What Causes Hair Loss?
There are many reasons for hair loss. If hair loss is sudden and severe, then the cause may be due to some disease, medicines, diet, or even child birth. The gradual hair loss that becomes prominent over the years is actually hereditary hair loss. Hair experts and dermatologists says that certain hair care practices can also cause considerable hair loss.
Let us briefly discuss various causes of hair loss:
Hair Disorders
- Androgenetic Alopecia: Androgenetic Alopecia is hereditary thinning or baldness and most common cause of hair loss. About 80 million men and women in the United States have hair loss due androgenetic alopecia. A receding hairline as well as hair loss on top of the scalp is visible when men have hereditary hair loss. Women, on the other hand, tend to keep their hairline and have visible thinning over the front and top of the scalp.
- Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Alopecia areata (AA) causes hair loss in small, round patches that may go away on their own, or may last for many years. Nearly 2% of the U.S. population will develop AA in their lifetime. Some people with AA (about 5%) may lose all scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis). The immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks the hair root and causes hair loss. It develops in people of all ages.
- Cicatricial or Scarring Alopecia: Cicatricial or Scarring Alopecia is a rare condition that destroys a person’s hair follicles. Scar tissue forms where the follicles once were and re-growth is not possible.
Disease
- Underlying medical condition: Hair loss if triggered by an underlying medical condition, then hair loss often can be stopped or reversed with treatment for the underlying disease. The most common underlying medical conditions that can cause hair loss are thyroid disease and anemia caused by an iron deficiency. It is reported that hair loss could be a warning sign for about 30 diseases.
- Cancer Treatment: Cancer treatments like radiation and some chemotherapeutic medications cause hair loss. Hair loss because cancer treatments are usually temporary and grows back after the treatment is over.
- Ringworm of the Scalp: Mostly this fungal infection of the scalp affects children and without effective treatment can cause balding and scaling on the scalp. This is a contagious fungal infection.
Stress and Hormones
- Hair Loss Because of Physical Stress: Physical Stress like major surgery, high fever, severe infection, or even the flu can cause significant hair loss.
- Hormonal Fluctuation: Fluctuations of harmone levels can also cause hair loss, especially in women. Hair loss is common during menopause and post childbirth due to falling estrogen levels. When hair loss is caused by falling estrogen levels, the hair loss is temporary and regrowth occurs usually with time. It is almost impossible to regain lost hair if you are a woman and 40 years of age or older.
Diet
- Weight Loss: Hair loss because of weight loss is common. People losing weight even under a physician observations can also experience some hair loss within 3 to 6 months after losing more than 15 pounds. The hair regrows in this condition.
- Excess intake of Vitamin A: Too much consumptions of Vitamin A through vitamin supplements or medications can also lead to hair loss. Generally hair regrows once the body get rid of the excess of Vitamin A.
- Protein Deficiency: Lack of or less protein intake forces body to shift hair growth into the resting phase. And a person with protein deficiency will experience hair loss within 2 to 3 months. This can be reversed and prevented by eating enough protein.
- Iron Deficiency: Iron deficiency is most common cause of hair loss.
Medication
Many medicines can also trigger hair loss. Medicines that treat arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, and high blood pressure may cause hair loss. similarly, blood thinners, high dosage Vitamin A and birth control pills can cause thinning of hair or even severe hair loss.
Hair Care Practices
Many hair care practices are also the common cause of hair loss. Hair care cosmetics that contain harsh chemicals damage hair and result is the breakage of hair. Regular, improper or overuse of dyes, gels, relaxers, and sprays also can cause hair fall. Similarly devices like blow dryers, flat irons etc. tend to damage hair in long run. Too much shampooing, combing, or brushing or doing any of these too vigorously can cause hair damage. Hair styles that pulls on the hair such as a ponytail, cornrows, or braids can also cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Hairpins, clips, and rubber bands used to hold hair tightly can also break hair.
Many people prefer accept hair loss as a part of life and let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Many lose confidence and may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat hair loss. Before pursuing any treatment option, talk with your physician about the cause of and best possible treatments for your hair loss. There are very few conventional form of treatment available and they have their side effects. Therefore, hair care products that are 100 % natural and made of herbal ingredients are increasingly becoming popular. Herbal hair care products are free from harmful chemicals, effective and safe.
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