Alopecia at a glance
- Alopecia is a medical condition that results in hair loss. Patchy round areas of baldness appear on the scalp. Other hair bearing skin such as the eyebrows, eyelashes and body may also be affected
- Alopecia affects males, females, young people and children
- Approximately 1% of the UK population have alopecia at any one time
- Most people have their first experience of alopecia before they are aged 20
- Hair loss can be slight and temporary or severe and permanent
- Alopecia is not life-threatening, painful or contagious and is not due to vitamin deficiencies
- Alopecia can be hereditary. Approximately 1 in 5 sufferers have a close family member with the same condition
- Alopecia is an ‘autoimmune’ condition. Other autoimmune conditions include diabetes, asthma, eczema and thyroid gland disorders. Some people seem to be genetically pre-disposed to these autoimmune conditions ( try asking other family members if they have any experience of any of these conditions)
- Alopecia can often start after a stressful life event such as bereavement, divorce, going to university, getting married or moving house
- Well known alopecians include Gail Porter, Matt Lucas, Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) and Pierluigi Collina ( Italian football referee)
Alopecia can be psychologically devastating and affect your life in many ways. There are different types of alopecia and they are briefly defined as follows:
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata causes patchy round areas of baldness to appear on the scalp, although other hair bearing skin may be affected including the body, eyebrows and eyelashes and beards in men.
Alopecia Totalis
Alopecia areata may develop into alopecia totalis where all scalp hair is lost. Body hair, eyelashes and eyebrows are not usually affected.
Alopecia Universalis
This is the most severe form of alopecia where all body hair is lost i.e. scalp hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, underarm hair, genital hair and any other sites on the body where hair is normally present.
Alopecia androgenetica
This is commonly known as ordinary baldness or male-pattern baldness. Alopecia androgenetica can occur in some women and appears as thinning hair across the head. Some young women are genetically pre-disposed to this condition but it often occurs in other women after the menopause.
Telogen Effluvium
Telogen Effluvium is often referred to as the human moulting condition and usually occurs after the body has experienced some sort of extreme shock. This could include include events such as childbirth, chemotherapy, puberty or simply a high fever.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which people repeatedly pull their own hair out which often results in bald patches.
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