Alopecia risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ogechukwu Hannah Nnabude, MD

Age, medications, sex, family history, and illness are all risk factors for alopecia. Androgenetic alopecia is more common in males and prevalence increases with age. People with a family history of hair loss are at a greater predisposition to developing alopecia compared to individuals who do not have a family history. Psychosocial stress, hormonal imbalance, and illness also increase the risk of alopecia.

• Some of the specific risk factors for alopecia are as follows:
  • Drugs
    • Anticoagulants such as heparin, warfarin ^[1]
    • Anticonvulsants such as [[valproic acid ^[2] and trimethadione. ^[3]
    • Antidepressants such as fluvoxamine and bupropion ^[4]
    • Beta-blockers such as nadolol ^[5]
  • Medical illness
    • Connective tissue disorders: SLE ^[6], dermatomyositis ^[7]
    • Hyper/hypothyroidism ^[8]
    • Nutritional deficiencies: iron, zinc, protein ^[9]
  • Poor hygiene which can predispose to tinea capitis ^[10]
  • Physiological and psychological stress which are associated with telogen effluvium ^[11]
  • Mechanical stressors such as tight braids which is associated with traction alopecia ^[12]
  • Chemicals and hair care products ^[13]
  • Male sex which is at increased risk of androgenetic alopecia ^[14]
  • Age of an individual is also a risk factor. For example, tinea capitis is more common in pediatric populations while the prevalence of androgenetic alopecia increases with age ^[15]
  • Family history of alopecia increases an individual’s predisposition to developing alopecia. ^[16]

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