Published on: 5/21/2025
What Are the 7 Stages of Hair Loss?
The 7 stages of hair loss describe how hair thinning progresses over time, often related to androgenetic alopecia. It starts with mild thinning and can progress to more noticeable baldness.
Explanation
Hair loss can happen in stages, often due to a condition called androgenetic alopecia. This condition is commonly known as male or female pattern baldness.
Stages of Hair Loss:
- Early Thinning: Hair starts to thin slightly, often around the crown or temples.
- Noticeable Thinning: Thinning becomes more noticeable, but bald spots are not yet obvious.
- Initial Bald Spots: Small bald spots may start to appear, especially on the top of the head.
- Bigger Bald Spots: These spots grow larger, and hair loss becomes more visible.
- Significant Hair Loss: Much of the top of the head may be bald, while some hair remains on the sides.
- Advanced Hair Loss: The bald area expands, leaving only a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the sides and back.
- Complete Baldness: Almost all hair on the top of the head is gone, with only a small amount remaining on the sides and back.
These stages help understand how hair loss progresses and can guide in seeking appropriate treatments or interventions.
(References)
- Ludwig E. (1977). Classification of the types of androgenetic alopecia .... The British journal of dermatology, 921894.
- Umansky L, Dorevitch A, & Sella A. (2000). [Alopecia due to Seroxat therapy]. Harefuah, 10883182.
- Lin SY, Niu DM, Li MJ, Tu CP, & Lin HL. (2000). Differentiation of hair growth cycle from scalp hair roots for .... Journal of inherited metabolic disease, 11117431.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Learn more about symptoms
Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.