Shedding light on alopecia and its types Shedding light on alopecia and its types

The hair on your head can be a big part of your identity and how you see yourself. That’s why it can be especially distressing if you run your hand through your locks and discover that it’s thinner than usual. Hair loss can affect both men and women and can be the result of several different causes. Whether this hair loss can be stopped or delayed will depend on what’s causing it.

What Is Alopecia?

Alopecia is an umbrella medical term for hair loss. There are several different types and subtypes of alopecia, each with their own causes and symptoms. Alopecia is relatively common and can happen to people of any age, ethnicity or gender. However, knowing it’s common is often little comfort to people experiencing it. Alopecia is more than hair loss and it can have a serious impact on a person’s mental health.

Thankfully, once you’ve identified the cause of your hair loss, there may be a way to treat it.

Types of Alopecia

Several types of alopecia exist, each with unique characteristics and causes. Understanding these variations is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

  • Androgenic Alopecia is one of the most common forms of alopecia. Depending on the gender, it can be referred to as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness usually starts with hair loss at the temples and the hair line. Female pattern baldness, on the other hand, causes evenly spread hair loss that starts at the part line.
  • Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. It usually first presents as small patches of hair loss on the head and facial hair. Alopecia Areata can also spread to body and pubic hair. This patchy type of hair loss may eventually stop with regrowth possible.
  • Alopecia totalis occurs when all the hair on the scalp falls out. It may first start as Alopecia Areata before developing into more widespread hair loss. It’s not unusual for hair loss caused by Alopecia totalis to occur rapidly.
  • Alopecia universalis is a type of hair loss that results in a complete loss of hair on the scalp, face, and body.
  • Diffuse Alopecia Areata, or telogen effluvium, may sound similar but is different to alopecia areata. The hair falls out in various places across the scalp rather than falling out in patches.
  • Cicatricial alopecia is a very rare type of hair loss that happens when the hair follicles because scarred and inflamed. The sooner Cicatricial Alopecia is treated, the less likely it will lead to permanent hair loss.

There are other less common forms of alopecia. It’s also possible for people to experience more than one type at a time or to have a form of alopecia that is somewhere between two types. For example, those who lose a noticeable amount of hair on their face but not all of it.

Hair Loss Causes

What’s causing your symptoms of alopecia is directly linked to the type of alopecia you have. Some are genetic, while others are due to hormones or autoimmune disorders. As a whole, alopecia is a complex condition and it’s sometimes unclear why some people develop it while others don’t. There are some factors that make a person more likely to experience hair loss, especially genetics. If you have a family history of alopecia, you’re more likely to experience it than people with no family history of hair loss.

Understanding alopecia causes and treatment for men

Alopecia caused by an autoimmune response may have more elusive causes. Researchers aren’t always sure why autoimmune disorders develop, but they have theories. One of the more popular theories is that they develop after a person experiences a virus or infection. It’s thought that when your immune system starts to attack an infection or virus, healthy tissue like hair follicles can get caught up in this defence.

Other causes of alopecia include:

  • Hormonal fluctuations
  • Some medications
  • Certain health conditions
  • Stress
  • Physical trauma to the hair
  • Trichotillomania, a disorder that causes people to pull out their hair

Understanding the cause of your alopecia will help you develop a treatment plan that prevents further hair loss. In some cases, you may be able to regrow your hair back.

Hair Loss Treatment For Men

The best way to treat hair loss is to start as soon as you notice it. Early treatment makes your chances of success much higher than they would be if you waited until you have significant hair loss. In some cases, you may be able to make a few lifestyle changes to strengthen your hair. Hair loss caused by an underlying condition can be relieved by treating the underlying condition.

In other situations, hair loss medicines like Propecia may be the most effective way to treat hair loss in men. Propecia is the brand name of Finasteride, a medication that has been proven to stop the progression of hair loss.

Finasteride was originally developed to treat enlarged prostates in adult men. It can reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate as well as improve urine flow and reduce the urge to urinate.

Propecia/Finasteride works by preventing the development of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is a by-product of testosterone and can be useful throughout your life, especially during puberty. As men grow older, however, higher levels of DHT can lead to an enlarged prostate.

An unintended bonus of Propecia is how well it works at stopping certain types of male hair loss, like male pattern baldness. DHT has been linked to Androgenic Alopecia so men who take Propecia will produce lower levels of DHT. This can stop the progression of hair loss and, if started early enough, can grow some of the hair back. You should start seeing noticeable results within a few months.

Buying Hair Loss Medications Online

Propecia for hair loss can be bought online through us. We have helped thousands of men treat alopecia by prescribing them with Propecia and Finasteride tablets online. Take control of your hair loss by visiting us to buy effective and affordable hair loss treatment in the UK. Start your online consultation with us.