Are You Losing Your Hair?

Thinning hair and balding affect both men and women, and the loss of hair can occur for a variety of reasons. From age alone, virtually everyone will notice some hair loss or thinning hair. About 70 percent of all men experience some degree of male pattern baldness, while almost 30 percent of women have female pattern baldness. Step one is learning what’s at the root of the problem … literally.

The Truth About Female Pattern Baldness

Types of Hair Loss

There are various types of loss of hair caused by various conditions:

• Androgenic alopecia. This condition affects both sexes. While it is generally described as male pattern baldness in men and female pattern baldness in women, some doctors believe the condition is actually two different diseases rather than a manifestation of the same disease in both sexes. That said, the condition isn’t fully understood.
• Female pattern baldness. This is the most commonly seen type of hair loss among women, which is a general and overall thinning. In most cases, thinning hair in women does not result in a receded hairline or complete baldness. Rather, most women who experience a loss of hair find their hair thinning more or less uniformly all over the scalp. As many as 21 million American women are affected by female pattern baldness.
• Male pattern baldness. Also called common baldness or permanent pattern baldness, this is generally regarded as being due to genetics — as a man ages, he is likely to experience balding if his father did.
• Telogen effluvium. This temporary condition, most often seen in women, involves the loss of hair two or three months after a significant event — anything from the hormonal imbalance that follows pregnancy to being on a low-protein crash diet to a very stressful event like surgery. This type of loss typically occurs all over the head and is usually described as a period of shedding; it’s likely to slow down and eventually stop within six to eight months of the event that caused it.
• Alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disorder affecting about 2 percent of the general population. It is usually diagnosed when one or more small patches on the scalp become completely bald; it can also affect the eyebrows and eyelashes. While there is no known cure and the cause is unknown, the condition often reverses itself; however, it can also recur.

Causes of Hair Loss

Many people experience some hair loss due to age, hormone changes, and genetics. However, a loss of hair can be caused by other factors, including:

• Certain medications, including some antidepressants, blood thinners (anticoagulants), and chemotherapy treatments for cancer
• Fungal infection, such as ringworm of the scalp
• Significant stress on the body from a surgery or serious illness
• Vitamin deficiencies and thyroid problems
• Hormone imbalances or disruptions including pregnancy and childbirth (temporary) or menopause

10 Surprising Things That Cause Hair Loss

When to See a Medical Professional

You should talk to a doctor about hair loss when:

• Your hair loss is occurring in an unusual pattern.
• It is accompanied by itching; this may indicate an infection that can, and should, be treated.
• You believe loss of hair is not related to genetic predisposition or another explanation (such as temporary hormonal changes) because, in some cases, hair loss can be an early symptom of a disease such as diabetes or lupus

You may also want to seek professional advice if you need help managing the psychological stress that often accompanies the loss of hair.

• Treatment
• Management
• See all Hair Loss Articles

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