Differential Diagnosis for Hair Loss in a Woman
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Androgenetic Alopecia (Female Pattern Hair Loss): This is the most common cause of hair loss in women, characterized by thinning of hair over the mid-frontal scalp, often due to hormonal influences and genetic predisposition.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Telogen Effluvium: A condition that causes excessive hair shedding after a major body stress, such as severe illness, psychological stress, or major surgery, leading to a significant increase in the number of hair follicles that stop growing and enter the resting phase.
- Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune condition that leads to patchy hair loss, which can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp. It is characterized by one or more round, smooth bald patches.
- Thyroid Disorders: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to hair loss. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be diffuse or patchy and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as weight changes, fatigue, and changes in skin and nail health.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamin D can contribute to hair loss. These deficiencies can lead to changes in the hair growth cycle, leading to excessive shedding.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): An autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss, among many other symptoms. Hair loss in SLE can be patchy or diffuse and is often accompanied by other systemic symptoms such as joint pain, skin rashes, and kidney problems.
- Cancer and Its Treatment: Certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma, and cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can cause significant hair loss.
- Syphilis: A sexually transmitted infection that can cause hair loss in its secondary stage, characterized by a diffuse, "moth-eaten" appearance of the scalp.
Rare Diagnoses
- Trichotillomania: A psychological disorder characterized by a compulsive urge to pull out one's own hair, leading to noticeable hair loss.
- Tinea Capitis (Ringworm of the Scalp): A fungal infection that can cause hair loss, often accompanied by redness, itching, and scaling of the scalp.
- Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A rare condition characterized by hair loss and scarring on the scalp, typically affecting the frontal area, often accompanied by eyebrow loss.
- Lichen Planopilaris: An inflammatory condition that leads to hair loss, characterized by inflammation and scarring of the hair follicles, often accompanied by itching and redness of the scalp.