What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss has many causes, including:
- Genetics
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Stress
- Hormonal fluctuation and imbalance
- Certain hairstyles, products, or hair care techniques
- Medical conditions
- Side effects from medication
What Types of Hair Loss Are There?
Some types of hair loss include:
- Androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss
- Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune condition resulting in hair loss
- Infections such as folliculitis or tinea capitis
- Genetic conditions
- Traction alopecia
- Telogen effluvium (ex. hair loss after pregnancy or stressful events)
- Inflammatory causes such as frontal fibrosing alopecia or central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA)
Who Loses Their Hair?
Hair loss is most common in older adults but can occur at any stage of your life depending on the type of hair loss. Certain types of hair loss, like androgenetic alopecia, are hereditary while other types of hair loss such as alopecia areata can be autoimmune. Other types of hair loss can be due to infection, hair care practices, or environmental influences (ex. stress, pregnancy, etc).
How Can I Prevent Hair Loss?
For some, hair loss is preventable by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet, reducing stress, and avoiding damaging hairstyles. However, many times, hair loss can be difficult to prevent at home.
How Can I Treat Hair Loss?

The right hair loss treatment for you will depend on the cause of your hair loss, the exact type of hair loss you’re experiencing, and your symptoms. Some treatments your dermatologist may suggest include:
- Corticosteroid injections
- Topical minoxidil/Rogaine
- Topical prescription medication applied to the scalp
- Oral prescription medications (ex. finasteride)
- Laser treatment
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Hair transplant
Alopecia FAQs
Can a dermatologist help with alopecia?Yes, a board-certified dermatologist can help. Our providers are experienced at evaluating your hair loss and creating a customizable treatment plan based on the cause of your hair loss, the exact type of hair loss you’re experiencing, and your symptoms. Can your hair grow back if you have alopecia?Depending on the type of hair loss, hair may or may not be able to grow back. For non-scarring forms of alopecia, such as alopecia areata (autoimmune-related hair loss), hair may grow back with treatment. For scarring forms of alopecia, hair loss is usually irreversible once the hair follicles are destroyed. How is alopecia totalis treated?Not everyone with alopecia areata will develop alopecia totalis, or complete hair loss on the scalp. Front-line treatments for alopecia totalis are typically immunomodulatory drugs known as JAK inhibitors. There are currently three FDA approved JAK inhibitors for the treatment of severe alopecia areata, including Olumiant, Leqselvi, and Litfulo. Other treatments may include corticosteroid injections and oral prescription medications. What are the early signs of alopecia?In general, early signs of hair loss include increased shedding of hair seen on your pillow or in the shower. For alopecia areata (immune-related hair loss), early signs include hair falling out in small patches on your scalp. For androgenetic alopecia, early signs include widening of the central part in females and thinning at the frontal hairline and crown in men. What causes alopecia hair loss?Alopecia hair loss can be caused by many factors, depending on the type of alopecia. These factors include genetics (androgenetic alopecia or male/female pattern hair loss), autoimmune responses (alopecia areata), hormonal changes, stress or shock (telogen effluvium), tension hairstyles and damage (traction alopecia), and inflammatory causes (frontal fibrosing alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia). What does alopecia regrowth look like?Regrowth of hair is not guaranteed depending upon the type of alopecia. Hair regrowth can be very slow and may occur in uneven patterns. New hairs may also be softer, finer, and grow back less densely than the original hairs. What is the best treatment for alopecia?There is no cure for alopecia; however, treatment options to slow the damage to hair follicles exist. The best treatment option is highly dependent on the cause and type of alopecia. Consult your dermatologist to create a customized treatment plan that may include treatments such as corticosteroid injections, topical minoxidil/Rogaine, topical and oral prescription medications, laser treatments, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and hair transplants. What is the most common form of alopecia?The most common form of alopecia is androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss. |
Schedule an Appointment
If you’ve noticed thinning or balding patches on your scalp or increased hair shedding schedule an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to evaluate the cause of your hair loss and provide you with a customized treatment plan to address your specific concerns.
To schedule your appointment at Arlington Dermatology, please call our office or request your appointment online.