Temple Hair Loss Causes and Treatments

Key Takeaways:

• Temple hair loss is common and can be an early sign of balding.

• Hair thinning at the temples can be caused by androgenic alopecia, traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, or alopecia areata.

• FDA-approved treatments like finasteride and minoxidil can help slow or reverse temple hair loss.

• Gentle styling, hair growth supplements, and professional guidance can support healthy hair regrowth and prevent long-term damage.
  

When you picture typical hair loss in men, you may imagine it’s confined to the hairline or the crown of the head. Sometimes, though, hair falls out in other areas. For instance, you might experience temple hair loss.

Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) usually isn’t something that affects the temple area because a receding hairline most often begins just above the temples. But some guys might only realize their hairline is receding when it hits their temples.

Read on to learn about treating hair loss at the temples and promoting healthy hair growth.

At the risk of stating the obvious, temple hair loss is a form of hair loss that shows up at the temples.

The temples are those fleshy, hair-covered spaces just above the ears — not exactly the hairline or the sideburns, but the midpoint.  They tend to be in line with the tail of your eyebrow.

If you’ve noticed hair loss at your temples, you’re not alone — in fact, it’s fairly common. Still, it should be taken seriously, as it could be an early sign of balding.

The first step in treating temple hair loss is to determine exactly what’s causing it.

Hair loss at the temples can be caused by a few different hair loss conditions:

• Androgenic alopecia

• Traction alopecia

• Telogen effluvium

• Alopecia areata

Each type of hair loss has its own distinctive symptoms, patterns of hair loss, and potential treatments.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia (also known as androgenetic alopecia) is the most common cause of hair loss in men. You might know it as male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss.

Male pattern hair loss has a strong genetic component. If your family tree has an awful lot of bald spots, your branch probably won’t be much different.

This type of hair loss happens when the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) damages hair follicles. Over time, hair follicles might stop growing new hairs altogether. Eventually, this can lead to total baldness.

Male pattern hair loss usually starts on the crown of the head or at the hairline. But a receding hairline might lead to hair thinning at the temples.

Despite the name of this condition, it doesn’t just affect men. Women can experience hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia, especially after menopause. In women, the condition is called female pattern hair loss or female pattern baldness.

Traction Alopecia

Tight hairstyles — including braids, ponytails, and even “man buns” — can take a toll on your temples.

When you pull your hair back too tightly, it puts pressure on your hair follicles. Over time, this might lead to damage that not only makes hair fall out but also prevents new hair growth.

Rough styling techniques — including brushing your hair too frequently and using harsh chemical hair treatments — can also affect hair density.

This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. While traction alopecia doesn’t only affect the temples, temple balding could be the first sign.

Telogen Effluvium

If you’ve noticed hair loss all over your scalp, it might be a sign of telogen effluvium. This is a relatively common type of hair loss.

Telogen effluvium can be caused by issues like:

• Severe stress or trauma

• Major surgery

• Rapid weight loss

• Significant blood loss

• Vitamin deficiencies

• Certain illnesses

Basically, telogen effluvium happens when your body goes through a significant shock. As a result of this shock, a high number of hair follicles enter the resting (or dormant) stage of growth — aka the telogen phase. After the telogen phase, hair starts falling out.

Usually, telogen effluvium-related hair shedding happens a couple of months after a major stressor. So you might not connect the dots between your hair loss and the high fever you had a few months before.

Telogen effluvium causes diffuse hair loss — meaning it happens all over the scalp — but you might first notice it affecting your temples.

The good news is that telogen effluvium typically resolves itself over time once the initial cause has been corrected. A few months after you recover from the underlying issue, your hair should start growing normally again.

Alopecia Areata

The final (and least likely) cause of temple balding is alopecia areata.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. With this condition, the immune system gets confused and attacks hair follicles as if they’re foreign bodies. Hair follicles become damaged, preventing new hair growth.

Though temple hair loss can sometimes be the first sign you notice, alopecia areata can affect your entire scalp in irregular patches. It could also cause hair loss across your entire body (alopecia universalis).

There’s no cure for this condition — not yet, anyway. But certain treatments might help address alopecia areata and prevent further hair loss. You may need to see a dermatologist if you have alopecia areata.

Some temple hair loss conditions are temporary — telogen effluvium usually resolves on its own, for example. But androgenic alopecia and traction alopecia worsen over time if they’re not treated.

