What are the medical terms associated with loss of hair?

Q: What are the medical terms associated with loss of hair?

Hair loss is medically known as **alopecia**, a broad term covering all forms of hair shedding. The two most common types are **androgenetic alopecia** (hereditary pattern baldness affecting both men and women) and **telogen effluvium** (temporary shedding often triggered by stress, illness, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies). Other clinical terms include alopecia areata (autoimmune-related patchy loss) and cicatricial alopecia (scarring hair loss). Because these conditions have very different causes, treatments, and prognoses, identifying which type you may have is the essential first step toward effective care. Rather than guessing, take a free, instant, online symptom check to receive personalized insights based on your specific signs and history—helping you understand what's happening and confidently plan your next steps with a healthcare provider. Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Hair loss is medically known as alopecia, a broad term covering all forms of hair shedding. The two most common types are androgenetic alopecia (hereditary pattern baldness affecting both men and women) and telogen effluvium (temporary shedding often triggered by stress, illness, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies). Other clinical terms include alopecia areata (autoimmune-related patchy loss) and cicatricial alopecia (scarring hair loss).

Because these conditions have very different causes, treatments, and prognoses, identifying which type you may have is the essential first step toward effective care. Rather than guessing, take a free, instant, online symptom check to receive personalized insights based on your specific signs and history—helping you understand what's happening and confidently plan your next steps with a healthcare provider.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Hair loss is often described using specific medical terms. Alopecia is a general term for hair loss. It can happen in different ways and for various reasons. One common type is androgenetic alopecia, which is often seen as male or female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss is influenced by genetics and hormones. Another term is telogen effluvium, which refers to temporary hair thinning usually caused by stress or changes in the body.

Understanding these terms can help in discussing hair loss with a healthcare provider. Different types of hair loss have different causes and treatments. For example, androgenetic alopecia may be treated with medications that affect hormones, while telogen effluvium may improve on its own once the underlying cause is addressed. If you're experiencing unexplained hair loss, you can check your symptoms with Ubie's free AI-powered tool to help identify possible causes and determine the best treatment options.

(References)

Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, & Allison R. (2017). Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. American family physician, 28925637.
Alessandrini A, Bruni F, Piraccini BM, & Starace M. (2021). Common causes of hair loss - clinical manifestations, .... Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 33290611.
Dakkak M, Forde KM, & Lanney H. (2024). Hair Loss: Diagnosis and Treatment. American family physician, 39283847.

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