I'm Worried About Hair Loss After Hitting My Head'

Ben

Question: I had an accident the other week and hit my head quite badly. I've got a large egg-shaped bump at the front of my hairline that's really bruised - I'm not so worried about the bruising but will banging my head make me lose my hair? Part of the lump is hidden by my hair so I'm worried about getting a receding hairline.

Answer: Hi Ben. Sorry to hear about your accident, we hope you're otherwise ok.

Footballer Ricardo Carvalho After a Knock to the Head

There are actually two separate points here - hitting your head causing hair loss and whether it could lead to a receding hairline - so we'll address these in order.

Any kind of head trauma, such as a knock or hitting it hard enough to cause the kind of lump you describe, may cause hair loss - but probably not the kind you are thinking of. This type of sudden shock can cause the hair follicles to temporarily halt production, leading to a condition called Alopecia Areata. This presents as patchy hair loss, often circular or oval in shape, and can appear anywhere on the scalp - not just in the injured area.

Alopecia is actually an autoimmune condition and, where it is triggered by extreme shock or injury, the hair tends to grow back naturally around 6-12 months after the incident took place. There are treatments for alopecia available which can help to spur on regrowth. Those based around daily use of high strength minoxidil, which is applied directly to the smooth patches of scalp where the hair has fallen out, have provided significant regrowth results for many Belgravia clients.

When the hair does start to grow back, it may initially lack pigment, making it appear as a pale or white streak, however it should regain its usual colour after a few hair growth cycles.

With regards to whether your accident could cause a receding hairline, this is unlikely but not impossible. A receding hairline is a classic sign of Male Pattern Baldness which is an hereditary hairloss condition and only affects those with a genetic predisposition. For those who are predisposed to male hair loss, head trauma or stress from an accident may spark the condition, or exacerbate any existing signs - such as a thinning crown, or, as you mention, a receding hairline.

So, if Male Pattern Hair Loss runs in your family, or if your hair was starting to thin or recede before your injury, the accident may cause this to worsen or speed up the rate of shedding. This can be addressed with the help of a hair loss specialist who will be able to diagnose your condition then recommend the most effective combination of male hair loss treatments and Hair Growth Boosters to help prevent further thinning and regrow your hair.