Hair loss

Alternative names:

alopecia; baldness; loss of hair

Home care:

For hair loss caused by illness (such as fever), radiation therapy, or medication use, no treatment is necessary. The hair will usually grow back when illness has ended or therapy has stopped. A wig, hat, or other covering may be desired until the hair grows back.

For hair loss due to heredity, the medication Rogaine (minoxidil), which requires a prescription, has shown some positive effect. However, results are mixed and there are good results in less than 10% of the cases. Also, Rogaine can be expensive.

Punch graft hair transfer done by a physician is a surgical approach to transferring hair from one part of the head to another. It is somewhat painful and expensive, but usually permanent.

Call your health care provider if:

• hair is present in the involved area but fails to grow out normally.
• continual hair-pulling is suspected.
• the skin under the involved area is abnormal.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting hair loss in detail may include:

• location and pattern
  • What part of the body is losing hair?
  • Is there a pattern to the hair loss (male-pattern baldness; female-pattern baldness)?

• medical history
  • Have you had a recent illness?
  • Have you had a high fever recently?

• hair care habits
  • Do you dye your hair?
  • Do you blow dry your hair?
  • How often do you shampoo your hair?
  • What kind of shampoo, hair spray, gel, or other product do you put on your hair?

• emotional state
  • Have you been under unusual stress?
  • Do you have nervous habits that include hair pulling or scalp rubbing?

• accidents and emergencies history
  • Have you ever been involved in an accident that affected your scalp or hair in any way?

• other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • What medications are being taken?

An examination of the hair and scalp are usually enough to diagnose the nature of the problem.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed (but are rarely needed) include:

• microscopic examination of a plucked hair
• skin biopsy (if skin changes are present)

Intervention:
Ringworm of the scalp may require the use of an oral drug, such as griseofulvin, because creams and lotions applied to the affected area cannot get into the hair follicles to kill the fungus.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to hair loss, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.