Excessive hair loss can happen for a number of reasons, including genetics, stress, diet, certain medical conditions, or medications. There are many treatments to try.

Are you finding an alarming number of strands that have drifted from your scalp to your shower floor? Or maybe you notice clumps of hair in the bristles of your brush after your daily brushing?

Wherever it happens, excessive hair loss can be a troubling thing to manage. If you’ve noticed clumps of hair falling out recently, here’s what could be going on inside your body and what you can do to help treat it.

To understand hair loss, you need to understand hair growth.

There are three stages in the growth cycle:

  • Anagen: This is when hair is actively growing in length.
  • Catagen: This is when hair stops growing.
  • Telogen: This is when hair rests and eventually sheds.

Around 90% of your hair is in the anagen stage at once, and this growth phase can last for 2 to 6 years.

The transitional phase, catagen, is much shorter —often only a few weeks —and telogen lasts for a few months.

There are around 100,000 follicles sprouting hair on the average scalp, and it’s common to lose up to 100 strands a day. Once an individual hair has shed, the follicle prepares for regrowth, and the whole cycle starts again.

However, the cycle can be disrupted by the likes of aging and hormonal changes, such as menopause. As you age, some follicles no longer grow new hair, leading to a thinner look or bald patches.

Some conditions can also lead to an imbalance, where up to half of the hairs on the head enter the shedding telogen phase.

So, what exactly can lead to clumps of hair falling out? There are plenty of potential culprits, and some people may have more than one issue.

Male and female pattern baldness

Some causes lead to permanent hair loss. Male and female pattern baldness is one of these. One of the most common forms of hair loss, it’s often seen in more than one generation of a family.

Hormones and genetics can play a part, leading to smaller follicles that eventually stop making hair.

Men tend to notice a receding hairline and patches of hair loss on the top of the head.

For women, pattern hair loss results in thinning hair, particularly on the crown.

Stress

Stress — like that from a traumatic event, a health issue (like surgery), rapid weight loss, or pregnancy — can be a big factor in telogen effluvium.

Essentially, this means there’s temporary hair loss where more hairs enter the telogen phase than what’s typical.

It can be hard to determine stress as the cause, as the hair loss often doesn’t occur immediately, instead falling out 3 to 6 months later. That said, if you find yourself losing clumps of hair several months after a big event like the ones mentioned above, it’s a good bet stress is the culprit.

Diet

Low levels of iron, zinc, and vitamins B12 and D have been linked to hair loss. All seemingly have a role in stimulating hair growth or helping with follicle health.

Alopecia types

Alopecia areata occurs when the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out in patches. Sometimes, the hair grows back on its own.

There are a few types of alopecia:

  • Alopecia areata: This type causes patches of baldness.
  • Alopecia totalis: This rare type causes complete baldness on the head.
  • Alopecia universalis: This one is much rarer and causes the entire body to lose all its hair.

Thyroid disorder

An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause hair to fall out in clumps. It can also go hand-in-hand with autoimmune conditions, like alopecia areata.

If left untreated, the hormonal changes caused can stop new hair strands from developing.

Other conditions and medications

Autoimmune diseases, like lupus and chronic infections, can also be to blame.

You may also find that medications, like chemotherapy medications, hormonal medications, retinoids, beta-blockers, and antidepressants, can lead to hair loss.

In a lot of cases, hair will grow back when you stop taking the medication.

According to the NHS, most forms of hair loss don’t need treatment. That’s because a lot of hair loss is either temporary or natural due to aging.

However, you may need to be patient. It can take months for hair to start growing back and even longer for it to look somewhat “normal” again (whatever that means for you).

That said, there are some approaches you can try to manage hair loss:

Remember: See a doctor if your hair is falling out in major clumps. They’ll be able to advise you of any effective treatment options.

Some forms of hair loss are hereditary or caused by illness, so there’s no foolproof way to prevent it. But there’s no harm in taking a look at your current lifestyle and making some changes if necessary.

These changes could involve combating stress by exercising regularly or trying calming rituals, like yoga or meditation. You could also work on getting an adequate amount of sleep and enough nutrients by upping your fruit and vegetable intake.

Try to treat your hair with care, too. Avoid potentially aggravating ingredients like alcohol and drying heat tools.

Losing clumps of hair can be particularly distressing. But there will always be an underlying reason, whether it’s a health condition, stress levels, or family genetics.

The best person to help you find the cause is a doctor or a specialist dermatologist.

And remember: Most hair loss is temporary and will grow back eventually.

Lauren Sharkey is a U.K.-based journalist and author specializing in women’s issues. When she isn’t trying to discover a way to banish migraine, she can be found uncovering the answers to your lurking health questions. She has also written a book profiling young female activists across the globe and is currently building a community of such resisters. Catch her on Twitter.