Hair Loss: Alopecia, what is it?

Alopecia is a medical term for hair loss that leaves the skin partially or completely bare. Hair loss…

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Alopecia, what is it?

Alopecia is a medical term for hair loss that leaves the skin partially or completely bare. Baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of alopecia. It mainly affects men.

Hair loss is a natural phenomenon strongly determined by heredity. Other forms of alopecia can reveal a health problem or be caused by taking medication, for example.

In Greek, alôpex means “fox”. Alopecia thus recalls the significant loss of hair that the fox undergoes each year, at the beginning of spring.

Some people choose to undertake treatments to stimulate regrowth or limit hair loss. Hair being culturally associated with the power of seduction, health and vitality, the treatment of alopecia arouses great interest.

However, be aware that the result is not always satisfactory. Hair transplantation can then be the last resort.

Types of alopecia

Here are the main forms of alopecia and their causes. Although alopecia mainly affects the hair, it can occur in any hairy area of ​​the body.

Baldness or androgenetic alopecia

Around a third of Caucasian men show baldness by the age of 30, half around the age of 50 and around 80% from the age of 703.

In men, baldness is characterized by the gradual receding of the hairline at the top of the forehead. Sometimes, it occurs rather at the top of the head. Baldness can begin as early as the end of adolescence;

Women are less likely to suffer from baldness. At the age of 30, it affects 2% to 5% of women, and nearly 40% at the age of 70

Female pattern baldness looks different: all of the hair from the top of the head becomes more and more sparse. Although it is often reported that hair loss tends to increase from menopause onwards, this has not been demonstrated in epidemiological studies conducted so far4.

Several studies are underway to better understand the causes of baldness. Heredity seems to have a major influence.

In men, baldness is influenced by male sex hormones (androgens), such as testosterone. Testosterone accelerates the life cycle of hair. Over time, these become thinner and shorter. Hair follicles shrink and then stop being active. It also seems that certain hair types are more influenced by testosterone levels.

The causes of female pattern baldness have been much less studied. Women also produce androgens, but in very small quantities. In some women, baldness could be linked to a higher level of androgens than average, but the main cause is heredity (history of baldness in the mother, a sister…).

Cicatricial alopecia

Alopecia can be caused by permanent damage to the scalp due to a disease or infection of the skin (lupus, psoriasis, lichen planus, etc.). Inflammatory reactions that occur in the skin can destroy hair follicles.

Ringworm, a fungal infection of the scalp, is the most common cause of alopecia in children. However, in them, there is regrowth in most cases.

Ringworm

Ringworm, a fungal infection of the scalp, is the most common cause of alopecia in children. However, in them, there is regrowth in most cases.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata, or alopecia areata, is an autoimmune disease. It is recognized by the complete loss of hair or body hair on small areas of skin.

There is sometimes regrowth, but a relapse is always possible months or years later. Alopecia areata (loss of all body hair) is very rare. To find out more, see our Alopecia Areata sheet.

Telogen effluvium

It is a sudden and temporary loss of hair, following a physical or emotional shock, pregnancy, surgery, significant weight loss, high fever, etc

Up to 30% of hair enters the resting phase prematurely and then falls out. Once the stress has passed, the hair follicles return to the active phase. However, this may take a few months.

Congenital alopecia

Very rare, it can be attributed in particular to the absence of hair roots or an anomaly of the hair shaft.

Mutations in the P2RY5 gene are thought to be responsible for one of these hereditary forms called hypotrichosis simplex, which begins in childhood in both sexes. This gene would participate in the formation of a receptor that plays a role in hair growth.

Drugs, chemotherapy, etc.

Different situations can trigger hair loss.

For example, nutritional deficiencies, an imbalance in the hormonal system, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments to treat cancer, medications (for example, warfarin, a blood thinner, or lithium, used in the treatment of bipolar disorder).

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