Types of Hair Loss

Common Types of Hair Loss
No matter if you are a male or female, hair loss is one of the most common issues that can affect you as you age. Hair loss is most commonly referred to as alopecia. Alopecia is commonly characterized by patchy hair loss, and is essentially the dermatological term for hair loss.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder – an illness in which the body’s own immune system begins it attack itself and other areas of the body. In the case of alopecia, the immune system attacks hair follicle cells, assuming them to be harmful invaders.

Hair loss can result in any number of ways, but most often occurring in large circular clumps along the crown of the head, the top, center area where most often men and women develop their initial “bald spot”. In some individuals suffering from alopecia, alopecia can be temporary, but it is often somewhat permanent as well. There are a number of different types of alopecia, we go further into detail below.

Types of Hair Loss
There are a number of different types of alopecia. Each with its own specific causes, and symptoms. Some of the most common forms of alopecia include:

• Alopecia Areata – One of the most common forms of hair loss, alopecia areata has a fast onset and can cause hair loss in large, often circular patches at a time. Sometimes brought on by severe stress, alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles. It can even affect children and young adults. In the event this disorder results in complete baldness it is known as alopecia totalis. Other symptoms include, anxiety, itching, and some nail issues. On the bright side, about 90% of the individuals who are diagnosed with alopecia areata can experience regrowth of their hair after a few years.
• Involutional Alopecia – A naturally occurring condition, in which the hair begins to gradually thin as we age. As more and more hair follicles enter their ‘resting’ phase and eventually fall out, the rate of hair regrowth can no longer keep up. The remaining hairs remain the same size and stop growing as well.
• Androgenic Alopecia – A common genetic disorder, often known as Male Pattern Baldness in men, despite affecting both men and women. Males with this condition can begin experiencing symptoms are early as their teenage years, or early-20’s. In men, it is characterized by a receding hairline and loss of hair at the top of the head and front scalp – a common appearance in balding men.

  For women, Female Pattern Baldness doesn’t exhibit symptoms until they are well into their 40’s or even later. Women will experience thinning hair all around their heads, with most of the hair loss coming at the top of their head. It is common to see women with bald spots in th center of head, sometimes covered by longer hair along the outer area.

• Alopecia Universalis – Far less common that other forms of hair loss, Alopecia Universalis is characterized by loss of all body hair. Including the head, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair and more.
• Trichotillomania – This form of hair loss stems from psychological issues, in which individuals pull their own hair out. This issue is common in children.
• Scarring Alopecia – This form of permanent hair loss is characterized as a symptom of severe inflammatory skin conditions, such as – cellulitis, acne, folliculitis, as well as lupus and lichen planus. As a result of these severe skin conditions, the skin becomes heavily scarred and damaged – losing the ability to regenerate hair follicles and sustain hair regrowth.

No matter what type of alopecia or hair loss you might be suffering from, be aware, there is no cure for alopecia. However, for many, a number of lifestyle changes and hair restoration techniques such the NeoGraft hair transplant can help! The NeoGraft is one of the newest and most effective hair restoration methods around today, and has been able to help a number of different men and women dealing with unwanted hair loss. For more information on hair restoration and hair loss prevention, or to schedule your initial consultation, contact Dr. V and his team today.