Alopecia

Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss from the scalp or body. It is an umbrella word rather than a single condition: pattern hair loss linked to genetics and hormones, alopecia areata where hair falls out in patches, telogen effluvium where diffuse shedding follows illness, stress, surgery or childbirth, and traction alopecia caused by persistently tight styling all sit under it.

Because the causes differ so much, so does what helps. Cosmetic haircare can support how hair and scalp look and feel — gentle cleansing, less tension on the roots, moderating heat and chemical processing — but shampoos, masks and scalp serums sold as cosmetics are not treatments for medical hair loss, and no cosmetic product should be presented as one.

Sudden shedding, round bald patches, a receding or widening part, or a scalp that is painful, scaling or inflamed are reasons to see a doctor or dermatologist. Some causes are easier to address when they are looked at early, and diagnosis may involve bloodwork or examination that no product can substitute for.