What Does Alopecia Look Like?

Alopecia (hair loss), depending on the type, has significantly different looks and causes. It affects people of every race and gender and at some point, 2 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from at least one form of alopecia. Hair loss doesn't just affect men, either; according to the American Hair Loss Association, over 40 percent of alopecia cases are attributed to women.

Alopecia Areata (AA)

Alopecia Areata (AA) is small, round, patchy hair loss. This hair loss can be attributed to anything from stress (telogen effluvium) to fungal scalp infections such as black dot ringworm. The areas affected are often thinning or completely bald. These areas are also smooth with no scabs, inflammation or redness. If there is any scaling or infections causing damage to the follicles, it will result in permanent hair loss. This condition is known as Cicatricial alopecia (scarring alopecia).

Alopecia Totalis (AT)

Alopecia Totalis is the second alopecia areata type. AT is thought to be an autoimmune disease and it affects the hair on the scalp only. The one sign of AT, is total hair loss from the scalp. This type of hair loss comes right between alopecia areata (AA) and alopecia universalis (AU) in the alopecia areata group.

Alopecia Universalis (AU)

Alopecia Universalis belongs to the group of alopecia areata disorders, but it's the rarest of them all. Alopecia Universalis is total hair loss from the entire body. Often people with this form of alopecia are born this way, from a trait inherited commonly called the "hairless" gene. Others develop AU as a complication of vitiligo.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is also known as male pattern hair loss. Despite the definition, both men and women report this type of hair loss. Male pattern hair loss, is loss of hair from the follicles that are controlled by androgens (male hormones). The hair starts to recede back in an 'M' shape from the hairline, and keeps receding back until it forms a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides and back of the head. This hair loss can be observed as just thinning in the areas affected or a complete loss of hair in the same areas.

Traction alopecia

Traction alopecia is caused from hair being pulled too tightly. This type of alopecia forms after the hair pulls from the follicles along with the bulb. Hair pulled in this way can damage the follicles causing hair loss and thinning. The hallmark of traction alopecia is thinning hair starting from the frontal hairline, receding back. This is commonly seen in people who wear tight ponytails or cornrows.

References

• American Hair Loss Association
• American Academy of Dermatology
• Hair Loss Talk

Resources

• National Alopecia Areata Foundation