Ladies, what could hair loss in the crown of your head possibly have to do with fibroids in your uterus? That's a question worth investigating—and the answer isn't as simple as saying one condition causes the other.
Welcome back to my Hormones vs. CCCA series. We're digging into fibroids and hair loss in Black women, the symptoms of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), what scientists have found about uterine fibroids and scalp fibrosis, and what it means when research studies don't agree. I'm bringing you the studies so you can think through the information for yourself. 💜
Watch Video #3: Fibroids and Hair Loss in Black Women — The CCCA Connection
Ladies, if you want to hear me walk through the research and the possible connection between uterine fibroids, CCCA alopecia, scalp fibrosis and crown thinning, watch the full conversation below. We're looking at the studies, including findings that don't all agree. 💜
Watch Video #3 on YouTube: Fibroids and Hair Loss in Black Women — The CCCA Connection 💜
First: what is CCCA alopecia?
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia is an inflammatory form of scarring hair loss. It often starts near the crown or center of the scalp and can spread outward. The inflammatory process can damage hair follicles, and where follicles become scarred, hair may no longer grow from those follicles. It disproportionately affects Black women, but not everyone with crown thinning has CCCA.
Other possible explanations for thinning hair include female-pattern hair loss, traction alopecia, breakage, temporary shedding after a bodily stressor, and some nutritional or hormonal conditions. That distinction is one reason I started this series.
CCCA symptoms: what does early CCCA hair loss look and feel like?
People often search for CCCA symptoms, CCCA stages, CCCA hair loss treatment, itchy scalp with CCCA, scalp inflammation, crown thinning, bald spots, and hair regrowth. Here's what I want you to pay attention to without assuming one symptom makes the diagnosis:
- Thinning at the crown: a widening or increasingly visible area in the center of the scalp.
- Unusual breakage: short, fragile hairs around the crown, sometimes before a clear bald area appears.
- Itching, burning, tingling, or tenderness: some women report these sensations; others have little or no discomfort.
- Scalp changes: irritation, scale, or an area that appears smoother as scarring progresses.
- Changes over time: thinning that continues or spreads rather than resolving after a change to your styling routine.
What are uterine fibroids (leiomyomas or myomas)?
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the muscular tissue of the uterus. Some women have fibroids without knowing it. Others experience symptoms that affect their daily lives. If you've been searching for fibroid symptoms in Black women, heavy periods and hair loss, uterine leiomyomas, anemia, or fibroid-related fatigue, those are important but distinct conversations.
Common uterine fibroid symptoms
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, sometimes with clots
- Pelvic pressure, fullness, or bloating
- Pelvic discomfort or painful periods
- Frequent urination or bowel pressure depending on fibroid location
- Sometimes lower back discomfort
- Iron deficiency and anemia when heavy bleeding causes significant blood loss
Symptoms vary by size, number, and location of fibroids, and some women have no symptoms at all. Black women are affected disproportionately by fibroids, which makes this an especially relevant question for our community.
Can uterine fibroids cause hair loss?
Let's separate two very different possible connections.
One: If fibroids cause heavy menstrual bleeding, the resulting iron deficiency or anemia may contribute to increased hair shedding in some people. That kind of shedding is not the same diagnosis as CCCA, and it does not prove that fibroids caused scarring alopecia.
Two: Researchers have explored whether uterine fibroids and CCCA might share biological features related to fibrosis—the buildup and remodeling of fibrous tissue. A shared process or association is an interesting scientific lead, but it is not proof that one disease causes the other.
The 2018 Johns Hopkins study: why this conversation began
A 2018 study published in JAMA Dermatology reported that uterine fibroids were documented more frequently in the women with CCCA studied than among comparison patients: 13.9% versus 3.3%. That finding raised a question: could there be a link between these two conditions?
This was observational research. It can identify an association, but it cannot show whether fibroids came first, whether a third factor helps explain the finding, or whether one condition causes the other. It also does not mean every woman with fibroids is at risk for CCCA.
But what did the larger 2021 study find?
A later study examined 427 women with biopsy-confirmed CCCA and 1,281 matched controls. In that population, the investigators did not find a statistically significant increase in uterine fibroids associated with CCCA.
That's not an inconvenience to hide. That's how research works! Study design, how diagnoses are recorded, the population examined, and sample size can affect results. The responsible conclusion is that the evidence is mixed, not that science has established that fibroids cause CCCA—or that the question is closed forever.
What does scalp fibrosis have to do with CCCA?
When I say fibrosis, I'm talking about tissue changes involving excess fibrous material and scarring. Researchers have examined differences in gene activity in affected CCCA scalp, including pathways associated with the fibrotic response. Remember that gene expression is not the same thing as a person's genes changing.
A 2018 study comparing paired affected and unaffected scalp samples from a small group of women with CCCA reported increased expression of genes involved in fibroproliferative pathways in the affected scalp. This gives researchers a biological direction to explore; it is not a diagnostic test for fibroids and it is not evidence of a cure.
Read the scalp gene-expression study.
And the study of 16 women with CCCA?
Another study looked at scalp gene-expression patterns in 16 women with CCCA, including 8 with uterine fibroids and 8 without. The work examined whether scalp biological patterns clearly separated these groups. Findings from such a small sample can help develop hypotheses, but they cannot establish an individual cause of CCCA or reliably predict who will have fibroids.
Read this study on scalp gene expression and fibroids.
What should you track if you have fibroids and crown thinning?
