Types of hair loss: Everything you need to know.
Read about the different types of hair loss and how you can specifically support your hair.
Our hair is much more than just keratin structures: it shapes our appearance, our self-image, and often our self-confidence. When it suddenly becomes thinner or falls out, it can be deeply unsettling and cause significant stress in everyday life. In this blog post, we take a closer look at the different types of hair loss. Understanding what is happening in your own body not only provides clarity, but also new perspectives.
What is hair loss?
We lose hair every day, and that is completely normal. Losing up to 100 hairs a day is considered harmless because new hair usually grows back constantly. Hair loss is only considered to be a problem when significantly more hair falls out, it does not grow back, or bald spots appear. To understand this, it is worth taking a look at the natural rhythm of hair growth.
Hair growth occurs in three phases:
- During the anagen phase, or growth phase, hair actively grows and reaches its full length. Around 80 – 90 % of all hair is in this phase at any given time, which can last for several years.
- This is followed by the catagen phase, a short transition phase lasting only a few weeks, during which the hair root slowly detaches from the blood supply and stops to grow further.
- Finally, the telogen phase, the resting phase, begins and lasts several months. During this time, the hair sits loosely in the root and eventually falls out, while at the same time a new cycle begins and new hair grows back.
If this balance is disturbed, for example by hormonal fluctuations, stress, illness, or predisposition, visible hair loss can occur.
The most common types of hair loss
Every form of hair loss has its own story. Some are temporary and disappear again, while others stay with us for longer or even permanently. Knowing what type it is helps to assess the situation and take the first step towards greater confidence.
Genetic hair loss
This type of hair loss, scientifically known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common form of hair loss. Men are particularly affected, but many women also experience this change. The cause of hereditary hair loss is a genetic hypersensitivity of the hair follicles to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which shrinks the hair roots and shortens hair growth.
In men, the familiar receding hairline often appears first, and later hair loss can progress to the back of the head. Women usually notice a uniform thinning of the hair on the top of the head.
Circular hair loss
Alopecia areata, better known as circular hair loss, manifests itself in the form of single or multiple round bald patches. Sometimes body hair is also affected. Hair loss often occurs in episodes: hair suddenly falls out, but in some cases new hair grows back. Scientifically, it is an autoimmune reaction in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Genetic predisposition, stress, or hormonal changes can influence its course.
Diffuse hair loss
With this type of hair loss, the hair thins evenly across the entire scalp without any clear bald spots. Triggers for diffuse hair loss can include stress, metabolic disorders, medication or radiation therapy, nutrient deficiencies, and an overactive or underactive thyroid gland.
Postpartum hair loss
Postpartum hair loss occurs after childbirth. The reason for this is that during pregnancy, many hairs remain in the growth phase for longer. After childbirth, estrogen levels drop and many hairs simultaneously enter the resting phase, leading to increased hair loss.
This is often an emotionally challenging time for new mothers, but in most cases this hair loss is only temporary. Hair growth returns to normal on its own within 6 to 12 months.
Scarring hair loss
This type is a rarer form of hair loss. Here, hair follicles are permanently destroyed by inflammatory processes, so that hair no longer grows back in the affected areas. Causes can include an autoimmune reaction, infections, or injuries to the scalp. Early medical care is very important in these cases to stop the progression.
When it's time to seek help
Some hair loss is normal. But if your hairbrush suddenly has more hair in it than usual, bald spots become visible, or your scalp hurts, it is always a good idea to seek medical advice. No one has to deal with uncertainty alone. Experts can identify the causes and suggest appropriate courses of action.
What you can do yourself
Even though hair loss is often a complex issue, there are things you can do to help yourself.
- Stop smoking,
- make sure you eat a balanced diet with vitamins, minerals, and protein,
- get enough sleep and rest,
- be gentle with your hair, using less heat and chemicals,
- protect your hair and scalp from strong sunlight and sunburn,
- try to reduce stress in your everyday life, e.g., through yoga, meditation, or other stress management methods.
At the same time, researchers are working intensively to develop new and effective solutions. This is exactly where we come in: with 8T3 Essentials and the active ingredient sCD83, we are creating innovative ways – for new growth and new self-confidence.
By the way: It's not just the hair on our heads that can concern us. Our eyelashes also play an important role in our self-confidence. They frame our eyes, give them expression, and make them shine. But what if changes occur here too? In our article “Eyelash Growth”, you can learn how eyelashes grow, what factors influence the cycle, and what options are available to support growth.
Conclusion: Knowledge creates perspective
Hair loss can have many causes – from heredity to stress to hormonal changes. What all forms have in common is that they are always stressful for those affected. But no one is alone in this. Knowing about the different types of hair loss helps you to better understand your own situation.
With 8T3 Essentials Hair Serum, there is already a scientifically based approach that rethinks hair generation and opens up new perspectives for those affected by androgenic hair loss to improve their quality of life.
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