What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase the risk of hair loss include:

• Genetics (inherited tendency). If one or both of your parents have hair loss, it is likely that you will also.
• Disease or illness. Certain diseases or an illness can cause hair loss. The diseases may include ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis), thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, or lupus. The illness may include a severe infection or high fever.
• Age. Many people have some hair loss by the age of 50.
• Medicines and medical treatments. Certain medicines or medical treatments can cause scalp problems and hair loss.
• Hair care and styling. Some methods of hair care or hair styles can damage hair and cause hair loss.

Although most people with hair loss caused by alopecia areata regrow their hair, certain people are at greater risk for their hair not growing back. If you have a family history of the condition, have the condition at a young age, have an autoimmune disease, are prone to allergies (atopy), have extensive hair loss, or have abnormal color, shape, texture, or thickness of the fingernails or toenails, you are more likely to have permanent hair loss.