Hair Fall Causes: What to Know

Hair that thins gradually across the crown or part may fit Male Pattern Hair Loss or Female Pattern Hair Loss. Increased shedding across the scalp after a trigger can occur with Telogen Effluvium. Smooth, defined patches may occur with Alopecia Areata. Repeated tension from braids, extensions, or tightly secured styles can contribute to Traction Alopecia. Scale, broken hairs, tenderness, or swollen areas can point toward Scalp Ringworm. These patterns describe how a condition may present; they do not establish a diagnosis from hair fall alone.

Note when shedding began, whether it is diffuse or patchy, and whether you see hairs with a bulb or short broken pieces. Record recent fever or illness, surgery, major stress, diet changes, new medicines, family history, and styling practices. Bring a list of products and medicines to the visit. A clinician may inspect the scalp and hair shafts and decide whether further evaluation is needed. Treatment depends on the cause; Finasteride Treatment is one option that may be considered for selected people, not a universal answer.

Arrange a review for persistent, worsening, or unexplained loss. Seek prompt attention for sudden bald patches, a painful or inflamed scalp, pus, heavy scaling, broken hairs, or loss of eyebrows or eyelashes. Hair loss accompanied by severe tiredness, dizziness, breathlessness, or other new general symptoms should also be assessed.

Ask which pattern you have, what recent events could have triggered it, and whether scalp examination or testing is needed. Ask what treatment is reasonable for the suspected cause, how to protect remaining hair, and when lack of improvement should lead to reassessment.