Hair Loss: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Hair Loss?
A dermatologist, a doctor who treats skin, hair, and nails, usually treats hair loss. Hair loss can also happen with diseases such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or lupus. 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 is hair loss?
Partial or complete loss of hair is called alopecia. Hair loss usually develops gradually. It may be patchy or all over.
Normally, you lose roughly 50 to 200 hairs from your head every day. Many men, and some women, lose hair as they grow older.
Treatment depends on the cause.
Symptoms
Signs of hair loss include:
- Patchy hair loss or thinning all over the scalp.
- Hair that comes out in handfuls when you shampoo, comb, or run your hands through it.
- Sudden round or oval patches of hair loss.
- Bald spots in the beard or eyebrows.
With alopecia areata, a type of hair loss caused by the immune system, short broken hairs often appear around the edge of a patch. Some people feel tingling, burning, or itching right before the hair falls out.
Causes and who gets it
Hair thinning with age is related to aging, heredity, and changes in the hormone testosterone. This inherited pattern baldness affects many more men than women. About 80% of men show signs of male pattern baldness during their lifetime.
Physical or emotional stress may cause a lot of scalp hair to shed. This is called telogen effluvium. You may not notice it for weeks to months after the stressful event. Hair shedding decreases over 6 to 8 months, and telogen effluvium is usually temporary.
Causes of this type of hair loss include:
- High fever or severe infection.
- Childbirth.
- Major surgery, major illness, or sudden blood loss.
- Crash diets, especially those without enough protein.
- Some medicines, including birth control pills and beta-blockers.
In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, the structures in skin that form hair. Most people get it in their teens, twenties, or thirties.
Other causes include anemia, thyroid diseases, and hormone changes. Tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp also called ringworm, can cause it too. So can radiation therapy, continual hair pulling, and hair styles that put too much tension on the hair follicles.
How doctors diagnose it
A careful medical history and an exam of the hair and scalp are usually enough to find the cause.
Tests are rarely needed. When used, they can include:
- Blood tests to check for diseases that cause hair loss.
- A look at a plucked hair under a microscope.
- A skin biopsy of the scalp, which is a small skin sample checked in a lab.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. In some cases, treating the underlying cause fixes the problem. Other treatments include medicines and hair restoration.
When hair loss comes from an illness such as a fever, radiation therapy, or a medicine, no treatment is usually needed. The hair usually grows back when the illness ends or the therapy is finished. Hair loss from menopause or childbirth often goes away after 6 months to 2 years.
Your provider may advise a solution such as minoxidil that you apply to the scalp to help hair grow. Men can take medicines such as finasteride and dutasteride to decrease hair loss and grow new hair. A vitamin deficiency is treated with a supplement. A hair transplant may also be recommended.
There is no cure for alopecia areata, but treatments can help hair grow back more quickly.
Hair weaves, hair pieces, or a new hair style can hide hair loss. This is generally the least expensive and safest approach.
When to see a doctor
Contact your health care provider if you are losing hair in an unusual pattern. Also call if you are losing hair rapidly or at an early age, such as in your teens or twenties.
Other reasons to get care are pain or itching with the hair loss, or a scalp that is red, scaly, or otherwise abnormal. Areas of infection on your scalp also need care.
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. A direct primary care doctor can review your history, check for common causes, and order first blood tests. They can also refer you to a dermatologist when needed.
Common questions
Is it normal to lose hair every day?
Yes. Normally, you lose roughly 50 to 200 hairs from your head every day. The scalp holds about 100,000 hairs.
Will my hair grow back?
It depends on the cause. Hair usually grows back after an illness or after radiation therapy or a medicine ends. With alopecia areata, the hair regrows in most cases, but hair loss can come back later.
Can stress cause hair loss?
Yes, it can. Physical or emotional stress may cause a lot of scalp hair to shed, which is called telogen effluvium. It is usually temporary.
Is alopecia areata the same as other hair loss?
No. Alopecia areata is a disease in which the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair typically falls out in small, round patches.
Sources
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.
