Hair loss is one of the most misunderstood medical issues in America, and according to Fort Lauderdale hair transplant surgeon Dr. Brett Bolton, the truth is far more straightforward than most people realize. For men, he says 99.999% of hair loss is purely genetic male-pattern hair loss — not stress, diet, or lifestyle. If a man is thinning, he inherited it. Period. The gene can come from either side of the family and may skip several generations.

Women face a more complex picture. Dr. Bolton explains that hormonal shifts, thyroid issues, pituitary disorders, collagen vascular conditions, and other systemic factors can all trigger loss. A trained eye can immediately determine whether a woman is developing male-pattern recession — a genetic pattern typically visible at the hairline. Anything outside that pattern requires proper bloodwork and medical evaluation to find the root cause.

As for stress? Dr. Bolton compares it to an infection that flares when the immune system dips. Stress rarely creates hair loss; it typically accelerates a genetic program already in motion. Stress-related shedding is usually temporary, with regrowth following once the telogen (resting) phase resolves.