Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a condition that both men and women can experience. While you can experience hair loss throughout your whole body, it is more common to occur on your scalp. But, what are the causes of hair loss, are there any signs and symptoms to look out for and what treatments can you look into? The answer to all of these will differ, as you get different types of hair loss. Let’s see what some of them are.
Androgenetic Alopecia
When it comes to types of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is one of the most common types experienced by individuals around the world. This is also known as male or female pattern hair loss and is hereditary. Men tend to start losing their hair above their temples and on their crowns, while females tend to experience hair thinning throughout their entire head.
Telogen Effluvium
If you’re experiencing a traumatic or stressful event, then you could potentially experience Telogen Effluvium which is a temporary loss of hair. Telogen effluvium can also be caused due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency. This is one of the types of hair loss that can be either temporary or permanent. If circumstances prove to be permanent, your doctor might give you medication.
Anagen Effluvium
Cancer patients that undergo chemotherapy usually suffer from anagen effluvium due to the medication killing the cancer cells, which in turn stops your hair follicle production. Oftentimes, once the chemotherapy has ended, you will start growing hair again.
Cicatricial Alopecia
When looking at types of hair loss, cicatricial alopecia is the rarest type of hair loss you can experience. This type of hair loss is also known as scarring alopecia and symptoms may often be unnoticeable in the beginning stages but include itching, swelling and lesions on your scalp. This is caused due to inflammation that destroys your hair follicles, but doctors aren’t sure what the exact cause of the inflammation could be.
Other Types of Hair Loss
There are many other different types of hair loss that you may experience, and they include:
- Alopecia Areata
- Tinea Capitis
- Hair Shaft Abnormalities
- Hypotrichosis
Types of Hair Loss Treatments
There isn’t one specific type of treatment that will help with all types of hair loss. When your doctor diagnoses what type of hair loss you’re experiencing, they will go over what possible treatments are available for you to consider. Some of the treatments could include:
- Medications: You get various types of oral and topical medications that can treat types of hair loss. Special shampoos may also be prescribed.
- Hair Transplantation: Depending on the type of hair loss, you might want to consider getting a hair transplantation that has permanent results. A hair transplant review will quickly make you consider getting one.
- Scalp Reduction Surgery: This is an invasive procedure where the skin is surgically removed and adjacent skin is then stitched together.