What causes hair loss – and how can you treat it?

Pinpointing the exact cause of hair loss is crucial for selecting the right treatment — one that will deliver real, lasting results. Unfortunately, the underlying reasons for thinning hair are often complex and difficult to diagnose. This is due to the wide range of factors that can contribute to hair loss, as well as the fact that hundreds of medical conditions list hair shedding as a symptom.

Experts typically group the causes of hair loss into four main categories:

• Environmental factors – including stress, pollution, and a poor or unbalanced diet
• Genetic predisposition – inherited sensitivity to hair thinning or pattern baldness
• Medical conditions – from temporary vitamin deficiencies to serious hormonal or autoimmune disorders
• Improper hair and scalp care – such as harsh styling treatments, unsuitable cosmetics, or neglecting scalp hygiene

Among these, health-related causes are the most difficult to address without proper medical consultation. These often overlap with environmental influences and may include:

• Iron deficiency, especially low ferritin levels (a key protein that stores iron)
• Vitamin D and/or folic acid deficiency
• Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
• Autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease
• Infections – both acute and chronic
• Chronic skin conditions – like psoriasis, eczema, or rashes affecting the scalp
• Systemic illnesses, such as lupus or tumors
• Medication side effects, especially from beta-blockers, anticoagulants, antiepileptics, or retinoids

When hair loss is caused by environmental factors, health issues, or improper hair care, there is a high chance that proper treatment will restore normal follicle function, reduce shedding, and gradually rebuild natural hair density. However, when hair loss is driven by genetic causes — such as androgenetic alopecia — the damage to hair follicles is often progressive and unfortunately, irreversible. In such cases, the goal of therapy shifts from restoration to slowing the progression and maintaining existing hair as long as possible

Hair loss is a natural, physiological process and usually nothing to worry about. On average, a person loses between 100 and 150 hairs per day, so seeing hair on your brush or clothes is completely normal. So when do we start talking about baldness, meaning excessive hair loss? Trichologists agree that it becomes a concern when you’re losing more than 200 hairs daily. Naturally, it’s hard to visually spot the difference between 150 and 200 strands, but warning signs include a visible decline in hair quality, dullness, an unhealthy-looking scalp, or thinning patches. These may suggest that a large number of your hair follicles are stuck in the telogen phase for longer than they should be.

In general, there are over 20 different types of hair loss identified in medicine. These include patchy hair loss, scarring alopecia, post-pregnancy hair loss, diffuse thinning, or stress-induced hair loss. Some of these types can even appear at the same time. However, the two most common forms of baldness are:

• telogen effluvium

• androgenic baldness

When talking about telogen effluvium, it’s important to understand the three phases of the hair life cycle:

• The first is the anagen phase (growth phase) – it lasts from 2 up to around 6 years, and in healthy, young individuals, about 90% of hair should be in this phase.
• The second is the catagen phase (transition phase) – it lasts around 2 weeks, during which the hair bulb shrinks, growth stops, and the hair prepares to shed.
• The third is the telogen phase (resting phase) – it lasts from 2 to 6 months, and in healthy people, about 10% of scalp hair is in this stage. This is when the hair weakens and eventually falls out, while new bulbs and strands begin forming in the follicles.

Telogen effluvium occurs when more than the normal 10% of hair follicles remain in the resting phase (telogen). This percentage can sometimes reach as high as 60–80%, and that’s when visible thinning of the scalp hair may begin to appear. The most common causes of telogen effluvium include medical conditions, mineral deficiencies, certain medications, and hormonal imbalances. The effects of telogen effluvium can be reduced and reversed through a well-planned and properly implemented treatment.

Androgenic baldness, on the other hand, is most often caused by genetic predispositions. This type of hair loss usually affects men, but also women, since hair loss in this case isn’t related to elevated testosterone levels, but rather to an overreaction of androgen receptors. Although androgenic baldness has a genetic basis, therapy that is implemented early enough can slow it down and help recover part of the lost hair. Unfortunately, neglect in this area most often results in irreversible hair loss consequences.

