The Guide to the Alopecias

Information presented by HairLossTalk.com

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What Exactly is Alopecia?

Hair loss does not always appear as a result of androgen activity and genetic predisposition (known as androgenetic alopecia, or Male and Female Pattern Baldness). There are other forms of hair loss which can come on gradually or very suddenly and can change a person's life forever. The causes may still be genetic and may still be hormone (androgen) related; however, there are other influencing factors like the immune system, auto-immune conditions and numerous other more elusive factors. These conditions most often present themselves as sudden patchy hair loss and sometimes a total loss of head or body hair. While all hair loss is technically called "alopecia", this term is more commonly seen in relation to the patchy or universal loss of hair.

Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis

While "Androgenetic Alopecia" is the term used for typical Male Pattern Baldness, there are three major types of Alopecia which are commonly referred to just as "Alopecia". These are Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis, and Alopecia Universalis. These types of Alopecia are covered in this Guide. If you are a male or female experiencing diffuse thinning or recession or a bald spot, please review our Men's Guide or our Women's Guide.

About the Guide to the Alopecias

In this guide, we will cover the three main types of alopecia, explore the different facets of the condition and the many support resources available. We are in the process of adding to this section of the website and are constantly developing new content. If you suffer from alopecia and would like to contribute to our content, we invite you to contact us. We always welcome feedback from our members, and your experiences help to enrichen the educational value of this site. We encourage you to share your input and help other hair loss sufferers in the process.

•	Alopecia Areata	The most common form of non-traditional alopecia, this section is for men and women suffering from Alopecia Areata, which is characterized by small or large patches of hair loss on the scalp.
•	Alopecia Totalis	For men and women who are suffering from Alopecia Totalis, a condition characterized by total loss of hair on the head.
•	Alopecia Universalis	For men and women who are suffering from Alopecia Universalis, a variant type of Alopecia Areata which is characterized by total loss of body hair.

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