How to Repair Damaged Hair Follicles

Various conditions can harm hair follicles and even cause long-lasting follicular damage, including male pattern baldness and common bacterial and fungal infections. 

This damage can sometimes permanently affect your hair follicles and stop them from growing new hairs. Fortunately, in many cases, this damage can be repaired.

Damage can occur from breakage, weak keratin in the hair shaft, thinning hair, and other causes. The options you have for repair—and how many options you have—will depend on the underlying cause of the damage.

Below, learn how hair follicle damage can occur and how it can affect your hairline. Plus, discover what you can do to protect and repair your damaged hair follicles for thicker, healthier, and better-looking hair.

Hair follicles are small, tunnel-like holes inside your skin from which hair grows. They’re located in many parts of your body, including your scalp, face, neck, torso, arms, and legs. Just take a look—you don’t need a microscope to see them.

Follicles vary in size and depth. The hair follicles on your scalp, which grow long, terminal hairs, extend deep into the lower layers of your skin. Other hair follicles, which produce thinner vellus hairs, extend a smaller distance into your skin.

There are approximately 100,000 hair follicles on your scalp alone. Each one produces hairs as part of a multi-stage hair growth cycle, during which each hair develops from the bulb of the follicle and grows to its full length.

Because your hair follicles play such a vital role in the hair growth process, anything that damages them can seriously affect the health and appearance of your hair. 

That’s why keeping your hair follicles as healthy as possible—and addressing any damage—is so important.

Damage to hair follicles can affect your hair’s growth and cause issues such as hair loss. But how can you tell if your follicles are struggling?

Here are some damaged hair follicle symptoms you might notice: 

• Hair loss. For most people, the most obvious sign of hair follicle damage is hair loss. As your follicles become damaged, they may stop growing new hairs, resulting in a receding hairline, a bald spot at your crown (the area at the top of your head), or diffuse thinning.

• Irritated skin. This isn’t always a sign of follicle damage, but some conditions that damage your hair follicles may cause your skin to become irritated, itchy, and/or uncomfortable.

Damage can be temporary or permanent, and it can disappear on its own or require medical treatment. If the damage is permanent, it can lead to dead follicles.

How to Know if a Hair Follicle is Dead

It can be hard to spot the signs of dead hair follicles. Typically, you won’t notice until after the approximate time of one hair growth cycle. 

A dead follicle will stop producing hair entirely, so the main sign of a dead follicle is the absence of hair growth after more than a year.

If you have certain types of hair loss, like scarring alopecia, you might also see scarring and irritation where the follicle used to be.

Several issues can affect your hair follicles, such as hormonal and genetic conditions like male pattern baldness, infections, inflammatory conditions, and even physical damage from certain styling products, hairstyles, or treatments.

Here are some of the top causes of hair follicle damage.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis—AKA inflamed follicles—is an infection that develops in damaged hair follicles and is caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. 

Folliculitis can affect just the superficial part of the follicle or, in the case of deep folliculitis, everything down to the hair’s root.

It can affect hair follicles anywhere on your body, including your scalp and face.

Many cases of folliculitis are caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria, which can enter your hair follicles when they’re damaged. Viruses or fungi can cause folliculitis too, but it’s less frequent.

Common factors that can lead to folliculitis include using a hot tub (especially one that has not been properly maintained), wearing tight sports clothing, shaving or waxing your hair, and using certain types of medication.

Most of the time, folliculitis is a temporary problem that gets better on its own. However, severe forms of folliculitis, such as folliculitis decalvans, can cause scarring and permanent hair loss.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a form of hair loss caused by a mix of genetic factors and the effects of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Your body creates DHT as a byproduct of testosterone. Over time, DHT can bind to receptors in your scalp and, if you’re predisposed to male pattern baldness, can cause your hair follicles to shrink and stop producing new hair.

The classic signs of hair loss from DHT are a receding hairline, visible hair thinning around your crown, and excessive hair shedding.

Hair follicle damage from DHT is largely irreversible, meaning it’s important to act quickly if you experience this form of hair loss.

Learn more about the effects of this hormone on your hair in our complete guide to DHT and male pattern baldness.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss caused by friction or too much physical strain on your hair. 

For instance, when your hair is pulled repeatedly, either by an overly tight hairstyle or by styling products that pull on the roots of your hair, it can cause follicular damage and traction alopecia.

Hairstyles that can lead to traction alopecia include dreadlocks, cornrows, and other styles that constantly apply tension to your hair follicles.

Over time, this prolonged tension can loosen the hair from the follicle, cause inflammation, and result in scar tissue.

Traction alopecia can affect people from all ethnic groups and backgrounds, although it’s most common in people of African descent.

