HAIR LOSS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
What is hair loss?
One of the most common disorders that dermatologists diagnose and treat, the medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Is hair loss contagious?
Some people catch a contagious disease, which can lead to hair loss. For example, if you catch the fungus that causes ringworm, the fungus could grow on your scalp. Left untreated, scalp ringworm can lead to hair loss.
Why is my hair falling out?
- We lose our hair for many reasons. Ringworm is one. A more common cause is hereditary hair loss.
- If you recently had an operation, high fever, or chemotherapy for cancer, it’s natural to shed lots of hair. A few months after giving birth, most women shed noticeable amounts of hair.
- Your hair care or too-tight hairstyle could also be causing your hair loss. Some people who are otherwise healthy develop alopecia areata, a disease that can cause hair loss anywhere on their body. These are some the many reasons we see our hair fall out.
- With so many causes, it can be challenging to figure out why your hair is falling out. If you want to do something about it, though, knowing the cause is important. In many cases, hair loss can be successfully treated, or action taken to prevent further hair loss. The key to getting results is knowing the true cause of your hair loss.
Do I need to see a dermatologist about hair loss?
- These doctors specialize in treating the skin, hair, and nails. They have the expertise and tools to help them get to the root cause of a person’s hair loss.
The sooner you find the cause, the better your outcome. The less hair you lose, the more successful treatment (or prevention) tends to be.
Are hair loss shampoos and at-home treatments effective?
- Some products are effective. Minoxidil (Rogaine®) can safely and effectively treat a few causes of hair loss. People who have hereditary hair loss can have some regrowth with this product. Using an at-home laser can also be part of an effective treatment plan for someone who has hereditary hair loss.
Again, the key to getting results is to know the cause.
Signs of hair loss show up in many ways. You may notice a:
- Gradual thinning of the hair on your head
- Bald spot that grows slowly
- Receding hairline that becomes more visible with each passing year
- Widening part
- Thinner ponytail
Millions of people develop these signs of hair loss, which tend to appear gradually. These signs can be subtle, so you may have hair loss for months or years before you notice it.
While many people who have hair loss develop one or more of these common signs, hair loss can occur in other ways.
Hair loss can appear suddenly and dramatically.
While hair loss often occurs gradually, it’s possible to see:
- A bald patch or strip appear within 1 or 2 days
- Clumps of hair fall out when you comb or brush your hair
- All (or most of) the hair on your head fall out
Hair loss can develop elsewhere, aside from your scalp
While hair loss usually affects the scalp, some conditions can cause hair loss on other areas of the body. Alopecia areata is a disease that can cause hair loss anywhere on the body where hair grows. People who have alopecia areata often have hair loss on their scalp, but they can also lose part (or all) of their:
- Eyebrows
- Eyelashes
- Beard
- Nose hairs
- Pubic hair
A few people who have alopecia areata lose all the hair on their body. When this happens, the disease is called alopecia universalis.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia is another disease that causes hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere. Some people lose their eyebrows, eyelashes, or hair on other areas of the body.
It’s also possible to keep the hair on your head and lose it elsewhere. The friction from wearing tight clothing, shoes, or socks can cause hair loss where you have continual rubbing.
Symptoms and other signs of hair loss
While less hair is often the only sign of hair loss, some people develop symptoms and other signs. You may have hair loss along with:
Burning or stinging before sudden hair loss – Some people who have alopecia areata experience this.
Intense itching, burning, and tenderness where you have hair loss – If these occur, it’s possible that you have an infection.
Scaly bald patches, often with sores or blisters that open and ooze pus – This often mean you have a fungal infection on your scalp.
Redness, swelling, and sores that may itch and leak pus – A condition called folliculitis decalvans can cause this.
Scaly patches of psoriasis on your scalp – Most people who have psoriasis get it on their scalp at some time, and this can cause temporary hair lossWhat causes hair loss?
Hair loss has many causes. What’s causing your hair loss can determine whether your hair:
- Falls out gradually or abruptly Thins
- Can regrow on its own
- Requires treatment to regrow
- Needs immediate care to prevent permanent hair loss
Causes of hair loss
Hereditary hair loss
Both men and women develop this type of hair loss, which is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. In men, it’s called male pattern hair loss. Women get female pattern hair loss. Regardless of whether it develops in a man or women, the medical term is androgenic alopecia.
Both men and women develop this type of hair loss, which is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. In men, it’s called male pattern hair loss. Women get female pattern hair loss. Regardless of whether it develops in a man or women, the medical term is androgenic alopecia.
