22/02/2026
It’s Not Just Hormones -3 Overlooked Causes of Midlife Hair Loss.
If shedding is continuing despite addressing stress and nutrition, consider these additional triggers:
1️⃣ Rapid or significant weight loss
Restrictive dieting, appetite suppression, or sudden weight change can push more follicles into the shedding phase. Hair is non-essential tissue -the body prioritises survival first.
2️⃣ Medication changes
Starting, stopping, or adjusting certain medications (including HRT, antidepressants, anticoagulants, retinoids and others) can trigger telogen effluvium 2–3 months later.
3️⃣ Chronic inflammation in the body
Systemic inflammatory conditions — including autoimmune disease — can disrupt the hair growth cycle and impair follicle function over time.
Midlife hair loss is often multifactorial. Timing matters. Pattern matters. And identifying the cause determines the treatment.
Part 2 of the series. More causes coming.
Dr Sarah Page
Specialist Dermatologist
⚠️ All medical treatments carry risks. Outcomes vary between individuals. Please discuss your individual concerns with your dermatologist.