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What kind of hair loss? At a glance Urgent care Shedding, thinning or patches How common Causes Treatments What you can do When to see a doctor When to get in-person care Can an online doctor help? Health tools Conditions How Mobi Doctor works Frequently asked questions Sources
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, for most. Of the 15 hair loss pages on Mobi Doctor, 11 are usually treated or managed by video, 2 partly, and 2 are assessed online and treated in person.
- Most common: pattern hair loss affects up to half of men of European descent by 50, and about 40 in 100 women by 50. Shedding after illness, stress or childbirth is one of the most common causes of rapid hair loss.
- Normal shedding: losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Losing handfuls, a widening parting or bald patches are worth checking.
- What works: finasteride and minoxidil for pattern hair loss, but only while you use them; supplements help only if you are low in something.
- Emergency: hair loss is rarely an emergency. Call 112 for sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or difficulty breathing, after a hair dye or a new medicine.
Hair loss on its own is not an emergency. Call 112 or go to an emergency department for sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue or difficulty breathing after a hair dye or a new medicine; chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness after starting minoxidil; thoughts of ending your life that you might act on; or a hot, swollen, very painful scalp with a high temperature and feeling very unwell.
What kind of hair loss do you have?
Choose what fits best. Each page explains the likely causes, the tests that help, what a doctor can do online, and the signs that need in-person care.
- A receding hairline or thinning crownMale pattern baldness
- A hairline moving back at the templesReceding hairline: maturing or receding?
- Thinning on top and a wider partingFemale pattern hair loss
- Hair coming out in handfulsTelogen effluvium: shedding after a trigger
- Shedding a few months after having a babyPostpartum hair loss
- Round, smooth bald patchesAlopecia areata
- Itchy, scaly patches with broken hairsScalp ringworm
- Thinning edges from tight hairstylesTraction alopecia
- A receding hairline with thinning eyebrowsFrontal fibrosing alopecia
- An urge to pull out your hairTrichotillomania
- Thinning or shedding as a womanHair loss in women: every cause
- Not sure what kind it isHair loss (alopecia): the full guide
The two medicines with the best evidence for pattern hair loss have their own guides, Finasteride and Minoxidil, and if you are thinking about surgery, the hair transplant page explains who it suits and what to check, at home or abroad.
Common types of hair loss at a glance
The table lists every hair loss page on Mobi Doctor: what each type usually looks like and how much of its care works online. 11 of the 15 are usually treated or managed online. Alopecia areata and trichotillomania are partly treated online, and hair transplants and frontal fibrosing alopecia are assessed online, with the treatment given in person.
| Type of hair loss | What it usually looks like | Online care | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male pattern baldness | A receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown, slowly getting worse | Treated online | Male Pattern Baldness |
| Receding hairline | The hairline moving back, deepest at the temples, in men and in women | Treated online | Receding Hairline |
| Female pattern hair loss | Gradual thinning on top and a wider parting, with the hairline usually kept | Treated online | Female Pattern Hair Loss |
| Hair loss in women | Shedding, thinning on top, or hair loss with periods, PCOS, the menopause or low iron | Treated online | Hair Loss in Women |
| Telogen effluvium | Sudden shedding from all over, 2 to 3 months after illness, stress or weight loss | Handled online | Telogen Effluvium |
| Postpartum hair loss | Shedding about 3 months after giving birth, usually back to normal within a year | Handled online | Postpartum Hair Loss |
| Alopecia areata | Smooth, round bald patches on the scalp, beard or eyebrows | Partly online | Alopecia Areata |
| Scalp ringworm | Itchy, scaly patches with broken hairs, sometimes a painful, swollen lump | Treated online | Scalp Ringworm |
| Traction alopecia | Thinning at the edges and temples from tight hairstyles | Handled online | Traction Alopecia |
| Trichotillomania | Irregular patches with broken hairs, from an urge to pull hair out | Partly online | Trichotillomania |
| Frontal fibrosing alopecia | A band of pale, shiny skin along the hairline, with thinning eyebrows | Assessed online | Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia |
| Hair loss (alopecia) | Any hair loss when you are not sure of the type | Treated online | Hair Loss (Alopecia) |
| Finasteride | A tablet for male pattern hair loss | Treated online | Finasteride |
| Minoxidil | A solution, foam or tablet for pattern hair loss in men and women | Treated online | Minoxidil |
| Hair transplant | Surgery that moves hair from the back of the head to thinning areas | Assessed online | Hair Transplant |
What each online-care label means is explained under online care for hair loss.
