Light hair loss is something that happens to everyone on a daily basis. While you’re doing simple, mundane hygiene routines such as brushing your hair, blow-drying your hair, or washing, you’ll see strands that have shed. This is common. However, there are more serious hair loss occurrences, and that’s called alopecia. By definition, alopecia is the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows, otherwise known as baldness.

Both women and men experience hair loss, yet men suffer hair loss at a much higher rate. If you’re one of the millions of men wondering if you’re experiencing hair loss and why, below are four types of hair loss men experience.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia or male-pattern baldness is a hereditary, genetic condition that results in the gradual thinning and loss of hair. With over 3 million cases a year, androgenic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in men and can begin as early as the teen years. This starts as a receding hairline where progressively, the hair loss moves from the front of the head (i.e., the temples), slowly creating an M-shaped “design” in the hair. It becomes difficult for the hair shafts to produce healthy new hair. The hair strands become fine, lose pigmentation, become shorter, and weaker.

Cicatricial Alopecia

Scarring alopecia, also known as cicatricial alopecia, impacts three percent of individuals who are suffering from hair loss. With such a small number of those diagnosed with cicatricial alopecia, it makes it an extremely rare form. Skin biopsies are typically performed to aid in the diagnosis to help identify the form of scarring alopecia. The symptoms of this type of alopecia include inflammation, flaky skin, itching with strong burning sensations, and scarring on the scalp. The hair loss is permanent, and medical treatment is necessary.

Telogen Effluvium

Another type of hair loss in men is telogen effluvium. There are three stages of hair growth and shedding – anagen, catagen, and telogen. Telogen effluvium hair loss occurs when hair enters the natural resting phase of growth in the telogen phase. During telogen effluvium, the anagen and telogen phases slow down while the hair continues to shed at its normal rate. Thus, hair loss occurs. An extension of telogen effluvium is involutional alopecia. With involutional alopecia, the strands in the telogen resting phase become shorter, harder and brittle, and shrink.

Tinea Capitis

The last type of hair loss is tinea capitis. Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, usually infects school-age children. However, it’s extremely contagious so it can spread to adults (usually the parents of the child). Tinea capitis is treatable, and a physician can prescribe medication. The hair loss isn’t permanent and will grow back. The symptoms include scarring, inflammation, and blisters on the affected area. Hair loss isn’t always a straightforward issue. Therefore, Andrea’s Shampoo Recommendations For Hair Loss include consulting with your physician or dermatologist for diagnosis, taking any prescribed medications, changing your diet if it’s negatively impacting your hair growth, and eliminating stressors.