What Is Alopecia?
Posted by Deborah Ferguson on
If your hair is falling out in small clumps and losing its volume, you might have alopecia. This term is used to describe all forms of hair loss in the scalp and other parts of the body. There are many reasons why people experience hair loss; some experience it due to hormonal changes, while others lose hair because of genetics. At Hair 2.0, we always try to educate clients about hair loss. Here’s a look at this condition:
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia is a fancy term for hair loss. Most people lose around 50 to 100 strands of hair every day, but that is a part of your natural hair growth cycle. If you’re losing more than 100 strands every day and notice a visible thinning if your hair, you might need treatment.
Alopecia affects over 147 million people worldwide and can affect people of all ages. It is more common in individuals with a family history of hair loss. Researchers haven’t yet been able to nail the exact cause of this disease, but most cases point towards genetic propensity. People with nutrition deficiency, lupus, thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, and vitiligo are also more likely to develop alopecia.
Common Types of Alopecia
Alopecia is an umbrella term for all kinds of hair loss in the scalp and body. Here’s a look at some of the most common types:
- Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair follicles. As white blood cells attack, the hair follicles start to thin, and that causes individual hair strands to shrink as well. There's no real cure for this condition though it can resolve itself in some cases. Once the white blood cells stop attacking, your hair will grow back in the next cycle.
Patients can experience alopecia areata patchy, where the hair falls off in small patches. This is the most common form of hair loss and can leave coin-sized bald patches on the scalp.
Some patents lose all of the hair on their scalp, which is called alopecia areata totalis. This total baldness isn’t permanent as the hair does grow back in the next cycle. Unfortunately, hair loss can return if the white blood cells start attacking once again.
In rare cases, patients lose hair all over their body, and it is called alopecia areata Universalis. Only around 1% of the hair loss patients experience this form of alopecia.
- Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern of baldness or female pattern of baldness, is one of the most common types of hair loss. It affects around 50% of men and women over the ages of 50 and 65, respectively. The condition can be attributed to hormonal imbalance and genetic factors. The Dihydrotestosterone hormone is one of the most significant contributing factors as it changes the hair follicle structure, causing it to shrink gradually.
- Scarring Alopecia
This category of disorders is rare, but the hair loss is usually permanent. It targets hair follicles directly and destroys them, which can lead to scarring. Once the hair follicle is scarred, no hair will grow from it. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help prevent further scarring. You need to visit the doctor as early as possible to limit the damage.
The scarring isn't visible as it appears under the skin, but it isn't reversible. If you experience burning, pain, and itching, contact your dermatologist immediately.
- Anagen and Telogen Effluvium
Anagen or telogen effluvium is hair loss when the hair strands should be in their growth or resting periods. People experience anagen effluvium if they're exposed to radiation, infection, chemotherapy, or certain types of drugs and toxins. The condition isn't permanent, and your hair will return when the underlying cause goes away.
Telogen effluvium is a response to extreme stress and trauma. People experience it after childbirth, traumatic accidents, personal loss, and in other such painful circumstances. The hair loss slows down eventually, and people regain their original volume after six to eight months.
If you’re worried about thinning hair on your head, we at Hair 2.0 recommend our natural keratin fiber solution. Want to know more? Contact our customer care for queries or browse through our website for information on different products.