Not all hair loss is the same – we asked a trichologist about the different symptoms to look out for.

Hair loss is not uncommon – we’d be surprised if there isn’t someone in your life who hasn’t faced hair loss at some point. Whether there is a clear cause for hair loss, such as a drop in estrogen levels after having a baby, or if hair loss occurs without warning, hair loss can be frustrating. But you’re alone – in fact, according to NYU Langone, more than 80 percent of men and nearly 50 percent of women experience severe hair loss during their lifetime.
If you’d like to better understand your hair loss or do research for someone you love, we’re here to help. Moving forward, we’ve curated a guide to the most common types of hair loss with expert insights from WTS-certified trichologist William Gaunitz.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Male and female pattern hair loss, called androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss, Gaunitz says. “It’s driven by genetics and sensitivity to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Your body basically knows that androgenetic alopecia is part of your genetics, so it doesn’t put in the energy to allow it to regrow.” This can occur at any given point in life after puberty and is often categorized as a widening of the central part in women and a receding hairline in men.
Resting Stinky Breath
Gaunitz says that resting odor is “a trauma-based shedding caused by a physical or emotional event. He notes that this can cause you to lose too much hair for a short period of time, but it’s reversible, Gaunitz says: “If you don’t have underlying androgenetic alopecia, nutritional alopecia or inflammation, the hair loss will be temporary and will grow back.”
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks your hair follicles. “This causes hair to fall out – usually in small round patches the size of a quarter – about 3 millimeters from the top of the scalp and forms what is known in trichology as ‘exclamation point hair ‘,” Gaunitz said. “It looks like almost nothing, or what looks like peach fuzz to the naked eye.”
Alopecia areata can turn into an advanced form called alopecia totalis, spreading from a circle to the entire head, including eyebrows, eyelashes and facial hair. If left untreated, it can go further and affect the entire body, turning into a condition called alopecia universalis.
Nutritional Alopecia
Nutritional alopecia is not technically a medical term, but Gaunitz says it is becoming more common among patients and should be brought to the public’s attention. He describes it as low blood levels in three key areas: vitamin D3, serum zinc and ferritin. “If any of those three are at or below the low end of normal, it can cause significant thinning in most people,” he says. He adds that it shouldn’t be ignored, especially because it can exacerbate susceptibility to baldness or DHT-related androgenetic alopecia.
What to do about hair loss
First, don’t worry – you have plenty of options. Once you have a better understanding of the type of hair loss you’re facing, it’s best to see a hair specialist to get a confirmed diagnosis and develop a personalized treatment plan. From minoxidil (an FDA-approved medication) to PRP injections (an in-office procedure that separates your own blood to remove platelet-rich plasma and injects it into your scalp) to OTC scalp products and hair oils, there are many treatments for hair loss that can yield results in a matter of months.