What should you know about covering bald spots?

Patchy hair loss describes the visible result rather than a single diagnosis. Alopecia areata may produce smooth round or oval areas. Scalp ringworm can cause scale, itching, inflammation, or hairs that break close to the skin. Traction from tight styles, hair-pulling, and scarring disorders are other possibilities. Because treatment differs, a clinician may inspect the scalp, hair shafts, and surrounding skin before recommending a cosmetic solution.

You can try a new parting, a gentle haircut, tinted scalp powder, hair fibres, a head covering, or a wig. Use clean tools, avoid sharing brushes, and remove products before sleep if the scalp feels irritated. Do not disguise scale, oozing, or inflamed skin with adhesive pieces. Treatment should address the cause first when infection or active inflammation is possible. A Hair Transplant may be considered only for selected stable hair-loss patterns after specialist review.

Seek assessment if the patch is enlarging, several patches appear, or the scalp is painful, scaly, crusted, swollen, or tender. Prompt review is especially useful when broken hairs or nail changes accompany the loss. Seek urgent advice if there is spreading redness, pus, fever, or marked swelling.

What examination or test can identify the cause? Are my styling habits contributing? Which cover is least likely to irritate the scalp? When would a restorative procedure be appropriate?