What Are Causes of Baldness

There are many causes of scalp hair loss. This article will cover the common ones.

In general, most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Thyroid disease can cause hair loss, but thyroid tests on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal. Although many medications list “hair loss” among their potential side effects, drugs are also not overall common causes of thinning or lost hair. On the other hand, with cancer treatments and immune suppression medications, hair loss is not uncommon.

One useful way to classify hair loss is by whether the loss is localized and patchy, or whether it affects large areas or the whole scalp.

Patchy hair loss

Some conditions produce small areas of hair loss, while others affect large areas of the scalp. Common causes of patchy hair loss are:

* alopecia areata (patches of baldness that usually grow back)
* traction alopecia (thinning from tight braids or ponytails)
* trichotillomania (the habit of twisting or pulling hair out)
* tinea capitis (fungal infection)

Alopecia areata

A common condition, alopecia areata usually starts as a single, quarter-sized circle of perfectly smooth baldness. Alopecia patches usually regrow in three to six months without treatment. Sometimes, hair grows back in white. In another variant, alopecia can produce two or three bald patches. When these grow back, they may be replaced by others. The most extensive form is called alopecia totalis, in which the entire scalp goes bald. It’s important to emphasize that patients who have localized hair loss generally don’t go on to lose hair all over the scalp. Alopecia can affect hair on other parts of the body too– for example, the beard.

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune condition, in which the body attacks itself (in this case its own hair follicles). Most alopecia patients, however, do not have systemic problems and need no medical tests. Alopecia is also often blamed on “stress,” but in fact it’s usually the other way around: having alopecia causes the stress, at least until people find out what it is.

Treatments for alopecia areata include injecting steroids into affected patches to stimulate hair growth. This is not practical for large areas. Other treatments, such as oral steroids or ultraviolet light therapy, are either toxic or impractical. In most mild cases, patients can comb over the affected areas. In more severe and chronic cases, some patients wear hairpieces; nowadays some men shave their whole scalp, now that this look has become fashionable.

Traction alopecia

Tight braids and ponytails can pull hard enough on hairs to make them fall out. If this happens, it’s best to choose hairstyles that put less pressure on hair roots. The sooner this is done the better, to avoid permanent damage.