What is the professional term for hair loss?

Alopecia is the professional term used to describe hair loss. This term encompasses various types of hair loss conditions, including androgenic alopecia (commonly known as male or female pattern baldness), alopecia areata (which involves sudden hair loss in patches), and overall thinning or shedding of hair. The use of "alopecia" is recognized in the medical and cosmetology fields to refer specifically to scenarios where hair is lost due to factors that can range from genetics to environmental influences, stress, or illness.

Trichotillomania refers to a psychological condition characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one’s own hair, which is not classified purely as hair loss caused by genetic or medical conditions. Hypotrichosis describes hair that is fine or sparse but does not necessarily indicate a complete loss of hair like alopecia does. Androgenesis is not a term directly related to hair loss; it refers to the development of male characteristics and is not typically associated with hair loss in either men or women.