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Wypadanie włosów - przyczyna, o której nikt nie mówi. Najnowsze badania ujawniają, skąd naprawdę bierze się utrata włosów

Hair loss - the cause no one talks about. Latest research reveals the real reason behind hair loss

Hair loss is one of the most common problems reported by both dermatologists and trichologists. Statistics show that up to 50% of women and 70% of men experience this problem at some point in their lives. At the same time, most people are looking for a quick answer to the question: "Why is my hair falling out?"

However, the answer is rarely simple, as numerous biological, hormonal, dietary, and environmental mechanisms are behind the phenomenon.

In this post, I present the most important scientific causes of hair loss, confirmed by clinical studies, with current statistics (2021-2024), so that you can finally understand what is really happening in your hair follicles.

Table of Contents:

  • What is hair loss?
  • Hair loss - the most common cause according to research
  • The hair growth cycle - what does science say?
  • Diagnosing the causes of hair loss
  • How to stop hair loss? Efficacy confirmed by studies
  • Diet and hair loss
  • Scalp care - does it matter?
  • When to see a specialist?
  • Your questions

What is hair loss?

Scientifically, we distinguish two categories:

Hair shedding (thinning, telogen effluvium)

This is temporary, sudden hair loss caused by stress, illness, deficiencies, childbirth, or infection.

Studies show that in TE, up to 30-50% of hairs can enter the telogen phase at once (JID, 2018).

Hair loss (alopecia)

This is permanent thinning, usually associated with hormones (DHT), autoimmune diseases, or scarring of the follicles.

Normal shedding

A person naturally loses 50-100 hairs per day (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).

If it's more than that - you need to look for the cause.

Hair loss - the most common cause according to research

Hormones and DHT

This is one of the best-documented factors.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone):

  • shortens the anagen phase by up to 50%,
  • causes miniaturization of the follicles,
  • makes hair thinner, shorter, and more delicate.

40% of women over 50 experience androgenetic alopecia (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019).

Most sensitive areas:

  • parting,
  • crown of the head,
  • frontal areas in men.

Stress and cortisol

Harvard Stem Cell Institute studies (Nature, 2021) showed that high cortisol levels:

  • inhibit the activity of hair follicle stem cells,
  • prolong telogen,
  • increase the number of falling hairs by up to 60%.

This is why mass hair loss often occurs after severe stress (death in the family, breakup, job loss, illness).

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

The most common scientifically proven deficiencies:

  • Iron and ferritin

This is the most common cause of hair loss in women aged 18-45.

Studies: ferritin below 40 ng/ml significantly increases the risk of telogen effluvium (International Journal of Dermatology, 2017).

  • Vitamin D3

Low levels → disturbed hair cycle, more frequent TE.

D3 deficiency affects up to 70% of European women in winter.

  • Zinc, B12, folic acid, biotin

Crucial for cell division in the hair matrix.

Scalp inflammation

Seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and excess Malassezia yeast cause:

  • increased levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α),
  • microbiome imbalance,
  • miniaturization of hair follicles.

A JID study (2018) confirms that chronic inflammation hinders the growth cycle.

Thyroid diseases

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are among the main causes of chronic hair loss.

30% of patients with hypothyroidism report hair loss (Thyroid Research, 2020).

Medications that can cause hair loss

Most commonly:

  • oral retinoids,
  • antidepressants,
  • anticoagulants,
  • statins,
  • contraceptive pills,
  • thyroid-regulating drugs,
  • beta-blockers.

Mechanism: effect on the anagen cycle or hormone levels.

Postpartum hair loss

Studies (Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 2021) show:

40-50% of women experience intense hair loss 3-5 months after childbirth.

This is classic telogen effluvium - temporary.

Seasonal hair loss

Studies from the British Journal of Dermatology (2019) showed that:

  • most hair falls out in autumn and winter,
  • least in summer.

This is caused by, among others:

  • changes in light,
  • vitamin D3 deficiencies,
  • hormonal changes (prolactin).

What does science say about the hair growth cycle?