Though androgenic alopecia can be permanent, it’s also possible to reverse some of the hair loss if treatment comes quickly enough. Those hairs you lost last year, however, are probably gone for good.

Alopecia areata can lead to permanent hair loss, but with early treatment, you might be able to slow down hair loss.

To prevent permanent temple hair loss, it’s vital to get medical advice from a healthcare professional as soon as you can. They can help determine the type of hair loss you’re experiencing and go over the best treatment options.

Losing hair at the temples may very well be just the start of more hair loss to come. But there’s hope for those willing to seek help.

The great news? The best medications for hair loss are accessible and considered safe and effective for most people when taken as directed.

Let’s cover two science-backed hair loss treatments, as well as a few other options.

Finasteride

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved finasteride for treating male pattern hair loss. This oral medication reduces levels of DHT in the body, the hormone that damages scalp hair follicles.

As a result, finasteride significantly slows down male pattern hair loss. In some cases, the prescription medication might help you regrow some lost hair, especially if you treat it early.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil is another FDA-approved hair loss treatment. Also known by the brand name Rogaine^®, this topical medication is available over the counter (without a prescription).

Minoxidil works by increasing blood flow to the scalp and shifting hair follicles into the anagen phase (growth phase) of the hair growth cycle. This stimulates hair regrowth.

Unlike finasteride, which is only used to treat male pattern hair loss, minoxidil can be used for many common types of hair loss — including traction alopecia and telogen effluvium.

We offer both minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution (a dropper serum) online.

You can also try our two-in-one topical finasteride & minoxidil spray, a powerful combo that can help reduce male pattern baldness.

Other Hair Loss Treatments

Beyond finasteride and minoxidil, other treatments might help reduce hair loss at the temples (and on the rest of your scalp).

Here’s what you might want to look into:

• Hair growth supplements. If a nutritional deficiency is at the root of your temple hair loss, consider using vitamin-rich supplements like our biotin gummies.

• Gentle hair care techniques. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, harsh styling techniques should be avoided. Limit heat styling, don’t brush your hair when it’s wet, and reduce chemical hair treatments.

• Hair loss shampoos. Hair care products like our thickening shampoo with saw palmetto can help counter the effects of male pattern hair loss.

• Low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Also known as red light therapy, this treatment option uses lasers to reverse hair loss and stimulate new growth.

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments. Although costly, PRP can promote new hair growth. The procedure involves extracting plasma from your own blood and injecting it into your scalp.

• Hair restoration surgery. Another costly but effective treatment, hair transplants involve taking healthy follicles and grafting them onto bald patches.

Feeling overwhelmed? Your best bet is to talk with a healthcare professional specializing in hair loss. They can provide guidance on navigating treatment options.

Hair loss can be a serious issue, whether you experience it at your temples or elsewhere. A number of conditions can lead to balding temples. If you’ve noticed your hair thinning at the temples, it’s important to figure out the cause and treat it ASAP.

There are many ways to treat hair loss at the temples. This includes finasteride and minoxidil. In more extreme cases, you can try treatments like PRP or red light therapy.

Early treatment is the best treatment for hair loss and long-term hair health. So even if you’re unsure what’s going on, play it safe and get professional help sooner rather than later.

Get answers to common questions about temple hair loss.

Can you regrow hair at the temples?

Yes, it’s possible to regrow hair at the temples. Finasteride and minoxidil are two science-backed, FDA-approved options that can slow or reverse male pattern hair loss. Gentle hair care, nutritional support, and medical evaluation can also help address other causes like traction alopecia or telogen effluvium.

Can stress cause temple hair loss?

Yes, high stress levels can trigger a temporary type of hair loss called telogen effluvium that can cause hair loss at the temples. When your body experiences stress — whether physical or emotional — it can push hair follicles into a resting phase, causing increased shedding around the scalp, including at the temples. The good news is that once stress is reduced, hair growth often resumes.

Is temple hair loss a sign of male pattern baldness?

Often, yes. Temple hair thinning is one of the earliest signs of male pattern baldness, giving the hairline an M-shaped appearance. If you notice your hairline receding at the temples, starting treatment early can help slow hair loss and, in some cases, regrow hair in those areas.

→ Read next: How to Fix a Receding Hairline

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.