Hair Loss in Women: Common Causes and When to See a Provider

More than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss during their lifetime, and yet the condition is still routinely dismissed or left without a clear explanation. However, many associate their hair with their identity and confidence, meaning this isn’t merely a cosmetic issue.

In this article, we explore what causes hair loss in women, signs to watch for, and how to identify treatment options that may help.

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What Counts as Hair Loss in Women?

Shedding some hair every day is a healthy part of the hair cycle. In fact, most people lose somewhere between 50 and 100 hairs each day, without any thinning to show for it. 

Clinically significant hair loss is generally considered when shedding consistently exceeds roughly 100 hairs per day, or when you start to see visible thinning, a widening part line, or more scalp showing through than before.

In the hair cycle, each strand moves through three phases:

1. The anagen (growing) phase lasts two to eight years and accounts for roughly 85 to 90% of the hair on your scalp at any given time. 
2. The catagen (transition) phase is brief, lasting about two to three weeks.
3. The telogen (resting and shedding) phase lasts two to four months, after which the hair falls out, and a new one begins to grow in its place.

Women’s hair thinning happens when this cycle is disrupted: fewer hairs enter the growth phase and more move into the shedding phase than the body can comfortably replace. 

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Signs of Hair Loss to Watch For

Some of the most common signs of hair loss include:

• Noticeably more hair on your pillow, in the shower drain, or collecting in your hairbrush
• A part line that looks wider than it used to
• Scalp skin becoming more visible through the hair
• A ponytail that feels thinner or smaller when you gather it
• Hair that breaks off more easily than before
• Patches of thinning or areas of bare scalp

Some of these signs—especially a wave of increased shedding after an illness or stressful stretch—may be temporary. Yet other signs, such as a part that progressively widens, may indicate a chronic pattern that warrants an evaluation by a licensed provider.

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Common Causes of Hair Loss in Women

Female hair loss is rarely the result of a single factor. More often, it’s multifactorial, with hormones, nutrition, stress, and daily habits overlapping. However, knowing what’s causing it can ultimately help ensure you get appropriate and effective treatment. 

So, why is your hair falling out? Here are the most common causes.

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Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes occur at various points in a woman’s life. But they may also arise due to other health factors. The most common ones that may lead to hair loss include:

• Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss) is the most common cause, affecting an estimated 30 million women in the United States. It’s linked to genetic sensitivity of the hair follicles to androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes follicles to gradually miniaturize and produce finer, shorter hairs over time. In women, it usually shows up as diffuse thinning across the top and crown while preserving the frontal hairline, unlike male pattern baldness. Without treatment, it tends to be progressive. Clinicians often use the Ludwig or Savin scales to grade its severity.
• Thyroid dysfunction, whether an underactive (hypothyroid) or overactive (hyperthyroid) gland, can disrupt the hair cycle and cause diffuse shedding. However, the good news is that this is often a reversible cause. In fact, thyroid testing is a common first step in any thorough hair loss workup.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may raise androgen levels and accelerate follicle miniaturization, often along the temples and crown. It may further appear alongside other androgen-related symptoms, such as acne or irregular periods. But addressing the underlying hormonal imbalance may help slow progression.

During perimenopause and menopause, declining and fluctuating estrogen may also leave androgens with a stronger relative effect on your hair follicles, which may contribute to gradual thinning across the crown. If you suspect a hormonal driver, particularly perimenopausal thinning, exploring hormone therapy for women with a licensed provider may be a relevant next step.

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Postpartum Hair Loss

If you’ve recently had a baby and are watching your hair come out in handfuls, know that this is one of the most common—and most temporary—forms of hair loss. 

Postpartum telogen effluvium affects up to 50% of new mothers. During pregnancy, elevated estrogen levels prolong the growth phase, which means less hair sheds than usual. After delivery, however, estrogen drops, and a large proportion of hairs simultaneously enter the telogen (shedding) phase.

This typically begins two to four months after delivery and often peaks around months four to six. In the vast majority of cases, it’s temporary and resolves on its own within six to twelve months. 

With that said, if you’re experiencing severe or unusually prolonged shedding, it may be worthwhile to check in with your provider to rule out postpartum thyroiditis or nutritional deficiencies.

