What should you know about hair loss in front of head?

A gradually widening hairline or thinning at the temples can fit male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss. Tight braids, extensions, weaves, or repeated pulling can affect the hairline through traction alopecia. A smooth, clearly defined patch may be a presentation of alopecia areata. Scaling, broken hairs, tenderness, or swollen areas can occur with scalp ringworm. Diffuse shedding after illness, major stress, or a body change may fit telogen effluvium, even when the front looks more noticeable.

Photograph the hairline in consistent light and note when the change began, whether it is spreading, and whether hairs are breaking or shedding from the root. Loosen styles that pull, vary your part, avoid harsh chemical processing, and handle wet hair gently. A clinician can examine the scalp and hair shafts, review medicines and recent health events, and decide whether testing or treatment is appropriate. Treatment depends on the cause; finasteride treatment is not suitable for everyone and needs a clinician's advice.

Arrange a prompt assessment if the loss is sudden or rapidly expanding, or if the scalp is painful, inflamed, crusted, draining, or intensely itchy. Seek care sooner when eyelashes or eyebrows are also affected, or when a child has patchy loss and scaling. These features can point to a condition needing targeted treatment rather than hair-care changes alone.

Could the distribution suggest pattern loss, traction, alopecia areata, infection, or temporary shedding? Do you see inflammation or broken hairs? Should medicines, nutrition, hormones, or recent illness be reviewed? Which treatment options fit my health history?