What Surprising Factors Contribute to Hair Loss? Uncovering Unexpected Causes
Hair thinning is often chalked up to age or genetics—but that’s only part of the picture. While it’s true that follicles tend to slow down and become less productive over time, as we age, many people often find it surprising that hair loss can begin much earlier and stem from less obvious causes. From daily habits to environmental stressors, a variety of factors can quietly affect scalp health and interfere with the hair growth cycle.
If you’ve been noticing more strands on your brush than usual, it may be worth looking beyond the usual suspects.
So, what other factors could be influencing your hair health and loss?
Hair Shedding After COVID-19 Recovery
Noticing more hair fall after recovering from COVID-19? You’re not alone.
Reports—including those in local media—have highlighted cases where individuals experienced increased shedding weeks after infection. This condition is known as telogen effluvium, where stress or illness triggers more strands than usual to enter the resting phase and shed all at once.
You don’t need to have had severe symptoms to be affected—many people who experienced mild COVID-19 have also seen noticeable hair fall. In some cases, it may also trigger a flare-up of pre-existing conditions like alopecia areata, although this is less common.
Fortunately, this type of shedding is generally temporary. Most people can expect their hair to begin growing back within three to six months as the scalp recovers from the shock.
The Role of Your Diet
If you’ve been noticing more strands on your pillow or brush lately, your diet might be another contributing factor.
Hair is made up of a structural protein called keratin, which means protein intake plays a direct role in hair strength and growth. When your body isn’t getting enough, it may redirect resources away from non-essential functions like hair production, eventually leading to increased shedding.
Beyond protein, minerals like iron and nutrients such as vitamin D are also involved in supporting healthy hair cycles. Inadequate levels of these may disrupt growth or make hair more prone to thinning over time.
While research on specific vitamins and minerals like biotin remains mixed, making sure your meals are well-rounded—with sources like eggs, fish, leafy greens, and seeds—can help provide the building blocks your hair needs.
Exercise Habits: How Your Active Lifestyle Could Affect Your Hair
Working out is great for overall health—but it can also create unintended stress on your hair. Regularly tying your hair into tight buns or ponytails before hitting the gym, for example, may lead to breakage or thinning, especially along the hairline. The constant tension from these styles can strain hair follicles, and over time, this may lead to long-term damage.
After sweating it out, it’s also important to cleanse your scalp thoroughly. This is because leaving sweat and oil to accumulate can clog follicles and, in some cases, increase the risk of irritation or scalp infections.
Medications and Your Mane: Unexpected Side Effects
If you’ve noticed increased hair shedding and can’t pinpoint the cause, it may be worth reviewing your current medications.
Certain drugs—including blood thinners, acne treatments with high levels of vitamin A, anabolic steroids, and medications for depression, arthritis, gout, heart conditions, or high blood pressure—have been linked to hair loss as a potential side effect.
Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your prescribed treatment plan.
Post-Pregnancy Changes: The Hormonal Hair Shift
During pregnancy, hormonal changes slow the rate of normal hair shedding, making hair appear fuller. But after childbirth, as hormone levels shift again, that retained hair begins to fall.
This type of hair loss, though sudden in appearance, is part of the natural cycle and typically happens within the first few months postpartum. Most individuals will notice regrowth within three to six months as the body gradually returns to its regular rhythm. While the shedding can be surprising, it is often temporary and self-correcting.
Hormonal Birth Control: A Potential Trigger
Changes to your birth control routine—whether starting or stopping—can also influence hair shedding patterns, particularly for those with a family history of hair loss. This is because hormonal contraceptives, including pills, implants, injections, and rings, may affect the hair growth cycle.
Some users notice increased shedding weeks or even months after making a change. If this is a concern, exploring non-hormonal alternatives with a medical provider may help reduce disruption to your hair’s natural cycle.
Environmental Aggressors: The Impact of Pollution on Hair
Prolonged exposure to air pollutants—like fine dust, smoke, and other airborne toxins—can build up on the scalp and interfere with the health of your hair follicles. Over time, this accumulation may lead to inflammation, scalp discomfort, and increased shedding. In some cases, oxidative stress caused by these environmental irritants can weaken the hair at its root, making strands more prone to breakage and thinning.
The Impact of Styling: Heat and Chemical Treatments
This might come as no surprise, but styling habits play a bigger role in hair health than most realise. For instance, the frequent use of blow dryers, curling irons, or flat irons can dry out strands, weakening the hair shaft and making it more prone to breakage.
Chemical processes like colouring, bleaching, or relaxing can also strip hair of its natural structure over time. Tight braids or heavy extensions may add further strain. When these habits are repeated without recovery time, the result is often visible thinning or increased hair fall.
The Smoking Connection: How It Affects Your Hair Health
Toxins found in cigarette smoke, including nicotine and tobacco-related chemicals, can accumulate in the hair follicles and shaft. Over time, this buildup may interfere with normal hair growth cycles and contribute to hair thinning or loss.
In fact, a report from Medical News Today highlights that these substances can narrow blood vessels, cause DNA damage and increase the risk of premature greying. While the effects may not show immediately, the long-term impact on hair health is significant.
Menopausal Changes: The Hormonal Influence on Hair Thinning
As oestrogen levels drop, some women may experience more noticeable shedding or gradual thinning—especially around the crown or parting. This shift is usually temporary, but in some cases, it may resemble female pattern hair loss.
Taking Action: Addressing Unexpected Hair Loss and Exploring Solutions
If your hair is shedding more than usual during brushing or if you’re noticing thinning that doesn’t improve over time, it may be time to look beyond everyday habits. Unusual hair loss can stem from a range of factors—some linked to medical causes of hair breakage, while others may point to deeper hormonal or physiological changes. Identifying the root cause is essential in managing persistent loss effectively.
For individuals experiencing ongoing thinning despite lifestyle changes, a clinical evaluation can help determine whether further intervention is needed. In some cases, surgical options like a hair transplant may be considered, especially when the follicles are no longer regenerating on their own.
Sage Medical offers consultations for those seeking support through a recognised hair transplant clinic in Singapore. Our team works with patients to assess the severity of loss and recommend personalised paths forward through services at our hair loss clinic.
