Different kinds of hair loss
http://www.hair123.co.uk/articles/articles/56/1/Different-kinds-of-hair-loss/Page1.html
Jeremy Harkin
Jeremy has enjoyed a varied career in advertising and media. He is now a freelance editorial consultant working with mainstream men's mags and their associated websites.By Jeremy Harkin
Published on 20th February, 2009
There are many different kinds of natural hair loss (i.e. that which does not occur as a side-effect of chemotherapy). Some types of hair loss are permanent and others are short-term: it all depends on the cause.
There are many different kinds of natural hair loss (i.e. that which
does not occur as a side-effect of chemotherapy). Some types of hair
loss are permanent and others are short-term: it all depends on the
cause.
Hair loss can be hereditary in some cases; in others it’s the result of an underlying medical condition. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Male and female-patterns of baldness are permanent and are referred to as “pattern alopecia.”
A rare, permanent condition called cicatricial (scarring) alopecia happens when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicles. This patchy hair loss is sometimes accompanied by slight pain or itching.
Hair loss isn’t always permanent. In fact, many cases of hair loss amongst women are caused by a problem called telogen effluvium. This often occurs after giving birth or experiencing emotional distress, such as a death in the family. Hair loss can also be caused by physical stress such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or serious illness.
Most people shed 50 to 100 hairs per day, which is not a noticeable amount given that there are about 100,000 hairs in the scalp. However, when telogen effluvium occurs, the timing of the telogen resting phase is reset and a couple of months later too many strands fall out at the same time. This results in the hair thinning, but in a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow.
Hair loss can be hereditary in some cases; in others it’s the result of an underlying medical condition. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Male and female-patterns of baldness are permanent and are referred to as “pattern alopecia.”
A rare, permanent condition called cicatricial (scarring) alopecia happens when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicles. This patchy hair loss is sometimes accompanied by slight pain or itching.
Hair loss isn’t always permanent. In fact, many cases of hair loss amongst women are caused by a problem called telogen effluvium. This often occurs after giving birth or experiencing emotional distress, such as a death in the family. Hair loss can also be caused by physical stress such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or serious illness.
Most people shed 50 to 100 hairs per day, which is not a noticeable amount given that there are about 100,000 hairs in the scalp. However, when telogen effluvium occurs, the timing of the telogen resting phase is reset and a couple of months later too many strands fall out at the same time. This results in the hair thinning, but in a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow.