What are the most common types of hair loss?

Hair loss can be a daunting experience, especially when it happens in younger years. Some men may think that they can rock the manly "skinhead" look whereas it may seem like the end of the world for the "pretty boy" type. There are different causes for hair loss, read on to find out what these are and how they are caused.


Male pattern baldness:
This type of hair loss can be quite difficult for men to cope with, unless you're Bruce Willis who seems to look even better rocking the bald-do. Men will start to develop a receding hairline which is then followed by thinning of the hair. Male pattern baldness is a condition that runs in the family so your fate may depend on the status of your ancestors' hair. The strongest influence is on your mother's side of the family so if your maternal grandfather went bald early the chances are you may too.

Telogen effluvium:
This temporary form of hair loss happens from changes in the growth cycle which can be brought on by stress, severe illness or sudden weight loss.

Alopecia areata:
This form of hair loss can also be referred to as "patchy hair loss" as the hair is lost in round patches. It is common for this type of hair loss to happen on the scalp although it can also occur in eyebrows, arms, legs or facial hair. Generally the hair grows back but bald patches can often occur in other areas.

Involutional alopecia:
This is one of the forms of hair loss that is unavoidable as it comes with age, hair will lose its thickness and volume as it enters the telogen (resting) phase. The hairs that are remaining will become shorter and thinner.


Sometimes hair loss can be caused by your choice of lifestyle rather than hereditary reasons. Read on to find out how you may be helping your full head of hair fall out.

Stress:
From work pressure to money worries, we can all build up our stress levels from time to time. If you are going through a particularly stressful period in your life you may start to notice a change in your appearance, one of these changes being your hair. If you start to notice your hair thinning or coming out in clumps it may be time to reassess what is causing your stress levels to reach a high.

Junk food:
We've all heard the saying "you are what you eat," so if your diet doesn't consist of good foods the chances are that this will impact on your appearance. Your hair follicles need to be fed with nutrients in order to grow healthily. An example of this happening is when someone suffers from an eating disorder, making them more than likely to suffer excessive hair loss.

Sleep deprivation:
Lack of sleep not only shows under your eyes but it can also affect the health of your hair and lead to hair loss. How important those precious 8 hours of sleep really are!


There are other types of hair loss that you could experience throughout your life but you don't have to feel like it has to be a permanent problem. As hair makes up part of your identity, losing your mane could leave you feeling low in your self-image. There are forms of hair loss treatment that can help you overcome the baldness and restore your full head of hair.