Hair Loss Explained

A general educational guide for understanding hair thinning, shedding, and pattern hair loss.

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Educational Notice
This page is for general information only. It does not replace medical advice.
Hair loss is a medical issue that requires individual assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning by appropriately qualified and registered health professionals working within their legal scope of practice and in accordance with Australian regulations.

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Before You Begin

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Hair loss is common and affects people of all genders and ages.
It can be temporary or long-term, mild or severe, slow or sudden.

Hair loss is not just cosmetic.
It can be linked to hormones, immune function, nutrition, medications, stress, illness, and genetics.

Understanding the cause is more important than rushing into treatment.

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How Hair Normally Grows:

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Each hair follicle follows a repeating cycle:

- Anagen: growth phase, lasts several years
- Catagen: transition phase, lasts a few weeks
- Telogen: resting and shedding phase, lasts a few months

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At any time, most hairs are growing and a smaller number are resting or shedding.

Hair loss happens when:

- growth phase becomes shorter
- resting phase becomes longer
- new hairs grow thinner and weaker
- follicles stop producing visible hair

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Common Types of Hair Loss

Pattern Hair Loss -
Often genetic and hormone related.
In women it usually causes thinning through the part and crown.
In men it often causes recession and crown thinning.

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Telogen Effluvium -
Shedding triggered by stress, illness, surgery, weight loss, or childbirth.
Hair usually regrows once the trigger is corrected.

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Alopecia Areata -
Autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles.
Can cause patchy or widespread hair loss.

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Traction and Damage -
Caused by tight styles, extensions, chemicals, or heat.
Can become permanent if damage continues.

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Medical and Nutritional Causes -
Iron deficiency, thyroid disease, hormone changes, medications, and chronic illness can all affect hair growth.

 

Why Hair Thins

Hair thinning happens when follicles receive the wrong signals.

These signals can be affected by:

- hormones such as DHT, estrogen, thyroid hormones
- inflammation
- reduced blood supply
- nutrient deficiency
- stress hormones
- immune system activity

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Hair follicles are not usually dead.
They are often just quiet, weakened, or receiving poor signals.

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How Hair Loss Is Assessed

A proper hair loss assessment should include:

- medical history
- medication review
- hormonal and health factors
- lifestyle and stress review
- scalp and hair examination
- discussion of expectations and goals

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Treatment should never be one-size-fits-all.

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Treatment Approaches

Hair loss treatment works by improving the signals to the follicle.

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Approaches may include:

- addressing medical or hormonal causes
- improving nutrition and scalp health
- stimulating follicles to re-enter growth phase
- protecting follicles from damaging signals

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Common medical and clinical options include:

- oral medications under medical supervision
- topical treatments
- scalp stimulation and microneedling
- lifestyle and health optimisation

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Not every option suits every person.

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What to Expect

Hair grows slowly.
Changes are measured in months, not weeks.

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You should expect:

- gradual change
- regular review
- treatment adjustments
- realistic goals rather than perfection

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Hair restoration is about improving quality, density, and confidence, not chasing unrealistic ideals.

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Hair loss is personal and often emotional.
It deserves proper medical understanding, not quick fixes.

- There are many causes
- There is no single solution
- Results vary between individuals

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The safest path is careful assessment, honest discussion, and a plan built around your health, not just your appearance.