Understanding the Different Types of Hair Loss

Published on: January 6, 2016

Hair loss or alopecia in one form or another affects about one-quarter of the people in the U.S. every year. It is not just aging men that experience thinning hair or balding; both men and women of any age or race can begin losing their hair for a variety of reasons. Many types of alopecia can be effectively treated to slow or stop hair loss with the help of a dermatologist. Here are some of the common types of alopecia and who can be affected.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that results in hair loss and other symptoms. Almost 2% of the world population has this disease and it affects both sexes, usually beginning in childhood. The disease often starts with a small, round bald patch on the scalp. 

Androgenic Alopecia

One of the common and recognized types of hair loss is androgenic alopecia. This includes male pattern baldness, diffuse patterned or unpatterned baldness and is linked to the male sex hormones androgens. This type of hair loss can be genetic and also affected by hormone changes.

Female Pattern Baldness

Menopausal women are the largest group of women who have female pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss. It is estimated that 40% of menopausal women experience some level of hair loss, with genetics playing a factor along with hormonal changes.

There are also other causes of hair loss including nutritional deficiencies and stress disorders. Since the causes can be wide spread, so can the treatment options. Anyone experiencing hair loss should consult their local dermatologist that specializes in treating all forms of alopecia to get a personalized treatment plan for their particular hair loss issue.

Posted on behalf of:
Medical Dermatology Specialists
875 Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30342
(404) 939-9220

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