Alopecia Symptoms: For Men, Women and Children
As it happens in Alopecia, hair loss can diminish your confidence overnight.
It takes away your sleep as it takes away your hair.
Yet, if doctors detect the cause of Alopecia, the treatment has more chances of success.
To illustrate this, 55% of people using 2% topical Minoxidil solution saw hair growth in 32 weeks in a study.
Thus it becomes important to inform yourself on the symptoms of Alopecia to detect it early.
Some of the early Alopecia symptoms include excess hair fall, bald patches and receding hairline.
Early symptoms of Alopecia
The earlier Alopecia gets detected, the more choice of treatments you have available.
Here are some early signs and symptoms of Alopecia:
Receding hairline
A horseshoe pattern of hair loss at the base of the scalp is typical in Androgenetic Alopecia.
Seeing more scalp than expected on the front hairline is also common in men.
Sudden loss of patches of hair
You may experience burning and stinging, then sudden hair loss. A patch or a strip of baldness may happen in a day.
Blistering, itchiness, or tenderness on the scalp could be a sign of infection that the dermatologist needs to address as soon as possible.
Excess hair in drain and brush
A bit of hair loss is standard for every individual. But, a sudden excess loss of hair is alarming.
Early identification of the cause of hair fall is essential, as it helps solve the problem of hair shedding.
So, if you notice much hair in your brush or drain, it may signify hair thinning. You should contact your dermatologist as soon as possible.
Thinning eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease wherein your body starts attacking hair follicles.
It leads to fewer hairs on the scalp, eyelashes and eyebrows, pubic hair, and even nose hair.
It can even lead to hair loss on the scalp (Alopecia Totalis) or the entire body (Alopecia Universalis).
White lines or spots on nails
Nails are vital indicators of body health.
There can be pitting, white craters, and small patches on your nails. These are generally the first warning signs of hair loss.
For instance, in this study, nail abnormalities were found in children with Alopecia areata.
Pitting nails, specifically, are a sign of Alopecia areata.
If hair loss accompanies these signs, you should consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Alopecia symptoms in men
Alopecia affects around 70% of adults assigned the gender male at birth.
It highlights what a pressing problem Alopecia is, as Alopecia can damage the self-esteem of the person who has it.
To make sure that you detect Alopecia early, you should look out for the following symptoms:
Receding hairline
An M-shaped hairline might develop as the hairline recedes. This hairline has receding corners and a longer widow’s peak area or forelock.
There is a balding near the crown and a receding hairline due to male pattern baldness.
You should note that the hairline does not always recede in the same pattern.
It might recede more on one side than the other, or it may be consistent hair shedding everywhere on the head.
Thinning Crown
Not every man with Alopecia will notice a receding hairline. Some of them may have a thinning crown or even both.
It is not easy to note and track your hair falling on the top of the crown in the mirror. It is common for men to notice their thinning crown once it becomes too noticeable.
You can use a handheld mirror or take a selfie of your crown to track its hair loss progress.
Also, take care to visit your doctor when you need it.
Diffuse Thinning
Diffuse thinning is a type of hair loss wherein you lose hair. But, there is no noticeable effect on your hairline or specific areas.
It is a rarer symptom of Male Pattern Baldness.
You should observe your wet hair or your hair in bright light to find if you have diffuse thinning.
Alopecia symptoms in women
According to a study on the quality of life of women with female pattern hair loss, scientists found that a woman’s self-esteem ties to her appearance.
Androgenetic Alopecia is a psychologically debilitating condition that shatters the self-confidence of women.
And yet, it is a condition for which treatment options exist, given that you detect it in its initial stages.
Christmas pattern baldness
It mainly starts from the top and crown of the scalp and proceeds to broaden the center hair part.
The hair is thin towards the front in it. It is thicker towards the back and can resemble a Christmas tree.
This type of hair loss is also called Christmas pattern baldness.
Thinning throughout
There is a thinning of hair on the top of the hair. It shows up as a broadening in the hair part.
When to contact a doctor
If your thinning hair alarms you, consider consulting your doctor as soon as possible.
The earlier your hair loss symptoms are detected, the more options you have to treat hair loss.
To conclude
Even though Alopecia is problematic for the person dealing with it, there is no need to fret as long as the hair loss symptoms are detected early.
Receding hairline, thinning beard or ponytail, thinning crown, and loss of hair from other body parts are some symptoms of Alopecia.
You should keep in mind that early identification of Alopecia will not only make more choices of treatment available to you, but also make sure that the treatment is effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Alopecia start?
Alopecia can start due to hereditary reasons, hormonal changes, certain medical conditions or may happen naturally due to aging.
How do you know if you have Alopecia?
Sudden hair loss is a sign of Alopecia. It results in bald spots on the head, thinning hairs and even strips of hair falling.
What does Alopecia look like when it first starts?
The early signs of Alopecia include- sudden loss of hairs, excess hair fall, thinning hair eyelashes, eyebrows, beard or even white spots on nails.
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