Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Resources include professional mental-health care (CBT/ACT with psychologists, psychiatrists, and integrated dermatology-psychology clinics), peer support via NAAF and Alopecia UK, online communities, teletherapy platforms, self-help tools (mindfulness, exercise, journaling), educational sites, and support from family/friends; a free online symptom check can also help you prepare for visits. There are several factors to consider—specific organizations/apps, how to choose the right support, and red flags that require urgent help are detailed below.

Hair loss is evaluated with a clinical exam plus noninvasive scalp/hair tests (pull and tug tests, standardized wash counts, trichoscopy, and sometimes phototrichograms), targeted blood tests (CBC, iron/ferritin, thyroid, selected hormone panels, vitamin D/B12/zinc, autoimmune markers), and fungal studies when indicated. If the cause remains unclear or scarring is suspected, doctors may perform a 4‑mm scalp punch biopsy with vertical and/or horizontal sections to confirm the diagnosis. There are several factors to consider—see below for which tests apply to your situation and the important details that can impact your next steps.

A scalp biopsy is recommended when the cause of hair loss remains unclear after initial evaluation (history, exam, dermoscopy, and labs), when scarring alopecia is suspected (smooth shiny patches, burning/itching, pustules), when the pattern is atypical or rapidly progressive, when treatment fails after 3–6 months, or when infections or autoimmune conditions (e.g., tinea, lupus, lichen planopilaris) are suspected. Timing matters: the highest yield comes from an active, minimally treated area—ideally within weeks of onset—taken at the edge of a lesion. There are several factors to consider; see below for key nuances on indications, optimal timing and site, alternatives, benefits/risks, and how these details can guide your next steps.

Alopecia areata often comes back because the autoimmune attack on hair follicles can re-ignite due to persistent “immune memory” and loss of follicle immune privilege, influenced by genetic susceptibility and triggers like stress, infections, hormonal shifts, or nutrient deficiencies. Relapse risk is higher with extensive initial loss, nail changes, early onset, or coexisting autoimmune disease. There are several factors to consider—see below for key triggers, risk factors, and practical steps to monitor, prevent, and treat recurrences with your clinician.

Hair regrowth can stop when the hair cycle is disrupted by telogen effluvium from stress or illness, genetic/hormonal factors like DHT-driven pattern hair loss, autoimmune attack (alopecia areata), nutritional deficiencies, medications (including chemotherapy), or scarring scalp diseases that permanently destroy follicles. Some causes are temporary and reversible once triggers are addressed, while others require early diagnosis and targeted treatment to prevent permanent loss. There are several factors to consider—see the complete details below for timelines, warning signs, and next steps that could impact your care.

Because hair loss stems from different mechanisms—autoimmune attacks with immune memory (alopecia areata), hormone- and genetics-driven miniaturization (androgenetic alopecia), and scarring that destroys follicles—there isn’t a single, permanent cure. The hair cycle is asynchronous and most treatments only work while used, so relapse is common once they’re stopped. There are several factors to consider that can change your best next step; see below for type-specific details, treatment limits and side effects, and when to seek care.

Genetics are a major factor in alopecia: alopecia areata is highly polygenic (many immune and follicle genes involved) and androgenetic alopecia is strongly heritable (notably androgen-receptor variants), so family history raises risk but doesn’t guarantee hair loss. Genes interact with hormones, nutrition, stress, illnesses, and medications, and routine genetic testing isn’t standard—evaluation and treatment depend on the type. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details and guidance on next steps.

Yes—alopecia can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, or ethnicity, though your risk is higher with a family history, autoimmune conditions, hormonal changes, and triggers like stress, illness, or traction on the hair. There are several factors to consider—including the type of hair loss, warning signs that warrant a doctor visit, and treatment options with regrowth expectations—so see below for details that may shape your next steps.

Yes—alopecia areata can involve eyebrows and eyelashes, causing patchy thinning or complete loss; eyebrow loss occurs in about 25–50% of patients, and lash loss can lead to eye irritation or dryness and may indicate more extensive disease. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chance of regrowth. There are several factors to consider; see below for key signs, how it’s diagnosed, risks to eye health, evidence-based and cosmetic treatments (steroids, topical immunotherapy, JAK inhibitors, minoxidil), and when to seek medical care.

Yes—emotional stress can trigger or worsen hair loss, including telogen effluvium and flares of alopecia areata; shedding often appears 2–3 months after a stressful event and may improve within 6–9 months once triggers are addressed. There are several factors to consider, including other causes like genetics, thyroid problems, anemia, and medications—see below for key signs, treatment options (from stress reduction to medical therapies), and when to seek care.

