Alopecia can be caused by many factors from genetics to the environment. While androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness, AGA for short) is by far the most common form of hair loss, dermatologists also see many people with other forms of alopecia. Several hundred diseases have hair loss as a primary symptom.

Among the most frequent non-AGA alopecias seen by dermatologists are telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, ringworm, scarring alopecia, and hair loss due to excessive cosmetic treatment. Less common types of hair loss might pose diagnostic challenges, leading patients to wait for months, or even years, seeking consultations with multiple dermatologists until they find one knowledgeable about their condition. Moreover, for rare diseases, research motivation might be limited, hindering the development of treatments. Often, even after a correct diagnosis, dermatologists might have no known treatment to offer for the condition.

The field of hair biology and hair diseases constitutes a relatively small area of study, and even research on androgenetic alopecia is relatively constrained. Roughly 4 decades ago, there were likely fewer than 100 individuals worldwide significantly engaged in hair research. In recent years, this number might have multiplied by five. While this still pales in comparison to research in domains like diabetes, the increasing ranks of researchers investigating hair biology is an encouraging trend. Ultimately, this growth should yield a better comprehension of hair-related issues and greater assistance for those grappling with rare forms of alopecia.