Types Of Hair Loss

When you start losing your hair, you quickly turn into a detective to determine the cause of this loss. What you may not know is that there are many types of hair loss that can be caused by a variety of factors, some beyond your control. Medications, illnesses, aging, and genetics are some of these factors.

To learn more about the different types of hair loss, you will have to become more attuned to your body and consult with a doctor to get to the cause of yours. Read on for more information about the main types of hair loss:

1. Androgenetic Alopecia – This hair loss affliction is largely suffered by women. It’s genetic for the most part, although a few health factors could be a primary reason for its manifestation. The hormone DHT in women seems to be the culprit genetically as well in those situations where women might be taking birth control pills, are pregnant, going through menopause or have a cyst in the reproductive organs. Basically, the hair follicles start to shrink, thereby causing thinning hair.

2. Telogen Effluvium – Among the different types of hair loss, this cause can sometimes be prevented. If your body goes through a traumatic experience such as surgery, child birth or an illness that causes severe stress on your health, this could make an impact on your hair. You see, your hair grows at different stages and the last stage (telogen) means that your hair is at rest. Typically in about two to three months after the “trauma” you start to lose hair.

Some people will go into complete remission once the stress or trauma resolves itself. For others, this type of hair loss will never completely go away.

3. Alopecia Areata – Your own immune system compromises your hair follicles and can happen quite suddenly. Just as suddenly, it goes away. In these types of hair loss, you lose hair in patches rather than systematically.

4. Anagen Effluvium – Typically, when your body is affected at the metabolic or cellular level, you can lose hair. Chemotherapy is the most common reason for Anagen Effluvium to occur.

5. Traction Alopecia – These types of hair loss result from repeated hair abuse such as tight cornrow braids or pony tails. Luckily, this hair loss is temporary and your hair will grow back with little problems.

6. Trichotillomania – Trichotillomania is a compulsive type of behavior where a person gains control of their senses by pulling their own hair out. This could be eyebrows, eye lashes or hair out of the scalp. When types of hair loss like this occurs, the hair will grow back but you must look for the underlying reason why this behavior is occurring in the first place.