Hair loss is more common than most people realize. By age 50, roughly half of men and a meaningful portion of women experience visible thinning, and the majority of cases trace back to a single, well-understood cause: pattern hair loss driven by hormones and genetics.
This page is the overview. We'll cover the major types of hair loss, what's actually happening at the follicle level, and the treatments with the strongest clinical evidence. Each section links to a deeper guide on a specific aspect, so you can drill down to your situation.
If you'd rather skip ahead to a one-on-one consultation with a licensed physician, the assessment takes about five minutes and is reviewed by a U.S.-licensed clinician.
The most common type: androgenetic alopecia
The vast majority of adult hair loss, in both men and women, is androgenetic alopecia. It's also called pattern hair loss, male pattern baldness, or female pattern hair loss depending on context, but the underlying biology is the same.
Genetically susceptible hair follicles are sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone derived from testosterone. Over time, DHT causes those follicles to shrink. Each successive hair grows thinner, shorter, and lighter, until the follicle eventually stops producing visible hair entirely.
This is a slow, progressive process. It doesn't happen overnight. Most people first notice it as gradual thinning at the crown, a receding hairline, or a wider part. Read more on our male pattern baldness page for the underlying biology and the Norwood scale used to stage progression.
Other causes worth ruling out
Not all hair loss is androgenetic. Other common causes include:
- Telogen effluvium: a temporary shedding triggered by stress, illness, surgery, childbirth, or major weight loss. It typically resolves within 3 to 6 months once the trigger is removed.
- Nutritional deficiencies: low iron (especially in menstruating women), vitamin D deficiency, and protein malnutrition can all cause shedding.
- Thyroid disease: both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause diffuse hair loss.
- Medications: chemotherapy is the obvious one, but blood thinners, beta blockers, certain antidepressants, and isotretinoin can all contribute.
- Alopecia areata: an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, producing round, well-defined patches of hair loss. This is treated differently from androgenetic alopecia and typically requires in-person dermatology care.
- Scarring (cicatricial) alopecias: less common but more serious. Hair loss is permanent because follicles are destroyed. Requires dermatologist evaluation.
A licensed physician's job, when reviewing your case, is to confirm androgenetic alopecia is what's happening (because that's the type with strong telehealth-friendly treatments) and rule out the other causes that need different management.
Common patterns of hair loss
Pattern hair loss looks different in men and women, and it tends to follow predictable stages. Knowing your pattern helps both you and your physician decide on the right treatment plan.
In men
Male pattern hair loss usually starts at the temples and crown. The hairline gradually recedes into an "M" shape, and a thinning patch develops at the back of the head. Over time, those areas can merge, leaving a horseshoe of hair around the sides and back. The Norwood scale is the standard staging system; we explain it in detail in our guide on male pattern baldness.
If you're early in the process and noticing the hairline pull back, our receding hairline guide covers what's normal maturation versus what's the start of pattern hair loss.
In women
Female pattern hair loss typically presents as diffuse thinning along the part line, with the hairline staying intact. Complete baldness is uncommon in women. The Ludwig scale stages this pattern.
Whichever pattern you're seeing, the early stage is when treatment works best. See our overview of thinning hair for early signs and what to do.
Why timing matters
Hair loss is treatable, but the window matters. Once a follicle has been miniaturized for years and stopped producing visible hair, no medication can reliably bring it back. The hair on your head right now is the easiest to keep. Hair lost in the past 1 to 2 years is sometimes recoverable. Hair gone for many years usually isn't, at least not with medication.
This is why "wait and see" is the costliest strategy. Every month of progression makes the eventual outcome harder to reverse. Our guide on how to stop hair loss walks through the decision framework physicians use.
Treatments with the strongest evidence
There are a handful of treatments backed by solid clinical research. The first three are the cornerstones; the rest are adjuncts.
Minoxidil (topical or oral). The most-studied medication for pattern hair loss. Works by extending the active growth phase of the hair cycle and increasing follicle size. Topical 5% has been FDA-approved since 1988; low-dose oral has gained ground recently. We covered how minoxidil works and the topical-versus-oral choice in our guides section.
Finasteride. A prescription pill that blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, addressing the hormonal driver of pattern hair loss directly. It's typically combined with minoxidil for the strongest results. Suitable for men only.
Dutasteride. A more potent DHT-blocker than finasteride, sometimes prescribed when finasteride isn't enough. Used off-label for hair loss.
Microneedling. A scalp-roller therapy that creates micro-channels to enhance topical absorption and stimulate follicular activity. Often paired with topical minoxidil.
Curekey provides access to all of the above through licensed U.S. physicians, with custom formulations prepared by partner pharmacies. The right combination depends on your medical history, hair loss pattern, and tolerance, which is what the consultation is for.
What we don't recommend
A note on what to avoid:
- Single-ingredient supplements marketed as "hair growth pills." Most have no clinical evidence for pattern hair loss. Biotin specifically is only useful if you have a (rare) biotin deficiency.
- Laser caps and combs without supporting medical treatment. Some clinical evidence exists, but they're not a substitute for the medications above.
- DIY routines copied from social media without physician input. Pattern hair loss has clear medical answers; experimental routines waste time during the window where treatment works best.
- Hair transplants before exhausting medical treatment. Transplants don't stop ongoing loss elsewhere on the scalp. Most surgeons recommend stabilizing with medication first.
What a Curekey consultation involves
If you decide to start the assessment, here's what the process looks like:
- Online medical questionnaire. Five to ten minutes. Covers your medical history, current medications, hair loss pattern, and goals.
- Photo review. You upload photos of your scalp from a few standard angles. Lighting tips are provided.
- Physician review. A U.S.-licensed physician reviews your case, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and decides whether prescription treatment is appropriate.
- Personalized treatment plan. If approved, you receive a recommendation for topical, oral, or combination therapy, with the formulation chosen based on your case.
- Discreet shipping. Medications are sent to your address from a partner pharmacy.
- Ongoing follow-up. Check-ins at the 4-month and 6-month marks, with photo review, to evaluate progress and adjust the plan if needed.
There's no charge unless and until a physician approves a prescription. The whole process is HIPAA-compliant and handled online.
Explore further
The pages below go deeper on specific aspects of hair loss. Pick the one that matches your situation.
- Male pattern baldness and androgenetic alopecia: the science, the staging scale, and what's happening at the follicle level
- Hair loss in men: a men-specific guide covering hormonal drivers, typical patterns, and treatment expectations
- Receding hairline: is it maturation or pattern loss, and what to do about it
- Thinning hair: early signs and action: catching it early before it progresses
- Balding: when treatment helps and when it doesn't: late-stage decision-making
- How to stop hair loss: a treatment-focused decision framework
The bottom line
Most adult hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. It's progressive, but it's treatable, especially when caught early. The medications with the strongest evidence (minoxidil, finasteride, dutasteride) work in the majority of patients who use them consistently. The best time to start is now, because every month of progression narrows the window of what can be recovered.
If you want a clinical opinion on your specific situation, a Curekey consultation is the fastest way to get one.
