Medically reviewed by Dr. Meinolf Dorka, Medical Director, last reviewed September 2026
Hair loss is tempting to explain away. The bathroom light is unforgiving. It has been a stressful year. A few hairs in the shower are normal.
Often those explanations are right, and sometimes they are not. Wanting to be sure before you do anything is a reasonable place to start, not a reason to feel behind.
The short answer
Whether hair loss can be stopped depends on what is causing it. Some types are temporary and settle once the trigger has passed. Others, such as hereditary hair loss, can often be slowed with treatment, and in some people partly reversed, but they tend to continue if treatment stops.
The first step is to understand the cause with a doctor before starting any treatment. Hair lost to scarring of the scalp usually does not grow back, which is one reason early assessment matters for some conditions.
Why the cause comes first
People typically lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, and new hair usually replaces them without anyone noticing. Hair loss becomes visible when that balance changes: more hair falls out, or less grows back.
The pattern gives the first clue. Gradual thinning at the hairline or crown in men, or a widening parting in women, points towards hereditary hair loss, the most common type. Sudden shedding across the whole scalp, round bald patches, or scaling and redness suggest other causes, with different treatments.
A doctor usually starts with questions about your health, diet, medicines, hair care and family history, and an examination of the scalp. Blood tests, for example for thyroid function or iron levels, and occasionally a small scalp biopsy may follow. Treatment chosen without that information may be aimed at the wrong problem.
When hair loss stops by itself
Some hair loss is temporary. A physical or emotional shock, such as a high fever, major surgery or a bereavement, can cause widespread shedding that often appears a few months after the event. This type is called telogen effluvium, and the hair usually grows back.
Patchy hair loss caused by alopecia areata, an immune condition, is less predictable. Hair may regrow without treatment, but the condition can come and go, and treatment can help manage it.
Temporary does not mean it has to be ignored. Heavy shedding can be distressing, and an assessment can confirm the cause and rule out anything that needs treatment.
Treating an underlying cause
Where hair loss is linked to a medical problem, treatment is aimed at that problem. Thyroid disease, hormonal changes, too little iron or protein in the diet, and certain medicines are among the causes a doctor looks for. Treating the underlying problem may help reduce the associated hair loss.
If a medicine may be involved, it should not be changed or stopped without discussing it with the prescriber first. A doctor may sometimes advise pausing medicine for a few months to see whether the hair loss improves.
What works for hereditary hair loss
Hereditary hair loss is the type most treatments are designed for. In plain terms, hair follicles gradually shrink and produce finer, shorter hairs, until some stop producing hair at all. A hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is thought to play a part. Clinically, the condition is called androgenetic alopecia.
Minoxidil applied to the scalp
Minoxidil is a liquid or foam applied to the scalp. It is a common first treatment for pattern hair loss in men and women. It can help regrow hair, slow the rate of loss, or both, and it has to be continued to keep any benefit.
Possible side effects include scalp irritation, headache and unwanted hair growth on nearby skin, such as the face. It is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Finasteride tablets
Finasteride is a tablet taken once a day by men with pattern hair loss. It belongs to a group of medicines called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, which reduce the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Mayo Clinic reports that many men taking it notice a slowing of hair loss and some see new growth, and that it may work less well in men over 60. The benefit lasts only while it is taken.
Side effects can include reduced sex drive or difficulty with erections, breast tenderness or other breast changes, and allergic reactions. It may also increase the risk of a high-grade form of prostate cancer, and it can affect the PSA blood test used to check for prostate cancer. Women who are or may become pregnant should not handle crushed or broken tablets.
In November 2025, a safety communication agreed with Swissmedic informed Swiss health professionals that a 2025 review of European data had confirmed suicidal thoughts as a side effect of finasteride tablets, reported mainly in people taking it for hair loss. A patient card is being introduced to summarise these risks, and anyone noticing sexual side effects is advised to seek medical advice, because they may contribute to changes in mood.
| If your mood changes while taking finasteride
Swissmedic advises stopping finasteride and seeking medical advice if you develop low mood, depression or thoughts of suicide. If you have thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself, or you are in immediate danger, call 144. For an immediate police or safety threat, call 117. Emotional support is available on 143 (German, French and Italian, 24 hours) and in English from Heart2Heart on 0800 143 000, daily 18:00 to 23:00. Children and young people can call 147. ahtida Health is not an emergency service. |
Hair transplant
A hair transplant moves hair from an area of the scalp where it grows well to thinner or bald areas. Possible risks include pain, bleeding, swelling, infection and scarring, and more than one procedure may be needed. Hereditary hair loss also continues to progress after surgery.
Options with less evidence behind them
Low-level laser devices and platelet-rich plasma injections are also offered for hair loss. Studies of laser devices have been small, and more research is needed on their long-term effects. Before paying for any procedure, it is worth asking what evidence supports it for your type of hair loss.
