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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