So you’ve been told that you have Alopecia. What does that even mean?

Alopecia is simply the medical term used to describe the loss of hair: baldness.

I have listed many types of Alopecia, some of which are below.

Androgenic Alopecia is hereditary and is the #1 cause of hair loss in both men and women. With men, it may begin as early as the teenage years. This type will continue to progress unless treated.

Scarring Alopecia is the permanent destruction of the hair follicle due to inflammation. It causes irreversible damage to the follicle and replaces it with scar tissue. This type of hair loss is permanent.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease. It causes patchy loss in any area of the head. It can begin at any age and is usually triggered when the immune system is lowered by illness, poor nutrition, anxiety, or stress. The hair usually grows back on its own.

Traction Alopecia is caused by pulling the hair too tightly into a personal style, such as a tight ponytail or braids. There is a noticeable hairline recession due to the constant traction or tearing of the hair. Traction Alopecia can be treated successfully with a change of hairstyle and the proper treatment.

Hormonal Alopecia is hair loss due to hormone imbalances such as pregnancy, postpartum, birth control, bio-identical hormones, and menopause. This type of Alopecia can be slowed down or stopped if treatment is started soon enough.

Medical and Overall Health This category has a long list of contributors to hair loss. I will name a few here.

Anemia is an iron deficiency most common in women, and the client should be working with their physician to get the proper supplements to resolve the condition.

Thyroid Disease such as Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid that slows down the metabolism and can sometimes be an autoimmune disorder, as is Hashimotos Thyroiditis. The hair will regrow once the balance is achieved by working with your physician and following their protocol.

Diabetes causes poor circulation and often contributes to hair loss. Poor circulation prevents follicles from receiving the proper nutrition and oxygen to function correctly.

Telogen Effluvium: Sudden stress or illness can cause the hair follicles to go from their growth phase (Anagen) into the resting (shedding) phase, called the telogen phase. People usually start noticing hair loss 2-4 months after a stressful time or illness. This is generally temporary, and the hair should start growing within 6-9 months, provided the stress has been managed, the sickness has passed, and the body is back in balance. Toxic chemicals and heavy metals or exposure to radiation or chemotherapy cause environmental Alopeciapy. This can cause temporary or permanent loss, depending on the amount of exposure. Tobacco smoke alone contains hundreds of damaging chemicals that can accelerate hair loss and block medications and treatments used in hair restoration. There is a good chance that if someone’s environmental condition is improved, exposure has not been too damaging, and the body has been able to detox properly, some or most of the hair will grow back.

Something to remember is that if you are experiencing Alopecia of any type, you should talk to a professional, whether a physician or a hair loss expert, to identify the type of hair loss you have and what your treatment protocol would be.