Hair loss, also known as alopecia, can develop in both men and women but is more common in men. Hair loss can be hereditary or a natural part of aging, or it can be caused by hormonal changes, medical conditions or a stressful event.^1,2

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, which can affect just your scalp or your entire body.³

Common forms of alopecia include:^4,5,6

• Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, is one of the more common types of alopecia, affecting two percent of people. Not all forms of alopecia are related to an immune system response.

• Alopecia Totalis (AT): Complete loss of hair on the scalp.

• Traction Alopecia: Hair loss triggered by repeatedly pulling or tightening hair in the same direction.

• Alopecia Universalis: A rare condition where a person loses all the hair on their body.

• Scarring Alopecia: Inflammatory skin conditions (cellulitis, folliculitis, acne), and other skin disorders (such as some forms of lupus and lichen planus) often result in scars that destroy the ability of the hair to regenerate.⁷

• Cicatricial Alopecia: Experts don’t entirely understand the causes of this inflammatory condition. It sometimes develops after the skin is damaged by a burn or severe infection. Hair loss may occur slowly in patches or more rapidly in larger areas. The skin underneath may also become itchy and inflamed.

• Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A form of lichen planopilaris, it usually causes slow but progressive hair loss, usually just above the forehead. The eyebrows and eyelashes may also be affected.

On average, a person normally sheds 50 to 150 strands of hair daily. Losing more than 125 strands of hair daily is considered hair loss.⁸

Learn more in our blog Hair Shedding vs. Hair Loss: What’s the Difference?

There is no current evidence that creatine causes hair loss.⁹

Over time, taking testosterone can cause hair follicles to shrink. The process, known as miniaturization, results in thinner hair. Eventually those follicles stop producing visible hair altogether.¹⁰

Scientific research has not reached a conclusive answer about the relationship between wearing hats and hair loss. However, it’s possible that wearing hats that are very tight — or very hot — could decrease blood flow to the hair follicles, stressing them and causing them to fall out. This hair loss would be temporary at first, but it could progress to permanent hair loss.¹¹

Dandruff is a skin condition and not a cause of hair loss. Excessive itching due to dandruff may cause temporary hair loss.¹² Learn more about dandruff shampoo.

Seborrheic dermatitis does not cause hair loss. However, the irritation caused by seborrheic dermatitis can cause intense itchiness, and scratching the scalp too much may cause temporary hair loss.¹³

Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder. Scalp psoriasis itself doesn’t cause hair loss. But scratching a lot, harsh treatments and the stress that goes along with the condition can lead to temporary hair loss. Fortunately, hair usually grows back after the skin clears.¹⁴

Sometimes there is a link between an itchy scalp and hair loss. Fungal infections, allergic reactions to hair products and inflamed hair follicles can cause the scalp to itch and also damage hair follicles, leading to hair loss.¹⁵

While certain shampoo ingredients may be less than ideal for healthy hair, existing evidence doesn’t point to any specific ingredient as a potential cause of hair loss. This includes dry shampoo and dandruff shampoos.¹⁶

Deficiencies in vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as iron and zinc, have been associated with hair loss.¹⁷

Hard water contains a buildup of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. This produces a film on the hair, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. As a result, the hair is left dry and prone to breakage.¹⁸

Yes, but not directly. These medications can cause stress on your body and nutritional or hormonal changes that trigger hair loss. The hair loss is usually not permanent, but it can take months to reverse.¹⁹

Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. The severity of drug-induced hair loss depends on the type of drug and dosage, as well as your sensitivity to that drug.

Many different types of drugs are thought to cause hair loss, including:²⁰

• Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)

• Antibiotics and antifungal drugs

• Antidepressants

• Birth control pills

• Anti-clotting drugs

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs

• Drugs that suppress the immune system

• Drugs that treat breast cancer and other cancers

• Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsants)

• High blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensives), such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics

• Hormone replacement therapy

• Mood stabilizers

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Parkinson's disease drugs

• Steroids

• Tamoxifen blocks the estrogen receptor to prevent breast cancer.

• Thyroid medications

Hair loss is common in people who are taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer. Chemotherapy drugs that tend to cause hair loss include:²¹

• Adriamycin

• Cyclophosphamide

• Dactinomycin

• Daunorubicin

• Docetaxel

• Doxorubicin

• Etoposide

• Fluorouracil

• Ifosfamide

• Irinotecan

• Methotrexate

• Nitrosoureas

• Paclitaxel

• Tamoxifen

• Topotecan

• Vinorelbine

In addition to hereditary, age, and alopecia areata, there are other health conditions that can lead to hair loss, including:^22,23,24

• Childbirth, illness or other stressors: A few months after giving birth, recovering from an illness, or having an operation, you may notice a lot more hairs in your brush or on your pillow. This can also happen after a stressful time in your life, such as a divorce or death of a loved one.

• Thyroid disease: If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair. Some people notice that their hair comes out in clumps when they brush it.

• Diabetes: Diabetes can interrupt the normal cycle of the hair growth process, slowing down hair growth. Having diabetes can also cause you to lose more hair than usual. It doesn’t only affect your head. You can lose hairs on your arms, legs, and other body parts, too. When the hair regrows, it does so at a slower than usual rate.

