We’re diving into the different types of hair loss, what causes them, and how they can be treated.
We’ve all had that moment of shock after noticing excess hair on the pillowcase, shower drain, or comb. You look at it with disbelief and ask yourself, “Is this how it begins?”
The truth is that finding more hair than usual in the sink, bed, or other places can be a source of anxiety for men who take pride in healthy hair. And in most cases, this can be a sign of balding, hair loss, or another underlying condition.
Why Am I Losing My Hair?
If this question has been constantly on your mind since you’ve realized you’re losing more hair than usual, know that you’re not alone. A little hair loss each day is quite normal. The typical healthy person has more than 100,000 hairs on their head (so losing anything less than 100 hairs a day isn’t necessarily a cause for concern).
However, watching your once-full scalp begin to recede as you find tons of hairs on your clothes and pillowcase can be distressing, especially if you’re not sure what’s causing it. Several factors may contribute to hair loss, and some are within your control.
The good news is that not all hair loss is cause for panic. The key to getting a handle on your problem and finding out what you can do about your thinning hair starts with understanding the different types of hair loss and their features.
What Are the Types of Hair Loss?
Hair loss can be complicated. Different types of hair loss require specific treatments, and the likelihood of their success varies from case to case.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that occurs when many follicles on the scalp enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair growth cycle, but they never make it to their next growth phase. Telogen effluvium usually affects the entire scalp evenly, and it doesn’t make your hair appear patchy. People suffering from this condition may lose 300 to 500 hairs a day, and their hair may appear thinner.
Various factors can cause telogen effluvium. However, it’s most common in people who have recently undergone body trauma. It can appear in people who have recently undergone surgery, had a high fever, lost a lot of weight, have given birth, in people under a lot of stress, or are recovering from illness.
The good news is, telogen effluvium is very likely to go away once the person has overcome the illness and the stressors are gone.
Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is a hair loss resulting from sudden or chronic injuries to the scalp and hair follicle. This form of alopecia is also called traumatic alopecia and can be caused by hairstyles that involve burning, pulling, or damaging the hair in any way.
Coloring, bleaching, straightening, and frequently doing hairstyles like cornrows and the man bun can cause traumatic alopecia. If the damage is considerable and continues over a long time, traction alopecia can be permanent.
Your best bet is to take preventative measures early on. You can stop using chemicals and other damaging agents and stop stressing your hair with tight hairstyles that strain the follicle.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that can affect both adults and children. Your body’s immune system attacks the healthy tissues, including hair follicles, and causes hair to fall suddenly and without any warning. Scalp hair usually falls out in small patches, and you can also experience hair loss in your eyebrows and eyelashes.
There are two types of alopecia areata: alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis.
Alopecia totalis attacks your scalp and persists until you no longer have hair on your head. Alopecia universalis is very rare; however, it can cause hair loss across your entire body if you happen to have it.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the most frequent type of hair loss in both men and women. In men, it can develop in the early 20s and progress throughout the years. It is characterized by thinning or receding hairline edges and thinning hair on the crown.
In women, androgenetic alopecia can be affected by hormonal changes, genetics, and age. The good news is, it can be easily treated as today there is a variety of oral and topical medications that can help slow down or entirely stop the recession and restart growth.
How Can I Treat Hair Loss?
Identifying symptoms early on and finding the proper treatment for your hair loss type is the best way to prevent major issues and help your hair grow back. If you’re wondering ‘what’s the best hair loss treatment for me,’ keep in mind that every case is specific and requires the proper diagnosis and medication.