Which hair loss needs urgent care?
Hair loss is rarely urgent. A severe reaction to a hair dye or a new medicine is an emergency: call 112. For a painful, swollen patch with pus, hair loss with a high temperature or weight loss, or side effects of hair loss medicines, get medical advice the same day.
| Warning sign | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or difficulty breathing, after a hair dye or a new medicine | A severe allergic reaction | Call 112 |
| Chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness after starting minoxidil | A rare effect on the heart and blood pressure | Call 112 |
| Thoughts of ending your life that you might act on | A mental health emergency | Call 112 |
| Severe tummy pain, repeated vomiting or a swollen tummy in someone who swallows hair | A hairball blocking the bowel | Call 112 |
| A painful, swollen, boggy patch on the scalp, or pus | A kerion (inflamed scalp ringworm) or an abscess | Get medical advice the same day |
| Hair loss with a high temperature, drenching sweats or weight loss you cannot explain | An illness behind the hair loss | Get medical advice the same day |
| Low mood or a change in behaviour while taking finasteride | A rare side effect | Stop the tablets and get medical advice the same day |
| Blisters, a burning rash or swelling of the scalp after a dye | An allergic reaction to the dye | Get medical advice the same day |
| A receding hairline with thinning eyebrows, itching or shiny skin | Frontal fibrosing alopecia, a scarring hair loss | Book a consultation soon |
| Bald patches that are spreading quickly | Alopecia areata | Book a consultation |
Shedding, thinning or patches: what they can mean
How the hair is lost is the first clue. Shedding from all over the scalp is usually telogen effluvium; gradual thinning on top or at the temples is pattern hair loss; round patches are usually alopecia areata; and scaly, itchy patches with broken hairs point to ringworm.
| What you notice | What it often means | What to do | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair coming out in handfuls, all over the scalp | Telogen effluvium, 2 to 3 months after a trigger | Look for the trigger; tests if there is none | Telogen Effluvium |
| Shedding about 3 months after having a baby | Postpartum hair loss | Reassurance; it usually settles within a year | Postpartum Hair Loss |
| A hairline moving back and a thinning crown | Male pattern hair loss | Finasteride, minoxidil or both | Male Pattern Baldness Receding Hairline |
| Thinning on top and a wider parting | Female pattern hair loss | Minoxidil, sometimes spironolactone | Female Pattern Hair Loss Hair Loss in Women |
| Smooth, round bald patches | Alopecia areata | Steroid treatment, or watching and waiting | Alopecia Areata |
| Itchy, scaly patches with broken hairs | Scalp ringworm | A sample, then antifungal tablets | Scalp Ringworm |
| Thinning at the edges or along partings | Traction alopecia | Looser hairstyles | Traction Alopecia |
| Irregular patches with hairs of different lengths | Trichotillomania | Habit reversal training | Trichotillomania |
| A band of shiny skin along the hairline, thinning eyebrows | Frontal fibrosing alopecia | A dermatologist, soon | Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia |
How much hair loss is normal?
Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, and you see more on the days you wash or brush your hair. Each hair grows for years, rests for a few months and then falls out as a new hair grows in its place. Losing more than about 125 hairs a day, a wider parting, a thinner ponytail or patches are reasons to see a doctor.
How common is hair loss?
Very common. Pattern hair loss affects up to half of men of European descent by the age of 50 and about 40 in 100 women by the age of 50, and more than half of women notice hair loss at some point in their lives.
| Type | How common | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Male pattern hair loss | Up to half of men of European descent by 50, and up to 80 in 100 by 70 | Male Pattern Baldness |
| Female pattern hair loss | About 40 in 100 women by 50; fewer than 45 in 100 reach 80 with a full head of hair | Female Pattern Hair Loss |
| Alopecia areata | About 1 in 1,000 people at any time, and up to 1 in 50 at some point in their lives | Alopecia Areata |
| Trichotillomania | Up to 4 in 100 people | Trichotillomania |
| Traction alopecia | In studies in South Africa, about 1 in 6 schoolgirls and nearly 1 in 3 women | Traction Alopecia |
Most hair loss is not a sign of serious illness, but it can affect how people feel about themselves, and help with that is part of good care.
What causes hair loss?
The main causes are inherited pattern hair loss and shedding after a shock to the body, such as an illness, childbirth, stress or rapid weight loss. Low iron, thyroid problems, hormones, medicines, tight hairstyles, infections and conditions of the immune system cause the rest.
