Hair Loss: Types of Hair Loss with Pictures-TSH Blog

Hair loss affects both men and women and can take a real toll physically and emotionally. Medically, it’s termed alopecia — a broad category covering many distinct conditions with different causes, patterns, and outlooks. Knowing which type you’re dealing with matters, since the right approach for one type (like pattern hair loss) can be the wrong approach for another (like a scarring alopecia).

The hair growth cycle

Hair grows in a repeating three-phase cycle, and disruptions to this cycle underlie many types of hair loss:

• Anagen (growth) phase – lasts 3–5 years, during which hair grows steadily. Its length varies by genetics, age, and overall health.
• Catagen (transition) phase – a short phase, around 10 days, in which the hair detaches from its follicle and growth stops.
• Telogen (resting) phase – lasts roughly 60–90 days, during which the hair sits dormant before shedding. Losing 70–150 hairs a day during this phase is considered normal.

Common causes of hair loss

• Genetics (the leading cause of pattern hair loss)
• Hormonal changes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Underlying medical conditions or medications

Types of hair loss

Androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss)

This is a genetically driven condition in which hair follicles gradually shrink, leading to progressive thinning and, eventually, baldness in affected areas. It’s the most common cause of hair loss in both sexes, affecting tens of millions of men and women, and follows a recognizable pattern — hence the name.

Male pattern hair loss

Typically begins after puberty and progresses over years, starting at the crown or temples and potentially advancing to complete baldness or a characteristic horseshoe pattern of remaining hair.

Female pattern hair loss

More common in women with a family history of hair loss. It rarely leads to complete baldness, typically presenting instead as diffuse thinning and a widening part or receding hairline at the crown.

Telogen effluvium

Occurs when a stressor — illness, surgery, nutrient deficiency, certain medications, thyroid dysfunction, or a major physical or emotional shock — pushes an unusually large share of follicles into the resting phase simultaneously. Since shedding follows telogen phase entry by weeks to months, the connection to the trigger is often missed. It typically resolves within about six months once the underlying trigger is addressed, though chronic cases can take longer and may need a dermatologist’s input.

Anagen effluvium

Occurs when hair loss happens during the growth (anagen) phase itself, most commonly from chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Unlike telogen effluvium, it affects actively growing hair directly and can happen rapidly. Regrowth typically begins once treatment ends, sometimes with dermatologist-guided support to speed the process.

Alopecia areata

An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing sudden patchy hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes. It can be unpredictable — some cases resolve on their own, others progress to more extensive loss — and generally benefits from dermatologist involvement to discuss treatment options.

Tinea capitis

A fungal infection, most common in children, that causes circular, ring-shaped bald patches, often red and itchy, sometimes with fever. It requires prescription oral antifungal treatment — topical products alone are usually insufficient since the infection reaches the hair shaft itself.

Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia

An uncommon group of conditions where scalp inflammation destroys hair follicles and replaces them with scar tissue, affecting men and women of any age. Onset is often accompanied by swelling, itching, or lesions on the scalp. Because the follicle itself is destroyed, hair loss from scarring alopecia generally doesn’t reverse on its own, making early diagnosis and treatment important to limit further loss.

Lichen planopilaris

Causes itchy, painful bumps and redness on the scalp that prevent hair growth in affected patches. More common in women than men. Treatment with prescription medication can slow or halt progression.

Discoid lupus erythematosus

An autoimmune condition affecting the scalp, face, and ears, causing inflammation that damages follicles and leads to scarring hair loss. Managed with prescription medication under a dermatologist’s care.

Folliculitis decalvans

An inflammatory condition causing permanent, irreversible hair loss along with redness and itching. Medication can help manage symptoms and slow progression, even though the hair loss itself is permanent.

Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp

Causes permanent hair loss along with scalp inflammation and the development of nodules or lumps. Diagnosis typically involves a scalp exam and sometimes a biopsy.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia

Most common in postmenopausal women, with symptoms overlapping lichen planopilaris. Hair loss begins at the forehead and gradually recedes the hairline, sometimes with loss of eyebrows and eyelashes too. Its exact cause isn’t fully understood, though hormonal and autoimmune factors are suspected. There’s no cure, but prescription treatment can slow its progression.

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia

Another permanent, scarring form of hair loss, most frequently reported in Black women, though it can occur in anyone. Its exact cause isn’t established, but it’s been associated with certain hair-care practices, including chemical relaxers, hot combs, and heavy use of styling products — though not everyone who uses these develops it, and genetic factors likely play a role too.

Hair shaft disorders

Unlike the conditions above, hair shaft disorders originate in the visible hair shaft rather than the follicle. They typically show up first as changes to thickness, texture, color, or shine, and can make hair brittle and difficult to manage before eventually contributing to breakage and hair loss. Most are manageable with the right hair care approach and, where relevant, medical treatment.

Hypotrichosis

A distinct category from hair loss: rather than existing hair being shed, hair never fully grew in the first place, usually due to a genetic or developmental factor present from birth. It typically becomes apparent in early childhood.

When to see a dermatologist

Sudden or patchy hair loss, hair loss accompanied by scalp pain, redness, or lesions, or hair loss that doesn’t fit the gradual pattern of typical androgenetic thinning are all reasons to see a dermatologist rather than guess. Getting the right diagnosis matters, since treatments that help one type of hair loss can do nothing for — or aren’t appropriate for — another.