Hair loss, also known as alopecia, can develop in both men and women but is more common in men. Hair loss can be hereditary or a natural part of aging, or it can be caused by hormonal changes, medical conditions or a stressful event.^{1, 2}

The most common type of hair loss is gradual thinning on the top of the head. Women thin on the top of the scalp, which appears as a broadening of the part in their hair, while men tend to thin in the front and crown of the head.^{3, 4}

Any female can be affected by hair loss. However, it is usually more common in:

• Women older than 40

• Women who have just had a baby

• Women who have had chemotherapy, and those who have been affected by other medications

• Women who often have hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails or tight braids) or use harsh chemicals on their hair

• Menopausal women

On average, a person normally sheds 50 to 150 strands of hair daily. Losing more than 125 strands of hair daily is considered hair loss.⁶

Learn more in our blog Hair Shedding vs. Hair Loss: What’s the Difference?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormone disorder that can cause a range of symptoms, including hair thinning and hair loss, which is referred to as female pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia.

The female body produces androgens. PCOS causes extra androgen production. These extra androgens can also cause the hair on your head to start thinning, especially near the front of your scalp.⁷

Your body has a natural cycle of shedding hair and growing new hair to replace it. During a pregnancy, hormone levels — estrogen, in particular — rise and this may delay this normal cycle. In fact, some pregnant people have a fuller head of hair.

After a pregnancy, hormone levels usually return to their prepregnant levels. As a result, you may experience hair loss one to three months following a pregnancy.⁸

Any hormonal form of birth control — oral pills, skin patches, hormone injections or implants — can potentially cause hair loss. Progestin is in these products and that may cause hair loss.

Progestin is a hormone that has androgenic activity, which means that it acts similarly to male hormones. You can switch to a nonhormonal form of birth control or use prescription and nonprescription treatments for hair loss.⁹

Yes, certain hormonal imbalances during menopause may cause hair loss.¹⁰

Dandruff is a skin condition and not a cause of hair loss. Excessive itching due to dandruff may cause temporary hair loss.¹¹ Learn more about dandruff shampoo.

While certain shampoo ingredients may be less than ideal for healthy hair, existing evidence doesn’t point to any specific ingredient as a potential cause of hair loss. This includes dry shampoo and dandruff shampoos.¹²

Deficiencies in vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as iron and zinc, have been associated with hair loss.¹³ Anemia, or an iron deficiency, is a more common cause in women than men.¹⁴

Hard water contains a buildup of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. This produces a film on the hair, making it difficult for moisture to penetrate. As a result, the hair is left dry and prone to breakage.¹⁵

Yes, but not directly. These medications can cause stress on your body and nutritional or hormonal changes that trigger hair loss. The hair loss is usually not permanent, but it can take months to reverse.¹⁶

Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. The severity of drug-induced hair loss depends on the type of drug and dosage, as well as your sensitivity to that drug.

Many different types of drugs are thought to cause hair loss, including:¹⁷

• Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)

• Antibiotics and antifungal drugs

• Antidepressants

• Birth control pills

• Anticlotting drugs

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs

• Drugs that suppress the immune system

• Drugs that treat breast cancer and other cancers

• Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsants)

• High blood pressure medications (antihypertensives), such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics

• Hormone replacement therapy

• Mood stabilizers

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Parkinson's disease drugs

• Steroids

• Tamoxifen

• Thyroid medications

• Weight loss drugs

Hair loss is common in people who are taking chemotherapy drugs for cancer.¹⁶ Chemotherapy drugs that tend to cause hair loss include:¹⁷

• Adriamycin

• Cyclophosphamide

• Dactinomycin

• Daunorubicin

• Docetaxel

• Doxorubicin

• Etoposide

• Fluorouracil

• Ifosfamide

• Irinotecan

• Methotrexate

• Nitrosoureas

• Paclitaxel

• Tamoxifen

• Topotecan

• Vinorelbine

In addition to hereditary, age and alopecia areata, there are other health conditions that can lead to hair loss, including:^{18, 19, 20}

• Childbirth, illness or other stressors: A few months after giving birth, recovering from an illness or having an operation, you may notice a lot more hairs in your brush or on your pillow. This can also happen after a stressful time in your life, such as a divorce or death of a loved one.