Yes—hormone changes can make hair look fuller during pregnancy, then cause temporary shedding (telogen effluvium) starting about 2–4 months after delivery and usually improving by 6–12 months. There are several factors and red flags to consider (patchy loss, scalp symptoms, thyroid/iron issues, or shedding lasting >12 months), plus practical care tips and when to seek treatment—see the complete guidance below to help decide your next steps.

Yes—viral infections can trigger hair loss. Most often they cause telogen effluvium, a diffuse shed starting about 2–3 months after illness (seen with COVID-19, flu, mono) that usually improves within months; in some people, viruses can also trigger alopecia areata, leading to patchy bald spots that may need treatment. There are several factors to consider (timing, pattern, tests, and when to seek care); see below for the complete answer and guidance on next steps.

Yes, topical corticosteroids can promote hair regrowth in mild to moderate alopecia areata, with about 30 to 60% responding (highest with potent agents like clobetasol, sometimes under occlusion) and early regrowth often appearing in 6 to 8 weeks. They’re best for small, patchy disease (including in children), but relapses are common and stronger or longer use raises risks like skin thinning; more extensive or fast‑spreading cases may need injections or other therapies. There are several important factors to consider—potency, regimen, timelines, side effects, and when to escalate—see the complete guidance below to inform your next steps.

Yes—alopecia areata often affects nails (in about 50–66% of people), most commonly causing small, irregular pits, but also rough brittle nails (trachyonychia), Beau’s lines, ridging, and white spots. These changes reflect immune activity in the nail matrix, may correlate with disease severity, and can improve with treatment; there are several factors to consider, so see below for how to distinguish from psoriasis, treatment options, and when to seek care.

Alopecia areata mainly affects hair and typically doesn’t shorten life expectancy, but it’s linked to higher rates of other health issues—especially thyroid and other autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome/cardiovascular risk, atopic conditions/diabetes—and it can significantly affect mental health (anxiety and depression). There are several factors to consider; see below for the full list of potential comorbidities, recommended screenings and lifestyle steps, treatment options, and when to seek care.

Yes—alopecia can cause itching or burning, but it depends on the type: about 25–30% of people with alopecia areata feel itch or burning, scarring alopecias are often intensely symptomatic, while pattern hair loss and telogen effluvium usually are not. These sensations usually reflect inflammation around hair follicles rather than infection. There are several factors to consider, including red flags and treatment options—see below to understand more.

Yes—in mild, patchy alopecia areata, topical minoxidil can promote hair regrowth, though gains are modest, may take 3–6 months, and it’s far less effective for extensive disease. There are several factors to consider (off‑label use, better results when combined with corticosteroids, side effects, and when to switch treatments); see below for full details and guidance on next steps to discuss with your dermatologist.

Yes—vitamin deficiencies can contribute to diffuse hair thinning and shedding, particularly low vitamin D, biotin (B7), B12, A, C, and E, with higher risk from poor diet, malabsorption, certain medicines, or increased nutrient needs. There are several factors to consider, and testing before supplementing (e.g., vitamin D, B12, iron/ferritin) plus targeted diet and lifestyle changes is key—see below for specific signs, safe dosing ranges, and when to seek care. Also note that too much vitamin A can cause hair loss, so avoid self-supplementing and review the details below.

Doctors distinguish these by exam, dermoscopy, and tests: tinea capitis usually has scaling, itch, broken “black dot” and comma/corkscrew hairs with possible tender lymph nodes and a positive KOH/culture or Wood’s lamp; alopecia areata shows smooth, non-scaly bald patches with exclamation‑mark hairs and yellow dots on trichoscopy, no fungi on KOH, and biopsy if unclear. Because treatments differ (oral antifungals vs corticosteroids/immunotherapy), there are several factors to consider—see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Doctors track alopecia progression using a combination of clinical history and scalp exam; standardized scoring such as the SALT score; serial photographs and trichoscopy; hair-shedding tests (hair pull, hair counts/weights); patient-reported measures; digital tools for remote monitoring; and, when needed, scalp biopsy, with follow-ups typically every 3–6 months and sooner if loss is rapid or treatments change. There are several factors to consider that can change next steps and timing—including which tools fit your alopecia type and when to seek urgent care—see below for complete details.

Alopecia universalis is the most severe form of alopecia areata, causing total or near-total loss of hair on the scalp and body (including eyebrows and eyelashes), while patchy alopecia causes one or more discrete bald spots that often come and go. Patchy alopecia is more common and more likely to regrow spontaneously or with topical/injected treatments; universalis is rarer, less likely to regrow without systemic therapy, and may have more pronounced nail and psychological impacts. There are several factors that affect prognosis and the right next steps (age at onset, speed and extent of spread, autoimmune history, treatment options)—see the complete details below.

