Hair loss can be a source of anxiety for many people... But how can you tell whether or not you should be worried?

Hair loss is a normal phenomenon: on average, we lose between 50 and 100 hairs every day. It can depend on life stages, certain events, stress, fatigue... but it also depends on the hair renewal cycle.

However, sudden, significant hair loss that can reveal the scalp in places is sometimes worrying, which is why today LAO sheds light on terms you may already have seen or heard: baldness, and alopecia, which is less well known but increasingly discussed.

Alopecia or baldness: what's the difference?

Alopecia is a term used to describe total or partial hair loss, whatever the cause, whereas baldness specifically describes hair loss that leads to the absence of hair.

So, contrary to popular belief, baldness is a form of alopecia. But it isn't only total: it can also be diffuse, patchy, and even affect body hair.

In men in particular, hair loss is generally localized at the forehead and temples, which gradually recede. Baldness can also affect the crown. In women, it more often appears around the central part and the area just beyond it.⁽¹⁾

What are the types of alopecia and their causes?

In both men and women, there are several forms of alopecia. It can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

Among the most common forms of alopecia is androgenetic alopecia, caused by hormonal or genetic factors.

Spot baldness, or alopecia areata, is also one of the most common forms, and is considered an autoimmune disease that causes localized hair loss.⁽²⁾

There are many forms of alopecia, and they can be caused by different factors.

The triggers of alopecia include in particular:

• hormonal imbalance, after childbirth or due to an unsuitable contraceptive pill;
• stress or a general state of fatigue;
• nutritional problems such as significant dietary deficiencies;
• chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
• heredity and genes;
• heavy medication;
• hair twisting;
• perms and blow-drying.⁽³⁾

How to treat or prevent alopecia?

To treat alopecia, it's best to consult a professional.

Depending on the form alopecia takes and how severe it is, you can consult your general practitioner, a dermatologist or an endocrinologist and get suitable solutions. A dermatologist studies and treats diseases of the skin, mucous membranes and skin appendages (nails and hair), while an endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in hormones and studies, among other things, their effects on our metabolism. An endocrinologist is therefore one of the doctors to see in the case of a condition that may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, such as alopecia.

In some cases alopecia is hard to prevent, but you can:

• Keep an eye on iron deficiencies, which are known to be a cause of hair loss.
• Choose gentle, sulfate-free shampoos that don't weaken the scalp.
• Avoid frequent coloring and perms.
• Protect your hair from the sun's UVA rays with suitable care.⁽⁴⁾

Indeed, some simple habits can help you prevent alopecia in certain cases. To learn more about hair loss and hair growth, feel free to read our article on this topic!

Sources

¹ MSD Manuals. Alopecia. [MSD Manuals website]. MSD, 2023. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/fr/accueil/les-faits-en-bref-troubles-cutanés/troubles-pileux/alopécie?query=alopécie.

² National Center for Biotechnology Information. Hair Loss. [NCBI Bookshelf website]. NCBI, 2023. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538178/.

³ MSD Manuals. Alopecia. [MSD Manuals website]. MSD, 2023. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/fr/accueil/les-faits-en-bref-troubles-cutanés/troubles-pileux/alopécie?query=alopécie; National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Hair Loss and Stress. [NCBI PMC website]. NCBI, 2016. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/

National Institutes of Health. How Stress Causes Hair Loss. [NIH Research Matters website]. NIH, 2013. Available at: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss.

⁴ French Society of Dermatology. Alopecia of the scalp. [Dermato-info website]. Dermato-info, 2023. Available at: https://dermato-info.fr/fr/la-peau-des-seniors/l’alopécie#ferme