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Previous board • Alopecia Awareness Month • September 2026 • 6 posters

Alopecia & Hair Loss Awareness

Occasion: Alopecia Awareness Month · September 2026. Hair loss is not one single condition. This board introduces alopecia areata, different patterns of hair loss, common causes, the hair-growth cycle, common myths and a simple message about confidence.

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Alopecia Awareness Month · September 2026
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Poster 1: Alopecia areata: round or patchy hair loss
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Alopecia areata: round or patchy hair loss

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune cause of smooth, round or oval patches of hair loss.

  • Despite the familiar Tamil name “புழுவேட்டு”, it is not caused by a worm or insect and it is not contagious.
  • The immune system temporarily targets hair follicles; hair may regrow, although the condition can recur.
  • It can affect the scalp and sometimes the beard, eyebrows or eyelashes.
  • A new smooth bald patch is worth medical evaluation so the cause can be confirmed.
Poster 2: Not all hair loss is the same
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Not all hair loss is the same

Some daily shedding is normal. Persistent or clearly increased hair loss deserves attention.

  • A small amount of hair is normally shed as new hair grows.
  • Noticeable increase in daily shedding, sudden clumps of hair, or progressive thinning are different patterns.
  • Patterned thinning may affect the front, crown or central parting.
  • Smooth patchy loss, especially in a child, should be evaluated rather than assumed to be ordinary hair fall.
Poster 3: Common causes of hair loss
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Common causes of hair loss

Hair loss has many possible causes, and the likely cause changes with the pattern and timing.

  • Hereditary patterned hair loss can cause gradual recession or thinning.
  • Fever or illness, surgery, childbirth, major stress, rapid weight change and some medicines can trigger increased shedding.
  • Alopecia areata can cause smooth round or patchy hair loss.
  • Scalp infection or inflammation can cause scaling, itching, redness or broken hairs, especially in children.
  • Tight hairstyles can contribute to traction-related loss around the hairline.
  • Iron deficiency, thyroid problems and hormonal factors can be associated with diffuse or patterned loss.
Poster 4: How hair grows and sheds
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How hair grows and sheds

Hair follicles cycle through growth, transition/resting and shedding before a new hair grows.

  • Different hairs on the scalp are in different stages at the same time.
  • After a growth phase, a follicle passes through a transition/resting phase and the old hair eventually sheds as a new one begins to grow.
  • Major fever or illness, surgery, childbirth, substantial stress, rapid weight change and some medicines can shift more follicles into the shedding phase.
  • When this happens, increased hair fall may become obvious about two to three months after the trigger.
  • The reason for hair fall seen today may therefore be something that happened weeks or months earlier.
Poster 5: Hair-loss myths and facts
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Hair-loss myths and facts

Common hair-care beliefs can distract from the actual cause of persistent hair loss.

  • Shampooing can make already-shed hairs more visible, but shampoo alone is not the cause of ordinary hair loss.
  • Shaving the scalp does not increase the number of follicles or make hair grow permanently thicker or faster.
  • Oil can moisturise the hair and scalp, but it does not correct the underlying cause of hair loss; excessive use may worsen some scalp problems.
  • Tight hairstyles, repeated traction or friction can contribute to hair loss, but persistent loss still deserves evaluation for other causes.
  • Dandruff by itself usually does not cause permanent baldness, although scalp inflammation can increase shedding in some people.
Poster 6: Embrace baldness — confidence is a valid choice
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Embrace baldness — confidence is a valid choice

Hair is one part of appearance, not a measure of a person’s worth or confidence.

  • Choosing medical treatment is valid when treatment is appropriate and desired.
  • Using a wig, hair colour or other cosmetic options to conceal hair loss is also a personal choice.
  • Choosing not to conceal baldness is equally valid.
  • Sudden or severe hair loss is still worth evaluating to identify an underlying cause, even if you are comfortable with the appearance.
  • Confidence looks good on everyone.
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