Hair Loss

Some hair loss is normal, but sudden or accelerating hair loss—a prevalent concern for men and women alike—can signal an underlying health issue. Learn what causes hair loss and discover the top treatments to restore your hair to its thickest, healthiest state.

Some hair loss is normal, but sudden or accelerating hair loss—a prevalent concern for men and women alike—can signal an underlying health issue. Learn what causes hair loss and discover the top treatments to restore your hair to its thickest, healthiest state.

Medically reviewed by William Rassman, MDHair Restoration Surgeon, Board Certified in General Surgery
Written byJulie RicevutoUpdated on July 6, 2021
RealSelf ensures that an experienced doctor who is trained and certified to safely perform this procedure has reviewed this information for medical accuracy.You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Hair Loss 754x484
Hair Loss 754x484

The American Academy of Dermatology says it's normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. If you've noticed you're losing more hair than usual, speak to your doctor about whether your excessive hair shedding could be a sign of a medical condition. They can help develop a treatment plan that addresses the causes of your hair loss.

Temporary or permanent hair loss can happen anywhere on the body, at any age. While thinning hair is more common in men, many women experience it too

If you’re noticing bald spots or patchiness on your scalp, you may also start to see balding in your beard, eyebrows, or other areas. Possible causes include diseases like alopecia areata or fungal infections (which can cause hair loss in children).

Through a consultation and sometimes lab work, your doctor will be able to determine why your hair is thinning. Blood tests are critical to check levels of female and male hormones, possible iron deficiencies, and other imbalances. 

The most frequent causes of hair loss include:

  • Hereditary hair loss. Genetics is responsible for the most common type of hair loss in men: androgenetic alopecia, which can cause gradually thinning hair to the point of balding. In fact, hereditary factors are responsible for 99% of hair loss in men. Men with a family history of hair loss (telogen effluvium) often have a receding hairline (with or without balding) or overall hair thinning that can lead to balding at the crown and throughout the scalp.
  • Hormonal changes. Both men and women can experience hair changes as hormones shift. Women can develop hair loss during pregnancy, after childbirth, and during or after menopause. Losing the estrogen support for their hair can trigger thinning hair in up to 50% of women. Most women first notice that their part is widening or their hair is no longer as full and lush as it was when they were younger. Related: Everything You Need to Know About Postpartum Hair Loss—Including How to Treat It The most common causes of hair loss in young women are side effects from birth control pills or antidepressants, which can impact hormone levels. 
  • Medical conditions. A variety of conditions can cause hair loss. Autoimmune diseases can cause your immune system to attack and destroy hair follicles. Frontal fibrosing alopecia, lichen planopilaris, and other scarring alopecias are conditions that need to be ruled out in advance of any hair transplant surgery, because these diseases will kill off the transplanted follicles before they ever regrow.  Hormonal changes can be triggered by endocrine conditions. For example, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often experience thinning hair because they have higher androgen levels.  Protein, vitamin D, and iron deficiencies can contribute as well, especially if you have anemia, are experiencing rapid weight loss, or are not providing your body with the nutrients critical for healthy hair growth. 
  • Acute stress. Temporary hair loss from telogen effluvium (when hair follicles enter their resting growth phase and stay there for months) can be triggered by stress, a high fever, or another acute medical event. This is seen most commonly in women, and it can result in clumps of hair falling out even from a gentle tug. It can also produce overall thinning, but you shouldn’t see specific bald spots. Once you've recovered from the event, hair often starts regrowing within six months.  A hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania can also lead to bald patches over time.
  • Traction alopecia. Too-tight ponytails, braids, cornrows, or turbans can lead to traction alopecia. Hair transplant surgery works well for the treatment of traction alopecia--but only if you avoid the causes of hair loss that are within your control. 
  • Skin conditions. Superficial conditions of the skin and hair can cause hair loss, if you scratch the itch that accompanies many of them. Constant scratching can not only cause permanent hair loss but also lead to an infection called folliculitis, which requires medical attention. Folliculitis can permanently destroy the follicle, producing bald spots. Other infections, usually found in children, include ringworm or piedra, which causes patches of hair loss called tinea capitis. 
  • Injuries and burns. Chemical burns on the scalp are common complications of hair straighteners or poorly mixed dyes. Depending on the severity of the scalp injury, regrowth may be possible, but hair usually won’t grow back through major scarring or if the follicles have been permanently destroyed. 
  • Medical treatments and drug side effects. Many people lose hair as a side effect from drugs used for arthritis, depression, gout, or high blood pressure. Discuss this possibility with your doctor; sometimes drug substitutions can solve the problem.  Patients often lose hair from cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, which disrupt the anagen phase and prohibit the growth of new hair (including at the eyebrows and eyelashes). Hair eventually grows back, starting about two months after treatment ends, but the color and texture may be different.  People with breast or lung cancer may be able to prevent hair loss with an FDA-approved device called the cold cap, which sits on the head during chemotherapy and reduces the flow of chemotherapy drugs to the hair.
  • Aging can also lead to thinning and balding in men and women. A condition called senile alopecia is especially prevalent in people over the age of 80.

Related: 10 Ways to Get Ahead of Hair Loss

Once you've confirmed with your doctor that your thinning hair isn't caused by a medical issue that needs to be treated, consider one of these hair restoration treatments, recommended by doctors and RealSelf members.