- Genes and hormones: pattern hair loss comes from follicles that are inherited to be sensitive to DHT, a hormone made from testosterone. See male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss.
- A shock to the body: an illness with a high temperature, an operation, childbirth, severe stress or a crash diet pushes hairs into their resting phase, and they fall out 2 to 3 months later: telogen effluvium.
- Deficiencies and hormones: low iron, thyroid problems and PCOS. See hair loss in women.
- The immune system: alopecia areata causes round patches, and frontal fibrosing alopecia scars the hairline.
- Infection: scalp ringworm, a fungal infection of the scalp and hair.
- Pulling: tight hairstyles cause traction alopecia, and an urge to pull out hair is trichotillomania.
- Medicines and treatments: chemotherapy and some other medicines, and rapid weight loss with weight-loss medicines.
Does stress cause hair loss?
Yes. Severe emotional stress is one of the main triggers of telogen effluvium, and the shedding starts 2 to 3 months later. It usually settles once the stress has passed, and the hair grows back.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
The best evidence says no. In a 12-week randomised trial of 45 men who did resistance training, published in 2025, creatine made no difference to DHT levels, hair density or the hair follicles compared with a dummy supplement. It was the first trial to look directly at the hair follicles.
Can weight-loss injections cause hair loss?
Hair loss has been reported with weight-loss medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, mostly in women. Rapid weight loss is a known trigger of telogen effluvium, which is the most likely explanation, and the hair usually grows back. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own: talk to the doctor who prescribed it.
Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
Low iron is the deficiency most often linked to hair loss, and low vitamin B12 or folate can play a part. Correcting a deficiency helps the hair loss it was causing, but there is not enough evidence that vitamins or supplements help when your levels are normal.
Does testosterone cause hair loss?
Pattern hair loss is driven by DHT, a hormone made from testosterone, acting on follicles that are inherited to be sensitive to it, so your genes matter more than your testosterone level. If you take testosterone or are thinking about it, the doctor can talk through hair loss and its treatment. See testosterone replacement therapy.
Hair loss treatments: what works and what does not
The right treatment depends on the type of hair loss. Finasteride and minoxidil have the best evidence for pattern hair loss, but they work only while you use them. Shedding after a trigger usually needs no medicine, and alopecia areata, ringworm and scarring hair loss each have their own treatment.
| Treatment | What it is for | What to expect | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finasteride tablets | Male pattern hair loss | Results after 3 to 6 months; the benefit is lost within a year of stopping | Finasteride |
| Minoxidil solution, foam or tablets | Pattern hair loss in men and women, and other types | New hairs after about 4 months, full effect in 6 to 12 months | Minoxidil |
| Spironolactone tablets | Female pattern hair loss | Improvement after about 6 months; not used in pregnancy | Hair Loss in Women |
| Steroid creams and injections | Alopecia areata, and an inflamed scalp | New hair 4 to 12 weeks after starting; injections are given in person | Alopecia Areata |
| Antifungal tablets and shampoo | Scalp ringworm | At least 4 weeks of tablets; creams alone cannot cure it | Scalp Ringworm |
| Habit reversal training | Trichotillomania | The main treatment, given by a psychologist or therapist | Trichotillomania |
| Treating the cause | Shedding, low iron, thyroid problems | Hair grows back once the trigger has passed | Telogen Effluvium |
| Hair transplant | Stable pattern hair loss | Surgery in person; the full result takes a year or more | Hair Transplant |
What does not help, or has weak evidence
- vitamins and supplements when your levels are normal
- shampoos sold to regrow hair
- low-level laser devices, whose benefit is unproven
- platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, where the evidence is low certainty
- miracle cures
Wigs, hairpieces, hair fibres and coloured hair sprays help many people feel more confident while treatment works, or instead of it.
How to stop hair loss: what you can do yourself
Find the cause first, because the right step depends on it. Then handle your hair gently, avoid tight styles and harsh chemicals, eat well without crash diets, and, for pattern hair loss, start a treatment that works early and keep going.
- Find the cause See a doctor before buying treatments: shedding, pattern hair loss and patches all need different care.
- Be gentle Handle shedding hair gently, and avoid tight ponytails, braids, extensions and too much heat.
- Eat well A varied diet with enough protein and iron, and no crash diets or rapid weight loss.
- Patch test dyes Test a hair dye on a strand of your hair at least 48 hours before you use it.
How to stop hair falling out
Shedding after a trigger stops on its own once the trigger has passed, usually within 6 to 9 months, and gentle hair care helps while you wait. Pattern hair loss does not stop on its own, but finasteride and minoxidil can stop or slow it for as long as you use them. Patches and scalp problems need their own treatment, so a diagnosis comes first.
