Why is my hair thinning or falling out? Tests that can help find the cause

Hair shedding is part of the normal hair growth cycle, but you may start to notice more hair than usual in your brush, shower or on your pillow. You may notice more hair coming out when you wash or brush it, a widening parting or areas where the scalp is becoming more visible.

There are many possible reasons for hair thinning and hair loss. Age, genetics, hormonal changes, stress, illness and nutritional deficiencies can all play a part.

If you've noticed a change, it can be useful to look at what's happening more broadly rather than assuming it's simply down to getting older. In some cases, blood tests can help identify nutritional or hormonal factors that may be contributing.

Is it normal to lose hair every day?

Yes. Losing some hair each day is a normal part of the hair growth cycle. The says most people lose around 30 to 150 hairs from the scalp each day as old hairs are shed and replaced.

You may notice more shedding at certain times without there necessarily being a problem.

What matters is a noticeable or persistent change from what's normal for you. This could be increased shedding, gradual thinning, a widening parting or areas where the scalp has become more visible.

Hair loss can also happen temporarily after a period of illness, significant stress or another change affecting the body. This type of shedding is known as telogen effluvium and often improves as the underlying trigger settles.

Common causes of hair thinning and hair loss

There isn't one explanation for everyone. Some common possibilities include:

• Genetics: pattern hair loss can run in families and affects both men and women.
• Hormonal changes: changes around the menopause, pregnancy or other hormonal shifts can affect the hair growth cycle.
• Thyroid problems: both an underactive and overactive thyroid can affect hair growth.
• Low iron stores: iron deficiency can contribute to hair shedding and thinning.
• Nutritional deficiencies: low levels of certain vitamins and minerals may affect hair health.
• Stress or illness: physical or emotional stress can temporarily disrupt the normal hair cycle.
• Some medicines or treatments: certain medicines can affect hair growth or cause increased shedding.
• Age: hair naturally becomes finer and grows more slowly as we get older.

Could low iron be causing my hair loss?

Iron is one of the things worth considering if you're experiencing unexplained hair thinning or increased shedding.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body. A ferritin blood test measures your iron stores and can help identify whether they're low. Our Ferritin Blood Test measures your body's stored iron and can help identify low iron levels.

Bluecrest data shows that iron-related findings can be relatively common. Around 1 in 4 people tested had raised ferritin, while iron deficiency was around seven times more common in women than men.

A low ferritin result doesn't automatically mean that low iron is the reason for your hair loss. Your result needs to be considered alongside your symptoms and other health information.

Could my thyroid be affecting my hair?

Changes in thyroid function can also affect your hair. Your thyroid helps regulate many of the body's processes, including metabolism and energy use.

An underactive thyroid can be associated with hair loss, alongside symptoms such as weight gain, feeling unusually cold, constipation and changes in mood. An overactive thyroid can cause a different set of symptoms, including weight loss, feeling hot, a faster heartbeat and changes in sleep.

Our Thyroid Function Test measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in the blood. Bluecrest's test doesn't measure T3.

Hair loss on its own doesn't mean you have a thyroid problem. But if you're experiencing several changes at the same time, thyroid testing may be one part of understanding what's going on.

Vitamins and minerals that support hair health

Your hair needs a range of nutrients to grow normally. If you're not getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals, this may affect your hair as well as other aspects of your health.

Depending on your circumstances, tests may look at nutrients such as:

• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Ferritin
• Zinc
• Magnesium

Our Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency Test includes vitamin D, folate, vitamin B12 and iron stores, while the more comprehensive profile also measures magnesium and zinc.

Taking a supplement won't necessarily improve hair loss. If you're concerned about a possible deficiency, testing can give you a useful starting point before making changes to your diet or supplements.

Can hormones cause hair loss?

Hormones can influence the hair growth cycle, particularly during periods when hormone levels change.

For women, changes in oestrogen and progesterone around the menopause can affect hair thickness and shedding. Androgens, including testosterone and DHT, can also influence pattern hair loss.

For men, sensitivity to DHT is a major factor in male pattern hair loss. This tends to cause a receding hairline or thinning around the crown.

Bluecrest's hormone testing includes tests such as testosterone, SHBG and FSH, depending on the profile or individual test chosen.

Can stress make your hair fall out?

Yes, significant physical or emotional stress can affect the hair cycle.

Telogen effluvium is one example. It can happen after illness, significant stress or other major changes in the body, causing more hairs than usual to enter the shedding phase.

Interestingly, the hair loss may not happen immediately. You might notice increased shedding some time after the stressful event or illness that triggered it.

The good news is that telogen effluvium often improves without specific treatment. The British Association of Dermatologists says the shedding phase typically lasts three to six months, followed by new hair growth, although it can take longer for hair to regain its previous thickness.

When to get hair loss checked

Hair changes aren't usually something to panic about. There are plenty of everyday reasons why you might notice more shedding or thinner hair.

It's worth getting advice if the change is persistent, particularly if:

• Hair loss has started suddenly
• You're losing hair in patches
• Your scalp is itchy, sore, inflamed or changing
• You're also experiencing other unexplained symptoms
• Your hair loss is continuing or getting noticeably worse
• You're concerned about the change, even if you can't pinpoint why it's happening

A GP or other healthcare professional can help work out whether further investigation is needed.

If your hair loss is sudden or accompanied by other significant changes in your health, it's particularly important to get appropriate medical advice rather than relying on a private blood test alone.

How health assessments can help

If you're experiencing hair thinning alongside other changes, looking at several health markers together can sometimes provide useful context.

A Health Assessment can include a range of blood tests and physical measurements depending on the package you choose. These may cover areas such as iron stores, thyroid function, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function, kidney function and other markers.

The results are presented using a straightforward green, amber and red flag system, making it easier to see which results are within the expected range and which may need attention.

A Health Assessment isn't designed specifically to diagnose hair loss, and a normal result doesn't rule out every possible cause. But it can give you a broader picture of your health and highlight areas that may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Book a Bluecrest Health Assessment or view the full range of individual tests to see which option may be right for you.