What is Alopecia?
Alopecia is a medical term used to describe hair loss but there is more than one type of alopecia. Our Male Hair Loss section contains more information on the various types of alopecia.
Alopecia is usually caused by a problem an auto-immune disease which causes the body’s immune system to turn on the hair follicles in the mistaken belief that they are harbouring bacteria or a virus. This affects the proper functioning of the follicles which disrupts the hair growth cycle and leads to hair loss.
Other causes of alopecia include illness, ageing, some medications and hereditary factors. Alopecia is incurable but new hair can be encouraged to grow via medications such as Minoxidil or hair transplant surgery.
