Fine, short, lightly-pigmented 'peach fuzz' hair. In pattern loss, miniaturisation turns thick terminal hairs into vellus hairs, which is why thinning areas look sparse before they go fully bald. Treatment aims to convert vellus hairs back toward terminal.
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Not medical advice. General education only; it does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a licensed professional. Consult a board-certified dermatologist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
⚠️ When to see a doctor — don’t self-treat
- Sudden patchy or circular bald spots
- Redness, scaling, pus, pain or itch (possible scarring alopecia — treat urgently)
- Broken hairs or rapid loss
- Loss with body-wide signs (weight loss, fatigue, cycle changes, acne, extra hair)
- Loss right after a new medication
- Any hair loss in a child