Hair rarely exists in isolation
Sleep, nutrition, hormones and stress are usually part of the picture.
Dr. Ananya Rao · MD, Dermatology · Bengaluru
What I look at first
When someone comes to me about hair fall, the scalp is rarely where I begin. Sleep, diet, recent illness, medication and thyroid function usually explain more.
Patients are often surprised that the first consultation involves very little discussion of products.
The pattern I see most
A period of physiological stress, illness, childbirth, crash dieting, sustained under-sleeping, followed two to three months later by diffuse shedding. The delay is why the connection is often missed.
In most such cases the shedding is self-limiting, and the correct advice is patience with support rather than intervention.
Where topical care helps
Oiling and massage can support scalp comfort and encourage a gentler handling of the hair. That is a genuine benefit and a modest one.
It is not a treatment for hair loss, and anyone presenting it as such is overstating the evidence.
About the contributor
Dr. Ananya Rao
MD, Dermatology · Bengaluru
Practises dermatology with a focus on scalp health and long-term hair care. Contributes to Soumm as an independent reviewer.
Know MoreA note on evidence
Hair responds to many things at once: sleep, nutrition, hormonal changes, scalp condition and stress among them. Published here for education only; individual concerns should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.