While hereditary hair thinning is the most common cause of hair loss in women, sudden hair loss in women has many different potential causes.


Suddenly hair loss in women can be devastating and scary, and you may have no idea why you’re suddenly noticing so much hair loss. Most women become very concerned when they suddenly notice more hair in the shower drain, extra hair in their brush or other signs of hair loss. You’re definitely right to be concerned if you’ve noticed you’re dealing with sudden hair loss in women. While some causes of this problem are not really serious, sometimes sudden hair loss in women may be a sign that you are dealing with a deeper problem.


Hair loss and hair thinning in women are usually called by hereditary thinning, often referred to as female pattern balding. However, in some cases, sudden hair loss in women can occur, and this sudden hair loss is usually not a result of female patterns balding. In most cases, sudden hair loss in women can be corrected if the underlying issue is dealt with. The following are some common causes of sudden hair loss in women. There’s a good chance your hair loss problem is due to one of these issues. Just remember it’s always a good idea to see your doctor if sudden hair loss occurs, even if you think you know the reason behind it.


Certain Medications Cause Sudden Hair Loss in Women
Certain medications are known to have the side effect of sudden hair loss in women. Usually, this occurs because the hair that is currently in its active growth phase is put into the resting phase by the medication, which means that your hair suddenly stops growing. Quite a few different medications can cause sudden hair loss in women to occur, so it’s always good to know the side effects of the medications you are taking. The following are just a few of the medications that are known to result in sudden hair loss in women:



  •  Medications that help to lower cholesterol
  •  Oral contraceptives
  •  Water pills and beta blockers are taken to regulate blood pressure
  •  Medications used as blood thinners, including propranolol and heparin
  •  Certain medications used to treat arthritis
  •  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
  •  Anti-convulsant medications
  •  Tricyclic antidepressant medications
  •  Medications used to treat ulcers
  •  Some anti-histamines



Sudden Hair Loss is Often Caused by Stress

Sudden hair loss in women is often caused by stress. Stress can end up causing the hair to go into the dormant stage and this cause of hair loss is more likely to occur to women. This stress can develop from several different issues. Childbirth is one issue that can cause enough stress to cause sudden hair loss in women. Going through a severe illness or a major surgery can also end up causing extreme stress to the body, which goes on to cause hair loss. Some of the other issues that may develop stress severely enough to cause sudden hair loss in women include financial problems, losing a loved one, accidents and divorce.


Your Thyroid Gland and Sudden Hair Loss in Women

An issue with your thyroid gland is another problem that can lead to sudden hair loss in women. Whether you deal with an overactive or underactive thyroid, either problem can end up causing sudden hair loss to occur. Those who deal with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism often have a more rapid conversion of testosterone to DHT within the body. This then goes on to cause sudden hair loss in women, which may resolve itself when the thyroid problem is taken care of effectively.


Serious Illnesses May Result in Fast Hair Loss

Many women are unaware that sudden hair loss in women can be caused by a serious illness. Even having a severe bout of the flu or a very high fever can cause enough stress to cause fast hair loss to occur. Various illnesses affect the body and cause sudden hair loss in women, while other illnesses simply cause enough stress to cause the hair loss problem. In most cases, this type of hair loss is only a temporary problem and hair will usually regrow over time on its own.


Harsh Hair Styling Often Causes Sudden Hair Loss Problems

Harsh hair styling is often the cause of sudden hair loss in women. Repeatedly using hairstyle techniques that damage hair can cause hair to fall out suddenly. This can include repeatedly blow drying the hair for extended periods of time, continually using hot rollers, having perms on a regular basis or repeatedly using hair dyes on your hair. Certain hair products that include harsh chemicals can cause sudden hair loss in women that is quite severe. Other methods of harsh hair styling may result in hair loss that occurs over time.


Sudden Hair Loss in Women and Hormonal Changes

If you notice you’re dealing with sudden hair loss in women, hormonal changes may be the culprit. When the body goes through big hormonal changes, it may affect the hair cycle. These big hormonal changes can happen during pregnancy, when menopause occurs or when beginning to use birth control pills. In many cases, you’ll find that dealing with the hormonal change and correcting it will help to deal with the problem of sudden hair loss in women.


Usually, you’ll find that sudden hair loss in women is not due to female pattern baldness. However, about 90% of hair loss cases in women are a result of female pattern baldness. If you’re not dealing with sudden hair loss in women and you are losing hair gradually or dealing with thinning hair, female pattern baldness may be your problem. The good news is that this issue can be treated with a treatment product called Provillus. This product includes FDA approved ingredient, Minoxidil. It is used twice a day to help regrow hair and offers great results for many women dealing with hair loss.