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Alopecia: Change misconceptions

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Photograph of a person carrying a potted plant. Text over image: Alopecia: Change misconceptions. Get Care. Explore well-being.
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Get care
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#11
Get care for alopecia
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Explore well-being
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https://www.lilly.com/find-care/well-being/condition/dermatology
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QUICK LINKS
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Real-world photo library
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#library
Learn about diagnosis
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#diagnosis
Explore treatment and trials
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#treatment
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Hair loss is what you see. Alopecia is what you may be
living with.

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Alopecia is an unpredictable condition which causes hair loss in people of all ages and backgrounds. It can be small patches or even complete loss of hair. Hair helps protect our bodies by keeping us warm or protecting sensitive areas like our eyes from dust, senses changes in our environment, and plays a big role in how we express ourselves and feel about our identity.
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KNOW YOUR TYPE

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Alopecia has many causes.

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Sometimes alopecia is linked to your genes or immune system. Other times, it’s triggered by stress, illness, or hormones. There are many different types of alopecia.

Some examples include:
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Photograph of androgenetic alopecia on the scalp.

Androgenetic alopecia

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The most common type, also known as male- or female-pattern baldness, where hair thins gradually.
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Photograph of alopecia areata on the scalp.

Alopecia areata

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The second most common type, causing patchy hair loss that can come and go.
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Photograph of scarring alopecia on the scalp.

Scarring alopecia

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A rare type that can cause permanent hair loss due to damage to the hair follicles.
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This is not an exhaustive list of types of alopecia. Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors and conditions and would need to be treated accordingly. It is important to understand your symptoms and speak to a doctor.
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Images used with permission from DermNet (©2025DermNet)
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REAL-WORLD PHOTO LIBRARY

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Alopecia symptoms can look different for everyone.

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Use the filters below to view images by different skin tones and body locations.
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All images copyrighted by VisualDx and all rights reserved (visualdx.com). These images are provided and vetted by VisualDx for educational purposes only. They should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Please consult your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

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Experiencing symptoms? Find care

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Explore independent in-person and virtual care options
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Virtual care
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https://www.lilly.com/find-care/telehealth/dermatology
Get virtual care for alopecia
In-person care
link
https://www.lilly.com/find-care/in-person-care?condition=alopecia-areata
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How is alopecia
diagnosed?

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Diagnosing alopecia involves a few different steps and tests to figure out the type of hair loss and what’s causing it. Below are typical steps in the process.
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Medical history
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Your doctor will want to know when your hair loss started, low long it’s been happening, and if anyone in your family has had similar issues.
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Your doctor will want to know when your hair loss started, how long it’s been happening, and if anyone in your family has had similar issues.
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Physical exam
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Your doctor will check how much hair you’ve lost, whether your eyebrows or eyelashes are affected, and how the hair loss is impacting your life. This may include a hair pull test and scalp exam.
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Your doctor will check how much hair you’ve lost, whether your eyebrows or eyelashes are affected, and how the hair loss is impacting your life. This may include a hair pull test and scalp exam.
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Blood tests
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Your doctor may do blood tests to help identify if there are any underlying medical conditions causing the hair loss. Blood tests can check for things like iron deficiency, thyroid issues, or signs of autoimmune diseases.
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Your doctor may do blood tests to help identify if there are any underlying medical conditions causing the hair loss. Blood tests can check for things like iron deficiency, thyroid issues, or signs of autoimmune diseases.
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Additional tests
(if needed)
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Your doctor may recommend additional tests, like a scalp biopsy if needed.
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Your doctor may recommend additional tests, like a scalp biopsy if needed.
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TALK TO A DOCTOR

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Talk to a dermatologist about alopecia

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Living with alopecia is hard enough. Finding a specialist should be easy.
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Get independent virtual care

Cortina Health connects you with board-certified dermatologists experienced in over 3,000 skin conditions.

  • Cost: Insurance is not accepted at this time. FSA/HSA accepted.
  • Quick Access: Appointments available within 2 days, on average.
  • Expert Care: Access U.S. board-certified dermatologists nationwide.
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Connect now
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https://www.cortinahealth.com/signin?callbackurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cortinahealth.com%2faccount&partner_code=eli-lilly&signup=true&utm_source=lilly&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ue-condition&utm_content=alopecia-care-connect-now
Connect now with independent virtual care provider Cortina Health (link to external website)
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Learn more
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/find-care/telehealth/dermatology
Learn more about independent virtual care provider Cortina Health
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Get independent in-person care

Healthgrades is an independent search tool. Search for care by what matters most to you.

Filter by:

  • Insurance
  • Specialty
  • Distance
  • And more!
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Search now
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/find-care/in-person-care?condition=alopecia-areata
Search for independent in-person care providers
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TREATMENT AND TRIALS

Alopecia is more than just hair loss. Discover FDA-approved treatment options.

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There are different types of treatments currently available depending on the type of alopecia you are diagnosed with and could include ointments or creams, tablets, capsules, or injections. Talk to your doctor about what's right for you.
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Explore a Lilly medicine
link
https://olumiant.lilly.com/alopecia-areata?utm_source=lilly&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ue-condition&utm_content=alopecia-treatment-lilly-medicine
Explore a Lilly medicine for severe alopecia areata
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Find clinical trial opportunities that may be a good fit

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More people participating in clinical trials could potentially make way for medical discoveries in the future.
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Explore trials
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https://trials.lilly.com/en-us/find?condition=alopecia%20areata%20(hair%20loss)&x_st=1&utm_source=lilly&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ue-condition&utm_content=alopecia-empower-clinical-trials
Explore alopecia areata clinical trials
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WELL-BEING

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Health is more than
a prescription

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Taking your medicine is important and so is taking care of your overall health. That's why Lilly's well-being library has science-backed resources on sleep, food, movement, connection, and stress management for those living with dermatologic conditions.
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All Pillars
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Connection
Connection
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Movement
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Stress Management
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