What You Need to Know About Alopecia
Alopecia can be divided into disorders in which the hair follicle is normal, but the cycling of hair growth is abnormal and disorders in which the hair follicle is damaged. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in women. A hereditary condition, it is marked by the thinning of hair over the top and sides on the head. In men it shows as baldness in receding hairlines. Other disorders include:
- Alopecia areata which results in patchy hair loss presenting as a single patch, multiple confluent patches up to complete baldness.
- Telogen effluvium which is diffuse hair loss often caused by stress.
- Cicatricial alopecia is caused by a condition that damages the scalp and hair follicles like infections, autoimmune diseases or even burns.
- Traumatic alopecia may be caused by cosmetic practices like curling irons, brushes with square tips, over-braiding or trichotillomania (self hair plucking).
