Diffuse Alopecia - Snapshot of Diffused Hair Loss

Hair loss within itself can often be very distressing and can often affect quality of life. Alopecia is a medical term for hair loss. Individuals can have either localized (patchy) or diffuse hair loss which is a decrease in hair density all over the scalp.

What is the normal life cycle of hair?

There are four different phases of hair growth.

●Anagen phase. Growth phase of the hair follicle.

●Catagen phase. This lasts about 10 days and hair follicles shrink and hair growth slows.

●Telogen and exogen phases. These last two phases typically go hand and hand together. Also called the “resting phase” telogen lasts for about two to three months before follicles start to shred (exogen phase).

How can Diffuse Alopecia occur?

There is a disruption in the normal process of hair growth which causes the hair cycle to go into the shedding phase quicker than normal and resulting in thinning of the scalp.

Diffuse alopecia can occur either when hair follicles prematurely enter the telogen phase causing premature shedding (telogen effluvium), or when chemicals and toxic agents cause an intense shedding of the hair (anagen or dystrophic alopecia).

Anagen effluvium is mainly due to chemical agents, most commonly chemotherapy medications. Telogen effluvium is the most common cause of diffuse hair shedding. Usually triggering events causes this to occur. These events may be contributed to certain factors that include:

●Severe illness or high fever

●Childbirth

●Iron deficiency

●Thyroid disease

●Malnutrition

●Emotional distress

●Kidney or liver disease

●Lupus