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Stress and Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a reactive shedding pattern triggered by a significant physical or emotional stressor, such as an illness, surgery, rapid weight loss, a loss in the family, or a stretch of intense psychological stress. This stress pushes an unusually large number of follicles into the resting phase at once, leading to diffuse shedding that typically shows up two to three months after the triggering event.

This delay can lead to a lot of confusion regarding the cause. This is because by the time the shedding appears, the stressful event may feel like old news, making it hard to connect the dots. 

The reassuring part is that telogen effluvium is generally temporary and tends to resolve once the underlying stressor is removed. But ongoing, chronic stress may keep this cycle going.

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Nutritional Deficiencies

What you eat (and what your body can absorb) contributes to your overall hair health. Some nutritional gaps that may lead to hair loss include:

• Iron deficiency: This is one of the most common and overlooked contributors, especially in premenopausal women with heavy periods. Ferritin (stored iron) levels below 30 ng/mL have been associated with shedding in some studies, and standard iron panels may actually read as “normal” even when ferritin is suboptimal for hair growth.
• Protein deficiency: Hair is largely made of keratin, a protein. Thus, severely restricted intake, including from crash dieting or rapid weight loss, may push follicles into the shedding phase.
• Vitamin D deficiency: This one is particularly common in northern climates or with limited sun exposure and has been associated with alopecia areata and other forms of hair loss.
• Zinc and biotin deficiencies: These two deficiencies have been linked to hair thinning, but supplementation tends to help only when a true deficiency exists; this is why testing before self-supplementing is always a good idea.

On top of the above, rapid weight loss of any kind, including from GLP-1 medications, may trigger telogen effluvium through sharp caloric restriction. This is usually temporary and often manageable with adequate protein and nutritional support.

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Styling Practices and Traction Alopecia

Surprisingly, everyday hair styling may gradually contribute to hair loss. Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by repeated mechanical tension on the hair follicles, such as from tight ponytails, braids, extensions, weaves, or any style that consistently pulls on the same areas. 

Ultimately, any sustained tension may damage the follicle and, if the style isn’t changed, it may eventually cause permanent hair loss. All in all, traction alopecia tends to show up along the hairline, temples, and edges. The good news is that it’s largely preventable and, when caught early, often reversible with a simple change in styling habits.

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Medications and Medical Treatments

Some medications may cause hair loss as a side effect, including:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy (which cause anagen effluvium, a rapid, often complete hair loss during active treatment)
• Some hormonal contraceptives (particularly those with higher androgen activity)
• Certain antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and anticoagulants
• High-dose retinoids (vitamin A derivatives)

If you suspect a medication is affecting your hair, stopping it without consulting your provider is never advised. Instead, bring this up at your next visit so they can determine what’s best for you.

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Autoimmune Conditions

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss that may affect the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or body hair. Since it’s distinct from androgenetic alopecia, it usually requires a different treatment approach as well. 

Lupus, a systemic autoimmune condition, may also cause hair loss. For any autoimmune-related hair loss, a proper medical diagnosis and management strategy are the best path toward resolving it. If you suspect an autoimmune condition, make sure to discuss it with your provider; they can run the proper tests to determine what’s actually going on.

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How is Hair Loss in Women Diagnosed?

Accurate diagnosis is essential. This is because different causes require different treatments. And using the wrong approach may cost you time, money, and momentum while the underlying issue continues. A typical diagnosis process includes:

• A detailed medical and family history, covering when the shedding started, its pattern, associated symptoms, medications, and any recent stressors
• A physical examination of the scalp and the pattern of thinning
• Blood tests, which may include a complete blood count (CBC), ferritin, thyroid function (TSH, T3, T4), androgens (DHEA-S, testosterone), vitamin D, and zinc
• A scalp biopsy in some cases, particularly to distinguish androgenetic alopecia from alopecia areata
• Trichoscopy (dermoscopy of the scalp), which specialists may use for a closer look

Many women can now access an initial evaluation through telehealth, which may help you avoid long waits for an in-person dermatology appointment. For instance, Eden virtually connects you with licensed healthcare providers, starting with a brief online intake.

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Treatment Options for Hair Loss in Women

Treatment effectiveness heavily depends on identifying the correct underlying cause. Not all hair loss responds to the same intervention, and a licensed provider should guide which option—or combination of options—makes the most sense for your particular hair loss pattern.

