Hair Loss: Many Causes, Including Autoimmune Disease
From thyroid disease and pregnancy to lupus and alopecia areata, why hair loss deserves a thoughtful look at the underlying cause.
Alopecia, or hair loss, can be localized to the scalp or affect the whole body, including the eyebrows and face. It may begin as thinning and gradually progress to patchy or diffuse loss.
There are many causes, including heredity and family history, pregnancy, thyroid disease, diabetes, hair extensions or styles that place tension on the hair, medications (chemotherapy, some antibiotics or antifungals), radiation, and hormonal factors.
In my specialty, conditions like systemic and cutaneous lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and psoriasis can be associated with hair loss. Two immunosuppressants used to treat autoimmune diseases, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide, can also cause hair loss as a side effect.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition affecting close to 7 million people in the US, in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing patchy loss. It can be seen with disorders such as asthma, vitiligo, thyroid disease, and Down syndrome.
Because the causes are so varied, please see a dermatologist, primary care provider, or rheumatologist to determine the reason for your hair loss, the right evaluation leads to the right treatment.
Dr. Maggie Cadet, MD