Alopecia (Hair Loss)

Alopecia simply means hair loss. Doctors use different names depending on the cause and pattern:

• Alopecia areata, which the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases describes as a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss, usually in patches on the head and face.
• Androgenetic alopecia, common male or female pattern hair loss.
• Chemotherapy-induced alopecia, usually temporary, but permanent in some patients.
• Scarring alopecia, where inflammation destroys follicles and hair cannot regrow.
• Traction and chemical damage from tight styles, relaxers, or harsh products.

Hair loss drives several kinds of lawsuits, and the cause matters for each:

• Drug claims. The prescribing information for the chemotherapy drug docetaxel (Taxotere) lists permanent alopecia among reported adverse reactions, and thousands of breast cancer survivors have sued over permanent hair loss.
• Consumer product claims. Class actions have alleged that certain shampoos, conditioners, and smoothing treatments caused hair loss, scalp irritation, and breakage.
• Hair relaxers. Chemical relaxers can cause burns and hair loss, and are also the subject of separate cancer lawsuits.

For any claim, documentation matters: dated photos before and after, receipts or packaging for products used, and a dermatologist's diagnosis identifying the type of alopecia. See our pages on the shampoo hair loss lawsuit, the hair relaxer cancer lawsuit, and hair dye cancer claims. This page is general information, not medical advice.