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Minoxidil for Women

Topical minoxidil is the most widely studied and the only FDA-approved topical treatment for female pattern hair loss. Available in 2% and 5% topical formulations over the counter, as well as in an oral prescription form, it’s thought to work by prolonging the growth phase of the hair cycle and improving blood flow to the follicle. 

Clinical studies suggest that topical minoxidil may produce visible improvement in a meaningful proportion of women with androgenetic alopecia—commonly estimated at around 40 to 60%—after consistent use for three to six months, though the extent of regrowth varies. 

Low-dose oral minoxidil, used off-label at doses typically ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 mg daily, has also shown promising results in recent research and may be better tolerated by women who experience scalp irritation with topical formulations. However, results generally require ongoing use; stopping treatment often leads to a return toward baseline shedding within three to six months.

At Eden, we offer Minoxidil for Women as part of our hair growth programs. A licensed provider (whom Eden connects you with) can help determine whether a topical or oral approach (if any) may be appropriate for you.

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GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide) Treatments

GHK-Cu (glycine-histidine-lysine copper peptide) is a naturally occurring peptide that has shown potential to support hair follicle health, stimulate follicle growth signals, and help calm scalp inflammation. It’s typically used in a topical foam as part of a combination protocol.

Research is still evolving, but GHK-Cu is increasingly included in evidence-informed programs as a complementary agent. At Eden, it’s available as part of the Custom Hair Kit, a multi-component approach that may be recommended by a licensed provider based on your evaluation. 

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Addressing the Underlying Cause

For many types of hair loss, especially telogen effluvium, postpartum shedding, nutritional deficiencies, and thyroid-related loss, the most effective treatment is resolving the root cause, such as:

• Iron repletion for iron-deficiency-related shedding
• Thyroid management for thyroid-driven loss
• Protein and micronutrient optimization for diet-related shedding
• Stress reduction and nervous-system support for stress-triggered telogen effluvium
• Changing styling habits for traction alopecia

These approaches work best when confirmed via testing done by a licensed provider. That way, you know you’re addressing the root of the problem.

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What About Hair Loss From GLP-1 Medications?

Some women using GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide for weight loss may notice side effects, including increased shedding, often beginning two to four months after starting treatment. This is generally attributed to telogen effluvium triggered by rapid caloric restriction and weight loss, not a direct pharmacological effect of the medication itself. And it’s usually temporary.

Strategies that may help with this specific hair loss include:

• Maintaining adequate protein intake (around 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day)
• Ensuring overall micronutrient adequacy
• And discussing any concerns with a licensed provider. 

On top of the above, it’s important not to stop taking a GLP-1 medication because of hair changes without guidance from your provider; there are often many ways to support your hair health while staying on track with your goals.

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When to See a Provider

If you’re noticing meaningful thinning, a widening part, patchy hair loss, or shedding that has lasted more than three months, consult with a licensed provider. Early intervention generally yields better outcomes because follicles that have been dormant for a long time are harder to reactivate than those that have only recently begun to miniaturize.

With Eden, we connect you with a trusted, licensed healthcare provider who reviews your health history, goals, and pattern of loss to determine which treatment (if any) is the right fit. From there, your provider may recommend a treatment plan if clinically appropriate, and your medication ships directly to your door through a licensed pharmacy. This process starts with a brief online intake.

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Can Hair Loss in Women Be Prevented?

Not every cause of hair loss is preventable. For instance, a genetic predisposition to androgenetic alopecia can’t necessarily be avoided. But its progression can often be slowed with early, provider-guided treatment. Beyond that, several evidence-informed habits may help support hair health over time, such as:

• Maintaining adequate protein and micronutrient intake, particularly iron, vitamin D, and zinc
• Avoiding extreme caloric restriction and crash dieting
• Managing chronic stress through supported strategies like quality sleep, regular exercise, and mindfulness
• Choosing lower-tension hairstyles and limiting heat and harsh chemical treatments
• Addressing hormonal imbalances and thyroid conditions proactively

None of these is a guarantee, but together, they stack the odds in your favor. When in doubt, always reach out to a licensed provider to determine what’s best for you.