Condition
Hair Loss
Hair loss, also called alopecia, can be patchy or spread across the whole scalp. Losing about 50 to 200 hairs a day is normal. Common causes include inherited pattern baldness, stress, illness, childbirth and thyroid disease.
Common options
- Waiting, when the cause is temporary. Hair often grows back within months after the trigger ends.
- A medicine applied to the scalp to help stimulate growth.
- Prescription medicines, including hormone-based treatments, for pattern hair loss.
- Treating an underlying cause, such as a scalp infection or a vitamin deficiency.
- Hair transplant surgery.
- Wigs, hats, hairpieces or a new hairstyle to cover thinning areas.
When to see a doctor
- Your hair loss is fast, follows an unusual pattern, or starts in your teens or twenties.
- Your scalp is painful, itchy, red or scaly.
- You also have acne, new facial hair or irregular periods.
- You have other symptoms, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, feeling cold or tiredness.
Research studies
Researchers are studying new approaches to hair loss. A clinical study is one option you can discuss with your doctor.
See hair loss studies recruiting near you →
Plan your next appointment: Questions for your doctor