Patients often try to “treat” the first signs of excessive hair loss on their own. If the primary cause is improper hair or scalp care, or aggressive styling routines and products, stopping these actions or adjusting the routine may bring noticeable improvement and slow down hair loss. Unfortunately, it’s quite common for patients to misdiagnose the root cause of their hair loss, which delays effective treatment. That’s why at the first sign of increased shedding, it’s essential to consult a trichology specialist and undergo the necessary tests to establish a correct diagnosis. Based on the results, it may turn out that a consultation with an aesthetic medicine doctor is required to plan specialist hair loss treatments and hair restoration procedures.

The first step in many hair loss treatments is glycolic scalp peeling, which prepares the scalp to better absorb nourishing ingredients. Enriched with vitamins E and F, this treatment deeply cleanses the scalp and can also be used on its own as a preventive measure against hair thinning and baldness. If, during the course of treatment, the doctor recommends nourishing or therapeutic mesotherapy, it’s best to undergo the scalp peeling procedure 2–3 days prior. This ensures improved absorption of active ingredients and boosts the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

One of the most effective aesthetic treatments for people struggling with hair thinning or early-stage hair loss is scalp revitalizing mesotherapy. This procedure is especially recommended for clients whose hair loss has not yet progressed significantly. Its main goal is to slow down or prevent further hair thinning while simultaneously improving scalp health and slowing the aging process of the skin, which in turn supports stronger, healthier hair growth. Microneedle mesotherapy works by stimulating cellular metabolism and boosting the absorption of active ingredients directly into the scalp. During the treatment, a nourishing cocktail containing B vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and essential minerals is injected just below the surface of the skin. The key ingredient here is biotin—also known as vitamin B7 or vitamin H—which plays a crucial role in supporting healthy skin cell function and improving overall scalp condition.

Among the most popular therapeutic mesotherapy treatments for hair loss is the standard mesotherapy injection procedure. This involves the intradermal delivery of nutrient-rich formulas by a licensed aesthetic professional. These targeted injections help nourish hair follicles, restore the biological balance of the scalp, and strengthen hair at the root. With consistent treatment, clients may begin to see new hair growth in thinning areas within 2–3 months. Another powerful option for treating hair loss is Mesoskin PRP Mesotherapy—a cutting-edge procedure that uses the body’s own natural healing power. This method involves injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP), drawn from the client’s own blood, directly into the scalp. PRP stimulates hair follicle activity and is particularly effective for individuals dealing with androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness). Many clients choose this approach to delay or even avoid the need for expensive hair transplant surgery.

One of the most popular self-treatment methods for dealing with hair loss—without consulting a doctor—is the use of hair growth ampoules designed to prevent balding. Many companies, including high-end brands, offer such products, often leading to a significant financial strain for those who use them regularly. But are they actually effective, and is it really worth investing in them? Unfortunately, the way these popular ampoules (or “scalp serums”) work doesn’t offer much hope when it comes to real effectiveness. The contents of the ampoules are applied only superficially to the hair and scalp, meaning the active ingredients don’t reach the deeper layers of the skin where the hair follicles are located. ecause of this, investing in these types of at-home treatments is, unfortunately, not cost-effective. In most cases, the results will be minimal at best, and the products will not stop or significantly slow down hair loss.

Accurately identifying the cause of hair loss can be challenging—even for trained professionals. What’s more, undergoing the wrong treatments without medical consultation can actually worsen the condition of your scalp and damage hair follicles even further. That’s why a specialist consultation with a qualified doctor, followed by a carefully tailored treatment plan, is essential in effectively addressing hair loss. For many people, hair is far too important an element of their appearance to risk losing it due to a misguided approach or self-diagnosis. It’s also important to note that professional hair loss treatments and medical hair restoration therapies are significantly more effective than random supplementation or over-the-counter products marketed to “stop hair thinning.” If you’re serious about maintaining or restoring hair density, a professional, evidence-based strategy is the smartest investment you can make.