My fiancée' got a hair cut recently, and the barber discovered a quarter sized bald patch on the back of his head, near his left ear. The bald patch was most definitely not there before, and it's not a result of the natural thinning of hair which occurs with age, as the surrounding hair is thick and full. I can see no evidence that it was a barber mistake, and there are no other patches. What could be a possible explanation of this? Could stress be a cause?

It's possible that stress can bring on alopecia (pattern baldness). Is he currently under alot of stress?

There are other things that could cause this, for example, hyper or hypo-thyroidism...vitamin deficiencies, and other things.

Has he been to a doctor recently? If not, he might want to discuss this with a doctor and see what his/her thoughts are.

(can't edit...)...

Depression can also trigger or worsen alopecia...

I discovered this summer that my hair was getting really thin in just different spots on my head! I was being treated for depression and I just continued to be tired all the time was my complant for the last 2 years or so! They kept switching my antidepressants and nothing seem to work until I went for my 3 month checkup for my diabetes and mention my hair and FINALLY someone figured out that I was serverly anemic! My HGB was 9.2 which is low. Anemia I was told if it goes on for a while your hair falls out. I am still working with this and trying to figure out why I am anemic! I think you need to go to your MD and tell them about your hair. Good luck!!

Um. Time to see a doctor, there ae just too man things that this could be a symptom of.

I would hate to take a guess.

David