Hair Loss Disorders

Hair loss, or alopecia, happens when the hair growth cycle is disrupted, leading to baldness on the head or body. The Hair Loss Disorders Clinic is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss disorders, helping you find relief and get back to your life.

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While it is normal to lose strands of hair every day as part of a normal hair growth cycle, you may have a hair loss disorder if you start losing excessive amounts of hair that fails to grow back at the same rate—or at all.

University of Iowa Health Care is home to the Hair Loss Disorders Clinic, the only clinic exclusively dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss disorders. Our dermatologists have the expertise and experience to diagnosis, manage, and treat your hair loss and its symptoms.

They take a multidisciplinary approach to your treatment, working directly with your care team to provide seamless, comprehensive care to address any underlying health conditions and help you find relief so you can get back to your life.

Types of hair loss disorders

Most hair loss disorders fall into two main types. These include:

Scarring alopecia. Scarring types of hair loss occur when your hair follicles are destroyed, often resulting in permanent hair loss. This could be caused by inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, or from damage to the skin.
Nonscarring alopecia. With nonscarring types of hair loss, the hair follicle is not destroyed, resulting in a high chance of hair regrowth. This type of hair loss is often the result of stress, genetics, health conditions, or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy.

Symptoms of hair loss disorders

Most hair loss disorders do not have symptoms outside of hair loss or growth. However, because scarring alopecia is often due to inflammation or injury, you may experience burning, itchiness, pain, redness, or bleeding in addition to the hair loss.

How hair loss disorders are diagnosed

Most hair loss disorders can be diagnosed by simply reviewing your medical and family history and conducting a physical examination. If your provider suspects your hair disorder is due to an underlying condition, they may order blood tests or a scalp biopsy to confirm.

Treatments for hair loss disorders

UI Health Care dermatologists offer the latest pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatments for hair loss disorders. As an academic medical center, our experts are committed to researching new, effective treatments for hair loss disorders, so you’ll have access to the latest treatment options.

Treatments vary depending on the type and underlying cause of your hair loss disorder. Our dermatologists will work with your care team, as needed, to determine and treat the underlying cause of your hair disorder to help prevent or reduce symptoms.

Hair loss disorder treatments

Minoxidil (Rogaine), topical and oral forms
5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride/Propecia, dutasteride)
JAK inhibitors (eg, baricitinib/Olumiant, ritlecitinib/Litfulo)

Corticosteroids
Anti-inflammatories