What Causes Hair Fall and When Should You See a Dermatologist?

Seeing more hair on your pillow or in the shower can be worrying. The good news is that most hair fall has an identifiable cause — and many causes are treatable.

How much hair fall is normal?

Losing around 50–100 hairs a day is part of the normal hair cycle. It becomes a concern when shedding suddenly increases, your ponytail feels thinner, the parting widens or patches appear.

Common causes of hair fall

• Telogen effluvium — diffuse shedding two to three months after a trigger such as fever, illness, surgery, childbirth, crash dieting or major stress.
• Nutritional deficiencies — low iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 or protein can contribute.
• Thyroid imbalance and hormonal conditions such as PCOS.
• Pattern hair loss — gradual thinning with a genetic and hormonal basis, in both men and women.
• Scalp conditions — severe dandruff, psoriasis or infections.
• Alopecia areata — sudden round patches of hair loss.

Why diagnosis comes first

Each cause needs a different treatment. Oils and supplements taken at random rarely fix shedding caused by a thyroid problem or pattern hair loss. A dermatologist examines the scalp and hair, reviews your history and may suggest blood tests before recommending treatment.

When to see a dermatologist

Book an assessment if shedding lasts more than six to eight weeks, you notice thinning or bald patches, hair fall follows illness or pregnancy, or there is itching and scaling of the scalp. Early treatment gives the best chance of protecting your hair density.

Remember that hair responds slowly: most treatments take about three months to show early change, and longer for fuller results.