Hair4Life

A list of Hair Loss related terminology

Alopecia: Alopecia comes in many different forms. Alopecia may be localized to the front and top of the head (as in common male and female pattern baldness) or it may be patchy – a condition described as alopecia areata. If alopecia areata balding occurs across the entire head, specialists refer to the condition as alopecia totalis; if it affects the entire body then it’s known as alopecia universalis. There are many different causes of (factors in) Alopecia such as genetics, age, stress, dietary issues, iron deficiency in women, disease or drugs/medications etc….

Anagen: Hair grows in cycles – anagen, catagen and telogen. Anagen is the growing phase of hair, lasting between two and seven years (depending on many factors including genetics).

Catagen: The middle (transition) stage between the anagen (growing) and telogen (resting) phases of the hair’s growth cycle.

Telogen: The resting phase of the hair cycle that usually lasts approximately three months.

Telogen Loss: also known as telogen effluvium Loss of hair during resting phase of hair or “natural” loss. This is often characterized by the thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase. This can often be caused by emotional or psychological stress, eating disorders, fever, anemia, drugs or major surgery.

Cortex: The cortex is the main structure of the hair shaft. The cortex makes up for 90% of hair’s weight and determines the color, texture and denier or thickness of each individual hair.

Bonding: A term used to describe the fixing additional strands of hair to your natural hair. The additional hair that is used may be synthetic or human and is attached to one’s hair and/or scalp.

DHT (Dihydro-testosterone): Testosterone is the male hormone responsible for the development of all of the male secondary sexual characteristics like male hair patterns on the body, hair on the face and oily skin. Testosterone can be converted in the body to dihydro-testosterone by the enzyme 5-Alpha-reductase in genetically predisposed individuals. Studies have shown that 95% of male baldness and hair loss is caused by (DHT).

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB) is the female equivalent of male pattern baldness. Progressive thinning of hair caused by genetics, age, and hormones. Usually develops at a much slower rate than male pattern baldness. Manifests differently than male pattern baldness in that most women with FPB don’t experience receding hairline. Often the original hairline remains virtually unchanged but the hair through the top and crown of the head thins evenly all over whereas hair in the sides and back/nape of the head generally doesn’t’ usually thin out and remains at its original density.

Frontal Alopecia: Hair loss at the front of the head.Hypothyroid: Hypothyroidism is caused due to lack of thyroid hormone in the body and it can often result in hair loss, thinning of the hair or a change of texture (dry and brittle).

Male Pattern Baldness: More than 95% of hair thinning in men is male pattern baldness often referred to as androgenic alopecia. This type of hair loss is often caused by hormones, genes, and age and is progressive in nature. It is often characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead and/or a thinning crown which can lead to loss of all hair on top of the head, thus causing a U-shape pattern/fringe of remaining hair.

Senescent Alopecia: If often known as ‘Involutional Alopecia’ as it is the type of hair loss that naturally occurs with age. This occurs in varying degrees in both women and men and is characterized by the general thinning of both hair diameter and density.

Temporal Recession: Hair loss in the temple region. This is the most stubborn area of hair loss to rectify and is most common in men.