Hair Loss Terms Defined
Hair loss comes in many forms. A variety of factors such as diet, disease, side effects from medicine, trauma and genetics can cause hair loss. Please see hair loss terms below for more information about losing your hair.
- androgenetic alopecia
- alopecia areata
- cicatricial alopecia
- dihydrotestosterone
- Female Pattern Hairloss
- Male Pattern Baldness
- anagen phase
- catagen phase
- telogen phase
- traction alopecia
- trichotillomania
Androgenetic Alopecia (pattern baldness)
Hair loss due to hereditary thinning or baldness is the most common reason for hair loss. About 80 million people, both men and women, suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is hair loss due to genetics. [see Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Baldness)
Alopecia Areata (auto immune disorders)
Auto immune disorders (such as thyroid disease) where white blood cells attack the hair follicles which causes hair loss in people of all ages. Alopecia Areata could cause hair to fall out and re-grow several times.
Cicatricial Alopecia (scarring)
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Cicatricial Alopecia is a rare condition where the follicles are destroyed by inflammation and scarring. Skin disorders such as lupus erythematosus or lichen planus can cause scarring of the follicle.
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Those who inherit pattern baldness from a family member are genetically predispositioned to be susceptible to the effects of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone. An enzyme called Type II 5-alpha Reductase resides in the hair follicle's glands. It converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone or DHT which creates a mucus that interferes with hair growth.
Female Pattern Hairloss (androgenetic alopecia)
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Much like male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss is a genetic condition inherited because of thinning hair occurring in family history. Female pattern hair loss is much different than male pattern baldness because often times the frontal hairline stays in tact while thinning occurs all across the top of the head. Those affected genetically are susceptible to DHT, a hormone in the base of the hair follicle that can stop healthy hair from growing. to See an animation explaining Pattern Baldness for more details.
anagen phase (growth phase of a hair)
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The life of a hair begins by growing from a hair follicle beneath the skin. That hair will grow for an average of 2 to 8 years at about 1/2 inch (1cm) per month.
catagen phase (transitional phase)
This is a 2-4 week transitional period when the hair stops growing because the hair follicle is detached from the blood supply.
At the end of it's growth cycle it will enter into a resting phase which lasts between 2 to 4 months. At the end of this phase, the hair is pushed out and a new hair replaces it.
Male Pattern Baldness (androgenetic alopecia)
Being the number one cause of hair loss in the U.S., male pattern baldness is a genetic condition plaguing men who have a history of baldness or thinning hair in their family. Both maternal and paternal hair loss can be a factor. Those genetically susceptible to DHT, a hormone in the base of the hair follicle can stop hair growth, are likely to experience some form of baldness starting as early as 20 years old. Male pattern baldness generally begins by a receding frontal hairline or thinning crown and can progress until hair is thinning or completely gone everywhere except a horseshoe area on the sides of the head. See an animation explaining Male Pattern Baldness in more detail.
telogen effluvium (stress or shock)
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When stress or "shock" from emotional or physical conditions cause the hair to stop growing and go into the resting phase. This causes unusual hair loss in clumps or patches. This kind of hair loss can be caused by changes in diet, nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, fever, death in the family, disease, side effects from medicine or some sort of emotional or physical trauma. Hair usually starts to grow again within 6 to 9 months if the situation returns back to normal.
traction alopecia (pulling the hair too tightly)
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Hairstyles that pull the hair too tightly such as a pony tail, pig tails, dreadlocks or braids can cause scarring of the scalp. Hair loss can be corrected if the pulling is stopped soon enough.
trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)
Trichotillomania is a mental illness where people pull out their own hair and often times go to great lengths to hide it by using hats or wigs.
