Hair & Scalp · Shedding & causes

Hair Fall Control: Reasons, Treatment & How to Stop It

Written by · Registration TSMC/FMR/36195 · Published: 3 October 2026 · 17 min read · 28 references
Young man running his hand through thick dark hair
Shedding you notice in your hand is the symptom, not the diagnosis. Where the scalp shows and how fast the change came decide which of the causes below you are looking at.

Hair fall control depends on the cause. A daily loss of 50 to 100 hairs is normal.1 Sudden heavy shedding tends to start about three months after a fever, a crash diet or childbirth, and the hair usually grows back.12 Slow thinning over the temples, the crown or the parting is pattern hair loss, which needs long-term treatment to hold.3

So the first job is to work out which one you have. Look at where your scalp shows, how fast the change came and what happened about three months ago. Those answers point to the cause faster than any count of hairs in the drain.

How much hair fall is normal per day? Copy link

The American Academy of Dermatology puts normal shedding at 50 to 100 hairs a day.1 The figure follows from how hair grows. About 85% of scalp hairs are growing at any moment and about 15% are resting, and the resting hairs are the ones that fall.2

A fallen hair with a small white bulb at its root is one of these resting hairs. The bulb is how doctors recognize a hair that had reached its resting phase.2

For the average hair fall per day, this range is the published figure. How many hairs fall on a normal day is hard to count at home. As arithmetic, a person who sheds 100 hairs a day and washes every third day can see up to 300 hairs on wash day. That is three ordinary days arriving together.

Doctors use a pull test instead of a count. A small bundle of hair is held between the fingers and pulled gently. In a study of 181 people, two hairs or fewer came away in 97.2% of them, and washing or brushing beforehand made no significant difference.4 More than two hairs can therefore support active shedding, though the pull test is one part of the diagnosis.

Hair fall control: normal hair fall per day is 50 to 100 hairs, shown on a segmented scale Segmented scale from 0 to 200 hairs a day. The band from 50 to 100 hairs is marked Normal; above 100 is marked Look for a trigger. A second bar shows about 85% of scalp hairs growing and about 15% resting at any moment. SAPIENS · HAIR FALL · FIGURE 1 Normal daily hair fall 50 to 100 hairs shed a day is the normal range Normal Look for a trigger 0 50 100 150 200 hairs Scalp hairs at any moment 85% growing 15% resting Source: American Academy of Dermatology; StatPearls, 2024 · References 1 and 2
Normal hair fall per day. The American Academy of Dermatology gives 50 to 100 hairs a day as normal; about 85% of scalp hairs are growing and about 15% are resting at any moment. The scale is a guide, and no single count above 100 defines disease. References 1 and 2.

Hair fall reasons: why it occurs and what each cause looks like Copy link

The reasons for hair fall to check first are temporary shedding after a trigger, called telogen effluvium, and pattern hair loss, the inherited slow thinning. Heavy or excessive hair fall, the kind that makes you ask why your hair is falling so much, is the first of these reasons.1 They differ in how they start, where they show and whether the hair returns.

Types of hair fall and how to tell them apart
TypeHow it startsWhere it showsDoes the hair return?
Shedding after a trigger (telogen effluvium)Suddenly, about 3 months after a fever, operation, childbirth or major weight lossAll over the scalpUsually. Shedding settles within 6 months and fullness returns within 6 to 9 months
Pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)Gradually, over yearsTemples and crown in men; crown and top in women, with the front hairline usually keptUsually keeps progressing without treatment
Alopecia areataSuddenlyA round or oval smooth patch on the scalp or beardSometimes, on its own
TractionSlowly, with tight hairstylesThe hairline and wherever the hair is pulledEarly on, yes; later it can be permanent

Sources: references 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Shedding after a trigger has a delay built in. The trigger usually sits about three months before the hair starts falling, with a range of one to six months.2 Look back over that window for a high fever, an operation, childbirth, a stretch of heavy stress, stopping the contraceptive pill or a weight loss of 20 pounds (about 9 kg) or more.1 In its acute form, telogen effluvium lasts less than six months.2

Other causes of hair fall sit outside these types. They include some drugs and medical treatments, harsh hair-care products and hair pulling.1

What is the difference between hair fall and hair loss? Copy link

Hair fall, or baal jhadna in Hindi, means hair leaving the scalp. Hair loss is the scalp ending up with less hair. You can have one without the other, and which one you have decides what to do.

