80 million Americans experience hereditary hair loss. It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs per day, but losing more may indicate a problem. Hair loss has many potential causes, including genetic predisposition, medical conditions, medications, hairstyles, or nutritional deficiencies. A doctor can diagnose the cause through examinations and tests. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may involve medications, medical procedures, or lifestyle changes to regrow hair and prevent further loss. While hereditary hair loss can be difficult to treat, other causes can often be stopped or reversed with treatment.

1. Everything You Need to Know About Hair
Loss
Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Moore —
Updated on June 25, 2019
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The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that 80 million men
and women in America have hereditary hair loss (alopecia).
It can affect just the hair on your scalp or your entire body. Although
alopecia is more prevalent in older adults, excessive hair loss can occur in
children as well.
It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. With about 100,000
hairs on your head, that small loss isn’t noticeable.
New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesn’t always happen.
Hair loss can develop gradually over years or happen abruptly. Hair loss
can be permanent or temporary.
It’s impossible to count the amount of hair lost on a given day. You may
be losing more hair than is normal if you notice a large amount of hair in
the drain after washing your hair or clumps of hair in your brush. You
might also notice thinning patches of hair or baldness.
If you notice that you’re losing more hair than usual, you should discuss
the problem with your doctor. They can determine the underlying cause
of your hair loss and suggest appropriate treatment plans.
Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Outlook
What is hair loss?
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2. First, your doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin
problems) will try to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss. The
most common cause of hair loss is hereditary male- or female-pattern
baldness.
If you have a family history of baldness, you may have this type of hair
loss. Certain sex hormones can trigger hereditary hair loss. It may begin
as early as puberty.
In some cases, hair loss may occur with a simple halt in the cycle of hair
growth. Major illnesses, surgeries, or traumatic events can trigger hair
loss. However, your hair will usually start growing back without treatment.
Hormonal changes can cause temporary hair loss. Examples include:
pregnancy
childbirth
discontinuing the use of birth control pills
menopause
Medical conditions that can cause hair loss include:
thyroid disease
alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles)
scalp infections like ringworm
Diseases that cause scarring, such as lichen planus and some types of
lupus, can result in permanent hair loss because of the scarring.
Hair loss can also be due to medications used to treat:
cancer
high blood pressure
arthritis
depression
heart problems
What causes hair loss?
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3. A physical or emotional shock may trigger noticeable hair loss. Examples
of this type of shock include:
a death in the family
extreme weight loss
a high fever
People with trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) have a need to pull out
their hair, usually from their head, eyebrows, or eyelashes.
Traction hair loss can be due to hairstyles that put pressure on the
follicles by pulling the hair back very tightly.
A diet lacking in protein, iron, and other nutrients can also lead to thinning
hair.
Persistent hair loss often indicates an underlying health issue.
Your doctor or dermatologist can determine the cause of your hair loss
based on a physical examination and your health history. In some cases,
simple dietary changes can help. Your doctor may also change your
prescription medications.
If your dermatologist suspects an autoimmune or skin disease, they might
take a biopsy of the skin on your scalp.
This will involve carefully removing a small section of skin for laboratory
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How is hair loss diagnosed?

4. testing. It’s important to keep in mind that hair growth is a complex
process. It may take time to determine the exact cause of your hair loss.
Medication
Medications will likely be the first course of treatment for hair loss. Over-
the-counter (OTC) medications generally consist of topical creams and
gels that you apply directly to the scalp. The most common products
contain an ingredient called minoxidil (Rogaine).
According to the AAD, your doctor may recommend minoxidil in
conjunction with other hair loss treatments. Side effects of minoxidil
include scalp irritation and hair growth in adjacent areas, such as your
forehead or face.
Prescription medications may also treat hair loss. Doctors prescribe the
oral medication finasteride (Propecia) for male-pattern baldness. You take
this medication daily to slow hair loss. Some men experience new hair
growth when taking finasteride.
Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and impaired
sexual function. There may be a link between the use of finasteride and a
more serious type (high-grade) of prostate cancer, according to the Mayo
Clinic.
Doctor also prescribe corticosteroids like prednisone. Individuals with
alopecia areata can use this to reduce inflammation and suppress the
immune system. Corticosteroids mimic the hormones made by your
adrenal glands.
A high amount of corticosteroid in the body reduces inflammation and
suppresses the immune system.
You should monitor side effects from these medications carefully.
Possible side effects include:
glaucoma, a collection of eye diseases that can result in optic nerve
damage and vision loss
What are the treatment options for hair loss?

5. fluid retention and swelling in the lower legs
higher blood pressure
cataracts
high blood sugar
There is evidence that corticosteroid use may also put you at higher risk
for the following conditions:
infections
calcium loss from bones, which may lead to osteoporosis
thin skin and easy bruising
sore throat
hoarseness
Medical Procedures
Sometimes, medications aren’t enough to stop hair loss. There are
surgical procedures to treat baldness.
Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery involves moving small plugs of skin, each with a
few hairs, to bald parts of your scalp.
This works well for people with inherited baldness since they typically
lose hair on the top of the head. Because this type of hair loss is
progressive, you would need multiple surgeries over time.
Scalp Reduction
In a scalp reduction, a surgeon removes part of your scalp that lacks hair.
The surgeon then closes the area with a piece of your scalp that has hair.
Another option is a flap, in which your surgeon folds scalp that has hair
over a bald patch. This is a type of scalp reduction.
Tissue expansion can also cover bald spots. It requires two surgeries. In
the first surgery, a surgeon places a tissue expander under a part of your
scalp that has hair and is next to the bald spot. After several weeks, the
expander stretches out the part of your scalp that has hair.
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6. In the second surgery, your surgeon removes the expander and pulls the
expanded area of scalp with hair over the bald spot.
These surgical remedies for baldness tend to be expensive, and they
carry risks. These include:
patchy hair growth
bleeding
wide scars
infection
Your graft might also not take, meaning that you would need to repeat the
surgery.
There are things you can do to prevent further hair loss. Don’t wear tight
hairstyles like braids, ponytails, or buns that put too much pressure on
your hair. Over time, those styles permanently damage your hair follicles.
Try not to pull, twist, or rub your hair. Make sure you’re eating a balanced
diet that includes adequate amounts of iron and protein.
Certain beauty regimens can worsen or cause hair loss.
If you’re currently losing hair, use a gentle baby shampoo to wash your
hair. Unless you have extremely oily hair, consider washing your hair only
every other day. Always pat the hair dry and avoid rubbing your hair.
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How can I prevent hair loss?

7. Styling products and tools are also common culprits in hair loss. Examples
of products or tools that can affect hair loss include:
blow dryers
heated combs
hair straighteners
coloring products
bleaching agents
perms
relaxers
If you decide to style your hair with heated tools, only do so when your
hair is dry. Also, use the lowest settings possible.
You can stop or even reverse hair loss with aggressive treatment,
especially if it’s due to an underlying medical condition. Hereditary hair
loss may be more difficult to treat. However, certain procedures such as
hair transplants can help reduce the appearance of baldness.
Talk to your doctor to explore all your options to lessen the effects of hair
loss.
Last medically reviewed on June 25, 2019
What is the long-term outlook?
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women lose their hair in a different pattern than men. Learn more.
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