Baldness facts for kids

Baldness (also known as alopecia) is when someone loses hair from their head. Sometimes, this happens because of genes passed down from parents or grandparents. Other times, people might choose to shave all their hair off. For example, some monks or soldiers in the South Korean army do this on purpose.

Most often, hair loss is caused by a medical condition called androgenic alopecia. This condition affects both humans and some animals. When it happens, people can permanently lose some or all of their hair. Because certain factors are linked to genes, this type of hair loss is more common in men than in women.

What is Baldness?

Baldness, or alopecia, is simply the loss of hair. It can happen on the head or other parts of the body. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent. It might affect just a small area or the entire scalp.

Different Kinds of Hair Loss

There are several types of hair loss, each with different causes. Some are very common, while others are quite rare. Understanding the type of hair loss helps doctors figure out the best way to help.

Androgenic Alopecia: Common Hair Loss

Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It is often called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. This condition is linked to your genes and hormones. It causes hair follicles to shrink over time. This makes the hair thinner and eventually stops new hair from growing.

Alopecia Totalis: Losing All Head Hair

Alopecia totalis is a condition where a person loses all the hair on their head. This includes hair on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Doctors believe it is an autoimmune condition. This means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own hair follicles. Even though it can be surprising, many people with this condition live normal, low-stress lives.

Alopecia Areata: Spotty Hair Loss

Alopecia areata (AA) is another type of hair loss. It causes hair to fall out in small, round patches. These patches can appear on the scalp or other parts of the body. Because of these distinct bald spots, it is sometimes called "spot baldness." Like alopecia totalis, it is also thought to be an autoimmune condition.

Images for kids

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  Total hair loss

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  A case of mid-frontal baldness: Andre Agassi

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  Throughout his political career, Urho Kekkonen, the President of Finland, was well known for his baldness. He was last known to have had hair in about the 1920s. This photo is of Kekkonen in 1959.

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  General Douglas MacArthur with a comb over

See also

In Spanish: Alopecia para niños