic type of hair loss experienced mostly in men.  Some women in fewer cases also experience hereditary hair loss.

Male pattern baldness usually starts with men in their 20’s or 30’s.  A hormone chemical called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) attacks the hair follicles and causes them to shrink.  The result is that the hair ceases to grow and begins a pattern of loss, usually a receding hairline.  After years of thinning hair, the top of the head becomes bald, and in some cases, the entire scalp ceases to grow hair.

Telogen Effluvium (TE)

This is a type of diffuse thinning of the hair, which may or may not be even throughout the scalp.  The thinning can be found on other parts of the body.  TE diffusion is seen when more hair follicles than normal stop growing and start shedding resting hair.

Causes of TE may be from shock or stress, such as major surgery.  It is also caused by medications such as chemotherapy, birth control, or anti-depressants.  Poor diet can also be a cause of TE due to lack of protein and iron.

Alopecia Areata (AA)

This type of hair loss is usually attributed to auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis.  The typical life cycle of hair is shorter in AA and sheds more frequently.  This is due to the immune system attacking hair follicle roots deep below the skin surface, causing them to become inflamed and stop growing.  Typically AA hair loss resolves itself.

Scarring Alopecia

Scarring alopecia is a process of permanent destruction of hair follicles, causing scar tissue.  Typically, people with this type of hair loss have practiced improper hair care.  Extensive pulling on the hair in styling such as pigtails, cornrows, or curlers, also known as Traction Alopecia, can cause the hair follicles to become damaged.  Years of chemical treatment with perms or coloring can also affect hair follicles below the scalp and cause irreversible hair loss.

Congenital Hypotrichosis (CH)

Congenital hypotrichosis is a form of baldness due to lack of hair follicles.  Where typical hair loss is due to no hair growing where once there was hair, people with CH do not have those same follicles.  People with CH are born with this condition and experience lack of hair for their lifetime.

Infections

Some cases of hair loss are due to fungal infections, such as ringworm.  Patches of hair can be shed because of infected areas on the scalp.  Fungus can penetrate the hair fibers and cause them to fall off, as well as inflame the roots of the hair follicle.  Normal hair growth is usually seen after an infection is treated.