NEED HAIR: Pinpointing the cause of a patient’s hair loss

Hormonal fluctuations: Polycystic ovarian syndrome and postpartum hormonal changes.¹¹

Autoimmune: Lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Sjögren’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune atrophic gastritis.^12,13

Infections and chronic illnesses: Fungal infections (eg, tinea capitis), human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis, malignancy, renal failure, hepatic failure, and other chronic illnesses.^1,9

Radiation: Radiation treatment and excessive UV exposure.^12,14,15

Treatment for hair loss depends on the specific cause or triggering event. If you suspect that your patient’s hair loss may be medication-induced, first rule out other possible causes by performing relevant investigations, such as a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, T3, T4, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, and iron studies. If you determine the medication is the likely cause, safely taper and discontinue it, and consider an alternative agent.