Alopecia: Overview

Alopecia is the fancy medical term for hair loss. That's it. It doesn't describe any specific type of hair loss. Just hair loss as a big wide general sense. There are 2 categories of alopecia: 1) Non-Scarring Alopecia 2) Scarring Alopecia

Non-Scarring Alopecia Non-scarring alopecias are types of hair loss that is reversible. The hair follicle is not destroyed in this category of alopecia. Most common non-scarring alopecias: -Androgenetic Alopecia: male & female pattern alopecia -Telogen Effluvium: actively growing hairs are thrown into the shedding phase -Alopecia Areata: autoimmune related -Tinea Capitis: fungal infection related hair loss -Trichotillomania: Impulse control disorder that involves recurrent irresistible urges to pull hair out of body -Anagen Effluvium: hair loss due chemo -Traction Alopecia: hair loss due to constant pulling forces on hair follicles from traction hair styling.

Scarring Alopecia: Scarring alopecias are non-reversible, permanent hair loss. it involves the destruction of the hair follice. Most common scarring alopecias: -Lichen Planopilaris: occurs when the skin condition Lichen Planus affects the scalp. -Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: hair loss around the front hair line & temples. -Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia: hair loss result of hair products or styling techniques that damage the hair follicles -Traction Alopecia: yes. The same traction alopecia from the non-scarring alopecia list. Traction alopecia starts off as non-scarring. If one doesn't change their hair styling ways & treat it, it will advance. It will continue to do damage until the damage is irreversible, becoming a scarring alopecia.

There are many forms of alopecia. The majority are reversible if treated.