Overview
Hair loss is common and has many causes, from the natural male- and female-pattern thinning that runs in families, to temporary shedding after illness, childbirth, stress, crash diets or nutritional deficiencies, which are common reasons in India. Patchy loss can point to other conditions. Some hair loss is temporary and recovers once the trigger passes; pattern baldness is ongoing but can be slowed with treatment. Finding the cause guides whether and how it can be treated.
Symptoms
- Gradual thinning on the top of the head or a receding hairline
- Widening of the parting in women
- Sudden or patchy shedding of hair
- More hair than usual on the pillow, comb or drain
- Smooth bald patches in some types
When to see a doctor
See a skin doctor for sudden, patchy or rapid hair loss, or thinning with other symptoms, so a treatable cause can be found.
Causes
Genetic pattern baldness, hormonal changes, stress, illness, childbirth, crash diets, iron or vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, and some hairstyles and treatments.