Much of American is afraid of going bald. Over half of both men and women 25 to 34 think that a thinning hairline is scary.

So if you have some extra hair coming out, you might be panicking.

But that doesn't necessarily mean you're on your way to 0 hair on your head. You might just be having bald spots, which may or may not be temporary.

So what exactly are bald patches and what causes them? Read on to find out.

What Are Bald Patches?

Bald patches are where you have little spots of hair that are missing. The hair is completely gone, not just thinned out. As a result, your scalp will be both smooth and shiny in that area.

What Causes Bald Patches?

Now that you know what a bald patch is, what causes it? Here are some possible ones.

Tight Hairstyles

If you're a fan of tight hairstyles, they might be the culprit. This is also known as traction alopecia and it happens if you do things like wear your hair in tight ponytails or braids. If you use chemicals to set your hair, this can add to your hair loss.

The simple way to reverse traction alopecia is to stop wearing these hairstyles and to keep your hair nice and loose. If you can't wait, then you can try hair fillers. For more information, discover here.

Alopecia Areata

This is a type of autoimmune disease, which means your body mistakenly attacks itself. In this case, your immune system attacks your hair follicles, which is what makes your hair fall out.

The good news is, in most cases, your hair will grow back within a year. But for those with more severe cases of this skin disorder, it can result in complete baldness.

You can ask your doctor for corticosteroid injections on the bald spots to prevent further hair loss.

Fungal Infection

It might seem strange, but fungal infections can cause you to have bald patches as well. However, this is more commonly found in children.

Instead of the scalp being smooth and shiny though, it'll be red and scaly. Have peace of mind knowing that this can be easily treated by getting antifungals from your doctor.

Other Diseases

There are some other diseases that can also cause bald spots. They include sarcoid and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Like with a fungal infection, your scalp won't be smooth and shiny. It'll usually become discolored and even have a scarred appearance.

Take Care of Your Bald Patches by Seeing a Doctor

If you've noticed bald patches in your hair, you might be concerned. The best thing you can do is go see your doctor, as it can be due to a wide variety of things, as you can see from this article.

So take care of yourself and be proactive if you see bald patches. Your doctor can help you figure out what's causing it and suggest the best way to restore your hair.

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