Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is a condition that interrupts the natural cycle of hair production. Hair loss can affect the entire body; however, it mainly affects the scalp. The hair growth cycle has three phases; the anagen phase, catagen phase and the telogen phase. During the anagen phase, a person’s hair will actively grow and can continue to last for many years.
As the catagen phase begins, the hair will stop growing and detach itself from the follicle. This cycle can last as long as 10 days. The third and final phase, telogen, is where the hair follicle will rest for about two to three months before the hair finally falls out. If there is disruption in this cycle or a follicle is damaged, the hair can fall out much faster than with healthy hair. This can lead to symptoms such as a receding hairline, thinning, or hair falling out in patches.
There are many different types of hair loss Savannah patients will experience, this affects both men and women, with some being more common than others. Below is a list of a few types of hair loss:
Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, affecting almost more than 50 million men and 30 million women in United States. It’s commonly known as male and female pattern hair loss.
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that occurs when a large amount of hair follicles enter the telogen phase, but the growth phase doesn’t begin. Telogen effluvium doesn’t lead to complete baldness, however, men and women alike can still lose up to 500 hairs per day. The hair may also appear to be thin at the crown and temples. Usually, stressful events, certain medical conditions and childbirth can cause this type of hair loss.
This type of hair loss is considered an autoimmune condition, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, including the follicles. Alopecia areata can affect both children and adults without warning. Any hair from the scalp will usually fall out in small patches and won’t be painful. Furthermore, hair on other parts of the body such as eyelashes and eyebrows can also fall out. If left untreated, this disease can lead to complete hair loss.
As mentioned before, there are a lot of different types of hair loss. If you’re suffering from hair loss and you would like to know more information, call Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery at 912-644-0744 today.