• Thyroid disease: If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair. Some people notice that their hair comes out in clumps when they brush it.

• Diabetes: Diabetes can interrupt the normal cycle of the hair growth process, slowing down hair growth. Having diabetes can also cause you to lose more hair than usual. It doesn’t only affect your head. You can lose hairs on your arms, legs and other body parts, too. When the hair regrows, it does so at a slower than usual rate.

• Smoking and vaping: One of the lesser-known side effects of smoking is an increased chance of developing hair loss.

1. Mayo Clinic

2. American Academy of Dermatology Association

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17. American Hair Loss Association

18. American Academy of Dermatology Association

19. Healthline

20. Healthline

Medications are available to treat female-pattern hair loss. RedBox Rx offers the following women’s hair loss treatments:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine®): Minoxidil is available in an oral tablet by prescription and topical formulations (liquid, foam and shampoo) which you can get by prescription or over the counter.

• Spironolactone (Aldactone®): This is a prescription drug women can use for androgenic alopecia.²¹

This can vary from patient to patient and treatment to treatment. But on average, results should begin to appear after three to six months.²²

This can vary depending on each patient’s tolerance for medication.

For women, minoxidil and spironolactone address women’s hair loss differently. Spironolactone is an anti-androgen that blocks the hormones that contribute to female-pattern hair loss, while oral minoxidil stimulates hair follicles by increasing blood flow to the scalp. They can be used together.²³ To determine which medication works best, or if a combined treatment is needed, speak with a healthcare provider.

In some cases, yes, and this may make treatment more effective. Discuss combination treatments with your healthcare provider to make sure your medications interact safely.

Shampoos can’t treat the cause of your hair loss, but some ingredients are better than others. If you’re experiencing hair loss, pick a shampoo that’s moisturizing and includes an active ingredient like ketoconazole to improve hair health.²⁴

Hair loss medication is not a permanent cure. If you stop treatment, the newly grown hair will eventually fall out.²⁵

The type of temporary hair loss caused by a stressor or change to your body is called telogen effluvium. This can be an acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) condition.

• Acute stress hair loss lasts fewer than six months, and your hair loss tends to happen two to three months after a stress or change to your body. In 95% of cases, acute telogen effluvium goes away on its own.

• Chronic stress hair loss lasts longer than six months. It affects your entire scalp and may not have a clear cause. You may lose your hair in handfuls during the early stages, but it won’t cause total baldness.

Because one of the main causes is a stressor on your body, it’s important to identify the cause. Once you address the cause, most cases will resolve without treatment within six to eight months.

Even though stress hair loss should resolve on its own, common treatments may include medications like minoxidil tablet or minoxidil foam, taking multivitamins or supplements that contain iron and biotin, and modifying your hairstyle technique.²⁶

Biotin is a B vitamin that contains essential proteins that help with the development of your skin, nails and hair. It does not help regrow hair, but it has been shown to help with preventing balding and hair loss.²⁷

Collagen may help improve your hair by providing amino acids and helping fight damaged hair follicles. It may also slow down thinning and graying. However, research on the effects of collagen on human hair is limited.²⁸

A well-balanced diet is the first key to healthy hair. But you may still need extra help to kick-start your hair restoration.²⁹ The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.³⁰

Other natural supplements that may help with hair loss include pumpkin seed oil, capsaicin and isoflavone, omegas 3 and 6 with antioxidants, and apple nutraceutical.³¹

Yes. RedBox Rx offers the following prescription treatment options for hair loss:

• Minoxidil Tablet for Men & Women (Generic Loniten®)

• Minoxidil Foam for Men & Women (Generic Rogaine®)

• Spironolactone for Women (Generic Aldactone®)

21. National Library of Medicine

22. Cleveland Clinic

23. National Library of Medicine

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30. Forbes

31. ABC News