Our guide to traction alopecia treatments provides more information about this form of follicular damage and its effects on your hair.

Fungal Infections (Tinea Capitis)

Fungal infections such as tinea capitis (scalp ringworm or scalp fungus) can penetrate your hair follicles and affect your hair’s ability to grow.

Mild fungal scalp infections can cause temporary hair shedding. However, fungal infections can become severe and cause your skin to become inflamed, which can lead to permanent scarring and hair loss.

Fungal scalp infections are most common in children and teenagers, but they can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Because fungal infections can lead to permanent hair follicle damage, it’s essential to treat this type of infection as quickly as possible after you notice symptoms.

Other Conditions

Numerous other conditions can cause cicatricial alopecia—a form of permanent hair loss caused by damage to your hair follicles.

These include inflammatory conditions such as lichen planopilaris, alopecia mucinosa, discoid lupus erythematosus, and acne keloidalis.

Other conditions may temporarily affect your hair follicles. For example, telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss that can occur as a result of chronic stress, illness, surgery, nutritional issues, trauma, and certain types of medication.

While telogen effluvium symptoms may cause your hair follicles to shed hair prematurely, it isn’t known to cause long-term follicular damage.

Because so many issues can have an effect on your hair follicles, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you notice any potential signs of follicular damage.

Can damaged hair follicles be repaired? Yes, but it’s important to act quickly.

Long-term exposure to damaging hormones or inflammation can permanently damage your hair follicles and, in some cases, prevent them from growing new hairs.

Put simply, the longer you wait to treat hair follicle damage, the harder it becomes to reverse its effects and protect your hair.

Because damage to hair follicles can occur for a variety of reasons, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment that can protect your hair against all damage.

However, the following tips on how to repair hair follicles can help shield your hair from most follicular damage and help you sustain healthy hair growth.

Use Finasteride

Finasteride is a medication for male pattern baldness. It works by preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT. This lowers DHT levels throughout your body and protects your follicles from the DHT-related damage that causes hair loss.

If you’re starting to develop a receding hairline, bald patch, or other early signs of male pattern baldness, finasteride is a very effective treatment. When used correctly, it will help stop your hair loss and prevent further damage.

Because finasteride only protects against DHT, it isn’t effective against fungal infections or other conditions that cause scarring hair loss.

Our guide to finasteride results covers more about how finasteride works and what you can expect after you start using this medication.

You can access finasteride online after a consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.

Apply Minoxidil to Your Scalp

Minoxidil is a topical medication that stimulates hair growth. It works by moving hairs into the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair growth cycle and increasing blood flow to your scalp.

Can minoxidil revive dead follicles? No. And while minoxidil doesn’t appear to treat damaged hair follicles, it can improve hair growth and give your hair a thicker, denser appearance. Research shows it’s particularly effective for hair growth when used with finasteride.

Hims offers minoxidil online as either minoxidil liquid or minoxidil foam. You can also get minoxidil with other proven hair growth products in our Hair Power Pack.

Enjoy a Scalp Massage

Scalp massage is a natural and effective way to promote follicular repair. Massaging your scalp stimulates blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients that nourish hair follicles. 

If you can, try to spend five to 10 minutes every day massaging your scalp with your fingertips or a scalp massager—or ask your partner to help.

While more research is needed, you could also combine scalp massage with oils that may promote hair growth, like:

• Rosemary oil. Thought to improve hair thickness and reduce hair loss.

• Peppermint oil. Encourages blood flow and soothes inflammation.

• Castor oil. Rich in fatty acids that hydrate the scalp and strengthen hair.

Avoid Tight Hairstyles

In some cases, the best way to fix damaged follicles is to avoid damaging them in the first place. 

If you wear your hair in cornrows, dreadlocks, a man bun, or slicked back across your scalp, your hairstyle may damage your hair follicles.

To ease pressure on your hair follicles, try switching to a hairstyle that puts less stress on the roots of your hair. 

Avoid strong-hold gels, waxes, and other styling products, as these may tug on your hair and contribute to damage. 

Making these changes before damage starts will help keep your hair healthy and strong.

Hydrate and Moisturize Your Scalp

A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. Scalp dryness can lead to irritation and flaking, affecting follicular function. 

Use moisturizing shampoos and conditioners formulated for dry or sensitive scalps. Ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and coconut oil can provide hydration and soothe irritation.

Additionally, apply a weekly scalp mask or treatment to nourish your scalp and protect your follicles from environmental stressors.

Treat Fungal Infections Before They Spread

Fungal infections, such as ringworm, jock itch, and athlete’s foot, can potentially spread to your scalp when they’re left untreated.

If you notice any of the signs of a fungal infection (like itchy, red skin, a rash, or bumps), it’s essential to get treated as early as possible, especially if your scalp is already affected.

