{"id":20297,"date":"2026-08-07T01:18:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=20297"},"modified":"2026-08-07T01:18:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T01:18:22","slug":"alopecia-has-a-first-and-last-name-that-you-must-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/07\/alopecia-has-a-first-and-last-name-that-you-must-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Alopecia Has a First and Last Name That You Must Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Hope Mitchell, MD<\/em>
\nThe Truth Contributor<\/em><\/p>\n

Alopecia is a word many people recognize, but it is often misunderstood. It simply means hair loss. It does not tell us what type of hair loss you have, what caused it or how it should be treated.<\/p>\n

Think of alopecia as having a first and last name. \u201cAlopecia\u201d is one name. The specific type is the other name(s), and that is the part we must identify before choosing the most effective treatment.<\/p>\n

There are many forms of alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia, also known as pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, traction alopecia, scarring alopecia, telogen effluvium alopecia and others. Each has its own cause, pattern and treatment approach. A treatment that helps one type may not help another.<\/p>\n

That is why an accurate diagnosis is so important. When I evaluate someone for hair loss, I look at much more than how much hair has been lost. I examine the pattern of thinning, the condition of the scalp, the health of the hair follicles and whether there are signs of inflammation, scarring, or an underlying medical condition.<\/p>\n

Your medical history also provides important clues. Hormonal changes, thyroid disease, nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, medications, recent illnesses, significant stress and certain hairstyles can all contribute to different types of alopecia. In some cases, bloodwork or additional testing may be needed to identify the underlying cause.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating themselves based on information they find online or recommendations from friends. Because the causes of alopecia are different, using the wrong treatment can delay improvement and, in some cases, allow permanent hair loss to develop.<\/p>\n

The good news is that many forms of alopecia can be treated or managed, especially when diagnosed early. Treatment may include topical or oral medications, corticosteroid injections, platelet-rich plasma, laser therapy or procedures such as KeraLase\u00ae, depending on your diagnosis and individual needs.<\/p>\n

If you have noticed increased shedding, a widening part, thinning around your hairline or patches of hair loss, do not ignore the signs. Hair loss can be your body\u2019s way of telling you that something deserves attention.<\/p>\n

Remember, alopecia is only one part of the name and simply means hair loss, which we already know is occurring. The other part of the name is the part that helps us understand the specific diagnosis, and that is what guides the treatment plan. Once we know exactly what type of alopecia you have, we can determine the best approach to help preserve, restore and support the health of your hair.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hope Mitchell
\nBoard Certified Dermatologist with Over 25 Years of Experience<\/p>\n

419.872.HOPE
\nMitchellDermatology.com
\n815 Commerce Drive | Perrysburg<\/p>\n

Healthy Skin Begins with HOPE!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Hope Mitchell, MD The Truth Contributor Alopecia is a word many people recognize, but it is often misunderstood. It simply means hair loss. It does not tell us what type of hair loss you have, what caused it or how it should be treated. Think of alopecia as having a first and last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[359],"class_list":["post-20297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20297"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20298,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20297\/revisions\/20298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20297"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=20297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}