HealthInfo Aoraki South Canterbury
Hair loss (alopecia)
Ngaronga makawe
Alopecia is a general medical term for hair loss. You can lose hair from one area of your body or several areas.
Men and women shed about 100 hairs a day and it's not usually anything to worry about because you grow more hair than you shed. But sometimes the number of new hairs is not enough to replace the lost hair. Read more here about hair loss including who gets it, what causes it and treatment for it.
Alopecia can be permanent or temporary and can be distressing. Some people find it easy to accept but others find it affects their self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing. Talk to your GP, practice nurse or other health professionals about how you're feeling. They can help with treatment ideas and options to best suit you.
Alopecia New Zealand also offers information, support and regular meetings throughout New Zealand. You can contact them by emailing alopecianzweb@gmail.com
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Alopecia UK – A little bit of everything about alopecia
This printable booklet can help you understand alopecia and the things that can help.
- DermNet NZ
- Hair loss
Information about hair loss.
- Alopecia areata
This form of hair loss causes round bald patches to suddenly appear. It's an auto-immune condition, meaning the body attacks its own hair cells.
- Female pattern hair loss
It's common for women's hair to thin as they age. This page explains what is known about female pattern hair loss and what treatments are available.
- Male pattern hair loss
Information about why some men go bald, and possible treatments.
- Hair loss
- Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand – Wigs and hairpieces subsidy
Information about the wigs and hairpieces subsidy available for people who suffer from serious hair loss because of a medical condition or from certain cancer therapies.
- UpToDate – Androgenetic alopecia
Information about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern and female-pattern baldness).
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed August 2021.
SourcesReview key: HIHLA-58248
