How well do you really know hair loss? Of course there is alopecia and the typical male and female-pattern baldness. Surprisingly there is more to hair loss than what you see on television commercials and in magazine advertisements. While that may not be good news, being more educated about the types of hair loss will help you spot the signs and what you can do to treat it.

Did you know that the term alopecia simply means hair loss? Of course there are actually three categories of alopecia that more closely define what type of hair loss is being experienced. Alopecia Areata occurs when there are mild patches of hair loss on the scalp. Alopecia Totalis happens when someone experiences loss of all of the hair on the scalp and Alopecia Universalis is the loss of hair not only on the scalp but the loss of all body hair as well. Unfortunately, there is no cure for alopecia or its various types but there are treatments available. Dithranol is an ointment that is applied to the scalp and works to prevent overgrowth of skin cells that cause hair loss. Retin A can also be used in a gel form, which is rubbed on the scalp. Rogaine is the typical treatment sought out and helps to foster new hair growth until the hair is able to start growing back on its own. The use of zinc as an oral medication is another type of treatment that works to influence the immune system to prevent or aid in the effects of androgens in hair growth.

Not all hair loss is due to aging, however. Trichotillomania is a type of hair loss that is self-induced. Someone suffering from this hair loss condition have the bad habit of constantly pulling or plucking their hair. After a period of time the hair stops growing completely. Teens, children and adult women typically suffer from this type of hair loss. If you’ve over plucked your eyebrows or lashes, you may have noticed patches of scalp where the hair no longer grows. That is trichotillomania.

Traction alopecia occurs when there is excessive pulling on the hair due to the type of hairstyle you have. Cornrows, tight braids, ponytails and buns are common culprits for causing traction alopecia. If these hairstyles are worn for long periods of time, the stress on the scalp can result in permanent hair loss. Luckily, all that is required to correct this problem is to simply avoid wearing such hairstyles or only wear them occasionally.

Scleroderma is a category of hair loss that often occurs in women between the ages of 40-60. This condition is caused by an overproduction of collagen, which causes the skin to undergo fibrosis (the hardening and tightening of the skin). When this happens, the growth of normal hair follicles is disrupted, resulting in hair loss. Mild cases of scleroderma appear as small patches of missing hair on the skin and scalp but can also become severe, with the fibrosis affecting the internal organs as well. This severe form is known as systematic scleroderma. A doctor should be sought out for treatment.

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