Female Hair Loss: Finding the Root Cause and the Right Treatment

Perimenopause and menopause. As oestrogen and progesterone fall, the hair growth phase can shorten and follicles can become more sensitive to androgens. Many women notice a wider parting, thinning at the crown or temples, and finer strands, often years before periods stop.

Hormonal changes around pregnancy. High oestrogen in pregnancy keeps more hairs in the growth phase. After birth those hairs shed together, usually two to four months postpartum. This often settles on its own, but it can unmask an underlying thinning or be made worse by low iron.

Stress, illness and shock to the system. A stressful event, illness, surgery, crash dieting or a high fever can push many hairs into the resting phase at once. This is called telogen effluvium, and the shedding usually shows up around three months after the trigger.

“Alopecia” simply means hair loss, and there are several types. Some need a formal diagnosis from your doctor or a dermatologist who specialises in hair loss:

• Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia): gradual, diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp, often with a family history.
• Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition causing round, smooth patches of hair loss.
• Traction alopecia: loss along the hairline or temples from tight braids, ponytails, extensions or weaves.
• Scarring alopecias: less common conditions where inflammation can permanently damage follicles, so early specialist assessment matters.

Hair is one of the first things the body deprioritises when nutrients run low. The most common culprits are low ferritin (stored iron), vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate, zinc, and changes in thyroid function.

Many women have more than one of these going on at once. That is exactly why a single product rarely fixes the problem.

Treating hair loss without understanding the cause is like topping up a leaking bucket. If low ferritin or a thyroid issue is driving the shedding, no serum or injection will fully fix it until that is corrected.

Please note: we don’t diagnose medical conditions in clinic. Your consultation is an assessment to understand your hair loss, identify likely contributing factors and decide whether our treatments are suitable for you.

A doctor-led hair loss consultation at The Axis Clinic typically includes:

• A detailed history: hormones, pregnancy, stress, diet, medications and family history.
• Scalp and hair assessment: density, parting width, hair calibre and scalp health.
• Blood tests with your doctor: if a deficiency or hormonal cause seems likely, we’ll recommend you ask your doctor to check things like ferritin, vitamin D, B12, folate and thyroid function.
• Specialist referral where needed: in more complex cases, such as suspected alopecia areata or scarring alopecia, referral to a dermatologist who specialises in hair loss may be necessary.
• A personalised plan: in-clinic treatment, at-home support and realistic timelines, where treatment is suitable for you.

Once we understand the cause, regenerative treatments can help wake up weakened follicles, extend the growth phase and improve the thickness of each hair. They work best on follicles that are thinning but still active, which is another reason to start early.

Most women get the best results from a combination plan, alongside correcting any deficiencies. Your doctor will recommend the right mix for your hair loss type.

Topical minoxidil. Minoxidil is the topical hair loss treatment with the most research behind it. You can buy it over the counter as Regaine (Rogaine in the US) or as other minoxidil products. Expect a temporary increase in shedding in the first few weeks. This is normal and usually settles.

Personalised topicals with the Fagron TrichoTest. In clinic, we offer the Fagron TrichoTest, which looks at genetic factors linked to hair loss. The results help us choose a topical formulation customised to you, rather than a one-size-fits-all product.

Minoxidil-free scalp serums. A cosmetic scalp serum such as Vichy Dercos Densi-Solutions Hair Mass Concentrate is a gentler daily option to support fuller-looking hair.

Hair supplements. Supplements can help fill nutritional gaps, ideally guided by your blood results. Viviscal combines a marine collagen complex with biotin, zinc, iron and vitamin C, and the brand recommends taking it for 3 to 6 months. It isn’t suitable with a fish or shellfish allergy, or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Scalp-friendly habits.

• Avoid tight ponytails, braids and heavy extensions.
• Be gentle with heat styling and bleaching.
• Eat enough protein, and don’t crash diet.
• Manage stress where you can. Sleep, movement and support all count.

Hair grows roughly 1 cm a month, and a follicle pushed into its resting phase needs time to re-enter growth. That means you won’t see a real difference in four weeks. Most women see noticeable change in 3 to 6 months, with fuller results building over 9 to 12 months.

The most common reason treatments “don’t work” is stopping too early.

Sometimes treatment alone isn’t enough, or you want to feel confident while you wait for results.

• Toppers clip into your own hair to add volume over a specific area. They suit localised loss, such as thinning at the crown or parting, or traction alopecia in particular areas. They are less suitable for diffuse thinning all over the scalp, because there may not be enough healthy hair to anchor them without adding tension.
• Wigs give full coverage and can be a confidence-saving option during treatment, for more advanced loss, or before and after a hair transplant.

Your consultation is the right place to talk through whether one would suit your type of hair loss.