Types of Hair loss:
Alopecia or hair loss affects almost
everyone at some point of life. This disease is generally seen affecting people
within the age limit of 15 to 40 years. More than 40 percent of the cases have
the disease onset before the age of 20. Approximately 30 percent of the cases
have disease onset after the age of 40. There might be exceptions to these
statistics but in general, alopecia affects almost all age groups without any
discrimination.
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There are several different types of
alopecia, depending upon their source and extent of damage caused. Alopecia
areata is the most commonly discussed type of alopecia. Usually this kind of
alopecia is taken into consideration whenever talking about hair fall. This
type is characterized by the sudden formation of hairless patches on the head.
This is believed to be an autoimmune response of the body to some unknown
agents entering into the body. As a result of this attack, certain areas of
scalp get affected and lose hair permanently. Normal hair follicles are also
sabotaged by these responses. Sometimes these patches result in complete
baldness and can also be contagious. The causes of this ailment are taking too
much stress and the disturbance in the metabolism of human body.
Another kind of hair fall is Androgenic
Alopecia. This is the most common of all types of hair loss. It encompasses
male pattern baldness as well as female hair loss. Generally it is believed to
have genetic basis. Both male and female cases complain for having the problem
but males, in particular, are more affected. More than 95 percent of men have
this kind of alopecia. It is because this is a sex-influenced trait. At a
certain age, some body enzymes cause changes in the male sex hormone called
testosterone. These fluctuations tend to shrink hair follicles and thus result
in hair fall. As this hormone is present in a lesser amount in females, so they
are less affected by this abnormality.
Sometimes when hair fall remains
unchecked for a longer time, the upshot can be much more shocking than
expected. There can be complete loss of hair from the entire head and what is
left behind is a clear region of skin. You generally see some celebrities
having shiny smooth heads with no hair at all. You begin to imagine how in the
world did that happen? But don’t worry. They just have lost all their hair and
are trying to cover that deficiency with style. Just thank God for what you
have! This condition is generally referred to as Alopecia totalis.
Sometimes hair loss persists and
takes over the entire body. Each and every part of the body is wiped out clean
and not even a single sign of hair is left behind. Even the eyebrows of the
victim are cleared out. This severe mode of the disease is called Alopecia universalis. Here even the
tiniest hair follicles are sabotaged and there is no place for the rooting of
new hair.
Another hair fall type resulting
from most common everyday practices is called Traction Alopecia. Here the
person suffering from the disease is the actual cause of the hair fall. Whenever
we style our hair or apply harsh chemicals to it, some devastating effects of
these practices result into immediate hair fall. Hair cannot endure so much
stress and therefore we are sure to lose our precious hair.
Yet another very common type is Scarring
Alopecia. Here the hair follicles are destroyed and leave marks or scars. In
primary type of the ailment, inflammation of follicles results into hair loss,
which further results into scars. In secondary type, factors like infections,
bruises, burns, etc. and some factors other than follicle destruction can cause
the scar formation on the scalp after hair loss.
All these types of hair loss can be
cured if it is not left unchecked for too long.
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