Hair loss varies in severity, typically affecting two-thirds of American men by age 35 and 20% of American women. Most commonly diagnosed as androgenic alopecia, humans naturally experience reduced size of hair follicles, slower growth cycles, and faster rates of shedding.
While men are more prone to experience hair loss at earlier ages, both men and women are encouraged to seek help from a specialist for any degree of loss. Some of the most commonly diagnosed forms of alopecia include:
- Alopecia areata: Appears in one or more small patches of missing hair. Can occur on the scalp, eyebrows, or other parts of the body.
- Alopecia totalis: The loss of hair from the entirety of the scalp.
- Alopecia universalis: The loss of hair from the entirety of the body.
- Postpartum alopecia: During pregnancy, estrogen levels rise resulting in the hair growth stimulation from androgen hormones. After childbirth, women are subject to a plunge in estrogen levels. This drop can cause excessive shedding of the hair before resuming normal growth after the first few months postpartum.