Hair grows in three phases:

  • Anagen - growth phase (3–6 years)

Everything happens here: keratin synthesis, cell division.

  • Catagen - transitional phase (2–3 weeks)

The hair "detaches" from the papilla.

  • Telogen - resting phase (2–3 months)

After its end, the hair falls out.

Any factor causing cellular stress (cortisol, inflammation, deficiencies) can prematurely push hair into telogen, causing sudden massive shedding.

Diagnosing the causes of hair loss

Basic diagnostic stages:

Trichoscopy

The most reliable scalp examination. It allows assessing: miniaturization, inflammation, density.

Blood tests

The most important parameters:

  • ferritin,
  • iron,
  • TSH, FT3, FT4,
  • vitamin D3,
  • CBC,
  • zinc,
  • CRP.

Trichological interview

Stress, infections, medications, chronic diseases, childbirth, diet.

How to stop hair loss? - scientific evidence

DHT regulation (when the cause is androgenetic alopecia)

  • 5α-reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride, dutasteride – only under medical supervision),
  • natural DHT-inhibiting extracts (documented mechanism):
    - saw palmetto,
    - green tea (EGCG),
    - pumpkin seed oil.

Reduction of oxidative stress

Antioxidants inhibit the cytotoxic effect of free radicals on follicles.

Biomimetic peptides

Studies (2022-2024) confirm that peptides such as Copper Tripeptide-1:

  • prolong anagen,
  • improve microcirculation,
  • support regeneration.

Regulation of scalp microbiome

Studies from 2023 show that dysbiosis promotes inflammation and TE.

Therefore, more and more therapies focus on prebiotics, probiotics, and barrier soothing.

Treatment of inflammation

Effective ingredients:

  • piroctone olamine,
  • zinc pyrithione,
  • salicylic acid,
  • niacinamide,
  • centella asiatica extract (CICA).

Scalp massage

A 2016 study (Archives of Dermatology Research):

regular, 4-minute scalp massage for 24 weeks increased hair thickness by 9%.

Diet and hair loss

The most strongly proven correlations:

• Insufficient protein intake

Hair is 95% keratin; when protein is lacking, the body "cuts off" resources.

• Restrictive diet

Diets below 1200 kcal can induce TE after 6-12 weeks.

• Iron and vitamin D3 deficiencies

The most common causes of hair loss in young women.

Scalp care - does it matter?

Yes, and it matters a great deal. Why? Because hair follicles are a biologically active structure, strongly reactive to:

  • inflammation,
  • barrier dysfunctions,
  • improper pH,
  • microbiome dysbiosis.

Based on research, hair care should include:

  • gentle cleansing (without aggressive SLS),
  • scalp oiling
  • soothing tonics for the skin,
  • serum with caffeine / niacinamide / peptides,
  • massage.

When to see a professional?

Definitely, if:

  • hair loss lasts >3 months,
  • bald spots appear,
  • hair falls out in handfuls,
  • postpartum hair loss lasts >5-6 months,
  • scalp pain occurs (trichodynia),
  • you suspect scarring alopecia.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the most common cause of hair loss?

Stress, deficiencies (especially ferritin), and hormones (DHT).

2. Can stress really cause hair loss?

Yes, Harvard studies confirm that cortisol inhibits follicle regeneration.

3. How much hair normally falls out daily?

From 50 to 100 - more indicates a problem.

4. Does diet affect hair loss?

Yes, especially protein and iron deficiency.

5. Can cosmetics cause hair loss?

Usually not the follicle itself, but they can cause scalp inflammation, which indirectly affects the hair cycle.

6. Is hair loss after Covid-19 normal?

Yes, it is classic telogen effluvium lasting 2-3 months.

7. Does scalp massage help?

Studies confirm it increases hair density.

8. Can androgenetic alopecia be stopped?

It can be slowed down and density improved (DHT regulation, peptides, medical therapy).

9. Is postpartum hair loss reversible?

Yes, it is a temporary process.

10. How to check if hair loss is TE or androgenetic alopecia?

It is best to perform a trichoscopy; in TE, there is no hair miniaturization.

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