Hair Loss Treatment
in Athens, GA

Hair Loss

Hair loss is a condition that can affect anyone, not just men, and more than just your scalp. Hair loss can result from various causes, related to heredity, hormone changes or imbalances, autoimmune conditions, or medications. dermatologists are here to answer your questions about alopecia and create a tailored hair care plan for you that will encourage your body to regrow its own hair naturally.

What causes hair loss?

There are different types of hair loss, depending on the cause. Male-pattern and female-pattern baldness is very common and often frustrating form of hair loss. Unfortunately, this type of hair loss is not preventable, but there may be ways to reduce the loss and prevent worsening.

Other conditions that cause hair loss can include:

Medical conditions. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, issues with the thyroid and scalp infections, like ringworm can cause hair loss.

Medications. Drugs to treat cancer, depression, heart problems, gout and high blood pressure can cause hair loss.

Stress. A traumatic experience, physically or emotionally, can cause hair loss.

Certain hairstyles. Tight hairstyles like pigtails and tight braids, can cause traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused by prolonged tension on the hair follicles.

How can I prevent hair loss?

Some patterns of hair loss are caused by genetics, which means that it’s not preventable. You can, however, use medications and different forms of treatment to regrow, or slow down, the onset of hair loss.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor, and he or she will determine what the best treatment will be for your hair loss.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis, sometimes seen as dandruff, seborrheic eczema and seborrheic psoriasis, affects mainly the scalp, leading to scaly patches, red skin and dandruff. Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the face, sides of the nose, ears, eyelids, chest and eyebrows.

Dermatology of Athens

Schedule an appointment to discuss any hair concerns. As dermatologists, we’re experts in diagnosing issues related to the hair, skin and nails, and we would be happy to discuss your treatment options.

We’ll discuss your lifestyle, any medications you might be taking, and any changes to your body that might be causing hair loss. We’ll then create a game plan for you to regrow hair or slow down your hair loss.

Alopecia FAQ

What causes alopecia?

There are many different causes of alopecia. Common causes of hair loss include:

Genetics
Hormone imbalances, such as thyroid disease
Nutritional deficiencies, including anemia
Medications
Physical stressors, such as childbirth
Certain hair grooming practices
Aging

Is alopecia genetic?

Alopecia can certainly be genetic. The most common form of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia (also known as male- and female-pattern baldness), is hereditary and affects both men and women.

Are there various types of alopecia?

Yes, there are many different types of alopecia. The most common forms include:

Androgenic alopecia, also called male or female-pattern baldness, is the most common type of hair loss. This type of hair loss happens naturally as we age and is caused by an inherited gene that makes the hair follicles shrink and stop producing new hair.
Involutional Alopecia is a form of alopecia that comes with age. As we get older, hair follicles move from the active hair growth phase into the resting phase before hair is shed, resulting in less hair that’s both shorter and finer.
Telogen Effluvium is another common form of alopecia. It is typically caused by external stressors on the body, such as physical trauma (like childbirth), major surgery, or a serious illness. Often hair grows back once recovered from the stressor.
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system mistakenly begins attacking the hair follicles. This often results in sudden, patchy hair loss, though it can lead to complete baldness. Fortunately, the majority of people who suffer from this form of alopecia grow their hair back within a few years.

How do dermatologists treat alopecia?

There are a variety of ways to treat and address alopecia. Finding an effective treatment for hair loss depends on the reason behind it. For example, if hair loss is caused by an underlying disease, treatment for that disease will be necessary.

When visiting a board-certified dermatologist for hair loss treatment, he or she will first uncover the cause and then go over alopecia treatment options, which may include:

Surgery to promote hair growth
Laser therapy
Medication
PRP for hair loss
Developing a healthy hair care routine

What are the signs of alopecia?

Common signs of alopecia include hair that breaks easily, gradual thinning hair on the scalp, receding hairline, random patches of hair loss, and visually seeing more of the scalp.

Uncommon signs of alopecia include burning, tingling, or itchiness on the scalp; scales or flakes from the areas of hair loss; and issues with fingernails or toenails, such as notching or pitting.

How much hair loss is normal?

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, 50 to 100 strands of hair per day is considered normal hair shedding. Thus, a little bit of hair falling out in the shower or a few strands in a hairbrush is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about.

However, if you begin to notice a growing bald spot, have a receding hairline, or experience clumps of hair falling out, it may be time to see a board-certified dermatologist or physician for a thorough check-up.