Women's hair loss & thinning

What's usually behind it

• Female-pattern loss — diffuse thinning that's most visible along the part.
• Telogen effluvium — temporary shedding set off by stress, illness, childbirth, or rapid weight loss.
• Thyroid problems, low iron, or hormonal shifts — all worth testing for.

What works for women

Minoxidil (2% or 5%) is the first-line, well-evidenced choice for women. Red light therapy, microneedling, PRP, and supplements like Nutrafol can build on it. Finasteride and dutasteride are generally avoided in women who could become pregnant due to birth-defect risk — a doctor may point instead to hormonal options such as spironolactone.

When to get it checked

Sudden, patchy, or fast shedding — or thinning paired with other symptoms — deserves a medical work-up to catch treatable causes. A Tucson clinic or dermatologist can identify the pattern and shape a plan, and the right female candidates can also weigh a transplant.