Types of Alopecia
Non-Scarring Alopecia Types:
Androgenic Alopecia: Also known as male or female pattern baldness, this type is often influenced by genetics and causes gradual, progressive thinning of hair.
Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss. Variants include:
Alopecia Totalis: Complete hair loss on the scalp.
Alopecia Universalis: Hair loss affecting the entire body.
Ophiasis: Hair loss in a band-like pattern along the hairline.
Telogen Effluvium: Temporary and widespread hair shedding triggered by stress or physical or emotional factors.
Traction Alopecia: Hair loss caused by continuous pulling from tight hairstyles such as braids, hair extensions, or ponytails.
Trichotillomania: A mental health condition where an individual has an irresistible urge to pull out their own hair.
Scarring Alopecia: This group of disorders causes permanent damage to hair follicles, resulting in irreversible hair loss.Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a specific type of scarring alopecia characterized by gradual hair loss and scarring along the hairline.
Lichen planopilaris is another scarring condition that causes irreversible hair loss through follicle destruction.
Hair loss can also occur due to surgery or trauma, which involves physical injury such as burns or surgical incisions that damage the scalp and hair follicles.