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ArticlesTopic 06
Thinning, shedding, chin hairs and ingrowns. What’s hormonal, what’s not, and what works.
HairEvidence check
Thinning on top is common in women with PCOS: in one clinic study of 100 women with PCOS, 31% had female pattern hair loss. But it's an unreliable clue on its own. A study of 401 women referred for possible PCOS found hair loss and acne were common yet poor markers of high androgens, while excess body hair and dark velvety skin were better ones. Here is what experts recommend testing and how treatment differs.
HairEvidence check
For severe alopecia areata, daily JAK inhibitor pills are now approved in the US. In two large baricitinib trials, about 36% to 39% of adults on the higher dose had 80% or more of their scalp covered at 36 weeks, against 3% to 6% on placebo. A ritlecitinib trial found similar gains. Most people didn't reach that goal, and the drugs carry rare serious risks. Here is what the trials show.
HairExplainer
The bottle can stay out of reach while a child touches the application site. Check this contact warning and bring the product history if unusual hair growth appears.
HairEvidence check
If your drain fills up every year around late summer, the season may be part of it. In a Swiss study of 823 healthy women with shedding worries, the share of resting hairs peaked in summer and was lowest in late winter. A British study of 14 men found shed hairs peaked in August and September at more than double the winter rate. Here is what seasonal shedding looks like and when to get it checked.
HairEvidence check
Stress graying is one of the oldest beliefs about hair. In 2020, stressed mice went gray because a nerve signal used up their pigment stem cells. In 2021, a study of 397 human hairs found some gray hairs that regained color, once after a vacation. Here is what each study can and can't say, and why the '50 by 50' rule doesn't hold up either.
HairChecklist
Put lenses in before applying makeup and take them out before removing it.
HairEvidence check
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, or CCCA, is a scarring hair loss that starts at the crown and is the most common scarring hair loss in women of African descent. For decades it was blamed on hot combs and relaxers. Studies since 1992 haven't backed that up, a Detroit study linked it with sewn-in weaves and braids with extensions instead, and a 2019 study found a gene variant in some women. Here is what the research shows.
HairMyth buster
Shaving doesn't make facial hair grow back thicker or darker. Dermatologists say it only changes how the stubble feels. After 50 the bigger catch is color: laser hair removal won't work on gray or white hairs. Here is how each method compares for chin hairs, and when new hair needs a doctor first.
HairEvidence check
Seeing hair in the drain makes many women wash less. But a study of Asian adults found daily washing beat once-a-week washing on every measure, with no damage to hair, though the shampoo maker paid for it. A Saudi survey of 4,796 people also linked more frequent shampooing with better hair and scalp. Dermatologists say to wash based on how oily your scalp gets. Here is what the studies show.
HairEvidence check
Frontal fibrosing alopecia, a scarring hair loss along the front hairline and eyebrows, mostly affects women after menopause. A 2023 review of nine studies found women with it were more likely to report using facial sunscreen. That's a link, not proof, and it isn't a reason to give up sun protection. Here is what to know.
HairEvidence check
Hair shedding is one of the most common surprises after bariatric surgery. Pooling 41 studies of 7,044 patients, a 2025 review found 47% had hair loss, more after gastric bypass than sleeve surgery. An earlier review found it was more common in younger women and in people with low zinc, folate or ferritin, and that it eased with time. Here is what the studies show and what to check.
HairEvidence check
Trichotillomania, repeatedly pulling out your own hair, is treatable, though many people feel clinicians know little about it. A review of 24 trials with 857 people found behavioral therapy built on habit reversal training had the largest benefit. Among medicines, N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, helped 56% of people in one trial against 16% on placebo. Here is what the evidence shows.
