Bald Spot on Crown: How to Fix It

The crown – or the centre of your scalp towards the top and back – is one of the common areas affected by hair loss, typically pattern hair loss, although hair thinning and baldness can also be due to myriad other factors.

Discovering a bald spot, whether you are male or female, can be distressing, and although most people initially see a thinning area that develops into a bald spot, it is natural to want to take action before hair loss progresses any further.

While pattern hair loss in men, also known as androgenetic alopecia [1], more typically begins around the temple and hairline, it remains possible to see balding to the crown. This is also a possible sign of female pattern hair loss, which often starts with general thinning before affecting the crown.

If you have noticed a bald spot or feel that thinning is likely to develop into a bald spot, the best solution is to contact the crown hair transplant specialists at KSL Clinic to review all of the potential options, solutions, and treatments.

Managing Hair Loss and Balding at the Crown

Baldness and hair loss are very broad-scope terms, and in reality, the emergence of a bald spot towards your crown might look different between two people – for example, you might experience:

• Initial hair loss at the crown that increases over time.
• Smaller bald spots at or near the crown that widen.
• Gradual increases in the size of your parting.
• A receding hairline coupled with thinning at the crown.

Crown hair loss is most often attributed to female or male pattern baldness, and the progression of hair loss is usually easiest to track when styling or brushing your hair when you can use a mirror to get a better idea about whether you do indeed have a bald spot.

It’s worth noting that male pattern baldness is very common and impacts as many as 50% of men by the age of 50. Around 80% of the cases of male pattern baldness are linked to a genetic predisposition, so if other family members have balding or hair loss, this is more likely to occur. [2]

However, a less commonly understood aspect is that hair loss at the crown can also affect women, with roughly 40% of women seeing some degree of hair loss or thinning by age 50. [3]

Hair loss at the crown can affect either gender, although having hair loss only on or around the crown affects a larger proportion of women since male pattern hair loss generally begins at the temples. [4]

Potential Causes of Balding at the Crown

As we’ve seen, most crown hair loss is due to pattern hair loss, but there are also other factors that could impact the likelihood of developing a bald spot or the extent and severity of hair loss:

• Hormones can directly impact the health of your hair, and changes to your general health, age or hormonal changes postpartum for women can contribute to thinning hair and hair loss. [5]
• Stress, depression and other mental health conditions can influence the growth of your hair, including some less common conditions where tugging or pulling at the hair as a physical symptom of stress can cause hair loss. [6]
• Traction alopecia is caused by very tight, restrictive hairstyles or headgear, and people who wear safety helmets or other protection that rubs, abrades or constricts their head could see hair loss as a side effect. [7]

Dr Matee, the Director of Surgical Services at KSL Clinic, advises that ‘Baldness and hair loss at the crown can occur due to varied factors, and our experienced hair restoration teams can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, therapies and hair transplant procedures to ensure your hairline meets your expectations.

Booking a consultation promptly is advisable since it is important to plan treatments at the optimal time before hair loss is too extensive to make a transplant viable, but without pre-empting hair loss that is likely to continue, meaning further procedures may be necessary.’

How to Fix a Bald Spot at the Crown of Your Head

Opting for gentle grooming, healthy nutrition and trying medications to slow pattern hair loss can be beneficial, as can several treatments offered by all of the KSL Clinic practices nationwide.

Laser therapies, an innovative rejuvenation process called platelet-rich plasma therapy, or a full FUE hair transplant completed as a walk-in/walk-out minimally invasive procedure could all be possible solutions.

If you’re concerned about crown hair loss, unsure of the right approaches to prevent balding, or want to review all of the potential resolutions to restore your hair to your desired appearance, please book a consultation with your preferred clinic location, and we’ll be happy to offer more tailored recommendations, at no cost or obligation.