Alopecia
The general medical term for hair loss, covering several distinct conditions.
Soumm · Condition
Definition
An umbrella term for hair loss rather than a single diagnosis. Androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and telogen effluvium have different causes, patterns and treatments.
Because the term is broad, it is of limited use without a specific qualifier.
Why the distinction matters
Patterned loss, patchy loss and diffuse shedding point in different directions, and self-diagnosis frequently gets this wrong.
Any persistent or patchy loss should be assessed by a clinician.
A note on evidence
Hair responds to many things at once: sleep, nutrition, hormonal changes, scalp condition and stress among them. Published here for education only; individual concerns should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.