Types of Hair Loss

Most people do not start with a diagnosis name. They start with a symptom: “I’m shedding,” “my part looks wider,” “I have a patch,” “my scalp hurts,” or “my hair is breaking.” This page helps you move from what you notice first to the correct type of hair loss branch.

The key job here is not to memorize medical terms. It is to separate non-scarring loss, scarring loss, and hair breakage, then move into the right hub before expectations and treatment logic start going in the wrong direction.

Medical note: This page is for general education and does not provide personal medical advice. If you have rapid worsening, patchy loss, scalp pain or burning, crusting, pustules, or a smooth shiny scalp, start here: When to See a Doctor. If you want the classification logic behind this map, use Medical Classification.

Quick navigation

Complaint-first & special-site guides

If the first clue is what the hair looks like or where the change is most visible, use these complaint-first guides before jumping straight into a diagnosis name.

Visible thinning and density clues

If the hair simply looks less dense overall, start with Visible Thinning: Causes, Clues & Next Steps. If the complaint is already more specific, use the narrower entry points below.

Patch, diffuse, and broken-hair clues

If the first clue is a localized patch or spot, start with Patchy & Localized Hair Loss Hub: Next Steps, then move into the narrower patch-first pages below.

Scalp-symptom routes

If the story begins with scalp symptoms, start with Scalp Symptoms & Hair Loss: Causes & Next Steps, then use the narrower pages below if one symptom is clearly leading the story.

Face, body, and child/congenital routes

When the location is outside the usual scalp-density pattern, use the site-specific guides below rather than forcing every case into scalp shedding or pattern hair loss.

If the story is broader or the pattern is still uncertain, continue to Eyebrow & Eyelash Hair Loss: Causes & Diagnosis and Rare & Congenital Hair Loss: Clues & Diagnosis.

The 3 main categories

This site organizes most hair-loss questions into 3 main branches: non-scarring alopecia, scarring alopecia, and hair breakage. That structure makes it easier to choose the right hub first before diving into more specific pages.

1) Non-scarring alopecia

Common examples include pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, and shedding disorders like telogen effluvium.

Published key articles:

2) Scarring alopecia

Hair follicles can be destroyed and replaced by scar tissue. Early evaluation is important.

Published key articles:

3) Hair breakage (hair-shaft fragility)

Hair snaps along the shaft and can mimic thinning, but the follicles are usually preserved.

Published key articles:

Not sure what you’re seeing?

References (trusted medical sources)

Last updated: April 30, 2026.

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