Baldness comes in many shapes and forms. From the patchy hair loss of alopecia areata, to complete loss of all hair on the head caused by alopecia totalis, all of these conditions are manifested and treated differently. Another interesting type of alopecia similar to pattern hair loss is known as invisible baldness.
So, what is invisible baldness and how do you know if you have it?
What Is Invisible Baldness?
In short, invisible baldness is just a name for the early stages of the typical male pattern hair loss. A healthy head of hair should have around 100.000 hairs. During the early stages, half of that can be lost without the person even noticing any changes. This “sneakiness” prompted some members of the medical community to dub this condition invisible baldness.
The reason why this could be a problem is that most clinically proven treatments work best when taken during the early stages of the condition. Since it could sometimes take months or years for hair loss to become noticeable, invisible baldness is an obstacle for effective treatment.
How Do You Know If You Have it?
The warning signs of invisible baldness are similar to those of male pattern hair loss. These include the following:
- Change in hair texture (your hair may appear thinner);
- Excessive shedding;
- Noticing thinner hair in certain spots after getting a haircut;
- A family history of hair loss.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these warning signs of invisible baldness, visit your doctor. If detected in time, hair loss can often be treated with medications like minoxidil and finasteride that can restore a lot of the lost hair with great success.
