Balding: How Is That Different from Hair Loss?

Baldness is severe hair loss, medically known as alopecia. This is when one's scalp is either partially or entirely bare.

There are many types of baldness, each with a different cause. Balding may be localized to the front and top of the head, as in the very common type of male-pattern baldness. It may be patchy, a condition called alopecia areata. Baldness can also involve the entire head, as in alopecia capitis totalis.

Alopecia capitis totalis is the loss of all of the scalp hair. Alopecia means baldness and capitis refers to the head. Alopecia capitis totalis is complete baldness of the scalp with normal hair elsewhere on the body.

Alopecia universalis is the loss of all of the hair, not only on the scalp, but also on the entire body. Alopecia areata means patchy areas of baldness. This is hair loss as a result of chemotherapy, the resultant hair loss usually being temporary. Hair loss as a result of radiation therapy administered to the head is usually being permanent, due to irreversible damage to the hair follicles.

Male pattern baldness, another type of balding, is commonly localized to the front and top of the head, due to genetic (hereditary) factors. Male pattern baldness is also referred to as bald pate.