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What You Need To Know about Bald Spots What You Need To Know about Bald Spots
26
Aug
The most common causes of bald spots are age-related, while others are the result of treatable medical conditions or behaviors that can be changed to promote healthier hair.
Here are some of the other common causes of a bald spot.
Androgenetic alopecia
Also known as hereditary hair loss because it tends to run in families, androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss from the scalp.
In men, the condition is often called male pattern baldness and usually refers to hair receding near the temples and top of the forehead, while hair at the crown of the head starts to thin.
In women, female pattern baldness differs and usually starts with a thinning of the hair all over the head.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles.
Hair tends to fall out in small patches on the head, while the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of the body may also be affected.
People with alopecia areata may be at higher risk for other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and vitiligo.
Hormonal imbalance
Stopping some types of birth control can lead to a temporary loss or thinning of hair.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may also experience a hormonal imbalance that causes hair loss and other complications.
Stress
Whether it’s a divorce, a long illness, work problems, financial distress, childbirth, or any of the countless other reasons, stress can sometimes cause more hairs than usual to show up in your brush every day.
Usually, normal hair growth returns when the cause of stress eases or you develop different coping mechanisms.
Cancer treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can both lead to hair loss just a few weeks after treatment starts.
Hair often starts to grow back within a month or so of ending treatment. Medications to revive hair growth may help speed up the process.
Wearing a cooling cap before, during, and after treatments may reduce hair loss.
Hair products and styling
Hairstyles that pull back tightly can lead to a bald spot.
Shampoos other hair-care products containing the following ingredients may also be problematic:
- sodium lauryl sulfate & laureth sulfate
- sodium chloride
- propylene glycol
Natural Remedies
What are some natural treatments for a bald spot?
Natural hair growth methods typically focus on improving circulation in the scalp or promoting hair follicle health and restoring hair quality.
Many products associated with hair growth are found in the home and are often used for other purposes.
Here are some options:
Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil has anti-inflammatory properties and helps improve circulation, so it’s a natural choice for treating hair loss.
Rub a small amount gently on your bald spot each night or consider using natural shampoo containing rosemary oil.
Peppermint oil
Rub some peppermint oil into your scalp with your fingers or use shampoo with peppermint oil.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is usually thought of as a skin treatment for wound healing and burn relief. But aloe vera may also help regrow hair and protect the scalp from disease.
The Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research notes that aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory properties and many enzymes, minerals, and other healthy ingredients make it a safe and, often, effective hair growth treatment.
To use it, massage it into your scalp before shampooing your hair. Try mixing it with wheat germ oil and coconut milk.
Massage
Requiring no products, a vigorous scalp massage is one of the simplest ways to help boost circulation in the scalp and stretch hair follicle cells to promote thicker hair growth.
Firmly (but gently) press your fingers against your scalp and rub them across your scalp for at least 5 minutes.
What are some over-the-counter treatments for bald spots?
Minoxidil
One of the most widely used and proven treatments is
It’s available in liquid, foam, or shampoo options. Stronger forms of minoxidil are also available by prescription.
Minoxidil may cause side effects like skin irritation or unwanted hair growth on skin near the scalp. If minoxidil does restore hair growth, it must be used indefinitely or its effects will start to wear off.
Collagen-based products
Collagen, a protein found in the skin and elsewhere in the body, is also associated with hair growth and thickening hair that has started thinning due to androgenetic alopecia.
Look for shampoos, conditioners, ointments, or serums that contain collagen. Try using them when you bathe or rub them into your scalp. It’s also available in an injectable form.
Collagen-based supplements may also help, but there’s less evidence that these work for hair growth.
Vitamin supplements
Certain vitamins and minerals are associated with hair growth, including:
- Vitamin A
- B-vitamins, including biotin, which is the key ingredient in many hair-growth treatments
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Zinc
Taking high doses of any supplement may put you at risk for complications. Discuss supplementation with your doctor before starting a new regiment.
