Hair Loss

Most men have some degree of baldness by age 60. After age 60, 50% of women do.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Thinning of hair on the temples and crown.

  • Receding hair line.

  • Bald spot on back of head.

  • Areas of patchy hair loss.

Causes

  • Normal aging. Family history of hair loss. Hormonal changes, such as with menopause.

  • A side effect of some medicines, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Crash dieting.

  • A prolonged or serious illness. Major surgery. Thyroid disease.

  • Areata. This causes areas of patchy hair loss. It improves quickly when treated, but can go away within 18 months without treatment.

Treatment 

  • Medications. These include over-the-counter Rogaine and prescribed ones.

  • Hair transplant with surgery.

 
Questions to Ask
Do you have redness, tenderness, swelling, and/or pain at the site of hair loss?

Do you have signs of hypothyroidism?

Has the hair loss occurred suddenly and in patches on the head? Do you have red or gray-green scales on the scalp?

Do you uncontrollably pull out patches of hair? Or, do you want to find out about hair loss treatments?

 

Self-Care / Prevention

  • Try the over-the-counter medication, Rogaine.

  • Avoid (or don’t use often) hair care practices of bleaching, braiding, cornrowing, dyeing, perming, etc. Avoid hot curling irons and/or hot rollers. Use gentle hair care products.

  • Air dry or towel dry your hair. If you use a hairdryer, set it on low.

  • Keep your hair cut short. It will look fuller.

  • Don’t be taken in by claims for products that promise to cure baldness.

 
 
 
For more information, contact:
American Academy of Dermatology
888.462.DERM (462.3376)
www.aad.org
 
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American Institute for Preventive Medicine, Copyright 2005