Hair loss is one of the most common hair problems both men and women encounter. Are you noticing a lot of hair clogging up your shower? Do you need to vacuum constantly just to get rid of all the hair on your carpet? Then you are clearly suffering from hair loss.
Even though hair fall is considered a normal occurrence, excessive hair loss isn’t. Most especially if the hair that was falling does not grow back or is taking too long to grow. There are so many reasons why you are experiencing hair loss. Check out these common hair loss causes and deal with your hair loss problem accordingly.
Genetic Hair Loss
Genes are a huge factor in hair loss. If you notice that your hair is thinning gradually then it is an indicator that the reason behind it is genetics. If you have a lot of family members who experienced balding or hair thinning, there is a high chance that you will also suffer the same fate.
Hair loss due to genetics cannot be reversed and does not have a cure. The best thing you can do is to slow it down plus maximize your hair’s growth potential. Make sure to live a healthy lifestyle and treat genetic hair loss with topical medications.
Topical medications are often the first line of treatment in hair loss but your physician might as well prescribed your oral medications. You can also consider hair transplantation surgery or laser therapy to address your hair loss problems.
One of the most common types of hair loss is Androgenetic Alopecia which is also caused by genetic reasons. This type of hair loss is also referred to as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
In Men, Androgenetic Alopecia usually creates a bald area in the middle of the head living only a ring of hair along the edge of the scalp. The majority of men who have Angenetic Alopecia ends up become totally bald.
Female Pattern Hair Loss
In female, on the other hand, the thinning of hair only become apparent as they age. Androgenetic Alopecia in women is a gradual process and often does not lead to baldness.
Reactive Hair Loss
Reactive hair loss is mostly experienced through a trigger. Experiencing excessive hair shedding daily is a sign of reactive hair loss. A reactive hair loss has a lot of triggers which you must know to understand why you are facing this dilemma.
Vitamin Deficiency
Our hair needs specific vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Hair loss is a sign of unhealthy hair which is why you must as well consider that it happens due to a lack of vitamins. make sure that you intake enough vitamins and minerals such as iron and vitamin B12.
Having not enough vitamin B12 will make you tired and feel like you are having low energy. These are not the only downside of having insufficient vitamin B12. It can also affect the health of your hair. You can acquire natural vitamin B12 through animal meat proteins.
On top of eating foods that are rich in iron and vitamin B12, you can also increase your vitamin intake through supplements.
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance is associated with a lot of health and beauty problems. From weight gain to acne and now hair loss. Try to consider this factor when finding out what causes your hair loss.
Estrogen or also known as female hormones is known to be a hair-friendly hormone while androgen or the male hormones is not.
If the androgen level in your system is higher than estrogen then you will surely experience hair loss that will result in baldness. Although it is a reactive type of hair loss, it is as well connected to your genes.
A hormonal imbalance can trigger hair loss if you have follicle sensitivity. This is why this cause can also be associated with genetic hair loss.
Stress
Another common reason for hair loss is stress. When you are stressed, the level of androgen in your system increases, and you already know how a high androgen will do to your hair.
When you are stressed, you can as well experience dandruff which can have a significant impact on your hair.
If you have been experiencing stress lately and it is only recently you are having hair loss then the reason is clear. You need to find a way to address your stress so that you can start managing your hair loss.
Thyroid Problems
Our thyroid also has a huge impact on hair loss. Thyroids produce thyroid hormones that if it is unbalanced will cause hair loss. Most of the time, hair can grow back once the thyroid problem is treated.
Your doctor might prescribe a medication for your thyroid problem depending on if it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. A surgery can as well be advised by your doctor. However, it is also important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your thyroid problem controlled.
The medical term referred to hair loss due to various medical conditions such as thyroid problems is Telogen Effluvium.
This condition may give you thinner hair but it does not result in baldness. Telogen Effluvium is the common cause of hair fall in women.
This type of hair loss is also a condition associated with other medical conditions like pregnancy, surgery, and vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Certain Medications
There is also a huge possibility that your hair loss is due to a specific medication you are taking. Some medicines cause hair fall as a side effect such as anti-depressants, blood thinners, beta-blockers, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
If you think that medication is the primary reason for your hair loss, it is best to talk to your physician. The doctor might decrease the dosage of the medication or give you a different medication. Hair loss is a serious matter which is why it should not be taken for granted.
Hairstyling
Certain hairstyles especially those that are required you to pull your hair hard also cause hair loss. The hair loss caused by hairstyling is referred to as Traction Alopecia. The tighter you pull your hair the more breakage it can occur which causes your hair to break and fall.
Common hairstyles that contributed to hair loss are cornrows, braids, and tight buns. You can notice a thinning of your hair which can lead to balding. You should opt for a hairstyle that does not require your hair to be pulled.
