what can cause hair loss

Hair loss can happen for many reasons, including genetics, hormonal changes, stress, illness, nutritional deficiencies, scalp infections, and certain medications or treatments. Common triggers also include tight hairstyles, chemical hair processing, thyroid problems, anemia, pregnancy, menopause, and autoimmune conditions.

Quick scoop

Some of the most common causes are:

• Hereditary hair loss from family history.

• Hormonal shifts such as pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause.

• Stress or major life events , including surgery or emotional stress.

• Nutritional deficiencies , especially low iron or protein, and sometimes zinc or vitamin D.

• Medications and medical treatments , including chemotherapy and radiation.

• Scalp conditions or infections , such as fungal infections.

• Autoimmune or other medical conditions , including lupus or thyroid disease.

When to get checked

If hair loss is sudden, patchy, painful, or happening with fatigue, weight changes, scalp scaling, or itching , it’s a good idea to see a clinician or dermatologist. Hair loss can be temporary in some cases, but the cause matters because treatment depends on it.

If you want, I can also turn this into a very short forum-style answer or a more detailed breakdown by cause.