Top five reasons for hair loss
Have you noticed thinning hair, or that you are losing more and more hair when you wash it? You wouldn’t be alone. Hair loss is a common problem, affecting 85% of men and 40% of women by the age of 50. Approximately 6.5 million men and 8 million women in the UK are currently affected by hair loss. Hair loss is a sign of ageing. Skin concerns from ageing can be helped by using innovative skincare solutions like these.
Sudden extreme hair loss could be linked to a medical condition, so it is important to get checked out by a doctor.
Genetics
Unfortunately for many people, the main cause of their hair loss may be out of their control. The most common cause of hair loss is genetics, and hereditary hair loss tends to happen when you age. To figure out if your hair loss comes from genetic factors, look at the family history of particularly the men in your family, and whether they balded as they aged. Hereditary hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, and can affect both men and women. It can be spotted as it often manifests in predicable balding patterns, which is usually a receding hairline and bald spots for men, and thinning along the crown of the scalp for women. While you cannot change your genetics, there are some things you can do to help mitigate this kind of hair loss.
Stress
Over time, high levels of stress can contribute to hair loss. This is because chronic stress can cause inflammation in or around the follicle, which can disrupt its mechanisms, inhibiting growth. A sudden period of intense stress following an event can also cause hair loss. But all hope is not lost, as hair loss from stress doesn’t have to be permanent. Once you are feeling better, your hair will be able to grow back.
Medications and medical conditions
Medical conditions can often cause hair loss, as they affect the immune system and the body’s ability to grow hair. Hormonal changes due to pregnancy can also cause permanent or temporary hair loss. When levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop during menopause, hair grows more slowly and becomes thinner. The hormonal decreases can also increase the production of androgens, which shrink hair follicles and result in hair loss on the head. Hair loss can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as those used for cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, and depression.
Poor diet
Having a poor diet can lead to your body being nutritionally deficient. A diet with too little iron can cause anemia, which disrupts nutrient supply to your hair follicles. As a result, you can be left with thinning hair, and hair that will not grow. Nutrient deficiency and calorie restriction can both affect hair quality and hair growth, and lead to hair loss. Studies have shown that restricting calories and particularly protein restriction can affect the energy supply to the follicle, which can lead to hair loss. A low calorie and low protein diet can heavily impact your body over time, so it is important to ensure that you are eating enough.
Hair care
If you colour, perm, or relax your hair, you could be damaging your hair. Over time, this is likely to lead to some hair loss. Wearing tight hairstyles with your hair pulled back can lead to traction alopecia, which can damage your hairline and lead to permanent hair loss. Where your hair previously grew, you may now see shiny bald patches. This can be difficult to reverse, so it is important to be careful about wearing your hair tightly pulled back, or in tight hairstyles.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/symptoms-causes/syc-20372926
