Several things can cause pubic hair loss, including aging, hormonal changes, and underlying conditions requiring treatment. If you’ve suddenly lost a large amount of pubic hair, talk with a healthcare professional.
Losing hair from any part of your body can be stressful, whether it’s a sudden loss or a loss over time. We’ll explore the number of conditions that can cause pubic hair loss and their treatments.
If you’re losing a large amount of pubic hair, chances are it’s a symptom of an underlying condition. The best way to identify the condition behind the hair loss is to consult with your doctor. Here are some causes of pubic hair loss:
Aging
As you age, your pubic hair, just like the hair on your head, will naturally start to thin and turn grey. Part of the aging process includes hair loss and the slowing of the rate of hair growth. Typically, hair in the armpits, chest, and pubic region will start to thin and turn grey later than scalp hair.
Hormones
When the Adrenal glands do not produce enough of certain hormones, it’s called an adrenal insufficiency. If Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) production from the adrenal glands is lowered, one of the symptoms could be a loss of pubic hair.
DHEA deficiency can affect both men and women and, for some, may be treated with DHEA supplements.
Alopecia areata
If you have the autoimmune disease Alopecia areata, your body’s immune system forms autoantibodies that attack your hair follicles, causing your hair to fall out. If all of your scalp hair follicles are affected, leading to total baldness of the scalp, it’s referred to as alopecia totalis. If all of your body hair, including your pubic hair, is affected, leading to complete hair loss, it’s called alopecia universalis. Alopecia affects both men and women.
Although there’s no cure for autoimmune alopecia, your doctor will try to block the immune system’s attack and stimulate new hair growth with treatments such as:
- topical corticosteroids
- injectable corticosteroids
- oral corticosteroids
- anthralin cream
- topical minoxidil
- immunotherapy, including the application of diphencyprone (DPCP), dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE)
- immunomodulators to modify the immune system’s response, such as tofacitinib and ruxolitinib
Other conditions
Other conditions that can result in the loss of pubic hair include:
- cirrhosis of the liver
- treatment for certain cancers such as leukemia
- Addison’s disease
Medications
Hair loss can be a side effect of certain medications. This type of hair loss is mostly temporary. Some medications that can damage hair follicles and disrupt the normal hair growth cycle include:
- Certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and irradiation therapy
- blood thinners (anticoagulants), such as warfarin and heparin
- beta blockers to lower blood pressure and heart rate, such as metoprolol and atenolol
- gout medication, such as allopurinol
- ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), such as lisinopril and enalapril
- female hormones, including birth control pills
- male hormones, such as testosterone
- antidepressants, such as amoxapine and paroxetine
- Anticonvulsants, such as trimethadione and valproic acid
As you age, your pubic hair will thin naturally. If you’re losing large amounts of pubic hair and you don’t think it’s attributable to aging, it could be the symptom of a serious condition. Make an appointment with your doctor so they can diagnose the underlying condition and recommend treatment.
