The most common types of hair loss

When do you think of the most quick-witted retort to a stupid remark from a colleague?

Exactly: Seven hours later in the shower... But there you also notice the circling clumps in the drain - and the colleague is quickly forgotten.

Most of us have had a moment when the sight of the drain has worried us: Am I losing my hair now?!

But before you start thinking about hairpieces or blaming your comb, let's go a little deeper first. Because there is a difference between normal and excessive hair loss.

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Normal hair loss: no need for action

The good news for anyone worried about losing a few locks is that daily hair loss is completely normal - and much more so than you might think.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the average adult hair loss is around 100 hairs. The AAD explains that with over 100,000 hairs on the head, losing 50 to 150 hairs a day is quite normal.

Most of these hairs are at the end of their natural life cycle. Believe it or not, each hair on your head is on its own independent journey and timetable, with some just starting a new job and others already writing their will.

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Signs that your hair loss is pathological

If 100 hairs a day is normal, then anything more than that is pathological? Well, unfortunately you can't say that across the board, because depending on the time of year you sometimes lose less and sometimes more hair. But hair loss is a little more complicated than that - it also has to do with how many follicles can resume their cycles after the loss phase.

Here are some types of hair loss, sorted by frequency:

Androgenic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (also known as genetic hair loss) is the one you are statistically most likely to suffer from. It can appear before your 20s, but also much later. Hereditary hair loss develops gradually, so you may not even notice the effects at first.

Androgenic alopecia has some telltale signs. You will see that your hairline recedes, particularly in the area of the receding hairline (especially in men). The crown of your head may also thin out more and more (especially in women) and then spread further and further. Genetic hair loss is caused by a hypersensitivity to the breakdown product of testosterone, both in men and women.

For treatment, there are invasive methods, topical medications or alternative therapies such as low level laser, all of which have the potential to stimulate hair growth again. The key to any form of therapy is time: the sooner you tackle the problem, the sooner you can stop hair loss and keep your hair looking its best.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium, known to most people as diffuse hair loss, is typically triggered by trauma or stress. However, operations involving general anesthesia, high fever, a radical change in diet or sudden weight loss can also trigger diffuse hair loss.

Telogen effluvium is basically a sudden imbalance in the ratio of your hair phases: So one of the events mentioned causes more than the usual 10-20 percent of your hair to enter the shedding phase, resulting in a disproportionate amount of hair falling out. With this type of hair loss, all areas of the hairy part of the head, as well as the sides and back of the head, are affected. Whereas with genetic hair loss, only the top of the head is affected.

The good news is that this type of hair loss usually stabilizes again within three months.

Traction alopecia

Two words: "man bun". Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by physical trauma to the hair - specifically, pulling, burning or scarring. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as traumatic alopecia.

Traction or traumatic alopecia can also be caused by psychological conditions that cause you to literally pull out your own hair. This type of traumatic alopecia is known as trichotillomania.

The solutions are simple, if time consuming: Psychotherapy and making sure your hair isn't subjected to excessive pulling, like a man bun.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata, also known as circular hair loss, is caused by your own immune system. It is a form of hair loss in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles and forces the hair into hibernation - sometimes permanently.

Unfortunately, it is often not curable. Autoimmune diseases are complicated to treat and it is just as difficult to find the exact cause. The first thing you should do is consult a dermatologist.

So... Instead of counting your hair every day, it might be better to contact a specialist to get everything checked out. It is best to contact a certified trichologist, a specialist in the field of scalp and hair.

So whatever the cause of your hair problems, don't hesitate to tackle them. Worrying will only cost you sleep - and more hair...

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