What Are the Different Types of Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a commonly misunderstood issue. Many people, for example, think that wearing hats too much can lead to hair loss. Luckily for those of you who love a good hat, this myth isn’t true.

There are a number of forms that hair loss takes, and understanding those forms can help you prevent hair loss or treat it when it occurs.

We’ll take a look at the different types of hair loss in this article, giving you some insight into the issues so that you can take steps to treat your situation. Let’s get started.

Understanding the Different Types of Hair Loss

It’s important to note that hair loss can occur on any hair in the body. The technical term for this loss is alopecia. Alopecia is typically thought of as spotted hair loss that occurs in patches.

That said, any hair loss can fall into the category of alopecia. The spotty hair loss that’s commonly associated with alopecia is actually called alopecia areata. The condition denotes bald patches that are confined to a particular area.

Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

Androgenetic alopecia is the technical term for male and female pattern hair loss.

For men, hair loss can start occurring any time after puberty. It won’t happen to everyone, of course, but the process can begin whenever your body wants it to. In many cases, the hair starts to recede into a widow’s peak.

It then falls backward, leaving a ring of hair that sits around the base of the person’s scalp. This leaves the top of the head bald and the sides still having some hair. Over time, the hair at the base of the scalp could fall out as well.

For women, the process doesn’t tend to involve any recession. It can also start for women any time after puberty, but it tends to come on much later.

The hair starts to thin significantly, but it doesn’t fall out in the same pattern that it does for men.

If you’re experiencing male or female pattern balding, know that there is a hair loss treatment that will work for you. Fortunately, there are also hair products that contain natural compounds which encourage the growth of new, healthy hair like the ones from Allurium Beauty. You might have to explore to see what works with your body, but there are certainly options.

Anagen Effluvium

This is the hair loss that comes from situations when the body is put under extreme intentional stress. The best example is chemotherapy.

Many of the strong chemicals and medications used to treat conditions like cancer are effective at killing cancer cells, but bleed over into the function of other cells in the body.

Hair, in particular, is one of the more visible effects of this process. The good part about anagen effluvium is that there isn’t an inherent reason that the hair falls out.

In other words, the body is still capable of producing hair, and it will grow back eventually.

Want to Learn More about Hair Loss Symptoms?

Understanding the different types of hair loss can help you understand what you’re experiencing and find ways to recover. The types listed above are just the most common kinds of hair loss.

There are a number of others that you might be experiencing. Explore our site for more insight into hair loss, the signs of hair loss, and much more.