Hair loss is a frequent occurrence in men and women and often presents itself with thinning hair on the scalp, as well as receding hairlines or uneven patches of hair loss. Some instances of hair loss occur across the entire body, and other occurrences are much more limited in nature. Scientists believe hair loss in men usually occurs because of genetics and a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone. Female hair loss does not yet have a single cause that’s widely accepted by scientists or researchers.
Approximately half of all men who reach the age of 50 will experience hair loss, and around 25 percent of females will see some thinning on the scalp or general hair thinning. Many victims of hair loss turn to dermatological solutions, plastic surgery, and pharmacological remedies to stop or reverse the progression of hair loss. However, many individuals who experience hair loss simply accept the condition and believe it is a part of the aging process.
1. Thinning on Scalp
Loss of hair impacts everyone, and losing a few strands a day isn’t something to feel concerned about. General wisdom suggests the average human sheds around 100 hairs every single day due to brushing and active lifestyles. Simply pulling a sweater over your head can result in a few lost hairs. However, losing enough hair may be a symptom of pending baldness that will eventually cause the scalp to become visible. Signs and causes of thinning hair may include hormonal imbalances or deficiencies in vitamin B12 or iron. Stress can also cause hair loss, and the condition is common in both men and women.
2. Receding Hairline
The hairline of the average male grows larger as he ages, and receding hairlines often occur even when there isn’t a significant level of overall hair loss. In many men, hair loss begins in the thirties and only increases with age. For some individuals, a migrating hairline accelerates quickly into significant hair loss masked only by a baseball hat, hair transplantation, or a pharmaceutical solution. Other people may only experience a mild receding of hair that doesn’t require a doctor’s examination of symptoms. The majority of individuals suffering from markedly receding hairlines are men, but the condition can impact some women, too.
3. Exposed Crown
Male-pattern baldness often follows a pattern of thinning hair that begins on the crown of the head and eventually becomes so severe that only a U-shaped ring of hair remains. A receding and thinning hairline may accompany an exposed crown. As hair follicles shrink over time, they begin to appear finer than they once did and the hairs eventually reach a point where they no longer grow back. However, in this circumstance, the follicles aren’t dead, so pharmaceutical options to re-grow hair remain available. In some cases, a man who exhibits symptoms of classic male-pattern baldness will receive a skin biopsy from his doctor to rule out diseases or nutritional deficiencies.
4. General Hair Thinning
In addition to an exposed crown or receding hairline, general hair thinning is also a sign of male-pattern baldness, as well as a sign of the aging process. In general hair thinning, loss of hair will occur across the entire head, and may not ever reach a point where it becomes severe enough to consider pharmaceutical treatments, hair transplantation, or other solutions. The reason general hair thinning may occur is the natural and expected slowing of hair growth over time. This condition is common in older women who experience thinning hair across the entire scalp. Men may also experience symptoms of hair thinning without seeing true male-pattern baldness develop.
5. Patches of Hair Loss
Often caused by a condition known as alopecia areata, random patches of hair loss may indicate an auto-immune issue where the immune system actually attacks the hair follicle. This attack causes a disruption of the natural hair cycle. The bald patches of skin left by this condition tend to look smooth and normal. Hair lost in patches often occurs on the head, but it can also impact the rest of the body. Treatments for this condition exist and often come in the form of prescription steroid creams. Individuals suffering from dermatitis or eczema may also suffer from patches of hair loss as a result of their conditions.
6. Body Hair Loss
Some people go to great lengths to remove hair from their bodies, but anyone can experience body hair loss without engaging in external methods to remove it. Thinning body hair may occur on the arms and legs, as well as on the face with the loss of eyebrows and eyelashes. Hair around the pubic area may thin, and the hair loss may occur across multiple sections of the body. Several skin conditions may be the culprit of a person’s body hair loss, and those issues include dermatitis, psoriasis, ringworm, keratosis pilaris, and eczema. These conditions can damage the hair follicles and lead to permanent hair loss.
7. Shedding
Everyone loses a few hairs a day, but high levels of daily hair loss may indicate stress or significant life changes. For example, losing at least 20 pounds or giving birth may cause the body to shed hair for a temporary period. A woman who stops taking birth control pills may also shed hair for some time. Generally, shedding that occurs due to a stressor will only occur for about four to six months and will eventually taper off. Shedding is a different issue than hair loss, and a dermatologist can tell the difference between the common signs of these two issues and recommend a solution in the event a particular activity is causing the shedding.
8. Broken Patches of Hair
A condition known as tinea capitis, also known as ringworm of the scalp, is a disease commonly experienced by children who contract a superficial fungal infection on their skin. Symptoms include broken patches of hair across the scalp, and the condition may be treated with special shampoo or an oral medication. Broken patches of hair may also be a symptom of alopecia areata, where a sufferer may see a sudden patch of hair loss or multiple bald patches across the body. The condition is an immune response where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles. Another issue that can cause broken patches of hair is trauma to the hair shaft due to trichotillomania, which is a psychological condition where a person feels compelled to pull out their hair.
