Hair Loss and Alopecia Glossary

Alopecia areata - an autoimmune, often reversible disease in which loss of hair occurs in sharply defined areas usually involving the scalp or beard, but at times every hair on the body.

Alopecia areata totalis - a form of alopecia areata characterized by the total loss of hair from the scalp and face.

Alopecia areata universalis - a form of alopecia areata in which all hair on the scalp, face, and body is lost.

Androgenetic Alopecia - A condition where hair is lost due to a genetic predisposition.

Autoimmune disease - A disease that results when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases ("auto" means self).

Comfy Grip - This is a product designed to wear under the wigs to keep them from shifting.

Chemotherapy - the use of strong drugs to suppress the immune system. Though originally associated with cancer treatment, chemotherapy is used for many different diseases involving the immune system.

Hair bulb - a bulbous collection of actively growing cells at the base of the follicle that constantly produces a strand of hair.

Hair follicle - a small cup-shaped structure in the skin from which hair grows. The cup is lined with cells and connective tissue.

Topical sensitizers - medications that, when applied to the scalp, provoke an allergic reaction that leads to itching, scaling, and often hair growth. They include squaric acid dibutyl ester and diphenylcyclopropenone.

Wig - A general term used to describe different types of products to replace hair.