Can hair loss be reversed?
Often, yes. Hair lost through shedding, alopecia areata, early traction alopecia and ringworm usually grows back, because the follicles are still alive. Pattern hair loss can be slowed and partly reversed with treatment. Hair lost to scarring, as in frontal fibrosing alopecia, does not grow back.
When should I see a doctor about hair loss?
Book a consultation if:
- you are losing much more hair than usual, or in handfuls
- your parting is widening or your hairline is moving back, and it worries you
- you have bald patches, or patches that are spreading
- your scalp is itchy, scaly, red, sore or shiny where hair used to grow
- your eyebrows or eyelashes are thinning
- hair loss comes with tiredness, heavy periods, weight changes, acne or extra facial hair
- you want to start, change or stop finasteride or minoxidil
- you are thinking about a hair transplant
- hair loss is affecting your mood or confidence
See a doctor about the cause before paying for a commercial hair clinic, so that you know which treatments can help.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or difficulty breathing, after a hair dye or a new medicine
- chest pain, fainting or severe breathlessness after starting minoxidil
- thoughts of ending your life that you might act on
- a hot, swollen, very painful scalp with a high temperature and feeling very unwell
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a painful, swollen, boggy patch on the scalp, or pus
- hair loss with a high temperature, drenching sweats or weight loss you cannot explain
- low mood, depression or a change in behaviour while taking finasteride: stop the tablets
- a racing heartbeat, swollen ankles or dizziness after starting minoxidil tablets
- blisters, a burning rash or swelling of the scalp after a hair dye
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
Can an online doctor treat hair loss?
Yes, for most. Hair loss is assessed mainly from the story and the pattern, which a doctor can see on clear photos and on camera: how it started, what came before it, and where the hair is being lost. Of the 15 hair loss pages on Mobi Doctor, 8 are usually treated online and 3 more are usually managed online, 73% in all; 2 are partly treated online, and 2, hair transplants and frontal fibrosing alopecia, are assessed online and treated in person. The doctor tells you when you need an examination, a test or a specialist.
What the doctor can do online
The doctor listens, looks at any photos you share and decides with you what helps. If a medicine is the right answer, the doctor prescribes it. If you need an examination, a test or urgent care, the doctor tells you where to go.
- The cause, not just the symptom Shedding, pattern hair loss, patches and scalp conditions each have their own clues and their own treatment.
- Tests when they help Iron, thyroid and hormone tests when your story points to them, at a laboratory near you.
- Medicines chosen safely Before prescribing, the doctor asks about pregnancy, heart conditions, low mood and your other medicines.
- Progress followed Photos at 6 and 12 months, and a clear decision about whether a treatment is worth continuing.
What still needs in-person care
- blood tests at a laboratory, and samples of scale and hair for ringworm
- steroid injections into bald patches, and contact immunotherapy
- a scalp examination with a magnifier, and a scalp biopsy
- specialist treatment for scarring hair loss and severe alopecia areata
- hair transplants and PRP injections
- habit reversal training with a psychologist or therapist
What the online-care labels mean
| Label | What it means | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Treated online | Usually assessed and treated by video, with a prescription when one is needed | 8, including male and female pattern hair loss, a receding hairline and scalp ringworm |
| Handled online | Usually managed online with advice, tests and treatment when it helps | 3: telogen effluvium, postpartum hair loss and traction alopecia |
| Partly online | Assessed and partly treated by video, but part of the care, such as injections or therapy, is in person | 2: alopecia areata and trichotillomania |
| Assessed online | Assessed by video, and the doctor tells you where to go; the treatment is given in person | 2: hair transplants and frontal fibrosing alopecia |
Not sure why you are losing hair? A doctor can help you find the cause in one consultation.
See available times →Hair loss tools
Free tools on Mobi Doctor:
- Symptom NavigatorPick a body area, including skin, hair and nails, or type a symptom to find the right page
- Perimenopause testA free check of whether your symptoms fit the perimenopause, which can bring hair changes
- Medicine Shortage TrackerLive shortage reports for medicines across Europe, from official registers
All hair loss conditions and treatments
Many of these can be assessed and treated online. Each page covers the causes, tests and treatment, and the signs that need in-person care.
Pattern hair loss and the hairline
Shedding
Patches and the scalp
Treatments
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your hair: show the thinning areas on camera or in photos, and say when it started, what happened in the months before, and what you have tried.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, which tests you need, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Frequently asked questions about hair loss
What are the main causes of hair loss?
