Alopecia (Hair Loss)

Alopecia is defined as hair loss or baldness. It means loss of hair from the head or body. Alopecia can mean baldness, a term generally reserved for pattern alopecia or androgenic alopecia. Compulsive pulling of hair (trichotillomania) can also produce hair loss. Hairstyling routines such as tight ponytails or braids may induce Traction alopecia. Both hair relaxer solutions, and hot hair irons can also induce hair loss. In some cases, alopecia is due to underlying medical conditions, such as iron deficiency.
The cause of alopecia areata is not fully stated. Some studies suggest that it is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the hair follicles. Other researchers have linked some cases to stress; and still others have no known cause. It is estimated that the condition affects up to 1.7 percent of the population.

TYPES OF ALOPECIA:

There are several types.

Alopecia areata is characterized by round patches of complete baldness. People with this condition lose patches or clumps of their hair, and in some cases may lose all the hair on their head or body.  

Androgenetic alopecia affects approximately 50% of the male population. Modern science still does not have a treatment to completely reverse androgenetic alopecia in advanced stages, Treatment with finasteride, minoxidil, or a combination of both, can stop and partly reverse the hair loss in the majority of patients who mild to moderate symptoms and signs.

Common types of alopecia

Alopecia Areata (primary stage) Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disease that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere. It usually starts with one or more small, round, non-scarring smooth patches.
AA 1	AA 2	AA 3
AA 4	Alopecia Barbae
Mild Transient Alopecia Areata patient with repeated transient alopecia areata but never converts into alopecia totalis or universalis
MTA 1	MTA 2	MTA 3
MTA 4	MTA 5
Transient Alopecia Areata patient with Alopecia areata in progressive phase and some of them converts into Alopecia totalis/Alopecia universalis.
TAA 1	TAA 2	TAA 3
TAA 4	TAA 5
Ophiasis Alopecia Areata Ophiasis type of alopecia areata shows a band like hair loss. It occurs mostly in the temporal or the occipital regions of the scalp and is therefore more difficult to treat, as most medicines have a delayed action on these areas. Ophiasis type of alopecia is identified by a turban or snake like pattern on the periphery of the scalp. Ophiasis in Greek means serpent and this is how the disease gets its name.
OAA 1	OAA 2	OAA 3
OAA 4	OAA 5
Alopecia Totalis Loss of hair from entire Scalp. Alopecia Universalis Loss of hair from entire body including eyebrow eyelashes.
AT 1	AT 2	AT 3
AU 1	AU 2
Scarring Alopecia Any inflammatory process (burns, bacterial infections, ringworm, injury) sufficient to cause permanent loss of follicles, affected area known as scarring alopecia. It is also known as Cicatricial alopecia. (Pseudopelade Bronque, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus, Lichen Planopilaris, etc.)
SA 1	SA 2	SA 3
SA 4	SA 5
Tricotilomania This type of hair loss is known as compulsive pulling or repetitive self pulling by a patient himself/herself.
TTM 1	TTM 2	TTM 3
TTM 4	TTM 5
Traction Alopecia Hair style that tie hairs so tight can causes much traction at the root can develop traction alopecia
TRA 1	TRA 2	TRA 3
TRA 4	TRA 5
Chemotherapy and hair loss Chemotherapy is exclusive treatment for cancer patients but it affects normal cells and hair follicles too. This causes hair loss known as anagen effluvium type of alopecia.
CHE 1	CHE 2	CHE 3
CHE 4	CHE 5
Androgenetic alopecia Androgenetic alopecia
FPB 3	MPB 4	MPB 5
FPB 1	FPB 2
Diffuse Alopeica Excessive Loss of hair all over the scalp without creating a patch.
DA 1	DA 2	DA 3
DA 4	DA 5
Hair loss due to side effect of the beauty treatments Any beauty treatments like hair colors, dye, straightening, softening, rebounding, perming etc., which contains harsh chemicals can trigger hair loss for some individuals.
SE 1	SE 2	SE 3
SE 4	SE 5
Telogen effluvium (TE) and chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) Dietary deficiencies, Crash dieting High grade fever, Anemia, Blood loss, Hormonal imbalance and pregnancy etc, can cause telogen effluvium type of hair loss telogen word is known for resting phase of the hair and effluvium means letting loose.
TE 1	TE 2	TE 3
CTE 4	CTE 5