Each type of baldness pattern coincides with the cause of hair loss.
Example of this is the androgenic alopecia or commonly known as the
pattern baldness. The cause of hair loss is the genes of the
individual. These genes likewise determine the pattern, the development
pace and the degree of baldness. You can notice this in your male
relatives particularly the father of your mother. If he is experiencing
baldness, then it is likely that you will also experience it. The women
carry the dominant genes which is the cause of hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia cause the hair loss pattern which resembles that of
a horseshoe, wherein the sides and the back part of your hair is not
affected.
Another type of baldness is the alopecia areata. The cause of hair loss
is an autoimmune condition. This is when the body attacks itself
because of a certain virus or a trigger that activates it. This type of
baldness is exhibited by small and round patches in the hair. The hair
eventually grows back but there is also a tendency that the baldness
will recur from time to time. This pattern of baldness is sometimes
hereditary also.
This condition is common and affects 1 out of 100 individuals in the US
but even a higher ratio is found in Italy and Spain. Alopecia areata
has two special cases. Alopecia totalis is the condition wherein there
is a complete hair loss in the scalp of an individual while the
alopecia universalis is the total loss of the different hair in the
body.
The telogen effluvium is another type of baldness wherein the cause of
hair loss is the stress which is caused by the changes in the body like
pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is hair loss because the hair adapts
with the present status of the person. The stressors send signals to
the hair and cause it to fall excessively. Since the cause of hair loss
is reversible, this condition is likewise reversible. Hair grows back
after the conditions of the individuals are back to normal or at least
6 months after the event. There is no specific pattern for this type of
baldness.
There is also a specific type of baldness wherein the cause of hair
loss is associated with illnesses. Baldness can be the initial symptom
for the disease or it is one of symptoms. Examples of these diseases
are hyperthyroidism, deficiency in iron, seborrheic dermatitis and
vitiligo. The hair usually grows again when the condition is already
healed or in the process of medication.
Another caused of hair loss is the use of excessive chemicals. This
condition is known as anagen effluvium which starts as small patches of
baldness which later on develop into complete baldness. Due to the
frequent excessive use, the causes of hair loss which are the chemicals
destroy the hair follicles and stops anagen hair. This is also the
caused of hair loss of people who are undergoing chemotherapy. The
chemical used directly affect the hair follicles. This is also the
result of excessive and direct use of chemical to the hair.