Glossary On Types of Alopecia

No matter what the type, alopecia areata has always been a cause of mental distress in most cases. However, it is essential to understand the different types to decide the curability of the cases:

• Alopecia areata monolocularis: A single bald spot on the scalp marks this condition. It may stay as such or may progress to formation of multiple spots.
• Alopecia areata multilocularis: The patient presents with multiple bald spots on the scalp since the onset of the complaint.
• Alopecia totalis: All the hair on the scalp is lost in this type of alopecia. It is one of the severe forms and constitutes the difficult cases.
• Alopecia universalis: When all the hair from all over the body is lost, the condition is called alopecia universalis.
• Alopecia barbae: The bald spots are limited only to the beard region in this type.
• Traction alopecia: In some patients, due to constant tension on the hair from being tied very tightly, alopecia develops along the frontal and temporal margins of the scalp resulting in traction alopecia.

There is another classification of alopecia based on the presence of infection on the scalp:

• Non-scarred alopecia areata: Here there is no superadded infection of the scalp and chances of recovery are better in such cases.
• Scarred alopecia areata: A lichen infection of the scalp can lead to irreversible damage to the follicles and the skin of the scalp making it look like scar tissue.