Here at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, we know very well that hair loss can often be a sensitive subject. However, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Hair loss is extremely common for men and women, and typically not something that is in a person’s control. The good news is that there are more truly effective hair loss treatments available today than ever before. However, treating hair loss first depends on pinpointing (or properly diagnosing) the root cause of the issue in the first place. So today, we wanted to take some time to discuss some of the most common causes of hair loss (and what can be done about them).

Of course, there are different types of hair loss that are all brought on by different causes. It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day, even for people without any hair loss issues. The problem occurs if new hair growth stops and the hairs fall out are not replaced. Some of the most common root causes of hair loss issues include:

• Genetics. The most common cause of hair loss is a genetic condition known as androgenic alopecia. Also known as male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness, this hair loss occurs naturally in predictable patterns over time. Typically, men will experience a receding hairline and bald spots in most cases, whereas most women may experience thinning hair along the crown of the scalp.
• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes that occur due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, other medical conditions, and taking certain medications are a major cause of hair loss as well. The balance of hormones is delicate, and the body producing either too much or too little of certain hormones like estrogen can affect the ability of hair follicles to produce new hair.
• Chronic stress. Excessive stress over time, or one specific physical or emotional shock can lead to noticeable hair thinning or hair loss. However, this type of hair loss is often temporary and hair growth will continue when stress reaches a more normal level.
• Certain hairstyles or treatments. Over time, hairstyles that pull the hair tightly like pigtails or cornrows can damage the hair follicles and lead to a condition known as traction alopecia. This is also true for hair treatments like perms or hot oil treatments.
• Autoimmune diseases, including what is known as alopecia areata. This condition causes the immune system to begin attacking the hair follicles, which can in turn stunt new hair growth.

Here at our Center for Non-Surgical Hair Loss and Center for Women’s Hair Loss, our experienced board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants specialize in determining the root cause of each individual case. Once this is done, we’re able to create customized treatment plans in order to best serve our patients. Our variety of non-surgical hair loss treatments includes prescription (custom compound & non-custom) medications (oral and topical), laser treatments, AnteAGE® MD hair restoration, microneedling with natural growth factors, red light therapy and regenerative cell therapy with XoGlo®, just to name a few. Hair loss caused by autoimmune conditions may be treated differently, but getting to the root cause of their diagnosis is still critical.

No matter the cause of your issue, if you’re concerned about hair loss, it’s important to remember that you do have options. For more information on hair loss and our available non-surgical hair restoration treatments, contact Dermatology Associates of Atlanta to schedule an appointment today. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more skin care tips and practice updates.