Image via iStock.

By: Rodney Sinclair , University of Melbourne

Balding in men is so common it doesn’t raise an eyebrow. But when a woman starts to lose hair, it can be extremely distressing. Will she end up bald, too?

Help, I’ve got alopecia!

The term alopecia means hair loss. It doesn’t describe the type or the cause of a particular sort of hair loss; women can lose significant amounts of hair for a number of very different reasons.

Everyone knows chemotherapy can make hair fall out. But after the medical treatment hair will grow again.

RELATED:The Glow Down: Why is my hair falling out?

Similarly, hair over the entire scalp can be shed because of other medications, pregnancy, thyroid disorders, major surgery, fever, blood loss, iron deficiency, starvation and crash dieting. The shedding, called telogen effluvium, can last two or three months before the woman recovers completely, although occasionally it can become chronic.

Then there’s alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition said to have affected Marie Antoinette, where clumps of hair fall out and leave bald patches.

Alopecia areata is said to have affected Marie Antoinette. (Image via American Zoetrope)

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is quite distinct from all these types of hair loss. It is a genetic condition and almost 60 per cent of Australian women are predisposed to it.

The course of FPHL differs from woman to women: some will be affected almost as soon as they reach puberty; others may remain unaffected until after menopause. But once it starts, an additional five to 10 per cent of hair will be lost each year, mostly from the crown.

An additional problem for many women is how little hair and health professionals know about the condition. Initial visits may result in comments such as, “It’s just stress/pregnancy/the weather — it’ll grow back.” Or, “You’re imagining things! You have plenty of hair.”

Check out some of our favourite celebrity hair transformations. (Post continues after gallery.)

The best celebrity hair transformations

Hilary Duff

Bec Judd

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen.

Dakota Johnson

Ryan GoslingGosling looked noticeably darker during a seminar a few days ago. Image via Getty.

Jared Leto

Rihanna

See?! We're twins! Source: Instagram.

Sophie Monk

Taylor Schilling

Taylor Schilling from 'Orange Is The New Black' debuts a shorter 'do in Toronto.

Jourdan Dunn

Jourdan Dunn peeks out from behind her new, pastel hair. (Image via Instagram)

Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner's new, blue hair. (Image via Instagram)

Kim Kardashian

Julianne Hough

Hilary Duff

Amy Poehler

Khloe Kardashian

Katy Perry

Chrissy Teigen

Image via Instagram.

Kate Waterhouse

RihannaRihanna does good fringe. Image via Getty

Christina HendricksMad Men star Christina Hendricks has gone back to her blonde roots. Image: Courtesy of Clairol.

Hilary Duff

Hilary says mermaid, we say Kylie. Image via Instagram.

Tyra Banks

Sam Frost