A bald spot can be an alarming experience, especially if you’re in your 20s or 30s.
Coping with hair loss starts with accepting the situation and then being proactive about addressing it. Part of this comes from remembering that millions of people just like you are going through the same experience.
To help you deal with the emotional aspect of hair loss, consider the following tips:
- Work with a stylist to make the most of the hair you do have, or look into products such as wigs, hair extensions, scarves, and hats.
- Be open with friends and relatives about how you’re feeling and what support you need.
- See a dermatologist early on to discuss options such as medications or procedures to slow or reverse your hair loss.
- Focus on positivity, and the people and things in your life that bring you joy.
Regrowing hair on a bald spot is often possible. You may need to try more than one type of treatment to get the results you want. Be patient and consider all your options as you approach this very common concern.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
Sources
For this blog Fro Butter relied on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
- Ahn KH, et al. (2015). Pregnancy outcomes with paternal exposure to finasteride, a synthetic 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor: A case series. DOI:
10.4172/2161-0495.1000248 - Alopecia. (n.d.).
rush.edu/services/conditions/alopecia - Androgenetic alopecia. (2020).
ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia#genes - Jabbari A, et al. (2013). Genetic basis of alopecia areata: A roadmap for translational research.
10.1016/j.det.2012.08.014 - Kumar K, et al. (2010). Aloe vera: A potential herb and its medicinal importance.
jocpr.com/articles/aloe-vera--a-potential-herb-and-its-medicinal-importance.pdf - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Preventing hair loss in women.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/expert-answers/preventing-hair-loss-in-women/faq-20452842 - Treatments for alopecia areata. (2017).
naaf.org/alopecia-areata/alopecia-areata-treatments - Oh J, et al. (2014). Peppermint oil promotes hair growth without toxic signs.
10.5487/TR.2014.30.4.297 - Suchonwanit P, et al. (2019). Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.
10.2147/DDDT.S214907
The most common causes of bald spots are age-related, while others are the result of treatable medical conditions or behaviors that can be changed to promote healthier hair.
Here are some of the other common causes of a bald spot.
Androgenetic alopecia
Also known as hereditary hair loss because it tends to run in families, androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss from the scalp.
In men, the condition is often called male pattern baldness and usually refers to hair receding near the temples and top of the forehead, while hair at the crown of the head starts to thin.
In women, female pattern baldness differs and usually starts with a thinning of the hair all over the head.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles.
Hair tends to fall out in small patches on the head, while the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of the body may also be affected.
People with alopecia areata may be at higher risk for other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and vitiligo.
Hormonal imbalance
Stopping some types of birth control can lead to a temporary loss or thinning of hair.
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may also experience a hormonal imbalance that causes hair loss and other complications.
Stress
Whether it’s a divorce, a long illness, work problems, financial distress, childbirth, or any of the countless other reasons, stress can sometimes cause more hairs than usual to show up in your brush every day.
Usually, normal hair growth returns when the cause of stress eases or you develop different coping mechanisms.
Cancer treatment
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can both lead to hair loss just a few weeks after treatment starts.
Hair often starts to grow back within a month or so of ending treatment. Medications to revive hair growth may help speed up the process.
Wearing a cooling cap before, during, and after treatments may reduce hair loss.
Hair products and styling
Hairstyles that pull back tightly can lead to a bald spot.
Shampoos other hair-care products containing the following ingredients may also be problematic:
- sodium lauryl sulfate & laureth sulfate
- sodium chloride
- propylene glycol
Natural Remedies
What are some natural treatments for a bald spot?
Natural hair growth methods typically focus on improving circulation in the scalp or promoting hair follicle health and restoring hair quality.
Many products associated with hair growth are found in the home and are often used for other purposes.
Here are some options:
Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil has anti-inflammatory properties and helps improve circulation, so it’s a natural choice for treating hair loss.
Rub a small amount gently on your bald spot each night or consider using natural shampoo containing rosemary oil.
