Types of Hair Loss

Knowledge of hair biology and hair diseases has been until recently a relatively small field of study. Twenty years ago there were fewer than 100 people around the world researching hair compared to five times as many today.

It still does not command as much attention as, diabetes for example, however the interest in hair biology continues to expand which is positive news for those who suffer from rare alopecias.

The medical term for any type of hair loss is “alopecia.” The word itself is Latin but its origins can be traced back to the Greek “alopekia,” and “alopek,” meaning “fox.” The literal translation of these words is mange in foxes.

Male or female pattern baldness is the most common and well-known form of hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia or AGA for short. There are several hundred diseases that include hair loss as a primary symptom with the causes ranging from genetics to the environment.

Alopecia is often in a diagnostic title, such as alopecia areata and scarring alopecia, however, some are not such as telogen effluvium and ringworm. These are probably the most common alopecias seen by a dermatologist along with hair loss due to overprocessing.

However, diagnosing more rare forms of hair loss can take months and even years with patients having to consult with numerous dermatologists until a knowledgeable one is found. Even then, when a correct diagnosis is made a dermatologist may or may not be able to offer an effective treatment.

With the current new interest in hair loss research, there is now at least some hope that new treatments will be developed sooner rather than later. However, there are certainly different options you can presently explore.

When it comes to hair transplant, or restoration surgeries, these techniques top the list of most effective hair loss treatments. The technology behind these procedures has really blossomed in the past decade.

Most clinics offer some sort of free, no obligation educational DVD with more information to help start your researching process. This can help out greatly by providing you with more information, and specific details about their current practice.