Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic Alopecia accounts for 95% of all hair loss. In women Androgenetic Alopecia appears as diffuse hair loss occurring over most of the scalp. In women the hair loss usually manifests itself on the top of the head.

Female pattern baldness (called Ludwig Pattern Baldness, see illustration at right) is much simpler than Male pattern baldness. It typically appears as thinning (or diffusion) in the crown behind the hairline and becomes more pronounced over time. Female pattern baldness is present when you can see the scalp through the hair.

When Androgenetic Alopecia occurs, large active hair follicles in specific areas begin to change to smaller less active ones that shrink slightly with each new growth cycle.

The most common other forms of Alopecia are:

• Alopecia Totalis: Complete loss of hair on the entire cranial area
• Alopecia Universalis: Complete loss of body, facial and cranial hair
• Alopecia Areata: Patchy or balding areas on the head or eyebrows

Alopecia Areata Typically begins as sharply defined circular patches of baldness that, in extreme cases, can lead to total scalp baldness or even to loss of hair from the entire scalp and body. There is also a diffuse alopecia areata where hair is lost diffusely from the scalp without being replaced. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune problem. The hair normally grows back, often without any treatment. Several treatments are available. These include the oral intake of L-tyrosine, steroids applied topically or taken orally, the application of thymus extract, and dithranol or regaine applied topically. If stress is a causative factor, try to eliminate the source of the stress. Photo (above): This type of hair, taken from the edge of a patch of alopecia areata, is typical and indicates that there will be some further hair loss. The hair shaft thins and shows a lack of pigment just above the hair bulb.

Treatment for severe hair loss in this case is the Allusions Graduated Enhancement Method or Cranial Prosthesis.