Thinning hair

[Guest Posts]

I am a 50 year old woman, and on the left side of my head I seem to have a little loss of hair. You can tell that it’s a lot thinner there. Also every time I brush my hair I have a lot of hair on my brush and on my clothes. When I shower there is always some hair in the drain. Why might this be?

[Dr Alia Ahmed]

Thanks for posting your question. The causes of hair loss are many and can include:
Acute hair loss after a stressful event/illness, otherwise known as telogen effluvium
Secondary hair loss (e.g. due to iron deficiency, thyroid abnormalities)
Autoimmune hair loss (e.g. alopecia areata)
Hormone related hair loss (e.g. androgenetic alopecia, menopause-related)
It is worth speaking to your GP about whether any of these common causes relate to your hair loss and seeking appropriate treatment. You may require some simple blood tests to rule out reversible causes. I hope this information is helpful.