What Are the Causes of Hair Loss?

For decades, hair loss has been one of the most stressful and embarrassing problems affecting both men and women. The common forms of hair loss are: male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness, generally known as Androgenetic alopecia. There are a variety of reasons behind hair loss. Even though it is common belief that poor hair care or the use bad hair care products are the main causes of hair loss, you will find that the actual reasons are slightly more complex.

Firstly, we should understand the body’s natural hair shedding process. Do you know that it is normal for a person to shed around 100 hairs a day? This amount of hair loss is completely normal and natural. There is cause for alarm only when the amount of hair loss exceeds this range.

Let us now briefly discuss about “What are the causes of hair loss?”

Provillus - A Preventive Cure for Hair Loss

Genetic

The main cause of hair loss can be attributed to the genes being passed on from one generation to another generation. Though there are many myths concerning this, such as hair loss problems being inherited from the mother’s father and that it skips a generation, they are mostly unproven. Thanks to advancements in modern medicine, most of these myths have since been addressed properly. For instance, although pattern baldness or Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary, it is not inherited only from the maternal side of the family. Hair loss can be inherited either from the maternal or the paternal side of the family. The genetic cause of hair loss has no relation whatsoever with what side of the family or generation you are a part of - it is simply a matter of chance.

Suffering From Long Term Illness and Diseases

Hair loss problems are common amongst those that have undergone a major operation or have suffered a prolong illness. This is mainly due to the amount of stress you have acquired due to the operation and also the side effects of the medication you have taken during your period of illness. Several medicines have been known to cause hair loss, especially sulphur drugs. Medicines that can cause hair loss include anticoagulants (also known as blood thinners), gout medication, medicines utilized in chemotherapy for cancer treatment, excessive intake of vitamin A, anti-depressants, and birth control pills. Hair loss problems that are related to these circumstances are usually temporary. This type of hair loss problems will start recovering when medication is stopped.

Sometimes underlying diseases such as lupus or diabetes may also cause hair loss. Since hair loss could be an early symptom of a disease, it is important to consult a medical doctor so that the disease can be treated at an early stage.

Stress

Hair loss and stress are inter-related. Stress can cause many problems with your body and one of them being hair loss. Most people, who suffer from severe stress; due to a stressful work environment or from a period of family strife, are more susceptible to hair loss problems. Lack of exercise and hectic work loads are the most common reasons for raised stress levels in people today. Working women today also encounter more stressors from juggling responsibilities both at home and at work.

Stress both at work and at home can have a drastic impact on our daily routine, especially our food habits. Hair loss problems are most evident amongst people who drink lots of coffee at breakfast, gulp down fast food for lunch and smoke cigarettes to kill stress. Some may even resort to drug abuse just to take the edge off a stressful day and drug abuse is also a common factor in causing hair loss problems. Having a balanced and healthy daily routine can help decrease the risk of suffering from hair loss problems. Learn to relax, rid yourself of any bad habits, and better manage your life to impede stress and hair loss.

Hormonal Imbalance

Hair loss can sometimes be caused by hormonal problems. Hair loss problems may arise when the balance of male hormones (androgens); or female hormones (estrogens), are not in equilibrium. Treating the hormonal imbalance clinically may help improve your hair loss condition. Another form of hormonal imbalance that causes hair loss problems may be due to a thyroid disorder. You will suffer from hair loss problems if your thyroid gland is over or under active. Such hair loss problems are usually rectified when the thyroid disorder is treated.

Many women will also notice significant hair loss a few months after pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body’s natural hair loss cycle is disrupted by keeping hair that is normally shed. This is because of the increased levels of certain hormones produced by the body during pregnancy. These hairs will eventually fall off when balance is restored to the hormone levels. This type of hair loss is only temporary and usually lasts up to 3 months after pregnancy, after which normal hair growth and hair loss cycle resumes.

Infections

Hair loss can also be caused by fungal infections and degenerative diseases. Commonly, hair loss problems arise from such circumstances when the scalp suffers from fungal infections. Such infections can be cured by using anti-fungal medication and anti-fungal shampoo or lotion.


There are various causes for hair loss. The best way to prevent or stop hair loss is finding out the actual cause for the hair loss problems.

ProFollica - All Natural System for Hair Regrowth

The information on this site is designed for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your family doctor.