Heavy shedding is the visible kind, and it is usually temporary. Once the trigger has passed, the shedding usually settles within six months, and the hair tends to regain its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months.21 A doctor can support the diagnosis with a pull test. A positive result implies active shedding, which is seen in telogen effluvium and in other conditions such as alopecia areata.7

Pattern hair loss works differently. Follicles shrink progressively, the hairs they make grow thinner and shorter, and some follicles stop producing a visible hair.38 The course is gradual and the diagnosis comes from the pattern.7 Your scalp can show more each year while the hair in the drain looks ordinary.

Waiting has a measurable cost. In the finasteride trials, 75% of the men given placebo were rated as having lost hair on photographs after five years.9

In practice, track your scalp instead of the drain. Take a photo of your parting and crown in the same light once a month, then compare them after three months.

Hair fall control: shedding after a trigger regains fullness in 6 to 9 months, pattern hair loss keeps thinning Two schematic curves of hair on the scalp over time. Left: shedding after a trigger dips and returns to its starting level, with normal fullness regained within 6 to 9 months. Right: pattern hair loss declines steadily; 75% of men on placebo lost hair over 5 years. SAPIENS · HAIR FALL · FIGURE 2 Shedding and thinning compared Shedding after a trigger 0 to 9 months Pattern hair loss 0 to 5 years 6 to 9 months to regain normal fullness 75% lost hair in 5 years on placebo Schematic curves. Source: American Academy of Dermatology; finasteride label · References 1 and 9
Shedding and thinning compared. Schematic curves: after a trigger, hair tends to regain normal fullness within 6 to 9 months; in the finasteride trials, 75% of men on placebo had lost hair on photographs after five years. References 1 and 9.

How to stop or reduce hair fall: match the fix to the cause Copy link

To stop hair fall, treat what is causing it. Shedding after a trigger usually settles within six months once the trigger has passed, and fullness follows later.2 Pattern hair loss needs a medicine that you keep using, because the gain lasts only while treatment continues.3

Work through it in this order.

  1. Date it. When did the hair fall start, and what happened one to six months before?2
  2. Map it. Is the thinning all over, confined to the temples, crown or parting, or in one smooth patch?
  3. Test what your history points to. Iron deficiency and thyroid disease are the usual checks when your story fits.2
  4. Match the treatment. For shedding, correct the trigger and wait. For pattern hair loss, start a medicine with trial evidence. For traction, loosen the style. For a smooth patch, see a dermatologist.

One caution applies to shedding. Topical minoxidil, the standard hair growth treatment, has not been proven to speed recovery from telogen effluvium.2 For that type, the hair fall solution is the trigger corrected, then time.

Hair fall treatment: what the medicines do Copy link

The best medicine for hair fall and regrowth depends on the type of loss. For pattern hair loss, minoxidil applied to the scalp and, for men, finasteride tablets are the hair fall treatments with established evidence.87 As a medicine for hair fall control, each holds hair better than it regrows it. A family-medicine review states plainly that they regrow hair in some men and are more effective at preventing further loss.7

For pattern hair loss, topical minoxidil is the best-established hair fall treatment you apply at home. Minoxidil 5% solution needs at least 4 to 6 months of steady use before the change shows, and the result lasts only while you keep applying it.3

Finasteride is a prescription hair fall tablet for men, taken as 1 mg once a day. On five-year photographs, 48% of men taking it had more hair, 42% were unchanged and 10% had lost hair, against 75% losing hair on placebo. In the first year, decreased libido was reported by 1.8% on the tablet and 1.3% on placebo, and erectile dysfunction by 1.3% and 0.7%. Benefit takes 3 months or more. Stopping reverses it within 12 months.9

Low-dose oral minoxidil is a tablet that dermatologists sometimes prescribe off-label, which means it is not an approved use for hair.310 It acts throughout the body, so a doctor has to assess you before you take it. In a trial of 90 men that ran for 24 weeks, 5 mg a day by mouth was not superior to the 5% solution applied twice daily. Excess body hair appeared in 49% of the men on tablets and headache in 14%.11

Other possible effects are swollen feet or legs from fluid retention, light-headedness and a fast or irregular heartbeat.10 Among 1,404 patients on low doses, 1.7% had light-headedness, 1.3% retained fluid and 0.9% had a fast heart rate, and 1.2% stopped the tablet because of such effects. That study looked back at clinic records and had no comparison group.12 An international expert consensus lists heart failure, past fluid or inflammation around the heart, pregnancy and breastfeeding among the reasons to avoid it. It asks for extra care in people with low blood pressure, heart-rhythm problems or impaired kidney function.10

