Hair Fall Treatment:
Losing some hair every day is normal, but noticing more hair on the pillow, in the bathroom, or on the
comb can be worrying. Hair fall has many causes, and it is often a signal from inside the body.
Hormonal conditions such as PCOS and thyroid disease, nutritional deficiencies, stress, and crash diets
are common culprits. This guide explains how to identify the cause and treat it.
What Is Normal?
Most people shed around 50 to 100 hairs a day. Hair grows in cycles, and about ten percent of hairs are
normally in the resting phase at any time. Concern arises when shedding is heavy for more than a few
weeks, when the scalp becomes visible, or when the parting widens.
Common Causes of Hair Fall
- PCOS: High androgens can thin scalp hair in a female-pattern, with a widening parting.
- Thyroid disease: Both underactive and overactive thyroid can cause diffuse thinning.
- Iron deficiency and anaemia, which are common in women.
- Low vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, or protein.
- Crash diets and rapid weight loss.
- Stress, high fever, major illness, surgery, or childbirth, which cause delayed shedding.
- Medicines and scalp conditions such as dandruff or fungal infection.
- Autoimmune patchy hair loss (alopecia areata).
Telltale Patterns
Diffuse shedding all over the scalp, starting two to three months after a trigger, usually suggests
stress-related shedding (telogen effluvium). A widening central parting with a preserved frontal hairline
suggests female-pattern thinning, often linked to androgens or PCOS. Patchy, round bald spots suggest
alopecia areata. Hair that is dry and brittle, along with fatigue, weight gain, and thinning outer eyebrows,
can point to hypothyroidism.
Tests Your Doctor May Suggest
- Haemoglobin and ferritin (iron stores).
- TSH and thyroid profile.
- Vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- Fasting sugar or HbA1c and lipid profile, since insulin resistance often accompanies PCOS.
- Hormone tests such as testosterone, DHEAS, and prolactin when PCOS is suspected.
Treatment: Fix the Cause First
Treatment depends on what is behind the hair fall. Correcting iron, vitamin, or thyroid abnormalities
often reduces shedding within a few months. In PCOS, lifestyle change, weight management, and
medicines prescribed by your doctor can improve androgen-related thinning. Dermatologists may add
topical or other treatments for pattern hair loss. Because hair grows slowly, regrowth takes three to six
months or more.
Nutrition for Healthy Hair
Eat enough protein with every meal, include iron-rich foods such as ragi, pulses, leafy greens, sesame,
and jaggery in sensible amounts, and combine them with vitamin C sources such as lemon or amla to
improve absorption. Avoid crash diets. A balanced plate of vegetables, protein, whole grains, nuts, and
seeds supports hair growth.
Supplements and Myths
Biotin, collagen, and expensive hair vitamins are heavily marketed, but they help only when you are
actually deficient. Biotin can also interfere with thyroid and other blood tests. Shampoos and oils cannot
fix hormonal or nutritional causes. Be wary of products promising rapid regrowth.
Gentle Hair Care
Avoid tight hairstyles, frequent heat styling, harsh chemical treatments, and very hot water. Use a mild
shampoo, and treat dandruff if present. Handle wet hair gently, since it breaks easily.
When to See a Dermatologist
See a dermatologist for patchy hair loss, scarring, itching, burning, redness, or sudden heavy shedding.
Your clinic doctor can coordinate with a dermatologist when needed.
Care at Dr. Rajender’s Lifestyle Clinic
The clinic treats the hormonal and metabolic roots of hair thinning, including PCOS, thyroid disorders,
insulin resistance, and obesity, through a structured, evidence-based approach with personalised
nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle correction, and continuous medical guidance.
Book a Consultation
Visit https://www.drrajenderslifestyleclinic.com/ to learn more and book a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can PCOS cause hair fall?
Yes. High androgens in PCOS can thin scalp hair and also increase facial and body hair. Treating
PCOS helps.
Does thyroid cause hair fall?
Yes. Both underactive and overactive thyroid can cause diffuse hair thinning. Hair often improves once
thyroid levels are corrected.
How long before hair grows back?
Hair grows slowly, so improvement usually takes three to six months after the cause is corrected.
Should I take biotin for hair fall?
Biotin helps only if you are deficient and can interfere with blood tests. Ask your doctor before taking it.
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