Alopecia is the loss of hair. Hair loss can be caused by different reasons, including damage to the hair shaft or follicles. Fungal infections can also cause hair loss.
There are two main types of alopecia. When the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles and causes hair to fall out, it’s called alopecia areata. Hair can fall out in patches all over the body. Androgenetic alopecia, on the other hand, is a kind of hair loss that’s inherited. Hair on the head thins and falls out. In men, this is called male pattern hair loss; in women, it is called female diffuse hair loss.
About 60% of people with androgenetic alopecia are men. Hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia is permanent.