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use platelets taken from your own blood. Thirteen pooled trials found 27.55 more hairs per square centimeter than placebo. The authors graded that evidence as low quality, because the trial results varied widely.13

Hair fall control timeline: months before hair fall treatment shows results Horizontal bars on a 0 to 12 month axis. Shedding after a trigger: fullness returns within 6 to 9 months. Minoxidil 5%: 4 to 6 months of steady use before a visible change. Finasteride 1 mg: 3 months or more before benefit. SAPIENS · HAIR FALL · FIGURE 3 Time to visible results 0 3 6 9 12 months Trigger shedding 6 to 9 months Minoxidil 5% 4 to 6 months Finasteride 1 mg 3 months or more Source: American Academy of Dermatology; StatPearls, 2024; finasteride label · References 1, 3 and 9
Time to visible results. Fullness returns within 6 to 9 months after trigger shedding; minoxidil needs 4 to 6 months of steady use; finasteride needs 3 months or more. References 1, 3 and 9.

How to stop hair fall immediately Copy link

No treatment has been shown to stop hair fall immediately. A hair in its resting phase has already stopped growing, and the medicines with trial evidence need 3 months or more to show.29

What you can do at home this week

  • Loosen tight buns, braids and ponytails, because a style that hurts is too tight6
  • Use the lowest heat setting on your dryer, and pause home coloring, perming and straightening14
  • Keep washing your hair, since daily washing caused no objective harm to hair in a controlled study and washing did not change pull-test results154
  • Eat enough, because too few calories, or too little protein or iron, can lead to hair loss14
  • Take your baseline photos today, so you have something to compare in three months.

Naturally, none of these tips stop hair fall in a week. They remove the avoidable losses while the cause is being found. The answer does not change with age or sex. Nothing you do at home has been shown to stop hair fall immediately, in a female or male scalp, in a teenage girl or an adult.

Which vitamin deficiency causes hair loss or hair fall? Copy link

Iron deficiency is linked to hair fall in women, and low vitamin D is associated with some types of hair loss. Iron is a mineral, and doctors consider its deficiency when your history suggests all-over shedding. Proof that supplements regrow hair in people without a deficiency is still missing.161718

Iron. A pooled analysis of 36 studies and 10,029 participants compared women who had hair loss without scarring with women who had none. Ferritin, the blood marker of stored iron, was lower in the women with hair loss. In 21% of them, ferritin sat at or below the 10 to 15 cut-off. Most of the studies came from referral clinics, which can overstate the link.16

A 2025 study compared 50 women who had telogen effluvium with 50 who did not. Mean ferritin was 24.30 ng/mL in the first group and 44.78 ng/mL in the second.19

In India, the background rate matters. The 2019-21 national survey found anemia in 57.0% of women aged 15 to 49 and in 25.0% of men.20 Anemia has several causes, and low iron is one of them. If your shedding is all over, ask your doctor whether ferritin has been measured.

Vitamin D. Across 81 studies and 15,339 patients, vitamin D deficiency was found in 53.51% of people with telogen effluvium, 50.38% with female pattern hair loss and 47.38% with male pattern hair loss. Compared with people without hair loss, the link was statistically significant only for alopecia areata and female pattern hair loss, and the authors call for treatment trials.17 Whether hair fall is due to vitamin D deficiency in one person cannot be read from these figures.

Thyroid. An underactive thyroid is a recognized cause of shedding, so a thyroid blood test is added when your symptoms suggest it.2

Supplements without a deficiency. A 2023 review of the trials looked at people with no known deficiency. It found possible benefit from several branded blends and from single ingredients such as zinc and pumpkin seed oil, and it asked for larger trials. Biotin tablets on their own were not among the products with the better evidence.21

Too much selenium, vitamin A or vitamin E has itself been linked to hair loss.14 If you have no risk factors for a deficiency, a wide blood panel is not warranted.18

Which vitamin is good for hair fall control? The one a blood test shows you are short of.