Steroid injections are an effective first-line treatment for patchy alopecia areata: about 60% of patients see significant regrowth after 3–4 sessions, with the best results in small, recent patches. Results are often partial and not permanent, and recurrence is common—important details on who benefits most, expected timelines, side effects, and combination options are covered below.

Dermatologists diagnose alopecia by combining a detailed medical and family history with a scalp/hair exam (including pull tests), trichoscopy, targeted blood tests (e.g., thyroid, iron, hormones), and—when needed—a scalp biopsy to distinguish scarring from non-scarring causes. The pattern is then classified (alopecia areata, androgenetic, telogen effluvium, scarring) to guide next steps. There are several factors to consider—see below for what each test shows, when urgent symptoms warrant care, pitfalls to avoid, and how results shape treatment options.

Severity in alopecia areata is graded using the SALT score (0–100%), which quantifies percent scalp hair loss across four regions and maps to S0–S5: S0=0%, S1=1–24%, S2=25–49%, S3=50–74%, S4=75–99%, S5=100% (alopecia totalis; universalis if brows/lashes also lost). There are several factors to consider—eyebrow/eyelash loss and nail changes can increase overall impact and guide treatment choices; see details below that could affect your next steps.

Alopecia treatment timelines vary widely: fine regrowth can start in 6–12 weeks, noticeable results often take 3–6 months, and severe or long‑standing cases can need 9–12 months or longer, often with maintenance to prevent relapse. Outcomes depend on the alopecia type, how long you’ve had it, the extent of loss, age/health, stress, and the therapy used (topical/intralesional steroids, minoxidil, contact immunotherapy, or JAK inhibitors). There are several factors and key decision points (including when to switch or combine treatments) that can affect your next steps—see the full timelines and guidance below.

Alopecia can be temporary or permanent—there are several factors to consider; see below for details. Non-scarring types (like telogen effluvium and many cases of alopecia areata) often regrow, while scarring alopecias and advanced pattern hair loss are usually permanent. Early evaluation and treatment can slow progression and sometimes restore hair, so review the guidance below to choose the right next steps.

Yes—thyroid dysfunction can directly cause diffuse "thyroid hair loss," and autoimmune thyroid diseases (Hashimoto's, Graves') frequently coexist with alopecia areata; about 15–25% of people with alopecia areata have thyroid disease or antibodies. Distinguishing patchy bald spots from uniform thinning and knowing when to order TSH, free T4/T3, and antibody tests can change treatment and next steps; there are several factors to consider. See below for the complete answer, including symptoms to watch for, testing, treatment options, and when to seek urgent care.

Side effects of alopecia treatments vary by option: minoxidil can cause scalp irritation, unwanted facial/body hair, temporary shedding, and rarely rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or swelling; finasteride/dutasteride may lead to sexual dysfunction, mood changes, and breast tenderness; steroids can thin skin or (by mouth) cause weight gain, high blood pressure/sugar, infection risk, and adrenal suppression; contact immunotherapy/anthralin often provoke dermatitis; JAK inhibitors raise infection and lab-abnormality risks; and hair transplants carry pain, infection, scarring, and “shock loss.” There are several factors to consider—see below for complete side-effect lists, comparisons (e.g., dutasteride vs finasteride), monitoring and dosing guidance, and urgent red flags (chest pain, severe rash, mood changes, persistent sexual side effects) that should prompt stopping treatment and calling your doctor.

Common treatments include topical minoxidil and (for men) oral finasteride for pattern hair loss. Alopecia areata is typically managed with intralesional/topical corticosteroids, topical immunotherapy, or oral JAK inhibitors, while telogen effluvium focuses on correcting triggers (thyroid/iron/nutrition, medication review) with optional short‑term minoxidil; adjuncts like low‑level laser therapy, platelet‑rich plasma, hair transplantation, and cosmetic options can help. The best choice depends on type and severity—important details on dosing, side effects, timelines, and when to seek care are below.

It’s driven by an autoimmune attack on hair follicles in genetically susceptible people, with flare‑ups often triggered by infections, significant stress, skin trauma, or hormonal changes. There are several factors to consider—immune pathways, coexisting autoimmune disease (like thyroid issues), microbiome and nutrition influences, and how it’s distinguished from other hair loss—which can affect diagnosis and treatment; see the complete details below to help plan next steps.