Hair Problems

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Images

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

The average person has 5 million hairs. Hair grows all over your body except on your lips, palms, and the soles of your feet. It takes about a month for healthy hair to grow half an inch. Most hairs grow for up to six years and then fall out. New hairs grow in their place.

Hair helps keep you warm. It also protects your eyes, ears and nose from small particles in the air. Common problem with the hair and scalp include hair loss, infections, and flaking.

Start Here

• Common Hair Problems (VisualDX)

Treatments and Therapies

• Laser Hair Removal (VisualDX)

Related Issues

• African-American Hair: Tips for Everyday Care (American Academy of Dermatology)
• Formaldehyde in Hair Smoothing Products: What You Should Know (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• Hair Dye and Hair Relaxers (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
• How to Stop Damaging Your Hair (American Academy of Dermatology)

Specifics

• Folliculitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Hirsutism (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Ingrown Hair (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Autosomal recessive hypotrichosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Keratoderma with woolly hair: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Monilethrix: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Uncombable hair syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Images

• Folliculitis (VisualDX)
• Hot Tub Rash (Pseudomonas Folliculitis) (VisualDX)
• Pilar Cyst (VisualDX)
• Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (VisualDX)

Statistics and Research

• How Stress Causes Gray Hair (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Dandruff (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Hair Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) in evaluation of subcutaneous lesions.
• Article: Development of Woolly Hair and Hairlessness in a CRISPR-Engineered Mutant Mouse...
• Hair Problems -- see more articles
• Article: Linear alopecia in pediatrics: RCM and dermoscopy reveal diagnostic cues.

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Dermatology
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

• Why Does Hair Turn Gray? (Nemours Foundation)
• Your Hair (Nemours Foundation)

Teenagers

• Removing Pubic Hair (For Young Women) (Boston Children's Hospital) Also in Spanish

Women

• Hirsutism (Endocrine Society)
• Hirsutism and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (American Society for Reproductive Medicine)

Patient Handouts

• Aging changes in hair and nails (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Dry hair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Excessive or unwanted hair in women (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Folliculitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Trichorrhexis nodosa (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish