Q: I don’t want to seem vain, but I’m losing my hair, and I’m freaked out. Is there anything I can do about it?
A: Hair loss — also called alopecia — is intensely personal for people. It has a psychological impact on their self-confidence and overall well-being.
Many people are taught from a young age that your hairis your crown and glory. For some, their hair has been a source of compliments and a source of pride. When people start to lose hair, there’s psychological discomfort, and sometimes actual distress as the person in the mirror becomes less recognizable. There’s a real sense of personal loss that accompanies hair loss for many. It really impacts one’s identity.
While many people may talk to their hair stylist about their hair loss, they often don’t speak to their medical providers about it. Sometimes they’re embarrassed, but more often they don’t think of it as something that can be fixed, or they consider it not important enough to bring up. Hair loss is frequently seen as something that just happens, either because of age or genetics, and people think they just have to learn to live with it.
It’s true that many forms of hair loss don’t have a cure, but almost all of them have some treatment options. Before a treatment can be selected, you need to figure out what’s causing the hair loss. Shedding approximately 100 hairs a day is normal, but losing excessive amounts of hair is not.
Q: What causes hair loss?
A: Many factors cause hair loss, including ageand genetics. Stress is a big one. It’s pretty frightening to see your hair suddenly come out in clumps due to stress, but this stress-induced hair loss is also one of the best forms of hair loss to have because sooner or later, it reverses itself.
Hair loss can also be related to medical conditions such as autoimmune disease or thyroid disease, medications, and hair styling practices. People of color are at greater risk of certain forms of hair loss that result in permanent, scarring damage to hair follicles, so it’s particularly important for them to seek treatment earlier rather than later. Once hair follicles are gone, they’re gone. It’s much easier to treathair loss early and to prevent additional loss than it is to treat very advanced hair loss, but it’s never too late toget evaluated.
Q: How do you know when you should see a doctor about hair loss?
A: Some types of hair loss may be managed with home remedies or over-the-counter topical treatments. Often, though, home management just delays a diagnosis and more effective treatment. Ifyou have hair loss that persists beyond six months; if you have unexplained completely bald patches; if you have tried over-the-counter treatments for six months and they didn’t help — see a dermatologist. There’s no specific percentage of hair loss that you should wait for to prompt you to contact a doctor. If, especially, your hair loss is causing you some level of distress, don’t hesitate toseek help.
Victoria Barbosa, MD, is an associate professor of dermatology and the director of the Hair Loss Program at the University of Chicago, dermatology section.
Originally published in the Fall/Winter 2023 print issue.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.