Types of Hair Loss
ALOPECIA AREATA (AA)
Alopecia Areata most commonly affects younger men, women and children. The condition is due to an auto-immune response, where the cells attack the hair follicles which produce hair. It causes hair growth to stop, and the follicle enters a resting phase of its cycle which leads to hair loss. Hair can be lost from areas on the scalp or body.
Most cases are characterised by a shiny patch of scalp around the size of a coin that becomes visible through the hair and feels silky smooth. Hair loss can be sudden and develop in just a few days which can be very difficult to adapt to emotionally.
ALOPECIA TOTALIS
Alopecia Totalis is the loss of all hair on the head, and facial hair. Hair can also be lost from other regions of the body. Its causes are unclear, but believed to be autoimmune. The immune system which normally protects the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This is what leads to hair loss.
CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIOTHERAPY
Many women report hair loss as one of the side effects they fear most after being diagnosed with cancer.
Hair loss can be caused by chemotherapy that kills rapidly dividing cells. The hair usually starts to regrow a few weeks after the last treatment, and can sometimes change colour, texture and thickness. Sometimes the hair has a tendency to curl after regrowth, resulting in “chemo curls.”
Hair loss may occur following a course of radiotherapy, the impact varies significantly according to the dosage and frequency of the treatment.
Normally hair loss will only occur at the treatment site and occasionally at the exit point on the opposite side of the head.
TRICHOTILLOMANIA (TTM)
The most common age of onset is from age 9-13. It is known as an Impulse control disorder that causes overwhelming urges to pull out your hair. Urges are most common around the areas of the head and around the face. It occurs more commonly in those with obsessive compulsive disorders, Episodes of pulling may be triggered by anxiety or to relive stress.
MALE & FEMALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS
Known as (MPHL) when it affects males and (FPHL) when it affects females, is hair loss that primarily affects the top and front of the scalp. In males, the hair loss often presents as a receding hairline or balding at the crown, while in females, it typically presents as a thinning of the hair.
Male pattern hair loss is believed to be due to a combination of genetics and the hormone DHT however in females it remains unclear.
FRONTAL FIBROSING ALOPECIA
Also known as Scarring Alopecia and has a distinctive clinical pattern of hair loss characterised by progressive recession of the hairline at the front and sides of the scalp. Frontal fibrosing alopecia is thought to be a variant of lichen planopilaris and most often reported in post-menopausal women.
TRANSGENDER TRANSITIONING
Hair loss in men can cause a receding hairline or thinning at the crown area, which can sometimes look quite harsh. The female hairline tends to be much softer and lower down. We can help create different hairlines and solutions for those in the transitioning process. For many Transgender women finding a hair solution that meets their needs is key. Your hair should reflect your personality wether natural, glamourous or funky. You should feel comfortable and confident in your chosen style everyday.