Hair fall control: share of people with hair loss who had low ferritin or vitamin D deficiency Bar chart. Low ferritin (at or below the 10 to 15 cut-off) in 21% of women with non-scarring hair loss. Vitamin D deficiency in 53.51% of people with telogen effluvium, 50.38% with female pattern hair loss and 47.38% with male pattern hair loss. SAPIENS · HAIR FALL · FIGURE 4 Low levels with hair loss 0% 50% 100% Ferritin, women 21% Vitamin D, shedding 53.51% Vitamin D, female pattern 50.38% Vitamin D, male pattern 47.38% Pooled prevalence in people with hair loss. Source: two meta-analyses · References 16 and 17
Low levels with hair loss. Pooled prevalence among people with hair loss: ferritin at or below the 10 to 15 cut-off in 21% of women; vitamin D deficiency in 53.51% with telogen effluvium, 50.38% with female pattern hair loss and 47.38% with male pattern hair loss. Prevalence alone does not show cause. References 16 and 17.

Hair fall control food: what to eat Copy link

No food you can eat has been shown to stop hair fall immediately. The food you eat can reduce or prevent hair fall when your diet was short of calories, protein or iron to begin with. A 2023 review found no diet trial for hair loss that met its inclusion criteria, so there is no single best food for hair fall.21 What you can do is avoid the gaps that dermatologists link to hair loss, which are too few calories, too little protein and too little iron.14

Protein. The Indian recommended allowance is 0.83 g per kg of body weight a day. That is 54.0 g for the 65 kg reference man and 45.7 g for the 55 kg reference woman.22 As arithmetic, a 70 kg adult needs about 58 g.

Iron. The same recommendations set iron at 29 mg a day for women who are not pregnant and 19 mg a day for men.22

Calories. A weight loss of 20 pounds (about 9 kg) or more is a listed trigger for shedding.1 Hair loss has also been reported in studies of GLP-1 medicines used for diabetes and weight management. A 2026 review of 17 studies pooled three cohort studies and found 40% higher odds of hair loss without scarring among GLP-1 users (odds ratio 1.40, 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 1.48).23 Rapid weight loss and the nutritional shortfalls that follow are proposed explanations. Observational data of this kind cannot establish why the association occurs. A database study of semaglutide and tirzepatide reported a risk ratio of 1.77 for shedding at one year. It relied on diagnosis codes and could not grade severity.24

If you are losing weight on purpose, keep your protein at the recommended level and tell your doctor if shedding starts.

Hair fall solution at home: home remedies and what the trials show Copy link

Whether home remedies can control or reduce hair fall naturally depends on the cause. Rosemary oil and onion juice are two home remedies for hair fall with a published randomized trial. Each rests on a single small study, and neither was tested in shedding after a trigger.2526 If you are using home remedies to stop, reduce or prevent hair fall, check what each one was tested in.

Rosemary oil. One trial randomized 100 people with pattern hair loss to rosemary oil or minoxidil 2% for six months. Hair counts did not change at three months in either group. At six months both groups had more hair, the difference between them was not significant, and scalp itching was more frequent with minoxidil.25 There was no placebo group, and the comparison was the weaker 2% strength. That is thin support for a home remedy for hair growth, and it applies to pattern hair loss.

Onion juice. In a 2002 trial, 23 people with patchy alopecia areata applied onion juice twice daily and 15 applied tap water. Regrowth was seen in 20 of the 23 (86.9%) at six weeks and in 2 of the 15 controls.26 Alopecia areata can also regrow without treatment, and a trial this small cannot separate the two.5

Oil massage, fenugreek, amla, egg masks and rice water. No controlled trial in people with hair fall was found for this page. Oiling is a hair-care choice you can keep. One caution comes from dermatologists, who advise against hot-oil treatments when hair is already fragile.14

Homeopathic and ayurvedic medicine for hair fall Copy link

This review did not find reliable randomized evidence to recommend a homeopathy or ayurvedic medicine for hair fall and regrowth. That leaves no basis for naming a best homeopathic medicine for hair fall, or a best hair fall treatment in homeopathy or ayurveda. Missing evidence does not prove that nothing works.

Judge any such product with the questions you would put to a prescription medicine. Which type of hair fall was it tested in? What was it compared with? For how long, and in how many people? Rosemary oil, a plant product, can answer those questions with one trial of 100 people.25

Tell your doctor about every tablet and tonic you take, because excess selenium, vitamin A and vitamin E have been linked to hair loss.14 Set yourself a time limit as well. Pattern hair loss keeps progressing while you wait, and the medicines hold hair better than they bring it back.7

How to control hair fall for men Copy link

For men, start by asking whether the hair fall is pattern hair loss. Male pattern baldness affects about half of men by 50 and about 80% by 70, and it shows at the temples and crown.3 The hair fall solution for men who want to stop or reduce that loss is minoxidil 5% or finasteride 1 mg, started early and continued.79

If your hair is falling from all over the scalp and the change came suddenly, look for a trigger instead. Check the months before it began for a fever, an operation, heavy stress or rapid weight loss.1 A smooth round patch in the scalp or beard is alopecia areata, which a dermatologist should see.5

The normal daily shed needs no treatment. Normal hair fall per day is the same for male and female scalps, 50 to 100 hairs.1

How to control hair fall for women Copy link

In female hair fall, the reason decides the treatment, so start by separating all-over shedding from a widening parting.