NeoGraft MobileNeoGraft

nonsurgical

Worth It Rating94%100%90%91%
Average Cost$7275$8600$12125$1925
DowntimeUp to 1 week of downtime2–3 days of downtimeUp to two days of downtimeNo downtime
AnesthesiaLocal anesthesiaLocal anesthesiaTopical anestheticLocal anesthesia
  • Hair transplant surgery involves harvesting of healthy hair follicles, usually from the back and sides of the scalp, and implanting them into thinning or balding areas.  Donor hair follicles are harvested in one of two ways: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). With the FUT method, a small strip of skin and hair is removed from the back of the head and hair follicles are harvested from the strip. Once the incision is closed, you will have a linear scar that can be hidden by your hair.  With FUE, individual hair follicles are removed from a donor site, using a small punch, and transplanted in the recipient area. You'll be left with tiny, dot-like scars, but they shouldn't be too noticeable once your new hair grows in.  “The new hair starts to grow three to four months later and continues to grow for a lifetime,” says Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, a facial plastic and hair restoration surgeon in Miami. Within a year, you should see the full results of the regrowth.  Find doctors who offer hair transplant surgery
  • NeoGraft is an FDA-cleared device that's used for FUE hair transplant surgery. This handheld device harvests individual hair follicles so a hair restoration expert can implant them in balding areas. Some doctors on RealSelf warn that NeoGraft allows doctors to outsource to less-experienced technicians who are hired on a day-to-day basis. During your initial consultation, make sure your procedure will still be performed by a dedicated hair restoration surgeon.  Even with NeoGraft, an FUE transplant can take four to six hours—possibly longer, depending on how many grafts you need. Find doctors who offer NeoGraft
  • ARTAS robotic hair transplant system is a robotic harvesting version of the FUE technique. The system selects follicle groups with the highest number of hairs and harvests them in a way that preserves the look of the donor site. The follicles are then meticulously placed, either robotically or manually, in thin or balding areas. “The benefit of the ARTAS system is that it is less stressful on the surgeon than manual follicular unit extraction techniques,” says Dr. Daniel Lee, a hair restoration surgeon in Atlanta. He believes that the robot produces "more consistent results when compared with individual surgeons, using manual techniques, with variable skill levels.” However, ARTAS still needs supervision by an experienced hair restoration expert in order to create good results. Find doctors who offer ARTAS robotic hair transplant
  • PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment involves a provider drawing a small amount of your own blood, processing it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, and injecting it into your scalp. Growth factors in the platelets are believed to increase blood flow to the hair follicles and lengthen the anagen (active) phase of hair growth. Related: I Tried PRFM Injections for Hair Loss—and Am Feeling Hopeful for the First Time in Years Research has found PRP to be effective for treating both age-related hair loss and alopecia areata. It’s also safe, relatively inexpensive, and less invasive than hair transplant surgery. The downside? Results aren't always predictable. “PRP can help stop your hairline from receding, by slowing down the rate of hair loss,”  explains Dr. William Yates, a hair restoration surgeon in Chicago. “It helps the existing hair get healthier, and if your dormant hair hasn't been like that for too long, [the procedure] can make it grow again. PRP is a great option and will definitely enhance your hair.” Most patients need three to four treatments, spaced one month apart, to see a benefit.  Find doctors who offer PRP

See Dr. Ben Paul, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City who specializes in hair restoration, answer a RealSelf member's top questions about PRP for hair loss, including whether it's worth it.

These hair regrowth medications and supplements can also slow thinning and boost regrowth. 

  • Minoxidil (the key ingredient in Rogaine) treats hereditary male- and female-pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). Available as an over-the-counter liquid or foam, it’s FDA-approved as a safe at-home treatment. It works by enlarging hair follicles and elongating the growth phase of hair, for more scalp coverage. It’s indicated as most effective for people under 40 with recent hair loss. Some doctors prescribe an oral form of minoxidil, which can be more effective at treating male-pattern baldness than the topical solution.
  • Finasteride (commonly known as Propecia) is a prescription medication that lowers levels of the hormone that shrinks hair follicles (dihydrotestosterone, or DHT). It’s clinically proven to slow hair loss in 88% of men and spur hair regrowth in 66% of men, though it can take 6 to 12 months to see results.  Finasteride is considered safe for postmenopausal women, though it's risky for premenopausal women because it can lead to pregnancy complications and birth defects. 
  • Capillus low-level laser light therapy comes in a laser cap you wear at home for a few minutes every day, to stimulate your hair’s follicles. FDA-cleared for safety, it's intended to regrow and strengthen thinning hair and slow hair loss. The manufacturer also offers a line of styling products and supplements that can help boost hair fullness and growth.
  • Vitamins and supplements, including Nutrafol, Biotin, and SugarBearHair gummies, are commonly marketed for hair regrowth. Studies have not yet entirely supported that they regrow hair or prevent hair loss. However, they may reduce hair thinning

Most male- and female-pattern baldness can be reversed only through medical treatment, but there are ways to be kinder to your scalp that will help preserve your existing hair.

“Pattern baldness can be exacerbated by excessive stress, poor blood circulation, poor diet, pregnancy, drug use, illness, thyroid issues, and so on,” explains Dr. Sanusi Umar, a Manhattan Beach, California, dermatologist. Some of these are avoidable and some are not, but embracing a healthy lifestyle and managing stress can only help your hair.

Here are a few other key ways you can help reduce hair loss.

  • Avoid adding stress or trauma to your scalp or follicles with tight hairstyles, like braids or ponytails, or by directly pulling your hair. Don’t wear tight hats or headbands.
  • Be gentle when washing, brushing, and styling your hair. Use a wide-tooth comb that won't pull too hard. Avoid overheating your hair or scalp with styling tools and products. 
  • If you can, avoid medications and supplements known to cause hair loss.
  • Stop smoking. Studies show a correlation between smoking and hair loss (not to mention other serious health conditions).

Updated July 6, 2021

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