How to Find the Best Treatment for Your Type of Hair Loss

Hair loss can occur due to various factors such as genetics, hormones, environmental factors, stress, and autoimmune disorders. The best hair loss treatment depends on the cause as follows:

Genetic and Hormonal Hair Loss

Androgenic alopecia is hair loss associated with genetic and hormonal factors. It has several subtypes that describe where the hair is lost, and how much comes out at a time.

Androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) is primarily a genetic condition caused by a problem with the androgen hormone. Although autoimmune conditions do not cause androgenic alopecia, they can make it worse. For example, thyroid disease and lupus are often accompanied by pattern hair loss.

Androgenic alopecia commonly occurs after puberty and worsens with age.

With androgenic alopecia, hair comes out in clumps of three or four at a time. The hair brush accumulates lost hair that the hair follicles do not replace.

Androgenic alopecia occurs in men and women, which is why it’s also referred to as “male pattern hair loss” and “female pattern hair loss.”

Environmental Hair Loss

Environmental hair loss refers to those hair loss conditions caused by external forces. These include damage from chemotherapy and radiation; damage from hot hair devices that burn and cause scarring on the scalp; tight hairstyles that pull on the hair; and stress-related hair loss.

Anagen Effluvium (Toxic Damage)

Chemotherapy and radiation cause anagen effluvium. They damage the hair follicle during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle.

Toxins, drugs, and radiation damage the hair follicle cells. Chemotherapy and radiation target healthy as well as rapidly dividing cells.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) (Multiple Causes)

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a scarring on the top of the head that can lead to permanent hair loss. CCCA is most common in women of African descent.

The exact cause of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to both genetic and environmental factors.

Studies suggest that CCCA may have a genetic component, as it appears to be more common in certain ethnic groups such as African American women.

Environmental factors such as the use of hair relaxers, hot combs, and braids may also contribute to the development of CCCA. These hair-styling practices can lead to scalp inflammation and scarring, which may eventually cause hair loss.

In addition, some researchers believe that CCCA may be related to hormonal changes, as it appears to be more common in postmenopausal women. However, more research is needed to better understand the underlying causes of this condition.

Traction Alopecia (Pulling Damage)

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that is caused by constant tension or pulling on the hair follicles. This condition is often associated with certain hairstyles that put a lot of tension on the hair, such as tight braids, cornrows, weaves, and extensions. Over time, this constant pulling can damage the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

There are several treatment options available for Traction Alopecia, depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases may be treated by simply changing hairstyles to reduce tension on the hair. In more severe cases, medications like Minoxidil may be prescribed to stimulate hair growth. In some cases, hair transplant surgery may be necessary to replace lost hair.

Traction Alopecia is not typically considered a psychological problem where hair pulling is a symptom. Rather, it is a physical condition caused by external factors such as tight hairstyles or hair extensions that put constant tension on the hair follicles.

However, hair pulling can be a symptom of a psychological condition known as Trichotillomania, which is characterized by the urge to pull out one’s hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, and scalp hair. Trichotillomania is a complex disorder that often requires a combination of therapy, medication, and behavioral interventions for successful treatment. It is important to differentiate between Traction Alopecia and Trichotillomania, as the treatment approaches for these conditions are very different.

Telogen Effluvium (Stress Hair Loss)

Telogen effluvium is a stress response that causes hair loss. It is often triggered by pregnancy, medication, or surgery.

In telogen effluvium, the hair follicles enter the resting phase prematurely, and the hairs that are already in the telogen phase are shed before they can enter the anagen phase (growth phase) again. This results in hair shedding and thinning, but it usually resolves on its own once the underlying cause is addressed.

Telogen effluvium triggers include:

• surgery
• illness
• childbirth
• anxiety
• depression
• hormone disorders (thyroid and polycystic ovary syndrome)
• medications (chemotherapy, anticoagulants)
• nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc, and biotin)

Autoimmune Hair Loss

Alopecia areata is a group of hair loss syndromes in which the immune system causes damage to the hair follicle.

The body develops antibodies against its own hair molecules. That results in hair loss or hair thinning. There are several types of alopecia areata defining where the hair loss occurs, and how much of the hair is lost.

Alopecia areata totalis is complete hair loss on the top of the head caused by the same autoimmune disease.

Alopecia areata universalis is hair loss throughout the entire body, including pubic and axillary hair, caused by the same autoimmune disease.

Diffuse alopecia areata (incognita) is a thinning hair loss. The other alopecias involve loss of hair in patches. Diffuse alopecia is a loss of hair with some healthy hair remaining on the head.

Alopecia areata ophiasis is hair loss on the sides and lower back of the head.

Alopecia barbae is hair loss on the beard or mustache area.

Hair Loss Treatments

Hair loss treatments include the following. Each of the different types of hair loss is best reversed with different combinations of these therapies:

• topical medications
• oral medications
• low-level laser therapy (red light therapy)
• hair transplant surgery

Topical medications

Minoxidil is a topical medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia. It works by stimulating hair growth and prolonging the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.

Oral medications

Finasteride is an oral medication that is FDA-approved for the treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in men. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that contributes to hair loss.

Finasteride has serious side effects that we wrote about here: Warning: Your Hair Loss Rx is a Sexual Side Effect Nightmare

Red Light Therapy

In the hair clinic industry, “red light therapy” is usually referred to as “low-level laser therapy.” They are the same treatment with different names. In science, this is also known as photobiomodulation (the use of light to create healthy change).

Red light therapy (low-level laser therapy) uses red and infrared light to generate ATP, the body’s biological batteries. This stimulates the hair follicles, which come out of their dormant stage to grow hair again. Treatment takes about six months to see significant results.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair transplant surgery involves the transplantation of hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another. It is a more invasive treatment option, but it can produce long-lasting results.

The procedure involves transplanting hair follicles from a donor site, typically from the back or sides of the head, to the areas of hair loss.

Hair transplant surgery can provide long-lasting, natural-looking results, but it is a surgical procedure that carries some risks and potential side effects.

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Each Hair Loss Type

The success of hair loss therapy depends, in part, on what caused the hair loss in the first place. The key to hair loss therapy is whether the follicle is dormant or dead. Dormant follicles can be revived to grow hair again.

That is, except in the case of hair transplant surgery. For surgery to be successful, you need donor hair from the body. Surgery does not depend on the head’s hair follicles being alive.

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Androgenic Alopecia (Genetic)

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Anagen Effluvium (Toxins)

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Traction Alopecia (Pulling)

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Telogen Effluvium (Stress)

Best Hair Loss Treatments for Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (Scarring)

Best Hair Loss Treatment for Alopecia Areata (Autoimmune)