All-over shedding. Childbirth is a listed trigger. Shedding can start about two months after delivery, it usually peaks at about four months, and the hair tends to regain its fullness within 6 to 9 months.1 Stopping the contraceptive pill is another trigger.1 With anemia found in 57.0% of women between 15 and 49 in India, ask about a ferritin test as well.20

A widening parting. Female pattern hair loss thins the crown and the top of the head while the front hairline is usually kept, and it becomes more common after menopause.3 Hair fall control for female pattern hair loss starts with minoxidil applied to the scalp, the recommended treatment for women.7

What to avoid. Finasteride is not indicated for women. It must not be used by anyone who is or may become pregnant, and it showed no benefit in a 12-month trial of 137 postmenopausal women. Women who are or may be pregnant should also avoid handling crushed or broken tablets, because finasteride can be absorbed and carries a potential risk to a male fetus.9

How to prevent hair fall Copy link

You can prevent the avoidable kinds of hair fall, which are traction, breakage and shedding after crash diets. The tips below reduce or prevent hair fall of those kinds. For inherited pattern hair loss, prevention means starting treatment early.14

  • Wear tight styles less often and change them around, because hair that is pulled for long enough can stop growing back6
  • Use a gentle shampoo, and a conditioner after every wash14
  • Limit curling irons, flat irons and hot combs, and stop coloring, perming and chemical straightening at home14
  • Stop smoking, which causes inflammation that can worsen hair loss14
  • Avoid crash diets, and keep your protein and iron at the recommended levels1422
  • Treat an itchy, flaking scalp, starting with an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole or selenium sulfide.27

Watch for the early signs of traction. They are broken hairs at the forehead and a hairline that is moving back.6

Which doctor to consult for hair fall? Copy link

Consult a dermatologist for hair fall. The American Academy of Dermatology advises going early, because the sooner the cause is found, the better the chance of the result you want.14

Book the visit if any of these apply:

  • a patch of your scalp looks shiny and smooth, or you can no longer see the hair openings in it728
  • your shedding has continued for more than six months2
  • the thinning sits at your temples, crown or parting3
  • you have a smooth round or oval bald patch, or you are losing eyebrows or eyelashes5
  • your scalp hurts, stings, burns or has crusts628
  • your dandruff has not cleared with a medicated shampoo.27

Treat the shiny, smooth patch as urgent. It can mean scarring hair loss, which is permanent, and treatment aims to prevent further loss.728

Expect questions about the last six months, a look at the pattern and a pull test. Blood tests follow when the history or the examination suggests iron deficiency, thyroid disease or another illness.7 A dermatologist can also check for the other hair and scalp conditions that can look similar.

Frequently asked questions Copy link

Can hair grow back after hair fall?

Often, yes. After shedding caused by a fever, childbirth, stress or weight loss, hair tends to regain its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months. Pattern hair loss usually keeps progressing without treatment, and treatment is better at holding hair than regrowing it. A dermatologist can confirm which type you have.

How many months does hair fall control take?

It depends on the type. Shedding after a trigger usually settles within six months, and fullness returns within 6 to 9 months. Minoxidil needs 4 to 6 months of steady use before a change shows. Finasteride needs 3 months or more. Judge any treatment with photos taken three months apart.

Does washing hair daily cause hair fall?

No study shows that it does. In a controlled study in Asian participants, daily washing caused no objective harm to hair compared with washing once a week. In a separate study of 181 people, washing did not change the number of hairs that came away on a pull test.

Is hair fall normal in teenagers?

A normal scalp sheds 50 to 100 hairs a day. Pattern hair loss can begin after puberty in men, and in rare cases it affects younger people and premenopausal women. A teenager whose temples or crown are thinning, or who has a bald patch or heavy shedding, should see a dermatologist.

Which blood test should I do for hair fall?

No fixed panel exists. Doctors choose blood tests from your history and the scalp examination. Ferritin measures stored iron, and a thyroid test is added when symptoms suggest thyroid disease. If you have no risk factors for a deficiency, a wide blood panel is not warranted.