Most fungal infections can be treated with topical medication. When an infection is severe or doesn’t respond to topical treatments, you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about oral antifungal medication.

For tinea capitis, you’ll typically need to use an oral antifungal medication, such as griseofulvin, itraconazole, or fluconazole, for several weeks to clear the infection.

Your healthcare provider may also recommend using an antifungal shampoo to stop the fungal infection from spreading elsewhere on your body.

Make sure to finish your entire course of medication, even if your symptoms improve during the first few weeks. This will help prevent the infection from coming back.

Wash Your Scalp to Remove Buildup

Regularly washing your hair isn’t just important for your hair’s look, smell, and texture—it also helps keep your scalp and hair follicles healthy by preventing sebum, germs, dead skin cells, and other unwanted substances from building up.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your hair based on the amount of oil your scalp produces.

You may need to wash your hair daily if you have an oily scalp. If your scalp is dry, or if you have chemically treated hair that dries out quickly, you may benefit from washing your hair every few days.

To keep your scalp and hair in optimal condition, choose a shampoo formulated for hair growth, such as our Hair Thickening Shampoo, which contains saw palmetto.

Eat a Balanced, Hair-Friendly Diet

Currently, there isn’t scientific evidence to show that your diet plays a role in male pattern baldness or issues like folliculitis.

However, a balanced diet can help supply your hair follicles with essential nutrients for healthy hair growth.

Focus on the following key nutrients:

• Protein. Hair is made primarily of keratin, a protein. Get plenty of protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, tofu, beans, and lean meats.

• Biotin (vitamin B7). Found in nuts, seeds, sweet potatoes, and avocados, biotin supports keratin production. 

• Omega-3 fatty acids. These reduce inflammation and nourish the scalp. They’re found in salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

• Zinc. This nutrient promotes hair tissue growth and repair. Sources include pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and shellfish.

• Iron. Found in spinach, lentils, and red meat, iron enhances oxygen delivery to hair follicles. Pair plant-based iron sources with vitamin C from citrus, bell peppers, strawberries, or broccoli to boost absorption.

The best way to meet your nutritional needs is to eat a nutrient-dense diet full of a variety of foods. Check out our guide to the best foods for hair growth for more ideas.

Some hair growth supplements, such as our biotin gummy vitamins, may also help give your body the nutrients it needs to support optimal hair follicle function.

Try Low-Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses red or near-infrared light to stimulate hair follicles and promote regrowth. 

LLLT improves blood circulation and cellular activity in the scalp, creating an optimal environment for hair growth. It may be especially beneficial when combined with a hair loss medication like minoxidil.

Laser caps, combs, and helmets are widely available for home use.

Quit Smoking

Smoking damages blood vessels and arteries, reducing blood flow to hair follicles and depriving them of essential nutrients. 

For example, research shows a connection between smoking and several different forms of hair loss, including male pattern baldness and frontal fibrosing alopecia, or scarring hair loss.

Quitting smoking not only benefits your overall health but also supports healthier hair growth.

Manage Your Stress

Chronic stress disrupts the hair growth cycle, pushing hair follicles into a resting phase. Stress-related hair loss, such as telogen effluvium, can cause noticeable shedding. 

Practice stress-management techniques like: 

• Meditation

• Yoga

• Breathing exercises

• Spending time in nature

• Walking

• Journaling

• Connecting with family and friends 

Protect Your Hair From Environmental Damage

UV rays, pollution, and harsh weather can weaken hair and scalp health, especially in hair that’s already damaged. Protect your hair by:

• Wearing a hat when exposed to the sun for extended periods.

• Using hair products with UV protection.

• Rinsing your hair after swimming in chlorinated pools or salt water to remove residue.

These lifestyle changes not only help improve your hair health—they also offer other benefits for your overall health and wellbeing.

Hair follicles can be sensitive and may experience damage. Want to repair damaged hair follicles? Here’s how: 

• Identify and address damage ASAP. Hair follicles can be damaged by issues like male pattern baldness, fungal infections (tinea capitis), or inflammation and infection (folliculitis). Recognizing the signs early is crucial for effective repair and prevention.

• Take action. Responding quickly when you notice signs of follicular damage increases your chances of protecting and restoring your hair health. Early intervention is key to successful outcomes.

• Use proven treatments and lifestyle changes. Our range of hair loss treatments includes several science-backed medications that can treat and prevent follicular damage, including finasteride and minoxidil. Improving your everyday habits—like nutrition, stress management, and diet—and practicing gentle haircare are also essential.

For personalized guidance on hair loss and other men’s hair issues, start by taking our free online quiz and get connected to a licensed healthcare professional.