Alopecia is a major cause of hair loss for women and men. There are different alopecia types which can cause anything from hair thinning to total hair loss. Experiencing hair loss isn’t an easy journey for anyone to take, and you probably have a lot of questions. You may also consider investing in headwear for alopecia, such as a wig, as it can help you to feel like you again.

In this post, we’ll discuss the common alopecia types and recommend types of wigs for alopecia so you can identify the best wigs for you!

Different Types of Alopecia

• Androgenic alopecia
• Alopecia areata
• Scarring alopecias
  • Cicatricial alopecia
  • Frontal fibrosing alopecia
  • Lichen planopilaris
• Alopecia totalis/alopecia universalis
• Traction alopecia
• Telogen effluvium
• Anagen effluvium
• Trichotillomania

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia is the Latin word for hair loss, and the term encompasses a range of conditions. There are many different types of alopecia, it is broadly used as a general medical term for hair loss.

Anybody can experience alopecia, from children to teenagers to adults. Both men and women can experience alopecia, too. Alopecia does not always cause permanent hair loss; some individuals experience hair growing back in some areas and hair loss in new areas.

Types of Alopecia

Androgenic/Androgenetic Alopecia

This type of alopecia is better known as male and female pattern baldness (the most common form of hair loss), with some people experiencing this as early as their late teens or early twenties. According to Alopecia AU, about 50% of women over 65 and men over 50 experience androgenic alopecia. It can also be passed down genetically on either the maternal or paternal side.

Androgenic alopecia occurs when the hair follicles shrink, eventually leading to them stopping hair production entirely. This happens as the body begins to turn the hormone testosterone into the imitative dihydrotestosterone.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder which results in the attack of healthy hair follicles from the body’s own immune system. The specific causes are, unfortunately, not known, but it’s said that genetics do play a role. In addition, it’s thought that stress and particularly traumatic experiences can be a trigger for this type of alopecia.

The clearest symptom of alopecia areata is patchy hair loss across the scalp, and sometimes across your eyebrows and eyelashes, too. These patches are usually roughly circular in shape and can differ in size.

You can receive treatment for alopecia areata. However, no treatment is universally effective, with the best regrowth occurring in much milder cases. It’s important to note that many people do experience regrowth without treatment as well. This is because the hair follicles are not destroyed with alopecia areata; many people experience full regrowth over time.

Scarring Alopecias

Scarring alopecias refer to forms of hair loss where the hair follicle is destroyed by the condition and replaced with scar tissue, making hair regrowth impossible. These different types of alopecia, therefore, result in permanent hair loss.

There are two key types of scarring alopecia: primary, which is caused directly by inflammation of the hair follicles and secondary, which is triggered by a specific event or occasion.

• Cicatricial Alopecia

This type of alopecia begins at the centre of the scalp and spreads outwards.

• Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

This type of alopecia starts along the front of the scalp and may look like a receding hairline.

• Lichen Planopilaris

The type of alopecia often occurs in multiple areas of the scalp. Typically, the side of the scalp, the lower back and sometimes the front will be affected.

Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis

Alopecia totalis is given as a term to describe cases where alopecia areata has progressed over the whole scalp. More advanced than this is alopecia universalis, which is when hair loss is experienced across the entire scalp and face, including eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as the rest of the body. The chances of full regrowth are significantly reduced as the severity of this type of alopecia increases, with the highest severity being alopecia universalis.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is caused by processes and actions carried out by the individual, causing excessive tension on the hair strand and root and resulting in breakage. Bleaching or frequent colouring of the hair with chemicals can cause this, as well as hairstyles such as braiding or tight up-dos. Repeated use and prolonged traction alopecia over an extended period can actually stop new hair follicles from developing and lead to permanent hair loss.

Telogen Effluvium

This type of hair loss occurs when your body has been through a traumatic or strenuous ordeal, including malnutrition, surgery, extreme stress, and pregnancy. Experiences that put your body through this kind of stress level can greatly impact your hair, and hair loss can occur from six weeks to a few months after the event. Severe telogen effluvium can cause you to lose handfuls of hair at a time.

With this type of alopecia, people can make a complete recovery and experience full hair regrowth, depending on how the individual has recovered after the stressful event. For others, the hair loss may last for months or years.

Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium describes hair loss caused by any damage to the hair follicle that impairs its metabolic activity. This type of alopecia is commonly associated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treatment targets rapidly dividing cancer cells, and hair follicles can be greatly affected by the treatment.

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a form of hair loss caused by the compulsive urge to pull at hair. You can learn everything you need to know about trichotillomania over on our next blog.

Wigs for Alopecia

Although alopecia doesn’t impact your physical health, we understand the emotional and psychological impact that hair loss can have on you. Our world of wigs can help you to increase your self-esteem and confidence.

The most important characteristics of wigs for alopecia are comfort and natural appearance. Below we’ve shared our recommendations on the most comfortable wigs for those dealing with the different types of alopecia.

Monofilament Wigs

A monofilament wig is a comfortable and natural-looking piece of headwear for alopecia sufferers.

Monofilament wigs are great for protecting sensitive scalps, and they were actually created for women experiencing severe hair loss for reasons such as undergoing cancer treatment and suffering from alopecia. Monofilament wigs are brilliant at creating a natural scalp appearance through a soft polyester/nylon mesh, which allows your natural skin colour to show through.

Monofilament wigs also allow you to choose your parting, with the movement of the wig giving this construction the most natural appearance.

Lace Front Wigs

Lace front wigs are another of the most natural-looking wig cap constructions. For those experiencing total hair loss due to alopecia, lace front wigs are brilliant at ensuring that your wig will stay in place all day. The non-slip poly strip placed at the front of the wig is invisible but brilliant at keeping the wig in place.

Lace front wigs are also great for ladies who are experiencing hair loss at the front hairline, or extreme thinning as a result of androgenetic alopecia, as the invisible lace allows you to style the wig however you like.

Hair Toppers for Alopecia

Depending on the alopecia type you’re experiencing, it might be that you’re only experiencing patches of hair loss or hair thinning rather than total hair loss. In such cases, you might find that hair toppers can cover the areas you wish to hide while showing the rest of your hair well.

If you’re experiencing hair loss at the crown and parting area, women’s hair toppers can hide this well. Equally, if you have hair thinning or loss at the front hairline, fringe hair pieces can make a world of difference in covering this.

If you decide to invest in a human hair wig, you can make your wig appear even more natural by getting us or your hairdresser and having it cut and styled how you like. This way, it can be just right for you! Check out our guide to wig styling for more tips and tricks.

We hope this complete alopecia information guide has helped you learn about the different types of alopecia. It’s important to remember and to be reassured that the majority of the conditions discussed do have treatments available. If you’re concerned or worried, or are seeking more alopecia information, we always recommend seeking professional medical advice on the matter.