Diseases That Cause Hair Loss: What You Need To Know
Losing your hair can be an incredibly stressful and embarrassing experience, but the most important step in managing it is understanding the cause. That’s why it’s critical to learn about diseases that can lead to hair loss and how to recognize them. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common diseases associated with hair loss and what you need to know about them.
Introduction to Hair Loss
Hair loss can be a symptom of a variety of different diseases. It can be caused by physical or emotional stress, by certain medications, by autoimmune disorders, or by a variety of other conditions. If you are experiencing hair loss, it is important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
There are many potential causes of hair loss, which can make it a difficult condition to diagnose. However, some of the most common causes of hairless include:
Alopecia areata: This is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss.
Telogen effluvium: This is a type of temporary Shedding that occurs when the hair follicles go into a resting phase and falls out in large numbers. It can be caused by physical or emotional stress, pregnancy, childbirth, severe weight loss, or certain medications.
Female pattern baldness: Also known as androgenetic alopecia, this is the most common type of hair loss in women. It usually begins with thinning around the edges of the scalp and progresses to total baldness. Male pattern baldness is similar but typically affects the crown and vertex (top) of the head.
Traction alopecia: This type of hair loss is usually caused by tight hairstyles that pull on the hair follicles over time, such as ponytails or cornrows.
Diseases That Lead to Hair Loss:
There are numerous diseases that can lead to hair loss. While some causes are more common than others, any disease that impacts the health of your hair follicles can cause hair loss.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes patchy hair loss on the scalp and body. It is thought to be caused by a malfunction in the immune system, which leads to the destruction of healthy hair follicles.
Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that can be caused by a variety of things, including stress, medication, childbirth, surgery, and fever. With telogen effluvium, there is a sudden shift in the growth cycle of your hair follicles, causing them to enter the resting phase (telogen) too early. This leads to shedding of the hairs that would normally be shed at the end of their growth cycle.
Anagen effluvium is another type ofhair loss that can be caused by certain medications or chemotherapy treatments used to treat cancer. This type of hair loss results from damage to the cells in the growing (anagen) phase of the hair follicle growth cycle. Anagen effluvium typically leads to widespread thinning of the hair on your scalp but may also affect other areas withhair such as your eyebrows or eyelashes.
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness, is one of the most common forms of hair loss. It is caused by a combination of genetics and hormones, resulting in a gradual thinning of the hair.
Finally, traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that is caused by constant pulling or tension on the hairs, such as through tight ponytails or braids. This type of hair loss often affects African Americans and other groups of people with tightly curled hair.
- Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes on the body. It affects both men and women, and can occur at any age. The exact cause of alopecia areata is unknown, but it is believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for alopecia areata, but treatments are available to help regrow lost hair and prevent further hair loss.
- Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is a condition that affects both men and women. It is characterized by the gradual thinning of hair over time. Eventually, the hair may become so thin that it no longer grows back.
There are several factors that can contribute to the development of androgenetic alopecia. These include genetics, hormones, age, and stress. People with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop it themselves. Similarly, those with higher levels of certain hormones (such as testosterone) are also at greater risk.
While androgenetic alopecia cannot be cured, there are treatments available that can help to slow its progression or improve the appearance of thinning hair. These include medication, surgery, and hairpieces or wigs. If you are concerned about hair loss, be sure to speak with your doctor about all of your options.
- Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease is one of the most common causes of hair loss. There are two main types of thyroid disease: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. This can lead to hair loss, as well as other symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and dry skin.
Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland produces too many hormones. This can also lead to hair loss, as well as other symptoms such as anxiety, weight loss, and irregular heartbeat.
If you think you might have a thyroid problem, it’s important to see your doctor so they can do a blood test to check your hormone levels. Treatments for thyroid disease include medication and surgery.
- Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues. Iron deficiency can occur for a number of reasons, including blood loss, poor absorption of iron from the diet, and pregnancy.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include fatigue, pallor (paleness), shortness of breath, and dizziness. Hair loss may also occur. Diagnosis is made through a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). Treatment involves taking iron supplements and increasing the intake of iron-rich foods such as red meat, poultry, fish, beans, and leafy green vegetables.
- Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss on the scalp, face, and body. It can also lead to other serious health problems, such as heart disease and kidney failure. There is no cure for lupus, but treatment can help manage the symptoms. If you have lupus, it’s important to see a doctor regularly to monitor your condition and minimize your risk of complications.
Nutritional Deficiencies & Metabolic Disorders causing hair loss
Hair loss can be caused by a number of different factors, but one of the most common is nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders. When your body doesn’t have the proper nutrients, it can’t properly function and this can lead to a whole host of problems, including hair loss.
There are a number of different nutrients that are essential for healthy hair growth, including proteins, iron, zinc, and biotin. If you’re not getting enough of these nutrients in your diet, it can lead to hair loss. In addition, certain metabolic disorders can also cause hair loss.
If you’re concerned about hair loss, it’s important to talk to your doctor. They can help you determine if there’s an underlying medical condition causing your hair loss or if it’s due to something like a nutritional deficiency. Once the cause is determined, they can work with you to develop a treatment plan that will help get your hair loss under control.
- Protein or zinc deficiencies
Protein and zinc are essential nutrients for healthy hair growth. A lack of either can lead to hair loss.
Protein is the building block of all tissues in the body, including hair. Hair follicles are made up of mostly protein. Therefore, a diet that is lacking in protein can cause hair loss. The best sources of protein are lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, nuts, and seeds.
Zinc is needed for cell growth and division, which is necessary for healthy hair growth. It also helps the body to absorb other nutrients required for hair growth such as vitamin A. Zinc deficiencies are relatively rare but can still occur if you have an unbalanced diet or certain health conditions that prevent your body from absorbing zinc properly. Signs of a zinc deficiency include: brittle nails, dry skin, and hair loss. The best sources of zinc are oysters, beef, pork, chicken, legumes, nuts , grains, and dairy products.
- Diabetes or Polycystic Ov
There are many diseases that can cause hair loss, but two of the most common are diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to convert glucose into energy. When there is not enough insulin, the body’s cells cannot get the energy they need, and this can lead to hair loss.
PCOS is a hormonal disorder that affects women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS have high levels of androgens (male hormones), which can lead to the development of cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can also cause irregular periods, weight gain, and thinning hair.