Peppermint oil
Rub some peppermint oil into your scalp with your fingers or use shampoo with peppermint oil.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is usually thought of as a skin treatment for wound healing and burn relief. But aloe vera may also help regrow hair and protect the scalp from disease.
The Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research notes that aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory properties and many enzymes, minerals, and other healthy ingredients make it a safe and, often, effective hair growth treatment.
To use it, massage it into your scalp before shampooing your hair. Try mixing it with wheat germ oil and coconut milk.
Massage
Requiring no products, a vigorous scalp massage is one of the simplest ways to help boost circulation in the scalp and stretch hair follicle cells to promote thicker hair growth.
Firmly (but gently) press your fingers against your scalp and rub them across your scalp for at least 5 minutes.
What are some over-the-counter treatments for bald spots?
Minoxidil
One of the most widely used and proven treatments is
It’s available in liquid, foam, or shampoo options. Stronger forms of minoxidil are also available by prescription.
Minoxidil may cause side effects like skin irritation or unwanted hair growth on skin near the scalp. If minoxidil does restore hair growth, it must be used indefinitely or its effects will start to wear off.
Collagen-based products
Collagen, a protein found in the skin and elsewhere in the body, is also associated with hair growth and thickening hair that has started thinning due to androgenetic alopecia.
Look for shampoos, conditioners, ointments, or serums that contain collagen. Try using them when you bathe or rub them into your scalp. It’s also available in an injectable form.
Collagen-based supplements may also help, but there’s less evidence that these work for hair growth.
Vitamin supplements
Certain vitamins and minerals are associated with hair growth, including:
- Vitamin A
- B-vitamins, including biotin, which is the key ingredient in many hair-growth treatments
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Zinc
Taking high doses of any supplement may put you at risk for complications. Discuss supplementation with your doctor before starting a new regiment.
A bald spot can be an alarming experience, especially if you’re in your 20s or 30s.
Coping with hair loss starts with accepting the situation and then being proactive about addressing it. Part of this comes from remembering that millions of people just like you are going through the same experience.
To help you deal with the emotional aspect of hair loss, consider the following tips:
- Work with a stylist to make the most of the hair you do have, or look into products such as wigs, hair extensions, scarves, and hats.
- Be open with friends and relatives about how you’re feeling and what support you need.
- See a dermatologist early on to discuss options such as medications or procedures to slow or reverse your hair loss.
- Focus on positivity, and the people and things in your life that bring you joy.
Regrowing hair on a bald spot is often possible. You may need to try more than one type of treatment to get the results you want. Be patient and consider all your options as you approach this very common concern.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
Sources
For this blog Fro Butter relied on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
- Ahn KH, et al. (2015). Pregnancy outcomes with paternal exposure to finasteride, a synthetic 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor: A case series. DOI:
10.4172/2161-0495.1000248 - Alopecia. (n.d.).
rush.edu/services/conditions/alopecia - Androgenetic alopecia. (2020).
ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia#genes - Jabbari A, et al. (2013). Genetic basis of alopecia areata: A roadmap for translational research.
10.1016/j.det.2012.08.014 - Kumar K, et al. (2010). Aloe vera: A potential herb and its medicinal importance.
jocpr.com/articles/aloe-vera--a-potential-herb-and-its-medicinal-importance.pdf - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Preventing hair loss in women.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/expert-answers/preventing-hair-loss-in-women/faq-20452842 - Treatments for alopecia areata. (2017).
naaf.org/alopecia-areata/alopecia-areata-treatments - Oh J, et al. (2014). Peppermint oil promotes hair growth without toxic signs.
10.5487/TR.2014.30.4.297 - Suchonwanit P, et al. (2019). Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.
10.2147/DDDT.S214907
I appreciate the real information about how I need to treat my alopecia, I have seizures and I’ve have dealt with some issues with my Hair! Thanks
Very informative information…thank you