The three causes of hair loss — and which treatments can help

Most hair loss in adults falls into three buckets: genetic (pattern thinning), hormonal (post-pregnancy, menopause, thyroid disorders), and stress/illness-driven (telogen effluvium). The right treatment depends on which you have.

Pattern thinning

The most common cause. Hormonally driven, progressive, and hereditary — usually showing at the temples or crown for men, and across the part-line for women. Treatment works by reducing the hormonal driver and extending the active growth phase of each follicle. The earlier you start, the more follicles are still revivable.

Hormonal shifts

Pregnancy, menopause, thyroid disorders, and significant weight loss can all change the balance of hormones that influence hair. The shedding is often diffuse rather than patterned. The fix is usually to address the underlying hormonal change — often this resolves the hair issue without specific scalp treatment.

Stress, illness and nutrition

Telogen effluvium is the term for diffuse shedding 2–4 months after a major stressor — illness, surgery, severe emotional event, crash diet, postnatal. It usually resolves on its own over 3–6 months. Nutrition matters: iron deficiency and vitamin D deficiency are common contributors and worth checking.

What your doctor can do

Your Fusenite doctor will work out which of the three categories your hair loss falls into, often through symptom history alone. Pathology (full blood count, ferritin, TSH) is sometimes ordered. Treatment is then matched to cause — not a one-size-fits-all script.

This is general health information and not medical advice. Your doctor will discuss your specific situation during a consultation.