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Hair Loss Causes

What Causes Hair Loss?

The falling of hair is a normal process, but it becomes worrisome for every woman and man when they fall more than usual.

The causes of hair fall vary from person to person, it’s important to get treatment related to your cause.

In the following article, we will look for the common causes of hair fall.

Content

  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Hormonal Imbalance
  • Genetics
  • Drugs
  • Stress
  • Hairstyling products
  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Aging
  • Medical Conditions
  • Thyroid issues
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Iron Deficiency, Anemia, And Blood Loss
  • Pregnancy
  • Scalp Infection
  • Over Supplementation
  • Others

Nutritional deficiencies

  • It could be possible that essential nutrients may be missing from your diets such as iron, copper, zinc, and proteins.
  • The deficiency of vitamin D is another cause of hair loss. To avoid this, make sure to get out and soak up some sun.
  • A low-protein diet or severely calorie-restricted diet can also cause temporary hair loss.

Hormonal Imbalance

  • After the age of 30, women can experience hormonal imbalance which can cause hair loss.
  • This is usually caused by excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) conversion.
  • Even though estrogen is the main hormone that women produce, testosterone and other androgens such as DHEA also occur in the female body. As women reach a certain age, they may begin to convert these androgens to DHT.
  • Hormonal changes in the body increase the sensitivity of hair follicles, weaken hair roots, and cause excess hair fall.
  • Menopause, ovarian cyst, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, etc. bring about changes in your body’s hormonal balance, which may eventually lead to hair loss.

Genetics

Genetic hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia and is known to be the most common cause of hair loss. The gene can be inherited from either your mother’s or father’s side of the family, though you’re more likely to have it if both of your parents had hair loss.  Men are more likely to inherit it than women.

It is possible to treat this condition with minoxidil, a medication for hair growth.

Drugs

Alopecia was found to be one of the common adverse effects of Voriconazole, an antifungal medicine (7).

Other drugs that may cause hair loss as a side effect include :

  • Acne medications containing vitamin A (retinoids)
  • Antibiotics and antifungal drugs
  • Antidepressants
  • Birth control pills
  • Anti-clotting drugs
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs
  • Drugs that suppress the immune system
  • Drugs that treat breast cancer and other cancers
  • Epilepsy drugs (anticonvulsants)
  • High blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensives), such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Mood stabilizers
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Parkinson’s disease drugs
  • Steroids
  • Thyroid medications
  • Weight loss drugs

Stress

Extreme stress can cause sudden hair loss which could last for several months. Minimizing stress through exercise, meditation yoga and massages will reduce your chances of experiencing hair loss.

Other than that physical stress

Hairstyling products

Over-treated hair can lead to hair loss due to the toxic chemicals found in dyes and styling products. Similarly, almost all shampoos contain Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which has a toxic effect on your immune system and has been proven to corrode hair follicles and impede hair growth. It is advisable to stick to natural shampoos and dyes.

Cosmetic procedures

such as shampooing too often, perms, bleaching, and dyeing hair can contribute to overall hair thinning by making hair weak and brittle. Tight braiding, using rollers or hot curlers, and running hair pick through tight curls can also damage and break hair. However, these procedures don’t cause baldness. In most instances, hair grows back normally if the source of the problem is removed. Still, severe damage to the hair or scalp sometimes causes permanent bald patches.

Aging

As we age, the rate at which our hair grows tends to slow down. Hair strands get smaller and have less pigment, and hair becomes thinner, finer, and grey. To keep your hair healthy, eat whole foods which help to keep your body youthful, as well as your hair. If you have prematurely grey hair, you can find here natural supplements that can help you.

Medical Conditions

Thyroid disease, lupusdiabetes, iron deficiency, eating disorders, and anemia can cause hair loss. Most times, when the underlying condition is treated, the hair will return unless there is scarring as in some forms of lupus, lichen planus, or follicular disorders.

Thyroid issues

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If the thyroid gland, which is at the front of the neck, produces an excessive or insufficient amount of the thyroid hormone, then the hair growth cycle may change.

However, if you do have a thyroid issue, you will notice other symptoms along with hair loss such as weight gain or loss, sensitivity to cold or heat, and changes in heart rate.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a hormonal imbalance that creates higher androgens levels than normal. This often causes hair to grow on the face and body, while the hair on the head grows thinner. PCOS can also lead to ovulation problems, acne, and weight gain.

Iron Deficiency, Anemia, And Blood Loss

The deficiency of red blood cells in the body, sudden loss of blood, and insufficient iron levels in the body cause not only fatigue, weakness, and headaches, but also hair loss.

Pregnancy

Some women may experience excessive hair loss shortly after giving birth. This is due to a decrease in estrogen levels. This type of hair loss is a temporary condition and usually resolves within a year or sooner.

To help hair return to its normal condition, try:

  • using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner
  • using products designed for fine hair
  • avoiding intensive conditioners or conditioning shampoos as these can be too heavy for fine hair
  • applying conditioner to the ends of the hair, rather than the scalp, to avoid weighing hair down

Scalp Infection

Fungal, bacterial, and viral infections like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis in the scalp can weaken the roots and damage hair follicles, thereby causing thinning, breakage, and hair fall.

Over Supplementation

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Over supplementation of a few nutrients, like vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium, was found to cause hair loss, among other risks (10). Most hair supplements contain these nutrients, although vitamin A and selenium deficiencies have not been linked to hair loss. Instead of taking vitamins in their concentrated form as supplements, it is better to take them from fruits and other organic foods.

Others:

  • Illness and childbirth can cause temporary hair loss. Ringworm caused by a fungal infection can also cause hair loss.
  • Burns, injuries, and X-rays can cause temporary hair loss. In such cases, normal hair growth usually returns once the injury heals unless a scar is produced. Then, hair will never regrow.

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