- Dr Suhail Alam
- Reading Time: 8 Mins
Hair loss is something we’ll all deal with at different stages of our lives. While it can be a sign of ageing, hair loss at the temples can cause a major hit to your self-confidence. Other lifestyle factors and health symptoms, such as a compromised immune system, can also result in a receding hairline.
Male pattern baldness is why most men experience hair loss at the temples that go beyond normal age-related hairline recession. Female pattern baldness has similar symptoms, including hair loss at the temples.
Other conditions like traction alopecia and alopecia areata can also result in hair loss. If caught in the early stage, this hair loss is usually reversible. Our hair loss specialist, Dr Suhail Alam, offers comprehensive and innovative hair rejuvenation treatments.
Book a free online hair loss assessment to explore the different types of hair loss and determine a treatment plan to prevent further hair loss.
Key Takeaways for Thinning Hair
- Excessive hair loss can have a negative impact on your mental health. Noticing your hair loss early can allow you to start treatment to prevent a receding hairline and further baldness. Male and female pattern hair loss are the likely reason why you’re experiencing hair loss at the temples.
- Other conditions like androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and thyroid problems can also result in thinning. A hair loss specialist is best placed to consider your hair loss and other symptoms to determine the best treatment for you.
Table of Contents
What Causes Temple Hair Loss
Temple hair loss is usually the first sign of more widespread hair loss. Conditions like male pattern baldness, traction alopecia, and telogen effluvium can cause the follicles to break or stop growing. Frontal fibrosing alopecia is another condition to consider. While it’s less common, it’s often related to eyebrow loss, as well as temple hair loss. Frontal fibrosing alopecia results in permanent damage to the follicles, preventing further hair growth.
Male Pattern Baldness
People assigned male at birth are more likely to lose hair as they age. 16% of men aged 18 to 29 experience moderate to extensive hair loss. This stat jumps to 53% for men aged 40 to 49. Genetics account for 80% of cases of male pattern baldness. It typically starts at the temples and moves towards the crown, creating a ring of bald hair.
Androgenetic alopecia is the gradual thinning that occurs when hair follicles become sensitive to male hormones called androgens, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The hair follicle gradually becomes shorter and finer until it stops growing entirely. It’s the most common cause of hair loss in men, with hair loss at the temples being an early indicator.
Female Pattern Baldness

Female baldness differs from its male counterpart as hair loss occurs anywhere on the scalp, usually starting at the temples or parting line. While men are more likely to go bald across their entire scalp, many women typically experience extreme hair shedding.
This increased hair shedding falls into three categories for women:
Stage 1: Slight hair thinning at the crown with the central parting beginning to widen. However, hair loss is minimal and not immediately noticeable. Avoiding wearing your hair in tight buns and exploring treatment options at these early stages can deliver the most effective results.
Stage 2: Hair thinning becomes more noticeable with a widening central parting. The hair follicles thin across the crown. You can choose from a few treatments at this stage to help promote hair growth and slow down this type of hair loss.
Stage 3: Advanced stage with female temple hair loss evident throughout the top of the head. This thinning hair is more significant with less volume. It’s essential to seek treatment at this stage to maintain the remaining healthy hair and prevent additional hair loss.
Secondary Factors of Temple Hair Loss
Other factors can also contribute to hair loss. Our endocrine system and conditions like diffuse alopecia areata can also result in diffuse thinning hair at the temples. There are four common secondary factors to look for if your hair loss is not the result of androgenetic alopecia.
Stress
Have you ever heard of someone’s hair falling out because of stress? It’s a real condition known as telogen effluvium. It typically results in patches of hair loss, hair thinning, and hair shedding. This usually takes up to 6 months to develop after the period of stress or extreme shock.
Lifestyle
A healthy diet is crucial for maintaining overall hair health. Ensure that your diet is rich in necessary vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein to prevent temple hair loss.
Hairstyles
Tight hairstyles can result in what’s known as traction alopecia, causing the follicle to break or fall out. Over time, traction alopecia can result in bald spots that may appear around the temples. However, tractional alopecia is usually treatable as it’s only temporal hair loss.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Blood tests can help determine if any health conditions or your immune system is impacting the way your hair grows. Nutritional defences, including iron, might be the cause of your temple hair loss.
Hormonal Changes in Females
Hair loss can also occur as the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause. Oestrogen and progesterone help control the health of your hair. When these levels drop, they result in the hair follicle shrinking and potentially falling out. Postnatal hair loss is common as a result.
Female Hair Loss at Temples
Female hair loss can occur at various points in a woman’s life, often as the result of hormonal changes. While female baldness is not as common as its male counterpart, it’s still one of the most likely causes outside of pregnancy and menopause-related symptoms. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome can also be a cause.
Treatments for Temple Hair Loss

At Aventus Clinic, we offer a range of treatments for thinning hair that are alternatives to hair restoration surgery or a hair transplant. Our hair loss expert, Dr Suhail Alam, will recommend the most suitable way to treat temple hair loss based on your symptoms and family history. Other options like hair extensions, adopting new styling techniques, and scalp micropigmentation can help conceal this type of hair loss. Our board certified dermatologist and hair loss experts will create a tailored treatment plan.
PRP Hair Loss Treatment
PRP hair loss treatment (platelet rich plasma) works to stimulate hair growth by drawing a small sample of your blood and separating the platelets before injecting them into your scalp to trigger the hair follicles to grow and regenerate.
This non-surgical treatment accelerates the body’s healing process and is clinically proven to reduce further hair loss, improve hair growth density, and increase the diameter of the hair. It’s one of the most popular treatments for a receding hairline and male pattern hair loss.
Medication for Hair Loss
If non-surgical treatment isn’t right for you, a medication for hair loss may be the best alternative. Minoxidil and Finasteride are two FDA-approved treatments with high success rates, suitable for both men and women, with minimal side effects. This medication is just like taking a daily supplement and can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.
Minoxidil can be applied directly to the scalp to prevent thinning hair by promoting hair regrowth and increasing hair density. Finasteride can also treat temple hair loss by inhibiting the hormone responsible for hair loss, promoting new hair growth.
Laser Hair Regrowth
Treat hair loss in just a few treatments with laser hair regrowth therapy. This FDA-approved treatment is ideal for those in the early stages of hair loss. It utilises low-intensity laser light to stimulate hair growth as the light energy is absorbed by the hair follicle, promoting cellular activity that improves hair density, creates thicker hair, and prevents patchy hair loss.
We typically recommend 3 to 6 laser hair treatments, each between 30 to 60 minutes, to achieve the best results. Our team will recommend whether red light therapy is suitable for your shedding phase and hair loss.
Book Your Free Hair Loss Assessment
Get expert advice and a personalised treatment plan from a hair loss specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I losing hair follicles at my temples?
Men and women can experience hair loss at the temples due to several conditions, including hypothyroidism, androgenic alopecia, and traction alopecia. Male and female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) are often the most common reasons. However, factors like hormonal imbalances, extreme stress, and iron deficiency can result in the loss of hair follicles.
Can stress cause temple hair loss?
It's a common misconception that male pattern baldness is caused by stress. Instead, it's largely a genetic condition. However, thinning hair can be a temporary side effect of stress as part of a condition known as 'telogen effluvium'.
About the Author
Dr Suhail Alam
Dr Alam is devoted to providing high quality, holistic, patient centred care designed to make patients look and feel their best. He has a specialist interest in Hair Restoration Surgery and Regenerative Medicine.