Mild hair loss is something that happens to everybody every day. When you do a straightforward hygiene routine like brushing your hair, drying your hair, or washing, you’ll notice loose strands. This is common. However, there’s a more serious occurrence of hair loss, and it’s called alopecia. By definition, alopecia is the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows, otherwise known as baldness.
Both women and men experience hair loss, but men experience hair loss at a much higher rate. If you are one of the millions of men who are wondering if you’re experiencing hair loss and why, below are four types of hair loss that men experience.
Androgenic Alopecia
Androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness is a hereditary genetic condition that causes gradual thinning and loss of hair. With over 3 million cases per year, androgenic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in men and can begin as early as adolescence. It starts as a receding hairline where progressively, the hair loss moves from the front of the head (i.e. the temples), slowly creating an M-shaped “design” in the hair. It becomes difficult for the hair shaft to produce healthy new hair. The strands become finer, lose pigmentation, become shorter and weaker.
Cicatricial Alopecia
Scarring alopecia, also known as cicatricial alopecia, affects three percent of individuals who suffer from hair loss. With a small number of them being diagnosed with cicatricial alopecia, it makes it a particularly rare form. A skin biopsy is normally done to aid in the diagnosis to help identify the scarring form of alopecia. Symptoms of this sort of alopecia include inflammation, flaky skin, itching with an intense burning sensation, and scarring of the scalp. Hair loss is permanent, and medical treatment is required.
Telogen Effluvium
Another type of hair loss in men is telogen effluvium. There are three stages of hair growth and loss – anagen, catagen, and telogen. Telogen effluvium hair loss occurs when hair enters its natural growth resting phase in the telogen phase. During telogen effluvium, the anagen and telogen phases slow down while hair continues to fall out at its normal rate. Thus, hair loss occurs. Telogen effluvium prolongation is involutional alopecia. With involutional alopecia, the strands in the telogen resting phase become shorter, tougher and brittle, and shrink.
Tinea Capitis
The last type of hair loss is tinea capitis. Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, generally affects school-age kids. However, this disease is so contagious that it can be passed on to adults (generally the parents of the child). Tinea capitis is treatable, and a doctor can prescribe medicine. Hair loss is not permanent and will grow back. Symptoms include scarring, inflammation, and blisters on the affected area. Hair loss is not all the time an immediate problem. Because of that, Andrea Shampoo Recommendations For Hair Loss These include consulting your doctor or dermatologist for a diagnosis, taking prescribed medicine, changing your diet if it’s negatively impacting your hair growth, and relieving stress.
