The glossary / words to understand
The language of hair
A glossary for reading guides and product documents. Definitions help explain the language without providing a self-diagnosis.
- Alopecia
- A general term for loss of scalp or body hair. The term alone does not identify a cause.
- Androgenetic alopecia
- Progressive pattern thinning associated with susceptibility and the action of androgens on follicles.
- Alopecia areata
- An immune-mediated condition that can cause patches or more extensive loss of scalp or body hair.
- Medical history
- A record of your health, observed changes and medicines used.
- Anagen
- The growth phase of the hair cycle.
- Telogen
- The resting phase of the hair cycle.
- Telogen effluvium
- Increased shedding associated with more follicles moving into the resting phase; the cause needs assessment.
- Follicle
- The structure in the skin from which a hair grows.
- Thinning
- A visible reduction in coverage or density: a description, rather than a diagnosis.
- Miniaturisation
- The progressive production of finer hairs by affected follicles.
- Trichoscopy
- Magnified examination of hair and scalp during specialist assessment.
- Approved indication
- A use of a medicine authorised in its official product information.
- Off-label
- Use outside a medicine’s authorised conditions. Research into a use is not itself approval for that use.
- SmPC
- Summary of product characteristics: official information about a medicine’s indications, risks and conditions of use. The Italian abbreviation is RCP.
- Patient information leaflet
- Official product information written for the person using a medicine.
- Adverse reaction
- An unwanted, harmful effect of a medicine. Reporting a suspected reaction does not require personally proving causation.
- Randomised trial
- A study that assigns participants to groups at random to compare interventions.
- Placebo
- A comparison intervention without the active ingredient being studied, where the study design includes one.
- Hair transplantation
- Surgery that transfers follicles from a donor area to another area; suitability requires individual assessment.
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Sources and limitations
- Male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)British Association of Dermatologists / British Hair and Nail Society · Document: 2024-06 · Editorial check: 15 October 2026Next review scheduled for June 2027. UK licensing and NHS information do not automatically apply to Italy; read finasteride safety alongside AIFA’s 2025 notice.
- Telogen effluviumBritish Association of Dermatologists · Document: 2025-10 · Editorial check: 15 October 2026Next review scheduled for October 2028. Describes general timing, not an individual prognosis.
- Alopecia areataBritish Association of Dermatologists · Document: 2024-04 · Editorial check: 15 October 2026Used for the definition and variable course. UK medicine lists, ages and reimbursement are not treated as current Italian information.
- Hair loss: diagnosis and treatmentAmerican Academy of Dermatology · Document: date not stated · Editorial check: 15 October 2026Used for the general clinical pathway. FDA approvals and US insurance information do not describe Italy.
- Summary of product characteristics and patient information leafletAIFA · Document: date not stated · Editorial check: 15 October 2026A methodological page; it does not verify the current SmPC of every medicine.
- Hair transplantation: patient informationAmerican Academy of Dermatology · Document: date not stated · Editorial check: 15 October 2026The source’s promotional title is not adopted as a promise. No Italian prices were verified.
- Oral versus topical minoxidil for male androgenetic alopecia: randomised trialPenha MA et al.; JAMA Dermatology · Document: 2024-04-10 · Editorial check: 15 October 2026doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0284. Single centre; 90 men randomised, 68 completed; 24 weeks. Does not establish long-term safety or universal superiority.