What Is Alopecia in Women?

According to the American Hair Loss Association, alopecia is the medical term for excessive or abnormal hair loss. Temporary female hair loss may be caused by a fluctuation in hormones, trauma or a medical treatment, whereas permanent female hair loss is often inherited.

Significance

• According to HerAlopecia.com, 20 million women in the U.S. suffer from some type of hair loss. Forty percent are age 40 or younger.

Androgenetic Alopecia

• Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness, is the most common type of female hair loss. This type of hair loss is hereditary and typically begins anytime after puberty but before the age of 40. Hair thinning may be noticed all over the head, but is concentrated by the part line and behind the bangs.

Alopecia Areata

• This type of hair loss currently has no known cause, but may be triggered by stress, allergic reaction, viral or bacterial infection, long term chemical exposure, physical trauma or genetics. Women with alopecia areata experience patchy hair loss on the scalp.

Alopecia Totalis

• Women suffering from alopecia totalis experience total hair loss on the scalp. Alopecia totalis is an autoimmune disorder and may occur suddenly or over time, causing patchy hair loss until complete baldness is achieved.

Alopecia Universalis

• Alopecia universalis is the complete loss of all scalp and body hair. Alopecia universalis is an inherited disorder that is caused by a gene mutation. Women with this type of hair loss may be more likely to suffer from thyroid disease and vitiligo.