6 Health Reasons for Leg Hair Loss and How to Treat It

When you think of hair loss, you may just think about the hair on top of your head. But there are plenty of lifestyle and health reasons you might lose body hair — including the hair on your legs.

Your legs may look freshly shaven, even if they’re not, for multiple reasons, ranging from health conditions that are relatively benign to ones that may require a medical workup to diagnose.

Here’s a closer look at some of the top causes of leg hair loss and what to do to treat and prevent it.

1. You’re Getting Older

So, why does leg hair stop growing? Add this to yet another change that age brings: “Hair loss on legs in older adults is relatively common, especially in men,” says Michelle Tarbox, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor in dermatology at Texas Tech Physicians in Lubbock, Texas.

“Everyone will have a little less hair on their legs than in their youth. Hair is very metabolically demanding — it needs a lot of blood flow and oxygen,” Dr. Tarbox says.

Poor circulation limits the delivery of essential nutrients to hair follicles, explains StatPearls, which can affect hair growth. Chronic conditions that are more common with age, like diabetes and high blood pressure, can exacerbate this change, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Additionally, studies show that sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone decrease as you get older, which can also stunt hair growth.

How to Help

While you can’t stop the natural progression of aging, you can maintain healthy lifestyle habits that continue to promote good blood circulation, like getting regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and not smoking.

If you have a chronic health condition, checking in with your doctor regularly is also recommended.

2. It’s Friction

If you frequently wear tight socks, compression garments, or tuck your jeans into tight boots, the friction might be leading to leg hair loss.

Friction and compression can affect hair growth on legs, Tarbox says. Specifically, certain materials can rub hair, and reduced circulation from tight clothes can slow hair growth.

If this is the reason for your leg hair loss, you’ll notice you’re losing hair in the areas frequently covered by these items of clothing.

How to Help

If this hair loss bothers you, you may choose to change your style. But keep in mind: If you need to wear compression garments on your legs for medical reasons, you should continue to follow the directions of your doctor.

3. You Have Diabetes That’s Not Well Managed

Chronically high blood glucose levels damage blood vessels, says Cleveland Clinic, and when blood vessels are harmed, circulation is, too. And as we’ve learned, poor circulation can lead to hair loss.

Chronically high blood sugar can also affect your nerves, potentially leading to a complication of diabetes called diabetic neuropathy — nerve damage that affects your ability to feel, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

“Often, this affects the lower extremities, starting from the foot and going up to the leg,” Tarbox says. “Nerves are important in maintaining skin health,” she says, and healthy skin also often means healthy hair.

How to Help

According to the NIDDK, managing your diabetes is the top priority here. Your doctor can help you come up with ways to keep your blood sugar in a healthy range. If you have neuropathy, check your feet and legs daily to make sure they’re in good health.

4. You Have Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a narrowing or blockage of blood vessels that travel to your legs, explains Mayo Clinic. This condition happens when plaque — a buildup of fatty substances — accumulates in these arteries.

Your risk of PAD increases as you age. Having the condition may increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, reports StatPearls.

Because PAD affects circulation in your legs, the disease can cause hair loss in that area. However, just because your legs are smooth now doesn’t mean you have PAD.

“Usually, if PAD is the reason, hair loss on the legs is not the only change we see,” Tarbox says. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), other signs and symptoms include pain in the legs with activity, leg weakness, pale or discolored skin, and cold or numb toes.

How to Help

According to the NHLBI, treatment for PAD includes medication to improve blood flow, not smoking, regular exercise, and surgery, in some cases. Talk to your doctor if you think you have PAD so you can work on a treatment plan together.

5. It's a Thyroid Problem

The thyroid is a little butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. It controls a lot of your body’s processes, including growth and metabolism, says Cleveland Clinic. “Thyroid abnormalities often decrease hair growth all over the body,” Tarbox says.

Hair loss can happen in people with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), according to the British Thyroid Foundation. And while hair loss complaints are often focused on the scalp, “anything that can make you shed scalp hair can make you lose body hair, too,” Tarbox says.

How to Help

If you have other signs of thyroid dysfunction, such as unexplained weight loss or gain, problems regulating your temperature (i.e., you always run hot or cold), irregular periods, mood changes, or fatigue, see your doctor. They may want to do a blood test to check your thyroid levels.

6. You Have Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease where your immune system misfires and mistakenly attacks hair follicles, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

While the condition can run in families, most people do not have a family history. Tarbox says alopecia areata can affect the hair on your scalp and body, causing circular or oval-shaped bald patches or total hair loss.

How to Help

Although autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata are lifelong, you can manage the condition. The AAD says the immune attack on your hair follicles doesn’t kill them, which means it’s possible to regrow the hair on your legs and elsewhere.

Treatment may include oral or topical medications, says the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, and will depend on the severity and location of hair loss.

When to See a Doctor About Hair Loss on Your Legs

“Most of the time, hair changes are a normal part of aging, but if they’re significant or severe or present with other changes, that’s cause for concern,” Tarbox says.

In that case, make an appointment with your doctor. Record your symptoms and bring your notes to your appointment, which can help your doctor narrow down what’s going on.