Alopecia or hair loss or balding is a matter of psychological concern for both males and females. Hair loss in men and women present with different patterns and the causes differ as well. Different kinds of alopecia comprise of patchy loss of hair (alopecia areata), total loss of hair on the scalp (alopecia totalis), total loss of all hair on the body (alopecia universalis), male / female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), hair loss due to excessive pulling or tension on hair shafts (tractional alopecia), form of alopecia which leaves scarring on the area of hair loss (scarring alopecia), form of hair loss where more than normal amounts of hair fall out and there is a general 'thinning' of the hair (telogen effluvium).
A careful history often suggests the underlying cause of alopecia. Crucial factors include the duration and pattern of hair loss, whether the hair is broken or shed at the roots, and whether shedding or thinning has increased. The patient's diet, medications, present and past medical conditions, and family history of alopecia are other important factors. Medical line of treatment consists of oral and topical medications whereas surgical line comprises of hair transplants and scalp reduction surgeries.