Syphilis Hair Loss

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause a range of troubling symptoms and complications. Most of those symptoms occur during the secondary stage of syphilis (more on that later), which can occur if the primary stage isn’t adequately treated.

The good news is that secondary syphilis hair loss can be cured, just like syphilis itself.

Below, we’ll take a look at the symptoms of this STI. We’ll also explain more about secondary syphilis hair loss, also known as alopecia syphilitica or syphilitic alopecia, and how to treat both problems.

In short, yes. While syphilitic hair loss is an uncommon symptom, it can happen — especially if your syphilis is left untreated or if the infection isn’t thoroughly eradicated.

Let’s back up and do a quick sex-ed refresher. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by a bacteria called Treponema pallidum. 

It’s characterized by four different stages:

• Primary syphilis begins in the first three to four weeks after exposure. It’s characterized by chancres, which are painless, round, infectious lesions. 

• Secondary syphilis happens if you don’t treat syphilis during the primary stage. You might develop a rash and experience flu-like symptoms such as headaches, swollen lymph nodes, a fever, and aching muscles. 

• Latent syphilis is where the symptoms of syphilis disappear, but the bacteria remains in your body.

• Tertiary syphilis can occur years or decades after primary syphilis and can be life-threatening. It can cause blindness, hearing loss, heart disease, mental health conditions, and more. 

Hair loss is usually a manifestation of secondary syphilis. If you’re treated properly during the primary stage of syphilis, you likely won’t experience this type of hair loss.  

Interestingly, syphilis isn’t the only infection that causes hair loss. Any major infection or illness — especially those involving a fever — can cause telogen effluvium, a type of temporary hair loss. This happens when your body experiences some type of shock, which diverts nutrients and energy away from hair growth. 

What does syphilis hair loss look like? In secondary syphilis, scalp problems and hair loss can develop in a few ways. 

First, hair loss from syphilis affects more than just your scalp. It may also cause patchy hair loss on your beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes. 

It’s a form of nonscarring alopecia, meaning it doesn’t permanently damage hair follicles and can be reversed.

In some cases, it may not be obvious that your hair loss was triggered by syphilis. Syphilitic hair loss can be mistaken for:

• Alopecia areata

• Tinea capitis 

• Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disease)

• Other types of telogen effluvium

A 2022 review noted that syphilitic alopecia is hard to diagnose, even with a trichoscopic examination. In this exam, a dermatologist uses a microscopic view of your skin and hair follicles to diagnose the type of hair loss you’re experiencing.

According to the review, syphilitic hair loss can look like:

• Moth-eaten alopecia (spotted hair loss) 

• Diffuse hair loss or essential syphilitic alopecia (hair loss all over the scalp) 

• Mixed alopecia (a combination of the above) 

According to a 2013 case report, secondary syphilis scalp changes are more likely to look like moth-eaten alopecia rather than a diffuse pattern of hair loss. In addition, a 2024 case report noted that if an individual’s only symptom is moth-eaten alopecia, it’s important to recognize that this suggests secondary syphilis, and your doctor should consider testing for the STI.

Syphilitic hair loss is not always easy to diagnose, but if you think you have syphilis, your best bet is to get tested and treat it ASAP. It’s curable, and most of its symptoms and complications are reversible.

Syphilitic hair loss is not very common, but it does happen. Research suggests it occurs in about three to seven percent of people with syphilis. 

Because syphilis can potentially cause severe problems with the heart and nervous system, as well as blindness, hair loss isn’t a symptom that’s discussed much. Many National Institutes of Health and National Library of Medicine resources don’t list hair loss in the symptoms. However, the American Academy of Dermatology Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do.

So, if you suspect you have syphilis but still have a mane of thick, healthy hair, please get tested anyway — you still might have it.

Secondary syphilis hair loss — much like syphilis itself — isn’t a chronic condition. The key is to treat the underlying infection and, if necessary, the secondary syphilis scalp problems.

Syphilis can be treated relatively easily nowadays. Once you treat your syphilis, your hair should grow back on its own. 

According to the 2022 study mentioned above, hair regrowth will likely occur within a few weeks or months of treatment.  

However, if you’re impatient, there are many hair loss treatments on the market, from medications to hair growth shampoos.

For example, minoxidil is a topical treatment that can stimulate hair regrowth. It works by stimulating blood flow to the scalp. It’s considered a safe hair loss treatment — side effects are uncommon but usually mild when they do happen.

We sell minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution online. They’re both over-the-counter treatments, so you don’t need a prescription. 

If you're also experiencing androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), you might want to consider finasteride. This prescription oral medication is proven to slow down male pattern hair loss, which is characterized by a receding hairline or thinning hair on the crown of your head.  

You should consult a healthcare professional before using any medication while dealing with a syphilis infection — if there’s one thing we can’t stress enough, it’s that.

To put it bluntly, syphilis is an incredibly dangerous infection and should be treated quickly and thoroughly. In some instances, untreated syphilis infections can lead to symptoms far more serious than hair loss. In the advanced stages of syphilis, you can experience neurological conditions, heart disease, muscle wasting, and more. 

Syphilis is also highly infectious, so it’s easy to spread to others.

And here’s the thing: Getting treatment is so easy. Because it’s a bacterial infection, you treat syphilis with antibiotics. 

Usually, syphilis is treated with a benzathine penicillin G injection. If you’re allergic to penicillin, your doctor might prescribe a different antibiotic like doxycycline or ceftriaxone. 

A 2024 study investigating non-penicillin treatments for syphilis found that treatment with doxycycline, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin led to similar outcomes as cases treated with penicillin. 

So, if you suspect that you might have syphilis, please make an appointment with a healthcare professional as soon as you can — and be sure to let your sexual partners know if you test positive.

Hair loss can be a sign of secondary syphilis. It’s not a common symptom, but syphilitic hair loss is a thing. 

The good news? Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, it doesn't have to be permanent. 

• Hair loss can be one of the many signs of secondary syphilis. This hair loss might be patchy, spotted, or diffuse. It can affect your scalp hair, facial hair, and body hair. 

• Syphilis is curable. Antibiotics like penicillin are effective at curing syphilis — but the sooner you treat it, the better. If you’re not sure who to turn to first, talk with your primary care doctor or consider getting tested at a local urgent care center or public health office.

• Syphilitic hair loss isn’t permanent, either. Once you treat your syphilis, your hair will grow back over time. Treatments like minoxidil can speed up the hair regrowth process. 

But all of this requires support from a healthcare professional. If you haven’t received a syphilis diagnosis or treatment yet, make that your number one priority. 

If you’re concerned about hair loss, whether you suspect it’s related to syphilis or not, we can help you connect with a healthcare provider. From there, they can give you medical advice on how to treat your hair loss.