References Copy link

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding? https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding
  2. Hughes EC, Syed HA, Saleh D. Telogen Effluvium. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Last update 1 May 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430848/
  3. Ho CH, Sood T, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Last update 7 January 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
  4. McDonald KA, Shelley AJ, Colantonio S, Beecker J. Hair pull test: Evidence-based update and revision of guidelines. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76(3):472-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2016.10.002
  5. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss types: Alopecia areata signs and symptoms. Last updated 30 August 2023. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/types/alopecia/symptoms
  6. American Academy of Dermatology. Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles
  7. Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2017/0915/p371.html
  8. Liu Y, Tosti A, Wang ECE, et al. Androgenetic alopecia. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2025;11:73. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-025-00656-9
  9. PROPECIA (finasteride) tablets for oral use: prescribing information. Revised July 2022. US Food and Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/020788s030lbl.pdf
  10. Akiska YM, Mirmirani P, Roseborough I, et al. Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Initiation for Patients With Hair Loss: An International Modified Delphi Consensus Statement. JAMA Dermatol. Published online 20 November 2024. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.4593
  11. Penha MA, Miot HA, Kasprzak M, Müller Ramos P. Oral Minoxidil vs Topical Minoxidil for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2024;160(6):600-605. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.0284
  12. Vañó-Galván S, Pirmez R, Hermosa-Gelbard A, et al. Safety of low-dose oral minoxidil for hair loss: A multicenter study of 1404 patients. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(6):1644-1651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2021.02.054
  13. Kieling L, Konzen AT, Zanella RK, Valente DS. 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. An Bras Dermatol. 2024;99(6):847-862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abd.2024.01.002
  14. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: Tips for managing. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/tips
  15. Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J. The Impact of Shampoo Wash Frequency on Scalp and Hair Conditions. Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. https://doi.org/10.1159/000512786
  16. Treister-Goltzman Y, Yarza S, Peleg R. Iron Deficiency and Nonscarring Alopecia in Women: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Skin Appendage Disord. 2022;8(2):83-92. https://doi.org/10.1159/000519952
  17. Yongpisarn T, Tejapira K, Thadanipon K, Suchonwanit P. Vitamin D deficiency in non-scarring and scarring alopecias: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1479337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1479337
  18. Guo EL, Katta R. Diet and hair loss: effects of nutrient deficiency and supplement use. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017;7(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0701a01
  19. Thamotharan N, Harikumar MV, Sundaram M, Swaminathan A, Rangarajan S. Assessment of Serum Ferritin Levels in Female Patients With Telogen Effluvium. Cureus. 2025;17(12):e100249. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100249
  20. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Anaemia Mukt Bharat. Press Information Bureau release, 4 February 2022 (National Family Health Survey 5, 2019-21). https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795421
  21. Drake L, Reyes-Hadsall S, Martinez J, Heinrich C, Huang K, Mostaghimi A. Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements for Treating Hair Loss: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. 2023;159(1):79-86. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.4867
  22. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. A Brief Note on Nutrient Requirements for Indians, the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR). 2020. https://www.nin.res.in/rdabook/brief_note.pdf
  23. Viquez Burboa GU, Flores Guillén MAR, Duardo González VS. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Incidence, Risk, Subtypes, and Mechanisms. Skin Appendage Disord. 2026 (online ahead of print, 30 June 2026). https://doi.org/10.1159/000553070
  24. Herrera HO, Bordeaux JS. Risk of new-onset hair loss with semaglutide and tirzepatide: A TriNetX cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2026;94(6):1826-1827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2026.02.042
  25. Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015;13(1):15-21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25842469/
  26. Sharquie KE, Al-Obaidi HK. Onion Juice (Allium cepa L.), A New Topical Treatment for Alopecia Areata. J Dermatol. 2002;29(6):343-346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2002.tb00277.x
  27. American Academy of Dermatology. How to treat dandruff. Last updated 11 December 2023. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/hair-scalp-care/scalp/treat-dandruff
  28. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss types: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia signs and symptoms. Last updated 14 March 2022. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/types/ccca/symptoms

About the author. Dr. Tarun Reddy, MBBS, is a physician and medical author at Sapiens, registered with the Telangana State Medical Council (TSMC/FMR/36195). Sapiens articles follow our editorial standards.

This article gives general information and does not replace a consultation. Hair fall has many causes, and patchy, painful or persistent loss needs an in-person assessment. Do not start or stop a prescribed medicine because of what you read here. Report an error on this page.