What Causes Hair Loss? A Dermatologist’s Guide

Thinning hair rarely has one single cause. Before recommending any treatment, a proper consultation looks at your pattern of loss, your medical history, your diet and your stress levels, because the right regenerative plan depends entirely on what is actually driving the shedding.

The most common causes of hair loss

In our Hulhumalé clinic, the patients we see generally fall into a few clear categories.

Androgenetic (pattern) hair loss

This is the most common cause in both men and women. It is genetic and hormonal, driven by the hair follicle response to DHT (a byproduct of testosterone), and it follows a fairly predictable pattern – receding at the temples and crown in men, diffuse thinning near the part line in women.

Telogen effluvium

A sudden, diffuse shedding that usually appears two to three months after a stressful event, illness, surgery, rapid weight loss or a significant change in diet. It is often mistaken for permanent loss, but it is usually temporary once the trigger resolves.

Alopecia areata

An autoimmune condition causing sudden, well-defined patches of hair loss. It behaves differently from pattern loss and telogen effluvium, and needs its own diagnostic approach.

Nutritional and medical causes

Iron deficiency, low vitamin D, thyroid imbalance and certain medications can all contribute to thinning. This is one reason a consultation, not a guess, should come before any treatment plan.

Why the cause changes the treatment

Pattern hair loss generally responds well to a combination of medical therapy and regenerative options such as exosome therapy. Telogen effluvium often needs time plus addressing the underlying trigger, sometimes supported by regenerative treatment to shorten recovery. Alopecia areata is managed differently again, and severe or rapidly progressing patches should be assessed promptly. Treating every case of hair loss the same way is one of the most common mistakes in over-the-counter approaches.

When to see a dermatologist about hair loss

See a dermatologist if shedding is sudden or patchy rather than gradual, if you notice scalp redness, scaling or pain, if loss continues despite six months of a treatment you are already using, or if hair loss is affecting your confidence and you want a plan built around your actual cause rather than trial and error.

Regenerative options available in the Maldives

At the clinic, exosome therapy is used to support follicle activity in appropriate cases, often alongside microneedling to improve delivery. Every plan starts with a scalp assessment to confirm which type of hair loss is actually present.

Frequently asked questions

Can hair loss be reversed?

It depends on the cause. Pattern hair loss can usually be slowed and partially improved with early treatment. Telogen effluvium is often fully reversible once the trigger is addressed. Long-standing alopecia areata is more variable.

Is hair loss in women different from men?

Yes – it is usually more diffuse rather than following a receding hairline, and hormonal causes are checked more broadly, including thyroid and iron levels.

Do I need blood tests before starting treatment?

Often, yes, particularly for sudden or diffuse shedding. Iron, thyroid and vitamin D are common first checks.

How soon will I see results from regenerative treatment?

Most patients need a minimum of three to four months before density changes become visible, since hair growth cycles are slow by nature.

Is this covered in one visit?

The first visit is a consultation and scalp assessment. Treatment, if appropriate, is planned as a course rather than a single session.