No matter which term you use, it means that you’ve inherited genes that cause your hair follicles (what each hair grows out of) to shrink and eventually stop growing hair. Shrinking can begin as early as your teens, but it usually starts later in life.
In women, the first noticeable sign of hereditary hair loss is usually overall thinning or a widening part.
When a man has hereditary hair loss, the first sign is often a receding hairline or bald spot at the top of his head.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes, treatment can help stop or slow hair loss. It may also help regrow hair. The earlier treatment is started, the better it works. Without treatment, you will continue to lose hair.
Hereditary hair loss
Both men and women develop this type of hair loss, which is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. In men, it’s called male pattern hair loss. Women get female pattern hair loss.
Illustration of male and female pattern hair loss.
Age
With age, most people notice some hair loss because hair growth slows. At some point, hair follicles stop growing hair, which causes the hair on our scalp to thin. Hair also starts to lose its color. A woman’s hairline naturally starts to recede.
Is regrowth possible?
Caught early, treatment helps some people regrow their hair.
Age
With age, most people notice some hair loss because hair growth slows.
Older could sitting with dogs
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a disease that develops when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles (what holds the hair in place), causing hair loss. You can lose hair anywhere on your body, including your scalp, inside your nose, and in your ears. Some people lose their eyelashes or eyebrows.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes. If your hair fails to grow back on its own, treatment may help stimulate regrowth.
- Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a disease that develops when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles (what holds the hair in place), causing hair loss.
- bald spot on top of head
- Cancer treatment
If you receive chemotherapy or have radiation treatment to your head or neck, you may lose all (or most of) your hair within a few weeks of starting treatment.
Is regrowth possible?
Hair usually starts to regrow within months of finishing chemotherapy or radiation treatments to the head or neck. Dermatologists can offer medication to help hair grow back more quickly.
Is it preventable?
Wearing a cooling cap before, during, and after each chemotherapy session may help prevent hair loss.
Cancer treatment
If you receive chemotherapy or have radiation treatment to your head or neck, you may lose all (or most of) your hair within a few weeks of starting treatment.
woman with scarf over head embraced by older woman
Childbirth, illness, or other stressors
A few months after giving birth, recovering from an illness, or having an operation, you may notice a lot more hairs in your brush or on your pillow. This can also happen after a stressful time in your life, such as a divorce or death of a loved one.
Is regrowth possible?
If the stress stops, your body will readjust and the excessive shedding will stop. When the shedding stops, most people see their hair regain its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months.
Childbirth, illness, or other stressors
A few months after giving birth, recovering from an illness, or having an operation, you may notice a lot more hairs in your brush or on your pillow. This can also happen after a stressful time in your life, such as a divorce or death of a loved one.
woman pulling hair from brush
Hair care
If you color, perm, or relax your hair, you could be damaging your hair. Over time, this damage can lead to hair loss.
Is regrowth possible?
You can change how you care for your hair, which can prevent hair loss. Once you damage a hair follicle, hair cannot grow from that follicle. Having many damaged hair follicles creates permanent bald spots.
Hair care
If you color, perm, or relax your hair, you could be damaging your hair. Over time, this damage can lead to hair loss.
balding area on top of head
Hairstyle pulls on your scalp
If you often wear your hair tightly pulled back, the continual pulling can lead to permanent hair loss. The medical name for this condition is traction alopecia.
Is regrowth possible?
No. You can prevent hair loss by making some changes.
Hairstyle pulls on your scalp
If you often wear your hair tightly pulled back, the continual pulling can lead to permanent hair loss.
woman showing receding hairline
Hormonal imbalance
A common cause of this imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It leads to cysts on a woman’s ovaries, along with other signs and symptoms, which can include hair loss. Stopping some types of birth control pills can cause a temporary hormonal imbalance. Women who develop a hormonal imbalance can develop thinning hair (or hair loss) on their scalp.
Is regrowth possible?
Treatment may help.
Hormonal imbalance
A common cause of this imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It leads to cysts on a woman’s ovaries, along with other signs and symptoms, which can include hair loss.
Woman with dyed hair
Scalp infection
A scalp infection can lead to scaly and sometimes inflamed areas on your scalp. You may see what look like small black dots on your scalp. These are actually stubs of hair. Some people develop a bald spot.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes, treatment can get rid of the infection. Once the infection clears, hair tends to grow.
