Thinning and losing hair is a common experience and rarely a cause for alarm, usually traced back to genetics (the familiar male and female pattern baldness), ageing, hormonal changes, stress, or a temporary reaction to illness, pregnancy or particular medications. Grey hair, meanwhile, is just a normal part of getting older, as the cells producing pigment in each follicle gradually wind down.
Treatments for pattern hair loss do exist, though results vary between people and take months to become noticeable, so it's worth talking to a pharmacist or GP rather than relying on unproven remedies. Hair loss that's sudden, patchy, or otherwise out of the ordinary is worth getting checked by a GP, as it can occasionally be linked to an underlying condition.
Common questions
What's usually behind thinning or falling hair?
Most commonly genetics, ageing, hormonal shifts, stress, or a temporary effect following illness, pregnancy or certain medications.
When does hair loss warrant a GP visit?
If it happens suddenly, appears in patches, or seems otherwise unusual, since this can occasionally signal an underlying health issue.