My hair loss is diffuse - could I still have AGA or androgenic alopecia?

My hair loss is diffuse - could I still have AGA or androgenic alopecia?

I sometimes hear from people who are confused because they see hair loss that is more diffuse than patterned. Many people assume that true hair loss most commonly occurs in patterns over highly androgenic areas or in areas that are genetically more prone to "thinning." Examples of these areas include the crown, temples and part line. When people see this diffuse loss rather than the expected patterns, they sometimes wonder if they really have AGA (androgenic alopecia) or if something else is possible. I'll tell you my opinion on this in the following article.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA), or genetic hair loss, does not always present with thinning that occurs in a pattern:When people think of hereditary hair loss, they often imagine the man with the “transparent scalp” or the man with the bald spot on the top or back of his head. If this is not present, the second assumption they would make would probably be the receding temples forming or forming "alleys" on either side of the head. Most people accept or assume that this presentation is the type of genetic hair loss that accompanies aging.

For women, people often expect a very wide parting line, a “transparent scalp,” less hair on the top, or noticeably thinner bangs. Although these AGA presentations are the most common, they are not the only ones possible. Androgen-induced hair loss can also present as diffuse loss that occurs all over the head rather than just being limited to one area. This diffuse presentation is more likely to occur in women, but sometimes also in men. Whether there is a pattern or not, you often notice miniaturization that makes the texture of your hair very different than what you are used to. In short, the hair grows back finer in texture.

Other hair loss conditions that occur with diffuse hair loss:There are other reasons why you may see diffuse loss or detachment. One possibility is telogen effluvium, or TE. This condition is caused when a stressor resets your hair cycle to the hair loss phase. For some reason, your body perceives that it needs to maintain its reserves and hair loss is one way to do this. Common causes of TE include illness, strict diets, surgery, starting or stopping medications, and severe stress.

In most cases, however, TE only lasts a few weeks or months. When this condition lasts longer than six months, it is called CTE or chronic telogen effluvium. And CTE can potentially last for months or even years if you can't identify the trigger and then successfully stop it. However, there is generally not nearly as much miniaturization in TE (although there may be some miniaturization in select cases). In most cases of TE, although you may lose a lot of hair, you should also regrow what was lost with hair that is a normal texture for you.

Other medical or scalp conditions can also cause hair loss or loss of hair all over the scalp. Examples include autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, yeast overgrowth, and scalp injuries or problems. Sometimes these conditions offer some obvious clues right on your scalp (like redness, tightness, sores, or bumps). However, sometimes these clues are not present. You can try experimenting with your products or therapies if you suspect that something you use on your scalp might be the culprit.

Although AGA is considered the most common cause of hair loss (even if it is diffuse), there are other options you may want to try if you don't see a pattern. Diffuse loss doesn't mean you can't have AGA or androgen-related loss, but it can also indicate other possible causes.

Inspired by Ava Alderman