About Hair Loss

The most common cause of hair loss or balding in men and women is genetics, also called hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. This genetic trait is inherited through both maternal and paternal lineages. It is important to understand that hereditary hair loss is not a disease and that, with androgenetic alopecia, there is no hair loss “cure.”

Hair loss can be triggered by a wide range of medical conditions, such as hormonal imbalances like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid problems, autoimmune disorders, ringworm on the scalp, and anemia. It is also important to note that certain treatments for cancer, specifically chemotherapy and radiation therapy, are well-known to cause hair loss in patients.

Numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause hair loss in patients, regardless of their gender. This list is extensive and includes blood thinners, birth control pills, and anabolic steroids.

Hormonal shifts, such as those that occur during the transition into menopause, can significantly impact hair growth and health, often resulting in hair loss or thinning in women. Our women's hair loss specialist understands that these changes, particularly the decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, can directly affect the hair follicles, leading to various hair-related issues and impacting our women patients' self-esteem.

Stress and trauma can have a significant impact on the health of your hair, often leading to thinning or loss. While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, research suggests that high levels of stress can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, causing hair to enter the 'shedding' phase more quickly. This is typically a temporary condition, with the hair often regrowing once the stressful situation has passed.

Shampooing your hair too often, combing through wet hair, or the repetitive use of blow dryers and flat irons may cause or aggravate hair loss issues. This damage to the hair is often difficult for patients to reverse. However, our advanced hair restoration techniques can aid patients in their hair regrowth journeys.

Vitamin A and iron deficiencies can cause hair loss. Hair thinning and hair loss can also be caused by losing weight in an unhealthy way or developing eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

Many men and women suffer from pattern hair loss caused by a common genetic trait called androgenetic alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is responsible for more than 95% of pattern hair loss in both men and women. Research shows that this type of genetic hair loss is progressive and worsens with age, and unfortunately, doctors have not found a hair loss cure.

For men with this condition, hair loss typically begins at the temples, forming an “M” shape, leading to baldness on top because hairs on the top of the scalp have a genetic sensitivity to the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Pattern hair loss in women is referred to as female-pattern hair loss and usually begins with thinning, where the hair is parted, followed by progressive all-over thinning.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. This results in sudden loss of hair in small spots on the scalp, face, and other areas of the body. Advanced forms of the disorder include alopecia totalis, where all hair on the head is lost, and alopecia universalis, which results in the absence of all body hair.

These conditions are much less common than pattern hair loss.

Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, often as a result of tightly braided hairstyles and hair weaves. It can also occur from compulsively pulling of one’s own hair due to anxiety, nervous tics, or impulse control disorders such as trichotillomania (TTM).

Have you experienced sudden hair loss due to medication or therapies such as chemotherapy? Our hair loss therapy is designed to combat Anagen effluvium, a common condition resulting from interruptions in the active growth phase of hair follicles.

Whether due to cancer treatments or side effects from medications like diuretics, blood thinners, or birth control pills, you can trust our therapy to help you regain your confidence and hair volume.

Hair shaft breakage is when part of a hair breaks off, but the growing end remains in the follicle and continues to grow. Hair shaft breakage results in thinner hair and can be caused by excessive styling using hot tools, chemicals, sun, chlorine in swimming pools, and nutritional deficiencies.