Alopecia is the medical term for hair fall. There are two main types of alopecia:
• Scarring
• Non- scarring
Scarring Alopecia:
As the name suggests, in scarring type of alopecia there is inflammation and scar formation on the scalp. There may additionally be scaling and pustule formation over the skin of the scalp. There are two main conditions leading to scarring type of alopecia- lichen planopilaris and discord lupus.
Non-scarring alopecia:
In non-scarring alopecia,there is little to no inflammation. The hair loss may be in patches- such as in a condition called alopecia areata and in a psychiatric condition- trichotillomania, where the patient has a compulsion to pluck out their own hair. The loss of hair may also be diffuse, such as in case of post-chemotherapy hairloss, malnutrition and in severe stress.
When the hair loss occurs due to hormonal influences, it is called androgenic alopecia. There is a male pattern of baldness and female pattern of baldness- the former being mainly over the front hairline and forehead, and the latter is along the hair partition.
The treatments for alopecia vary greatly as the causes are evidentlyall quite different.
What are some other causes of hair loss that you know?
Hair loss is far more complex than most people realize, and beyond scarring and non scarring alopecia, several other hidden factors can trigger significant shedding. Thyroid disorders both hypo and hyperthyroidism are major contributors, often overlooked in young women. Iron deficiency, especially low ferritin, remains one of the most common global causes of diffuse hair fall. Medications such as isotretinoin, anticoagulants, and antidepressants can also trigger telogen effluvium. Autoimmune conditions, chronic infections, postpartum hormonal shifts, crash dieting, and excessive heat or chemical styling further weaken hair follicles. Understanding the root cause not just treating the symptom, is the real key to long term hair recovery.