Mold Causes Hair Loss
Mold Allergies & Black Mold Cause Hair Loss
Exposure to any type of mold can cause hair loss in a person, including females and children, because of the allergic reaction mold causes in humans. Not only can hair loss be caused by mold allergies but the mycotoxins from toxic mold such as Stachybotrys chartarum (aka toxic black mold) may cause rapid hair loss in people.
How Mold Allergies Cause Hair Loss
The roots of a person's hair are nourished and fed by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. If the circulation to these blood vessels is disrupted the hair will not be properly nourished and it can fall out or break.
In an allergic reaction the human immune system responds to allergens by producing a chemical called histamine. The histamine causes inflammation which disrupts the blood flow in the capillaries. This can result in hair not being nourished and eventually a person can suffer hair loss and potentially baldness. Usually hair loss in this way would generally be in a diffuse pattern.
Other Allergies Cause Hair Loss
Not only an allergy to mold, but long term exposure to any substances which someone is allergic to can cause their hair to fall out. Besides mold spores, some other common indoor allergens that could be contributing to a person's hair loss are dust mite excretion, animal dander from pets and chemicals or biological enzymes in laundry powder. There are even chemicals in computer monitors and televisions which have been found to cause allergic reactions in some people.
Treatment for Hair Loss Caused by Mold
If you have experienced hair loss because of mold exposure then before you begin treatment you need to first make sure you are no longer in an environment where you are exposed to mold or mold spores. You should check your home and remove any mold as well as minimize mold spores. If it's practical, consider having your home tested for mold to be sure.
After this you should talk to a doctor or allergist who will prescribe you anti-fungal treatments. Such medications include nasal sprays, creams that can be applied directly to the scalp and oral medications.
Will Hair Grow Back?
Hair loss caused by mold exposure can be reversed. Although the regrowth might be slow, in most cases the hair will grow back once a person is no longer exposed to mold.
If you have lost hair from mold exposure you should fix the mold problem and talk to your doctor about treatments without delay for the best chance of maximum regrowth. Hair follicles which are dormant because of mold exposure can be regrown, however once a hair follicle dies you cannot get the hair back.
Hair Loss from Fungal Infections
Hair loss can also be caused by mold-like fungal infections such as ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). These fungal infections are caused by parasitic fungi called dermatophytes which infect the outer layer of a person's skin.
Fungal infections result in patchy hair loss, unlike hair loss caused by mold allergies which would generally be diffuse. The patches begin as a pimple or small sore, before turning into a red, itchy and flaky patch where the hair breaks or falls out. The scalp can become inflamed and tender and the skin might peel or scale. A rash might also develop.
These fungal infections are very contagious between people. Those people with weak immune systems are more at risk of being infected and it is also often the cause of hair loss in children. Fungal infections can also be caused from being around mold and exposure to mold spores.
Treatment for Fungal Infections
If you suffer from a fungal infection you should talk to a doctor about treatment, who may prescribe anti-fungal medications. Treatments for fungal infections include miconazole and terbinafine which are applied directly to the skin. Besides anti-fungal creams for the scalp, treatment might also be through anti-fungal nasal sprays or through oral medications. Once treated successfully, hair lost from fungal infections will usually grow back.