• Smoking and Vaping: One of the lesser-known side effects of smoking is an increased chance of developing hair loss.

1. Mayo Clinic

2. American Academy of Dermatology Association

3. Mayo Clinic

4. National Alopecia Areata Foundation

5. Healthline

6. American Academy of Dermatology Association

7. Cleveland Clinic

8. Cleveland Clinic

9. National Library of Medicine

10. Baylor College of Medicine

11. Cleveland Clinic

12. Healthline

13. Cleveland Clinic

14. National Psoriasis Foundation

15. Medical News Today

16. Healthline

17. Harvard Health Publishing

18. Healthline

19. Cleveland Clinic

20. American Hair Loss Association

21. WebMD

22. American Academy of Dermatology Association

23. Healthline

24. Healthline

Medications are available to treat pattern (hereditary) baldness. Some treat men only, some treat women only, and some are an option for both men and women.

RedBox Rx offers the following hair loss treatments:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine®) for men and women: Minoxidil is available in an oral tablet by prescription and topical formulations (liquid, foam and shampoo) which you can get by prescription or over the counter.

• Finasteride (Propecia®) for men: This is taken daily as a pill. Many men taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show new hair growth. It may take a few months to tell whether it's working for you.²⁵

• Dutasteride (Avodart®) for men: This is a more potent hair loss treatment than finasteride but also comes with the risk of additional side effects.²⁶

• Spironolactone (Aldactone®) for women: This is a prescription drug women can use for androgenic alopecia.²⁷

This can vary from patient to patient and treatment to treatment. But on average, results should begin to appear after three to six months.²⁸

This can vary depending on each patient’s tolerance for medication.

For men, dutasteride is more effective than finasteride, but comes with a higher risk of side effects. Studies have also shown that finasteride is more effective than minoxidil, and that combining finasteride and minoxidil may provide better results than using either individually.²⁹

For women, minoxidil and spironolactone address women’s hair loss differently. Spironolactone is an anti-androgen that blocks the hormones that contribute to female-pattern hair loss, while oral minoxidil stimulates hair follicles by increasing blood flow to the scalp. They can be used together.³⁰ To determine which medication works best, or if a combined treatment is needed, speak with a healthcare provider.

In some cases, yes, and this may make treatment more effective. Discuss combination treatments with your healthcare provider to make sure your medications interact safely.

Shampoos can’t treat the cause of your hair loss, but some ingredients are better than others. If you’re experiencing hair loss, pick a shampoo that’s moisturizing and includes an active ingredient like ketoconazole to improve hair health.³¹

Learn more about dandruff shampoo in our blog Dandruff Shampoo: Ciclopirox (Loprox®) vs. Ketoconazole (Nizoral®).

Hair loss medication is not a permanent cure. If you stop treatment, the newly grown hair will eventually fall out.³²

The type of temporary hair loss caused by a stressor or change to your body is called telogen effluvium. This can be an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) condition.

• Acute stress hair loss lasts fewer than six months, and your hair loss tends to happen two to three months after a stressor or change to your body. In 95% of cases, acute telogen effluvium goes away on its own.

• Chronic stress hair loss lasts longer than six months. It affects your entire scalp and may not have a clear cause. You may lose your hair in handfuls during the early stages, but it won’t cause total baldness.

Because one of the main causes is a stressor on your body, it’s important to identify the cause. Once you address the cause, most cases will resolve without treatment within six to eight months.

Even though stress hair loss should resolve on its own, common treatments may include medications like minoxidil tablet or minoxidil foam, taking multivitamins or supplements that contain iron and biotin, and modifying your hairstyle technique.³³

Biotin is a B vitamin that contains essential proteins that help with the development of your skin, nails and hair. It does not help regrow hair, but it has been shown to help with preventing balding and hair loss.³⁴

Collagen may help improve your hair by providing amino acids and helping to fight damaged hair follicles. It may also slow down thinning and greying. However, research on the effects of collagen on human hair is limited.³⁵

A well-balanced diet is the first key to healthy hair. But you may still need extra help to kick-start your hair restoration.³⁶ The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.³⁷

Other natural supplements that may help with hair loss include pumpkin seed oil, capsaicin and isoflavone, omegas 3 and 6 with antioxidants, and apple nutraceutical.³⁸

Yes. RedBox Rx offers the following prescription treatment options for hair loss:

• Minoxidil Tablet, for Men & Women (Generic Loniten®)

• Minoxidil Foam, for Men & Women (Generic Rogaine®)

• Finasteride, for Men (Generic Propecia®)

• Dutasteride, for Men (Generic Avodart®)

• Spironolactone, for Women (Generic Aldactone®)

25. Mayo Clinic

26. American Hair Loss Association

27. National Library of Medicine

28. Cleveland Clinic

29. National Library of Medicine

30. National Library of Medicine

31. Cleveland Clinic

32. Mayo Clinic

33. Cleveland Clinic

34. Cleveland Clinic

35. Healthline

36. Cleveland Clinic

37. Forbes

38. ABC News