The three types of hair loss are: Androgenetic Alopecia, Alopecia Areata and Telogen Effluvium.
Androgenetic Alopecia
This is the most well-known and common type of hair loss, and by the age of 50 roughly 85% of all men suffer from it. It is also known as male pattern baldness. It is caused by hormone levels changing over a man’s life time. Here DHT levels increase (a substance that block nutrient-flow to the hair follicle), the hair follicle shrinks and eventually hairs will seize to grow. Male pattern baldness is recognized by either a receding hair line and/or a bald spot growing at the top of the head, as shown on the following picture.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease, and can be caused by a number of different factors. It can be caused by: hormones, viruses, allergies, toxins or stress. About 2.1% of people will suffer from Alopecia Areata at some point in their life. It affects both men and women, however in most cases sufferers will recover within a year. Alopecia Areata is very recognizable due to it causing irregular circular bald spots as shown on the picture below.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen Effluvium is caused by excessive stress. When your body experiences an excess amount of stress, it goes in ‘’survival mode’’. When in ‘’survival mode’’ the body will seize to send nutrients to non-essential parts of the body (which includes hair follicles). The hair follicles shrink and the hair detaches. However Telogen Effluvium is often recognized later, this is because when the hair detaches from the follicle, it takes a while before the hair actually falls out. This means that the effects are visible 3 months after the body experiences the excess amount of stress. Luckily this form of hair loss is not permanent and within 3 to 5 months the hairs will return. It can also be caused by pregnancy. The loss of hair due to Telogen Effluvium is recognized due to it being equal all over the scalp, instead of specific spots of hair loss as seen on the picture below.
