Hair loss can affect your scalp or your whole body, and can be temporary or permanent. This is caused by heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or normal aging. Anyone can experience hair loss, but this is more common in men.
Baldness commonly refers to excessive hair loss on the scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness. Some people prefer to just let their hair loss happen without treatment and just hide it. Others may cover it with hairstyles, make-up, hats or scarves. While others choose one of the treatments available to prevent more severe hair loss or restore hair growth. Before undergoing hair loss treatment, talk to your doctor about the causes of hair loss and treatment options.
Hair loss occurs in various ways, depending on the cause. Hair loss can occur suddenly or gradually and affect only your scalp or your whole body. Hair loss signs and symptoms include:
Gradual thinning on top of the head
This is the most common type of hair loss, influencing people as they age. In men, hair often begins to reach the hairline on the forehead. Women usually have a broadening of the part in their hair. An increasingly common hair loss pattern in older women is a thinning hairline (frontal fibrosing alopecia).
Sudden loosening of hair.
A physical or emotional shock can cause hair to relax. Hands of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning but it is temporary.
Circular or patchy bald spots.
Some people lose hair in circular or patchy bald spots on the scalp, beard or brows. Your skin might become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
Patches of scaling that spread across the scalp
This is a symptom of ringworm. It may be accompanied by damaged hair, redness, swelling and, at times, oozing.
Full body hair loss.
Certain conditions and medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can result in the loss of hair all over your body. The hair normally grows back.
What Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss has many possible causes. The most commonly included:
- Hairstyles that pull the hair tightly (such as braids, hair extensions or tight ponytails).
- Fungal infections on the scalp.
- Hereditary hair loss from genetics (genes you inherit from your parents).
- Medical treatment (such as chemotherapy and certain medications).
- Hormonal changes (such as pregnancy, childbirth or menopause).
- Haircare that may cause damage due to processing (including perms and bleach).
- Stressful events (such as having surgery or losing a loved one).
- Thyroid disease.
- Nutritional deficiencies (especially not getting enough iron or protein).
See your doctor if you are bothered by persistent hair loss and would like to seek treatment. For women experiencing receding hairlines (frontal fibrosing alopecia), talk to your doctor about early treatment to avoid permanent baldness.
Also talk to your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss, or hair falling out more than usual when combing or washing your hair. Sudden hair loss can indicate an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.
