Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

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.

Autoimmune hair loss (most often alopecia areata) happens when the immune system—especially autoreactive CD8+ T cells—mistakenly attacks hair follicles after a collapse of their normal immune privilege, on a background of genetic susceptibility and triggers like infections, psychological stress, skin injury, or chemical irritants. It often coexists with other autoimmune diseases (e.g., thyroid disease, vitiligo), which can shape testing and treatment—there are several factors to consider; see below for crucial details on signs, diagnosis, therapies, and when to seek care.

Alopecia areata patches are smooth, well-defined round or oval bald spots with normal-colored skin and no scaling or scarring, appearing on the scalp or any hair-bearing area and ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters; they may be single or multiple. Up close (often with magnification), you can see clues like short “exclamation-mark” hairs at the edges, black dots (broken hairs), yellow dots (keratin/sebum), and fine vellus regrowth. There are several factors to consider—such as how to tell it from infection or scarring hair loss and when to seek evaluation or testing—so see below for key visuals, patterns, and next steps that could guide your care.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to sudden, smooth round or oval patches of hair loss on the scalp, face, or body; it can occur at any age and affects about 2% of people. There are several factors to consider—triggers, who’s at risk, key signs (including nail changes), diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments from steroids to newer JAK inhibitors—that can influence your next steps; see the complete details below.

Ophiasis pattern alopecia is a subtype of alopecia areata marked by a snake-like, band of hair loss along the sides (temporal) and lower back (occipital) of the scalp due to autoimmune attack on hair follicles. It often has a more persistent course and can be harder to treat than typical patchy alopecia areata—there are several factors to consider. See below for important details that could influence your next steps, including triggers, diagnosis, treatment options, and prognosis.

Trichoscopy is a non-invasive exam of the scalp and hair using a lighted magnifier (dermoscope) to visualize microscopic hair-shaft and scalp changes, helping clinicians differentiate causes of hair loss (e.g., alopecia areata, pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, scarring alopecias) and often avoid a biopsy. There are several factors to consider, including what it can and can’t show, how to prepare, and red‑flag symptoms that need urgent care—see below for complete details that may guide your next steps.

Alopecia types include non-scarring (often reversible) forms—such as androgenetic (male/female pattern), alopecia areata (including totalis/universalis), telogen and anagen effluvium, traction alopecia, trichotillomania, tinea capitis, and alopecia mucinosa—and scarring (cicatricial, permanent) forms like lichen planopilaris/frontal fibrosing alopecia, discoid lupus of the scalp, and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia; rare congenital types include atrichia with papular lesions and hypotrichosis. There are several important distinctions that affect diagnosis and treatment—see details below on patterns, causes, reversibility, and when to seek urgent care, which can guide your next steps.

Yes, adults can get RSV, and it can be quite serious, especially for older adults or those with weakened immune systems.

Certain creams, like Kampo herbal ointments, might help with healing skin problems like chilblains, but more research is needed. Some medicines are also used to treat chilblains, but home remedies are not well-studied.

Yes, poor circulation and Raynaud's syndrome can make chilblains worse because they affect blood flow to the skin.

Yes, shingles on the face can cause long-term nerve pain and vision problems.

Yes, the shingles vaccine can help prevent shingles on the face or eyes.

Chest pain from the heart often feels like pressure or squeezing and may come with shortness of breath, while pain from other causes can be sharp or related to movement.

Frostbite can cause your fingers or toes to feel very cold, numb, and change color, often becoming white or grayish-yellow. If you notice these signs, it's important to warm them up gently and seek medical help if needed.

The common cold and RSV can have similar symptoms, but RSV often causes more severe breathing problems, especially in young children and older adults.

Shingles is a skin rash that often appears as a band on one side of the body and can be painful, while other rashes may look different and not cause pain.

Chilblains can be managed at home by keeping affected areas warm and dry, avoiding sudden temperature changes, and moisturizing the skin. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.

Chest pain from shingles is often sharp and located on one side, while heart-related pain can feel like pressure or squeezing in the center of the chest.

RSV treatment mainly involves supportive care, but there are some antiviral medicines being developed to help fight the virus.

Shingles near the eye, called herpes zoster ophthalmicus, needs quick treatment with antiviral medicine and sometimes extra care to protect the eye, unlike regular shingles.

Shingles is treated with antiviral medications, which work best if started within 72 hours of the rash appearing.

You should start taking antiviral medicine within 48 hours of flu symptoms beginning for the best results.

The shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is recommended for adults to prevent shingles, especially as they get older. It's best to get vaccinated even if you have had shingles before.