Hair loss in women
In women, hereditary hair loss usually shows as thinning along the parting and across the top of the head. Topical minoxidil is commonly used to treat this type of hair loss in women. Finasteride tablets are authorised in Switzerland for men, according to the safety communication published by Swissmedic, and they must not be used by women who are or may become pregnant.
Hair loss in women can also have hormonal causes, including pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, as well as thyroid disease and low iron. A receding hairline in an older woman deserves particular attention. Mayo Clinic describes frontal fibrosing alopecia, a scarring condition, as increasingly common in older women, and notes that early treatment may help slow or stop further loss.
How to prevent further hair loss
Some hair loss cannot be prevented, and hereditary hair loss is one of them. Gentle hair care can still help avoid additional loss, for example by:
- avoiding hairstyles that pull tightly, such as tight ponytails or braids;
- limiting harsh treatments such as perms, bleaching, hot-oil treatments and hot styling tools;
- using a wide-toothed comb and avoiding tugging, especially when hair is wet;
- eating enough protein and iron, and asking a doctor before starting supplements;
- protecting a thinning scalp from the sun.
What treatment can and cannot promise
Treatment can slow hair loss and, in some people, partly reverse it, but full restoration cannot be promised. Results vary between people, depend on the type and stage of hair loss, and usually last only as long as treatment continues.
What a clinician can usually offer is a clear view of the cause and the options. What no clinician can responsibly promise at a first Consultation is how much hair you will keep or regrow, or when. What can be agreed is a plan suited to the cause, and review points to judge whether it is helping.
Not treating hair loss is also a legitimate choice. Some people prefer to let hair loss run its course, while others choose hairstyles, hats or wigs. The decision is yours to make.
When to seek advice
Common reasons to have hair loss assessed include:
- sudden or patchy hair loss, or noticeably more hair than usual coming out when you wash or brush it;
- burning, itching, pain or redness of the scalp;
- hair loss from the body as well as the scalp;
- a receding hairline or thinning eyebrows in a woman, particularly after menopause;
- hair loss that is causing you distress.
You do not need several of these, and you do not need to wait. Sudden hair loss can signal an underlying medical condition that needs treatment.
Getting support in Switzerland
A family doctor is usually the first point of contact for hair loss, and may refer you to a dermatologist, a doctor who specialises in skin and hair. In family-doctor, HMO and Telmed insurance models, your first contact is expected to go through the doctor or service your model specifies. Self-paying patients can also access care through digital medical platforms such as ahtida Health.
Basic insurance covers examinations and treatment in case of illness, subject to your deductible and co-payment. Whether a particular hair loss treatment is reimbursed is worth confirming with your insurer before you start. If hair loss is affecting how you feel day to day, that is worth saying at the Consultation, because it is part of the picture a doctor needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can hair loss be stopped for good?
Is it safe to buy hair loss treatments online?
Does basic insurance pay for hair loss treatment?
Can women use the same treatments as men?
Can I stop treatment once my hair improves?
What is worth noting before a first Consultation?
How do I know which type of hair loss I have?
Hair loss care at ahtida Health
ahtida Health is a structured digital medical clinic, and hair loss is one of the areas in which it provides care. Consultations are available in German and English, and you can learn more about its approach to hair loss.
Where to go from here
There is no need to decide anything today. When you are ready, you can explore hair loss treatment options with ahtida Health and learn what an assessment may involve.
References
- Mayo Clinic. Hair loss: Symptoms and causes. 7 February 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Hair loss: Diagnosis and treatment. 7 February 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Finasteride (oral route): Side effects and dosage. Portions last updated 1 February 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Frontal fibrosing alopecia. 7 November 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Hair Loss. Last updated 26 August 2021.
- Cleveland Clinic. Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia). Last updated 9 December 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. Telogen Effluvium. Last updated 1 December 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. Alopecia Areata. Last updated 30 August 2023.
- Cleveland Clinic. Finasteride Tablets (Alopecia). Date not stated on page.
- Cleveland Clinic. Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia. Last updated 13 June 2022.
- Swissmedic. Finasterid, Dutasterid: Neue Maßnahmen zur Minimierung des Risikos für Suizidgedanken. Safety communication from the marketing authorisation holders, in agreement with Swissmedic. 17 November 2025.
- World Health Organization. Substandard and falsified medical products (fact sheet). 3 December 2024.
- ch.ch (Swiss federal portal). Emergencies and danger. Date not stated on page.
- 143.ch. How to contact us (Heart2Heart English line). Last modified 7 December 2023.
- ch.ch (Swiss federal portal). Health insurance benefits. Date not stated on page.
- ch.ch (Swiss federal portal). Health insurance costs and premium reductions. Date not stated on page.
- ch.ch (Swiss federal portal). Taking out, changing and cancelling health insurance. Date not stated on page.