Hair Loss
Causes of Hair Loss, Tracking Progression, and Types
Hair loss can affect anyone, but the reasons behind is can vary.
To help make sense of it all, it can be broken down into three key areas: causes of hair loss, how to track progression with the Norwood Scale, and the different types of hair loss.
Whether you’re just starting to notice thinning or are looking to better understand your condition, understanding the causes, progression, and types of hair loss is an important first step in seeking the right treatment.
Gain essential knowledge about the causes, triggers, and processes behind hair loss
Use the Norwood Scale to assess the stage and track the progression of MPB
Explore the different types of alopecia to identify the causes and the right treatment.
Discover the common causes, early signs, and science behind hair loss so you can take informed steps toward prevention and treatment.
Learn how the Norwood Scale is used to classify male pattern baldness, track hair loss progression, and guide treatment decisions.
Explore the different forms of hair loss—from genetic and hormonal to autoimmune and stress-related—and how each type affects treatment options.
Understand not only the causes, but also the path to regrowing your hair and restoring confidence
FAQ
Understanding Hair Loss
Hair loss occurs when the natural hair growth cycle becomes disrupted, leading to prolonged and shorted phases. The hair growth cycle consists of four phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transitional), telogen (resting), and exogen (shedding). Each hair follicle follows this cycle, and disruptions in the cycle can then lead to thinning and shedding. Several factors can influence this cycle, including genetics, hormones, and stress. These factors can shorten the anagen phase and extend the telogen phase, leading to visible thinning and baldness.
Treatments aim to target different stages of the growth cycle. This can be done by promoting hair growth and extending the anagen phase, or by reducing the effects of DHT and shortening the telogen phase. The natural growth cycle plays a vital role in treatments targeting hair growth.
Norwood Scale
The Norwood Scale is the most common tool for categorizing androgenetic alopecia. This is a classification system that tracks the progression for male pattern baldness. It categorizes balding patterns into seven different stages. The first stage on the Norwood scale is stage 1, which represents minimal hairline recession and thinning. It goes up to stage 7, where balding is extensive, and hair remains only on the sides and back of the scalp. This scale helps to monitor the progression of thinning and recession, and is used to tailor treatment options accordingly.
Types of Alopecia
While androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is the most common form, there are many other types. This can range from alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune condition, to alopecia universalis, which is full-body. Some types are hereditary, while others are the result of lifestyle, hormonal change, or autoimmune conditions. Each type has unique causes, progression patterns, symptoms, and treatment options. Proper diagnosis of the type of alopecia is essential for determining management and treatment options.
