Alopecia overview

Alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shuh) is the medical term for baldness. Most baldness affects the scalp, and in men, sometimes the beard. The hair loss may occur in certain regions, in isolated patches, or as an overall thinning. By far, the most common form of baldness is pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic (An-droh-jih-NET-ihk) alopecia. This hereditary condition causes men to lose hair in the front and center of the head. When present in women, pattern baldness usually results in a general, diffuse thinning of hair. There's no cure for pattern baldness, but it may be treatable with medication. Another form of baldness is alopecia areata (air-ee-AY-tuh), in which rings or patches of bare scalp suddenly appear. The cause is unknown, but most cases resolve on their own within six months to two years. In addition, many factors can lead to temporary thinning and loss of hair, including childbirth; stress; high fever; general anesthesia during surgery; thyroid imbalance; and medications like chemotherapy drugs and birth control pills. Typically, such hair loss appears about four months after the triggering event or substance is encountered. The most extreme type of baldness, and probably the most rare, is called alopecia universalis (You-nih-vuhr-SAL-ihs), in which all body hair is lost, even the eyebrows and eyelashes.