Hair and Nails: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Hair and Nails?
A dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin, hair, and nail problems, is the usual specialist. Changes in your nails can also be a clue to other health problems, so a primary care doctor can often check them first. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What are hair and nail problems?
Hair and nail problems include hair loss and changes in the color, shape, texture, or thickness of the nails. Losing hair is called alopecia. Normally, you lose roughly 50 to 200 hairs from your head every day.
Your nails protect the tissues of your fingers and toes. They are made of layers of keratin, a hardened protein that is also in your hair and skin. The health of your nails can be a clue to your overall health.
Symptoms
Hair loss usually develops gradually. It may be patchy or all over. Stress can make hair come out in handfuls when you shampoo or comb it. Alopecia areata causes bald patches on the scalp or beard, and sometimes the eyebrows.
Nail problems can show up in different ways:
- Beau lines, which are dents across the nail.
- Brittle nails.
- Pitting, which means small dents on the nail surface.
- Ridges, which are tiny raised lines across or up and down the nail.
- White streaks or spots.
- Painful areas of infection under the nail or in the skin around it.
Causes and who gets it
Both men and women lose hair thickness as they age. Pattern baldness is passed down in families and affects many more men than women. Physical or emotional stress can also make a lot of scalp hair shed. Triggers include a high fever, childbirth, major surgery, crash diets, and some medicines.
Other causes of hair loss include alopecia areata, anemia (low red blood cells), lupus, thyroid disease, and ringworm of the scalp. Hair pulling and too much shampooing or blow-drying can also cause it.
Nail problems have many causes. Long-term moisture and nail polish can make nails peel and become brittle. Fungus or yeast can change the color, texture, and shape of nails. A bacterial infection can cause painful areas under or around the nail. Thyroid, kidney, or liver disease, psoriasis, and iron deficiency anemia can change nails. Some antibiotics and chemotherapy medicines also affect them.
How doctors diagnose it
A careful medical history and exam of the hair and scalp are usually enough to find the cause of hair loss. Your provider will ask about your symptoms, family history, hair care, stress, diet, and recent illness or surgery. Tests are rarely needed. They may include blood tests, a look at a plucked hair under a microscope, or a scalp skin biopsy.
For nails, your provider will look at them and ask about injury, moisture, and picking. Tests may include x-rays, blood tests, or a lab exam of part of the nail.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Hair loss from illness, radiation therapy, or medicines needs no treatment. Hair usually grows back when the illness ends or therapy is finished. Hair loss from menopause or childbirth often goes away after 6 months to 2 years. A vitamin deficiency is treated with a supplement.
Ringworm of the scalp may be treated with an antifungal shampoo and medicine taken by mouth. Your provider may suggest a solution applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth, other medicines, or a hair transplant.
For nails, do not bite, pick, or tear them. Keep hangnails clipped and cut toenails straight across. To prevent brittle nails, keep them short, skip nail polish, and use a skin-softening cream after washing. A nail infection may be treated with antifungal or antibacterial medicines.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider if you lose hair in an unusual pattern, lose hair rapidly or at an early age, or have pain or itching with the hair loss. Also call if your scalp is red or scaly, or you have bald spots on your beard or eyebrows.
See your provider about blue, clubbed, distorted, pale, peeling, painful, or ingrown nails.
If you have splinter hemorrhages (red streaks in the nail bed) or a darkened cuticle linked to a dark streak, contact your provider right away. A dark streak down a nail can be a sign of melanoma, a potentially deadly cancer.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can examine your hair and nails, order blood tests, and refer you to a dermatologist when needed.
Common questions
Is it normal to lose hair every day?
Yes, it is normal to lose some hair every day. You lose roughly 50 to 200 hairs from your head daily. See your provider if you lose hair rapidly or in an unusual pattern.
Will my hair grow back?
Often yes, depending on the cause. Hair usually grows back when an illness ends or therapy is finished. Hair loss from menopause or childbirth often goes away after 6 months to 2 years.
Can nail changes point to other health problems?
Yes, nail changes can be a sign of other health problems. Changes in nail color and growth rate can be signs of lung, heart, kidney, and liver diseases, diabetes, and anemia.
Can stress cause hair loss?
Yes, physical or emotional stress can cause hair loss. It may make one half to three quarters of scalp hair shed.
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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