Inherited pattern hair loss and shedding after a shock to the body, such as an illness, childbirth, stress or rapid weight loss. Low iron, thyroid problems, hormones, medicines, tight hairstyles, ringworm and alopecia areata cause most of the rest.
How much hair loss is normal?
Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Losing more than about 125 a day, handfuls in the shower, a wider parting or bald patches are worth checking with a doctor.
What is the best treatment for thinning hair?
It depends on the cause. For pattern hair loss, finasteride (for men) and minoxidil (for men and women) have the best evidence. Shedding after a trigger usually settles on its own, and low iron or a thyroid problem needs treating.
How do I stop my hair from falling out?
Find the cause first. Shedding after a trigger stops on its own within months. Pattern hair loss can be stopped or slowed with finasteride or minoxidil while you use them. Patches and scalp problems need their own treatment.
How can I regrow hair naturally?
There is no proven natural cure. Eating well, avoiding crash diets and gentle hair care help, and correcting low iron helps shedding it caused. Minoxidil is the treatment with the best evidence for regrowth.
Can hair loss be reversed?
Often. Shedding, alopecia areata, early traction alopecia and ringworm usually grow back. Pattern hair loss can be slowed and partly reversed with treatment. Scarring hair loss does not grow back.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
The best evidence says no. A 12-week randomised trial in 2025 found no difference in DHT, hair density or hair follicles between men taking creatine and men taking a dummy supplement.
Can weight-loss injections cause hair loss?
Hair loss has been reported with weight-loss medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, mostly in women. Rapid weight loss is the likely cause, and the hair usually grows back. Do not stop the medicine on your own.
Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss?
Low iron is the deficiency most often linked to hair loss, and low vitamin B12 or folate can play a part. Supplements help when levels are low, not when they are normal.
Does stress cause hair loss?
Yes. Severe stress can trigger telogen effluvium, heavy shedding that starts 2 to 3 months later and usually settles once the stress has passed.
When should I worry about hair loss?
See a doctor for sudden heavy shedding, bald patches, a sore, scaly or shiny scalp, thinning eyebrows, or hair loss with tiredness, weight changes or a high temperature. Hair loss itself is rarely an emergency.
Can an online doctor treat hair loss?
Yes, for most. Of the 15 hair loss pages on Mobi Doctor, 11 are usually treated or managed online. A doctor can assess your hair loss on photos and by video, arrange tests and prescribe treatment when it is right for you.
- Hair loss, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 24 January 2024.
- Women and hair loss: coping tips, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 24 January 2024.
- Male pattern hair loss, DermNet, New Zealand, 2015, updated 2025.
- Female pattern hair loss, DermNet, New Zealand, 2015, updated 2026.
- Telogen effluvium (hair shedding), DermNet, New Zealand, updated June 2024.
- Alopecia areata, DermNet, New Zealand, updated July 2024.
- Understanding alopecia areata, Alopecia UK, updated 6 February 2026.
- Hair loss in women, Cleveland Clinic (US), updated 9 February 2024.
- Trichotillomania, DermNet, New Zealand, updated June 2024.
- Tinea capitis, DermNet, New Zealand, updated August 2024.
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia, DermNet, New Zealand, revised 2020, updated 2024.
- Determinants of marginal traction alopecia in African girls and women, Khumalo NP, Jessop S, Gumedze F, Ehrlich R. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008.
- Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial, Ashtary-Larky D, Forbes SC, Haghighat N, et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025.
- Alopecia as an emerging adverse effect associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight loss: a scoping review, Rojas Lopez R, Lynett Barrera D, Amaya Muñoz M, Saavedra Diaz MP. Cureus, 2025.
- Hair dye reactions, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 29 December 2025.
- Common questions about finasteride, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 2 August 2023.
- Side effects of finasteride, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 2 August 2023.
- Minoxidil solution, DermNet, New Zealand, updated November 2025.
- Characterization and management of adverse events of low-dose oral minoxidil treatment for alopecia: a narrative review, Jimenez-Cauhe J, Lo Sicco KI, Shapiro J, et al. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025.
- Spironolactone for female pattern hair loss, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dermatology, 2026, review due July 2029.
- Traction alopecia, DermNet, New Zealand, updated July 2024.
- FUE hair transplant: what is it?, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), updated July 2024.
- Is autologous platelet-rich plasma capable of increasing hair density in patients with androgenic alopecia? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, Kieling L, Konzen AT, Zanella RK, Valente DS. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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