Common Types of Hair Loss

Before treating your hair loss, it’s important to understand its underlying cause. Reef Hair can determine what is causing your hair loss and help you formulate a plan to address it. These are some of the most common types of hair loss, what they look like, and what causes them.

What Are the Most Common Types of Hair Loss?

Androgenic alopecia
Also known as male or female pattern baldness, Androgenic alopecia is by far the most common type of hair loss. Each year, 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States experience pattern baldness.
Androgenic alopecia is genetic in origin and often worsens with age-related hormonal changes.

Male pattern hair loss typically begins at the temples, slowly receding toward the back of the scalp in a distinctive M-shaped pattern. Sometimes, hair loss may occur on top of the scalp while hair remains in a broken ring at the back and sides. Either of these patterns may progress until complete baldness occurs.

In women, androgenic alopecia-related hair shedding is diffuse – occurring throughout the scalp. The hairline doesn’t change significantly; instead, overall volume decreases. It is most visible at the hair’s part, which may appear to widen over time.

There are treatments that may slow the progression of androgenic alopecia, but the condition is not reversible. More than 80 percent of hair transplant procedures are performed on clients who are experiencing androgenic alopecia.

Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium is an extremely common type of excess hair shedding that happens when physical or emotional stress disrupts the hair’s normal growth cycle. Too many hairs are forced into a prolonged resting phase, causing overall thinning throughout the scalp. Typically, a person loses between 50-100 hairs per day. A larger number of lost hairs is considered telogen effluvium.

Any type of stressor may potentially cause Telogen effluvium. It could be an emotional stressor like a job loss, a relationship issue, or even a positive life change like a move or a new work environment. It could be a physical stressor such as an illness, surgery, or childbirth. Other causes of telogen effluvium are medications, poor diet, or hormonal changes.

Many (if not most) times, telogen effluvium will resolve on its own after the stressor is removed. It may take between six to nine months for the hair’s cycle to return to normal and hair to regrow… so patience is crucial. If hair doesn’t regrow within this window, it may be time to consider medical hair replacement.
Other Causes of Hair Loss

Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles. Its underlying cause isn’t fully understood but it appears to have a genetic component.

Often it is triggered by an illness, an injury, or stress and causes round patches of hair loss that may grow and overlap – on both the scalp and on other areas of the body. Alopecia areata usually isn’t permanent, and hair can regrow when the autoimmune issues are addressed.

Anagen effluvium
Although it may have other causes, Anagen effluvium is most commonly associated with radiation or chemotherapy treatment. Toxicity, trauma, or disease causes inflammation of the follicle and breakage of the hair shaft during the hair’s crucial growth phase.

Anagen effluvium is characterized by rapid hair loss from the entire body. This type of hair loss typically reverses after radiation and chemo treatments end, or when the initiating cause resolves. Although permanent hair loss may result if the follicles are damaged.

Scarring alopecia
Also known as Cicatricial alopecia, Scarring alopecia is a form of permanent hair loss that destroys the hair follicles. It can be caused by infections, autoimmune disorders, burns, or chemical exposure.
Scarring alopecia typically presents as shiny, bald patches on the scalp, but it may be accompanied by redness, scaliness, or blisters. Unfortunately, it is irreversible, but (if sufficient donor hair remains) surgical transplantation is an option.

Traction alopecia
Traction alopecia results from wearing styles that pull on the roots of your hair. Ponytails, buns, braids, twists, locs, weaves, or extensions can stress your hair follicles (especially when pulled tight). This can cause hair to break or shed – particularly at the front and sides of your scalp.

Broken hairs may be accompanied by pimple-like bumps, scalp redness, itching, scaliness, or inflammation of the hair follicles. The condition is especially common among women of African descent, as well as those whose professions require severe hairstyles. In many instances, traction alopecia is reversible if treated early. If it is not, surgical hair replacement may be the only viable option.