What Is Alopecia?
Alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shya) is simply the medical term for hair loss, though the term is not specific to any type or cause of hair loss. Hair loss is common in both men and women, and even children. However, the causes of extensive hair loss is as wide and varied as the treatments.
Because alopecia is common in men, women, and children, extensive study and research continue to go into treatments for the different causes. Risk factors are different for men and women, and they can be acute or chronic, and sometimes irreversible.
However, what is the difference between normal and extensive alopecia?
Normal Hair Loss
Hair has a normal life cycle of growth and hair regrowth. Each strand of hair starts from a follicle and begins growing below the epidermis of the scalp within the root. Protein molecules called keratins are strung together in layers in the bulb of the hair root as living tissue. By the time the tissue reaches through the follicle and passes the epidermis, the tissue is hardened and dead.
Normal hair production and growth is about .4 mm per day, or about 1 centimeter per month. Each hair has a growth cycle from 2 to 6 years, where it will grow continually. After that period of growth, a hair follicle experiences a resting phase, where the hair ceases growing. After about 3 months of rest, the hair sheds and a new growth cycle begins.
In normal hair, 90% of the hair follicles are in a growth phase, while 10% are in a resting or shedding phase. Normal hair loss on human scalps is about 50 to 100 hairs per day. When a person begins shedding hair faster than that rate, extensive hair loss may be experienced.
Extensive Hair Loss
With extensive hair loss, a person may experience receding, thinning, or patchy hair loss. These are the most common types of alopecia:
Androgenetic Alopecia – Androgenetic alopecia is a genetic type of hair loss. This is typically known as male pattern balding, but is also prominent in women as well. Though both men and women experience pattern hair loss, the patterns of loss are not the same. Pattern hair loss usually starts with a receding hair line from the forehead. Slowly over time, the hair is shed and exposes a horseshoe shaped pattern on top of the head.
Alopecia Areata – This form of alopecia is usually caused by an autoimmune disorder. The body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation, usually in round patches. Hair can be shed in patchy locations on the scalp or result in complete baldness.
Telogen Effluvium – This form of alopecia is seen on people who experience a general thinning of the hair. This type of thinning hair loss can be caused by medications, major stress, shock, or surgery, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or psychological stress.
Traction Alopecia – Some women and even men can experience hair loss due to poor hair care. When hair is extensively pulled tight, such as in pigtails, cornrows, or curlers, the hair root can become damaged and hair production ceased. Prolonged chemical treatment like hair coloring can also damage hair roots.
