Hair Loss
Also known as: Alopecia
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Hair Loss Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: You lose up to 100 hairs from your scalp every day.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Mapped to Hair Loss, Alopecia & Scalp Conditions under ICD-10-CM L65.9 for Hair Loss clinical workups.
- 3 Typical cash cost range: Clinicians assessing Hair Loss focus on shortened anagen growth in Hair Loss (L65.9: phase) and targeted history.
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Objective lab/clinical target for Hair Loss: 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in Hair Loss (L65.9: & Zinc) (25(OH)D 45 – 70 ng/mL (L65.9)) and Total/Free Testosterone & in Hair Loss (L65.9: DHEA-S (if androgenic)).
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What Is Hair Loss?
You lose up to 100 hairs from your scalp every day. That's normal, and in most people, those hairs grow back. But many men -- and some women -- lose hair as they grow older. You can also lose your hair if you have certain diseases, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or lupus. If you take certain medicines or have chemotherapy for cancer, you may also lose your hair. Other causes are stress, a low protein diet, a family history, or poor nutrition. Treatment for hair loss depends on the cause. In some cases, treating the underlying cause will correct the problem. Other treatments include medicines and hair restoration.
Pathophysiology, Underlying Causes & Clinical Presentation
Pathophysiologically, Hair Loss (ICD-10 L65.9) is driven by shortened anagen growth in Hair Loss (L65.9: phase); Cross-referenced with NIH MeSH (Hypotrichosis), specialists in Hair Loss, Alopecia & Scalp Conditions monitor Total/Free Testosterone & in Hair Loss (L65.9: DHEA-S (if androgenic)) to gauge tissue recovery.
Common Symptoms & Clinical Signs
- • Presentation of Hair Loss (L65.9): discrete smooth circular in Hair Loss (L65.9: patches of sudden)
- • Secondary Hair Loss clinical sign: thickened, discolored, brittle, in Hair Loss (L65.9: or subungually lifting)
- • Symptom flares in Hair Loss correlating with 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in Hair Loss (L65.9: & Zinc) deviation outside 25(OH)D 45 – 70 ng/mL (L65.9)
- • Functional hair & scalp impact requiring nutritional/endocrine lab panel in Hair Loss (L65.9: (ferritin) evaluation (L65.9)
Primary Federal Reference: NIH / National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus Entry ↗
Hair Loss Diagnostic Classification & Lab Markers
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Code | L65.9 | WHO / CMS ICD-10-CM Clinical Classification |
| Clinical Specialty Hub | Hair Loss, Alopecia & Scalp Conditions | NIH MedlinePlus Health Topics |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D in Hair Loss (L65.9: & Zinc) | 25(OH)D 45 – 70 ng/mL (L65.9) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Total/Free Testosterone & in Hair Loss (L65.9: DHEA-S (if androgenic)) | Age/sex physiological range (L65.9) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Serum Ferritin [Hair Loss L65.9] | 70 – 150 ng/mL (L65.9) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
FDA-Monographed Medications & Public Cash Price Reference for Hair Loss
Treatment selection for Hair Loss depends on clinical severity, diagnostic lab results, and medical history. Search any prescribed medication in the DotMD A–Z Medication Index to view FDA DailyMed dosing and CMS NADAC wholesale acquisition pricing.
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Hair Loss)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights on Interventions for female pattern hair: What a 2,349-Participant Study Found Further direct comparison studies of minoxidil 5% applied once a day, which could improve staying on track with medication when compared to minoxidil 2% twice daily, are still required. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews • 2012-05-16 • Meta-Analysis | N = 2,349 | 99/100 | PMID 22592723 ↗ |
| New Insights on Efficacy comparison of monotherapies and combination therapies for androgenetic: What a 3,133-Participant Study Found In recent years, combination therapies are showing significant promise as potential therapies. Dermatologic therapy • 2022-03-15 • Meta-Analysis | N = 3,133 | 99/100 | PMID 34897933 ↗ |
| New Insights on A randomized, compared against a dummy pill (placebo) trial of 5% and 2%: What a 381-Participant Study Found In this 48-week study of 381 women with female pattern hair loss, 5% applied to the skin minoxidil was superior to placebo on each of the 3 primary efficacy end points: promoting hair growth as measured by change in nonvellus... Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology • 2004-04-15 • Randomized Controlled Trial | N = 381 | 93/100 | PMID 15034503 ↗ |
| New Insights on Patient-Reported Satisfaction with Hair Regrowth in a Study of Ritlecitinib in: What a 718-Participant Study Found Patients receiving active ritlecitinib doses reported favorable results versus placebo in satisfaction with hair growth up to week 48. Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) • 2024-01-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 718 | 93/100 | PMID 38934147 ↗ |
| What the Latest Evidence Really Says About Interventions for female pattern hair Finasteride was no more effective than placebo (low quality evidence). The Cochrane database of systematic reviews • 2016-05-26 • Meta-Analysis | Multi-cohort | 92/100 | PMID 27225981 ↗ |
Hair Loss Patient Community & “People Like Me” Threads
Filter Hair Loss community threads and patient logs by age, biological sex, dosage, and treatment duration.