What does it mean if my hair is falling out?

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Some hair loss is just maintenance: MedlinePlus notes losing roughly 50 to 200 hairs a day is normal turnover on a scalp of about 100,000. The question is whether you are shedding past that - clumps in the drain, a visible thinning part, handfuls on the pillow.

The most common cause of sudden diffuse shedding is telogen effluvium: a physical shock - high fever, surgery, COVID, crash dieting, childbirth, major stress - pushes hairs into the shedding phase, and the fallout shows up two to three months later. It is temporary and regrows, though slowly. The other usual suspects: thyroid problems, iron deficiency, and hormonal shifts like postpartum or menopause. Pattern baldness is the slow, genetic kind - receding temples and crown in men, a widening part in women. And round, totally smooth patches are alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that often regrows with treatment.

Worth a doctor visit: sudden heavy shedding, patches, scalp pain or scaling, or shedding with fatigue, cold intolerance, or irregular periods - a thyroid and iron blood test answers most of that list. Medications including some blood thinners, retinoids, and beta blockers can shed hair too, so bring the list.

Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text. Describe the pattern and timing, and it can help you match it to the likely cause.

What does it mean if my hair is falling out?

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