I'm a big believer in keeping track of what's happening instead of trying to remember everything six months later. If you're noticing hair loss, itching, breakage, irregular cycles, heavy menstrual bleeding, or anemia, write down the pattern. You don't have to turn your life into a science experiment, but information can be useful.
- Scalp: any itching, burning, tenderness, flakes, or unusual irritation
- Hair: crown thinning, part width, shedding, breakage, photos from the same angle and lighting
- Cycle: heavy bleeding, prolonged periods, cramps, and changes in timing
- General health: fatigue, weakness, or other symptoms you've noticed
- Hair care: shampoo, conditioner, oil, cream, protective styles, and your scalp's response
- Medical information: any tests or follow-up you've already had, such as a blood count or ferritin/iron studies if clinically appropriate
Heavy bleeding alongside fatigue may warrant discussing anemia and iron status with a healthcare professional. If your scalp is progressively thinning, remember that several conditions can coexist and an accurate diagnosis matters.
My perspective: caring for the scalp and the hair strands are two conversations
Those of you who've followed my journey know I care about the whole picture. I think it's possible to explore science, medical options, herbal care, and everyday hair-care choices without pretending they're all interchangeable. I don't tell women that one product or one routine is the answer for everybody. You have to pay attention to your body and your own results.
In my cosmetic wash-day and moisture routine I may reach for the African Black Soap Hair Growth Shampoo for Natural Hair & Scalp, followed by the Hair Growth Conditioner with Peppermint Oil for Dry Natural Hair. When my strands need deeper conditioning, there's my Rosemary & Peppermint Herbal Deep Conditioner for Dry, Damaged Hair.
For between-wash-day scalp comfort, I also talk about the Scalp Soothing Mist for Dry, Itchy Scalp, Locs & Braids. I use the Organic Hair Growth Oil for Thinning Edges & Dry Scalp as another part of my personal regimen when appropriate.
These are cosmetic hair and scalp-care products that can fit into a regimen. They're not a substitute for diagnosing or treating active scarring alopecia or addressing heavy bleeding and iron deficiency. Supporting healthy-feeling hair and scalp care is not the same as reversing established scarring.
Watch the previous videos in our Hormones vs. CCCA series
🎥 VIDEO #1 — IS IT REALLY CCCA?
Crown thinning, scarring alopecia, CCCA vs. female-pattern hair loss, and why different hair-loss conditions shouldn't all be treated the same.
🎥 VIDEO #2 — IS IT HORMONAL?
Chin hair, acne, menstrual-cycle changes, hormonal hair loss, and the importance of looking at symptoms in context.
Visit Black Hair & Skin Care on YouTube for the latest episode
Frequently asked questions about CCCA, uterine fibroids and hair loss
Can uterine fibroids cause CCCA alopecia?
There is no established evidence that uterine fibroids directly cause CCCA. Research on their association has been conflicting, and more investigation is needed.
Can heavy periods from fibroids make your hair shed?
Heavy menstrual bleeding can contribute to iron deficiency or anemia, which may be associated with hair shedding. That mechanism is different from CCCA's inflammatory scarring process.
What are the early warning signs of CCCA?
Changes at the crown such as thinning or recurring breakage, with or without itching, burning, or tenderness, are reasons to pay attention. CCCA isn't the only cause of those symptoms, and a scalp examination may be necessary.
Can CCCA hair grow back?
Hair can still grow from follicles that remain viable, depending on the individual's condition and the cause of thinning. Once a follicle is permanently destroyed by scarring, regrowth from that follicle is not expected. Early attention to inflammation matters.
Are fibroids and CCCA both related to fibrosis?
Fibroids arise from smooth muscle tissue in the uterus and involve extracellular matrix changes; CCCA features inflammatory scarring in scalp follicles. Researchers are studying possible overlapping fibrotic pathways, but similarity does not establish a shared cause.
Does every Black woman with crown thinning have CCCA?
No. Female-pattern hair loss, traction alopecia, hair-shaft breakage, temporary shedding and other scalp conditions can cause thinning. The location of hair loss alone doesn't establish the diagnosis.
Ladies, I want to hear your experience 💜
Have you been diagnosed with both uterine fibroids and CCCA alopecia? Did you notice crown thinning, scalp burning or itching, heavy periods, fatigue, iron deficiency, or hair shedding? Which symptoms came first for you? Share what you're comfortable sharing in the comments—especially the questions you wish more people were asking.
I want us to have informed conversations, not jump from one headline to an answer that hasn't been proven. Rome wasn't built overnight. Keep learning, keep documenting, and keep taking ownership of your crown.
It's time to take your crown back® 💜
Research and reliable references
- 2018 — Association of Uterine Leiomyomas With CCCA (JAMA Dermatology)
- 2018 — Fibroproliferative Gene Expression in CCCA
- 2021 — CCCA and Uterine Fibroids, Matched-Control Study
- Scalp Gene-Expression Research in CCCA With and Without Fibroids
- American Academy of Dermatology — CCCA Signs and Symptoms
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Uterine Fibroids
Related reading: Thinning Hair, Chin Hair & Acne: Is It Hormonal Hair Loss? · Crown Thinning? CCCA vs. Female-Pattern Hair Loss Explained · Hair Breakage or Hair Loss? Understanding Crown Thinning
This article combines general educational research with personal perspective. It does not diagnose a reader's condition or establish that fibroids cause CCCA. Research is evolving and individual needs vary.
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