If you want to install hair extensions, it is best to opt for bio bonds hair extensions compared to other types of extensions. This type of hair extension will not damage your hair. Instead, it lets your natural hair grow even if you are wearing the extensions.
Age
Hair loss also comes in aging. As you age your hair follicle becomes finer which makes it prone to hair fall. Hair loss caused by aging usually starts to manifest during menopause. This is where a woman’s body experiencing a lot of changes that can be a cause of hair loss.
You must remember that it is not only our body that ages. Our hair has well-experienced aging which can be a huge cause of hair loss not only to women but also to men. This is also the reason why our hair turns gray when we age.
To slow down the thinning of your hair as you age, it is best to avoid doing hairstyles that pull your hair too much. Stop using chemicals in your hair or heat styling tools. It is also best if you wash your hair less often. Although this tip is best to control hair loss at any age, it can be more helpful as you age.
Pregnancy
Hair loss often comes after pregnancy. Many women noticed that they are suffering from excessive hair loss right after giving birth. The reason behind this is that the estrogen level on your body decreases after pregnancy thus you experience excessive hair fall.
This condition is considered normal and is only temporary. It will resolve on its own after a year from giving birth. If the hair fall persists, then you might want to consider other factors. There are ways you can do to help your hair return back to its pre-pregnancy condition.
First, use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner to improve the volume of your hair. Only choose products that are gentle for fine hair and avoid too much application of hair products such as shampoos and conditioners.
Tinea Capitis
Another cause of hairs falling out is ringworm in the scalp. This condition is called Tinea Capitis and is a fungal infection that occurs on your scalp. Children are often the ones who suffer from this scalp condition which causes their hair to fall.
When you suffer from Tinea Capitis, you will notice small bald patches on your head. These small patches will eventually become bigger over time. The affected part of your scalp will appear red and scaly which can also be very itchy.
You must as well expect blisters and sores that ooze with pus as they can possibly develop. For children, they will experience fever and swollen glands on their nape which is a clear indication of an infection.
It is best to seek the help of a dermatologist as soon as possible to acquire proper medication to cure the condition.
Children that get immediate treatment successfully regrow healthy hair. You should treat Tinea Capitis as soon as you noticed you are experiencing it.
Sudden Weight Loss
You might be surprised how losing weight can affect your hair. The hair loss you experience after a sudden weight loss is another cause for Telogen Effluvium. A rapid change of your body mass can trigger physical stress. This physical stress signals your hair follicles to move which can fall eventually.
It is best to lose weight gradually and naturally to avoid experiencing Telogen Effluvium. Yoga and walking is a great way to lose weight safely and effectively.
Even though hair loss due to sudden weight loss can be bothersome, this will not last long. Your hair will eventually stop falling off and will regrow.
Chemotherapy
Hair loss is one of the very common side effects of chemotherapy. If you have cancer and will undergo chemotherapy then expect that you will lose your hair throughout the process. Chemotherapy medications are designed to attack cancer cells that are rapidly growing.
Unfortunately, the medicines also attack healthy growing cells in your body including those on your hair roots. Hair loss due to chemotherapy does not only limited to your scalp. You will as well experience hair loss all over your body.
Before undergoing chemotherapy, it is best to talk with your doctor and discuss what to expect during the chemotherapy. Knowing what is possible to happen will give you a heads up and expect whatever it is possible.
Severe Dandruff
Experiencing severe dandruff will make you scratch your scalp excessively. This scratching will cause your scalp to be damaged which will result in your hair falling off. Repetitive inflammation of your hair follicles will result in scarring which is also one of the causes of Cicatricial Alopecia.
Cicatricial Alopecia is a type of hair loss experienced by individuals who have inflamed hair follicles that cause their scalp to scar. The worst part of this type of hair loss is that when the hair falls on the scarred part of your scalp, hair does not grow back.
Although this condition is a rare occurrence, it is still possible to happen. Avoid scaring your scalp so that you will not encounter this problem. It is best to visit your dermatologist if you start to experience excessive dandruff and avoid scratching your scalp as much as you can.
Aside from severe dandruff, there are many reasons for scarring that are out of your control. These reasons include laceration on the scalp due to surgery or accident. Once the laceration heals it will produce a scar and in turn, will be left as a bald spot on your head.
This hair loss condition is referred to as traumatic alopecia. All injuries acquired by your scalp that causes lacerations and scarring will be under this type of hair loss.
There are so many factors causing hair loss and knowing the main reason for your hair loss contributes a lot to how to address the problem. Use the information provided to understand your conditions and target the main issue for prevention or cure.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
It is best to prevent hair loss if you can than to cure it. By knowing the possible causes of why you are experiencing hair loss, you can now know what to do and what to avoid to prevent this condition. Moreover, if you already are experiencing hair loss, cure it according to its main reason.
