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Why Is My Hair Falling Out?

12 reasons your hair might be falling out, and exactly how to find yours

The Short Answer

Hair falls out for dozens of reasons: hormones, stress, nutrition, medical conditions, medications, styling damage, or natural cycle changes. The key is figuring out your specific cause through diagnostic imaging, because each type of hair loss responds to a completely different treatment. At Atlanta Trichology, a single 45-minute trichoscopy evaluation identifies the type and maps the plan.

Hair loss has many causes, and the treatment that works depends entirely on identifying the right one. The most common reasons include androgenetic alopecia (genetic thinning driven by DHT sensitivity), telogen effluvium (stress or illness pushing follicles into a resting phase), nutritional deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, biotin, zinc), hormonal changes (thyroid disorders, PCOS, postpartum shifts, menopause), autoimmune conditions (alopecia areata attacking follicles), medications (chemotherapy, blood thinners, antidepressants, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic), scalp conditions (folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis), and mechanical damage (traction alopecia from tight hairstyles, heat styling). Scarring alopecias like CCCA, lichen planopilaris, and frontal fibrosing alopecia destroy follicles permanently if untreated. Trichoscopy at 200x magnification identifies the type and stage of loss in a single visit by measuring follicle diameter, miniaturization, and inflammation patterns. At Atlanta Trichology, the $99 evaluation pinpoints the cause and maps a treatment plan. (678) 561-4522.

Hormonal Hair Loss

Androgenetic alopecia in both men and women, PCOS-related thinning, thyroid-driven loss, postpartum shedding, and menopause all change how long follicles stay in the growth phase. Hormones shorten anagen and shrink the follicle over successive cycles. Explore /concerns/female-hair-loss, /concerns/hormonal-hair-loss, /concerns/excess-dht, /concerns/male-pattern-baldness, /concerns/pregnancy-postpartum, and /concerns/pcos-hair-loss.

Stress and Telogen Effluvium

Physical or emotional stress pushes a large share of follicles from growth into rest. The timeline is predictable: a trigger event, then two to three months of delay, then heavy shedding. Most cases resolve once the trigger clears, though chronic telogen effluvium can persist for years. See /concerns/telogen-effluvium.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Ferritin, iron, vitamin D, zinc, biotin, and total protein intake all feed the follicle, one of the fastest-dividing tissues in the body. Low ferritin in particular is a common and correctable driver of diffuse shedding. See /concerns/nutritional-deficiency and /answers/does-biotin-help-hair-growth.

Medical Conditions and Medications

Alopecia areata, thyroid disease, PCOS, and lupus all affect hair. Medication-induced loss includes chemotherapy, GLP-1 drugs, blood thinners, antidepressants, and retinoids. At Atlanta Trichology, Dr. Nina Ross provides medical oversight for conditions that benefit from medical intervention, so everything stays under one roof. See /concerns/alopecia-areata, /concerns/medication-hair-loss, and /answers/does-ozempic-cause-hair-loss.

Scalp Conditions and Mechanical Damage

Folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis create inflammation that blocks healthy growth. Traction alopecia from braids, weaves, and tight styles plus heat and chemical processing damage the follicle mechanically. See /concerns/folliculitis, /concerns/dermatitis, /concerns/traction-alopecia, and /concerns/hair-breakage.

Scarring Alopecia: The Urgent Category

CCCA, lichen planopilaris, frontal fibrosing alopecia, and folliculitis decalvans destroy follicle structure. Once a follicle scars, it cannot grow again, which makes early trichoscopy the difference between saving and losing density. See /concerns/ccca, /concerns/lichen-planus, /concerns/scarring-alopecia, /concerns/frontal-fibrosing-alopecia, and /concerns/folliculitis-decalvans.

Clinical Evidence

Androgenetic alopecia affects up to 50% of women and 85% of men by age 50.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Trichoscopy differentiates scarring from non-scarring alopecia with high reproducibility.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2019

Most acute telogen effluvium resolves within 6 to 12 months once the trigger is removed.

British Journal of Dermatology, 2017

Low serum ferritin is significantly associated with diffuse hair shedding in women.

International Journal of Trichology, 2016

Common Questions

More on this topic

Why is my hair falling out in clumps?

Clump shedding usually points to telogen effluvium triggered by illness, surgery, rapid weight loss, or severe stress two to three months earlier. Patchy round clumps can indicate alopecia areata. Trichoscopy distinguishes the two in a single visit.

Why is my hair falling out all of a sudden?

Sudden shedding most often reflects a systemic trigger from the recent past: fever, childbirth, crash dieting, new medication, or a major stressor. The follicles are usually intact, which is why recovery is common with the right support.

Can stress make your hair fall out?

Yes. Stress hormones push follicles out of the growth phase into rest, producing telogen effluvium. The shedding shows up two to three months after the stressful period, which is why the connection is easy to miss.

Why is my hair falling out as a woman?

The most common causes in women are female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium, thyroid dysfunction, low ferritin, PCOS, postpartum hormone shifts, and traction from tight styling. Trichoscopy plus targeted lab work separates them.

Is it normal to lose hair every day?

Yes. Losing 50 to 100 hairs daily is within normal range. Read the full breakdown at /answers/how-much-hair-loss-is-normal.

Can hair grow back after falling out?

In non-scarring hair loss, yes. Telogen effluvium, nutritional loss, and postpartum shedding typically regrow fully. Scarring alopecia destroys the follicle, so treatment focuses on halting spread.

When should I see a doctor for hair loss?

Book an evaluation if shedding lasts more than three months, your part is widening, your ponytail feels thinner, or you have scalp pain, burning, or visible scarring. Call (678) 561-4522.

What vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?

Iron and ferritin deficiency is the most common, followed by vitamin D, zinc, and inadequate protein. Blood work confirms which one applies to you rather than guessing with supplements.

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