Scalp infection
A scalp infeciton can lead to scaly and sometimes inflamed areas on your scalp.
two pictures of scalp with ringworm
Medication
A possible side effect of some medications is hair loss. If you think a medication is causing your hair loss, ask the doctor who prescribed it if hair loss is a possible side effect. It’s essential that you do not stop taking the medication before talking with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious health problems.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes.
Is regrowth possible?
Medication
A possible side effect of some medications is hair loss. If you think a medication is causing your hair loss, ask the doctor who prescribed it if hair loss is a possible side effect.
person with pill in hand
Scalp psoriasis
Many people who have plaque psoriasis develop psoriasis on their scalp at some point. This can lead to hair loss.
Is regrowth possible?
Hair tends to regrow once the scalp psoriasis clears, but this takes time. By following these dermatologists’ tips, you may be able to prevent hair loss.
Scalp psoriasis
Many people who have plaque psoriasis develop psoriasis on their scalp at some point. This can lead to hair loss.
scalp psoriasis on man's head
Pulling your hair
Some people pull on their hair, often to relieve stress. They may be unaware that they’re pulling their hair. The medical term for this is trichotillomania.
Is regrowth possible?
If you haven’t destroyed the hair follicles, yes. For your hair to regrow, you have to stop pulling it.
Pulling your hair
Some people pull on their hair, often to relieve stress. They may be unaware that they’re pulling their hair.
person showing thinning hair that resulted from Trichotillomania
Scarring alopecia
This condition develops when inflammation destroys hair follicles. Once destroyed, a hair follicle cannot grow hair. Diverse conditions can cause this. The medical name for this group of conditions is cicatricial alopecia.
Is regrowth possible?
Once a hair follicle is destroyed, it cannot regrow a hair. Catching this condition early can prevent further hair loss.
Scarring alopecia
This condition develops when inflammation destroys hair follicles. Once destroyed, a hair follicle cannot grow hair. Diverse conditions can cause this.
scalp with alopecia scarring
Sexually transmitted infection
Left untreated, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can lead to hair loss. Syphilis is such an STI. Left untreated, syphilis can cause patchy hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and elsewhere. Other STIs can also cause hair loss.
Is regrowth possible?
After treating the STI, hair often starts to regrow.
Sexually transmitted infection
Left untreated, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can lead to hair loss.
blood vial labeled sexually transmitted infections
Thyroid disease
If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair. Some people notice that their hair comes out in clumps when they brush it.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes, treating the thyroid disease can reverse the hair loss.
Thyroid disease
If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair.
woman holding throat
Too little biotin, iron, protein, or zinc
If you’re not getting enough of one or more of these, you can have noticeable hair loss.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes. When your body gets enough of the missing nutrients, hair can regrow.
Too little biotin, iron, protein, or zinc
If you’re not getting enough of one or more of these, you can have noticeable hair loss.
woman brushing hair and looking at loose hair
Friction
People can develop hair loss where boots, socks, or tight clothing frequently rubs against their skin. The medical term for this is frictional alopecia.
Is regrowth possible?
Hair tends to regrow on its own when the rubbing stops.
Friction
People can develop hair loss where boots, socks, or tight clothing frequently rubs against their skin.
work boots
Poison
Being slowly poisoned can lead to hair loss. Poisons that can cause hair loss include arsenic, thallium, mercury, and lithium. If you ingest a large amount of warfarin, which is found in rat poisons, it can also cause hair loss. Taking large amounts of vitamin A or selenium is also toxic and can cause hair loss.
Is regrowth possible?
Yes, hair tends to regrow when you are no longer exposed to the poison.
Poison
Being slowly poisoned can lead to hair loss. Poisons that can cause hair loss include arsenic, thallium, mercury, and lithium. If you ingest a large amount of warfarin, which is found in rat poisons, it can also cause hair loss.
warning sign for toxic chemicals
While many causes of hair loss can be treated successfully, the key to effective treatment is to find out what’s causing the hair loss. Without an accurate diagnosis, treatment is often ineffective.
RALS HEALTHCARE - BLOG
HAIR LOSS DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Dr. Iqra Jamshaid is currently working as an Aesthetic Practitioner at Rals Clinic, located in Al Qusais, Dubai, UAE.
With over 6+ years of experience as a General Practitioner and Aesthetic Physician, Dr. Iqra Jamshaid specializes in the management of both acute and chronic medical conditions. She has extensive expertise in performing a wide range of aesthetic procedures, including Botox, dermal fillers, mono threads, fat-dissolving injections, mesotherapy, PRP, exosomes, HIFU, and chemical peels.
Additionally, Dr. Iqra Jamshaid is proficient in multiple languages, including English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi.
