Shedding or thinning?
Most people shed somewhere around 50 to 100 hairs a day. A sudden increase, with hair coming out in handfuls when washing or brushing, is often shedding that follows a trigger. A gradual widening of the parting, or a thinner ponytail without dramatic shedding, points more towards pattern thinning. The two can also happen together.
Common causes worth ruling out
- A trigger two to three months earlier: high fever, illness, surgery, childbirth, a crash diet or major stress can all cause temporary shedding.
- Thyroid problems, which can affect hair as well as energy and weight.
- Low iron stores, which are common and easy to miss.
- Hormonal conditions such as PCOS, which can be linked with thinning on the scalp and extra hair elsewhere.
- Female pattern hair loss, which often runs in families.
- Tight hairstyles, frequent heat or chemical treatments.
- Scalp conditions such as severe dandruff or inflammation.
- Some medicines, and stopping or starting hormonal contraception.
What a useful consultation includes
Expect questions about the timeline, recent illness, diet, periods, pregnancy and medicines, and a close look at the scalp, sometimes magnified. Depending on what is found, your specialist may suggest blood tests, for example for iron stores, thyroid function or hormones. Treating the cause comes first. PRP or other procedures may be discussed afterwards, for pattern thinning, rather than as a first step for every kind of hair fall.
When to book sooner
- Patchy bald spots or broken hairs.
- A painful, itchy or scaly scalp.
- Hair fall alongside other symptoms such as tiredness, weight change or irregular periods.
This article is general information from the Cosmo Looks team. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an individual consultation.
