Hair loss, also called alopecia, and thinning hair can be caused by a number of factors. It is normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, out of 100,000 or so strands in your scalp; this is part of the normal cycle of hair growth and loss. But anything more than that and you are in serious trouble.
Hair loss is a very universal problem that affects both men and women across the world. Men are generally more prone to an early hair loss than women.
As part of the normal cycle of hair growth, at any one time, about 90 percent of the hair on your head is in the growth phase that can last as long as five to six years. About 10 percent of the hair is in resting phase. After 3-4 months, the resting hair is shed and a new hair starts to grow from the same follicle to replace lost hair. Hair grows about one centimeter per month, but this rate of growth slows as you age.
Hair loss may come as a surprise, but it is no mystery. There is always a cause for every type of hair loss. The following summarizes some of the many causes for hair loss:
1. Genetics
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or permanent pattern baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss in men (cause of more than 95 percent of hair loss in men). It is considered a genetic condition, inherited from either parent's side. The trigger for this type of baldness is dihydrotest0sterone, or DHT, a byproduct of test0sterone. DHT is a powerful hormone, body, and facial hair growth promoter. But in some people, genetics cause hair follicles to become sensitive to DHT, which causes them to shrink when exposed to it. This shortens their lifespan and prevents them from producing hair normally.
Male pattern baldness can start at any age; it can begin in your teens, 20s, or 30s, often causing most of your hair to shed by middle age. Hair loss typically results in a receding hairline and hair thinning around the crown (top of the head) which eventually culminates in a bald spot. Often a rim of hair around the sides and rear of the head is left as the hair follicles in that area are usually not genetically sensitive to DHT.
The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male pattern baldness and is known as female pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede.
2. Hair styling and treatments
Hair treatments with hot oils or irons, and perming, coloring, or bleaching may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss. The more frequent these treatments are done, the higher are you chances of an early hair fallout. Similarly, if you use tight hair rollers or wear pigtails, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. The pulling of the hair can lead to scarring of the scalp which can cause permanent hair loss.
3. Lack of protein in diet
You hair is basically a dead tissue. Like any other tissue, it is also made from proteins. If your diet lacks the adequate amount of protein, the body will save protein by shifting growing hairs into the resting phase. This results in a slower hair-growth cycle.
4. Stress
Physical or mental stress can cause temporary hair loss. The hair loss in this case can be categorized into two types:
* Telogen effluvium: The resting stage of the hair growth cycle is known as telogen. Traumas like chemotherapy, major surgery, childbirth, poisoning, and severe stress can cause hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state, leading to a condition called telogen effluvium. The hair stops growing and lies dormant, only to fall out 2 or 3 months later. The condition normally resolves itself within a few months and the hair eventually grows back. Telogen effluvium can also be caused by too much vitamin A in the diet or low blood iron levels.
* Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" which involves antibodies attacking the hair follicles. In this type of hair loss, the hair usually falls in patches, but can involve the entire scalp and even body hair. For most, hair may grow back on its own, though in rare cases, there can be a total loss of hair.
[Read: Healthy Foods That Reduce Depression ]
5. Cancer Treatments
Some cancer treatments will cause hair cells to stop dividing. Hairs become thin and break off as they exit the scalp. This occurs one to three weeks after the treatment.
6. Hormonal changes: If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss can usually be helped by treating the thyroid disease. Sometimes imbalance of male or female hormones (androgens and estrogens) can also lead to hair loss.
7. Menopause
After the menopause, thinning of the hair is more pronounced due to decreasing levels of estrogen and by the age of 50 more than 50% of women have thinning hair.
8. Child birth
A mother may lose a great quantity of hair for some months after child birth, but generally the hair should come back naturally. In this situation, the hair is actually thicker during pregnancy due to high levels of certain hormones (like oestrogen). After the baby is born, the oestrogen levels fall back to normal pre-pregnancy levels and the additional hair foliage falls out. [Read: How to Reduce Length Menstrual Cycles ]
9. Disease or illness
High fever, severe infection, severe flu and other such illness may cause a temporary hair loss which corrects itself as soon as the disease is cured. Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. This is generally a sign of the about-to-come disease.
10. Medications
Some prescription drugs may cause temporary hair loss in a small percentage of people. Medicines that can cause hair loss include anti-depressants, anti-coagulants (also called blood thinners), medications to control cholesterol, birth control pills, steroids, and medications to treat arthritis, high blood pressure or heart problems.
11. Scalp infection
Fungal infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.
12. Environmental factors
Factors such as exposure to caustic gases, xrays, pollutants and UV rays can cause your hair to become brittle and eventually to break.
As the causes are varied, it is essential for the sufferer to obtain a correct diagnosis of their condition and find the underlying medical problem. Once the cause is known the appropriate treatment can be figured out easily.
source: lifemojo.com
Hair loss is a very universal problem that affects both men and women across the world. Men are generally more prone to an early hair loss than women.
As part of the normal cycle of hair growth, at any one time, about 90 percent of the hair on your head is in the growth phase that can last as long as five to six years. About 10 percent of the hair is in resting phase. After 3-4 months, the resting hair is shed and a new hair starts to grow from the same follicle to replace lost hair. Hair grows about one centimeter per month, but this rate of growth slows as you age.
Hair loss may come as a surprise, but it is no mystery. There is always a cause for every type of hair loss. The following summarizes some of the many causes for hair loss:
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness or permanent pattern baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss in men (cause of more than 95 percent of hair loss in men). It is considered a genetic condition, inherited from either parent's side. The trigger for this type of baldness is dihydrotest0sterone, or DHT, a byproduct of test0sterone. DHT is a powerful hormone, body, and facial hair growth promoter. But in some people, genetics cause hair follicles to become sensitive to DHT, which causes them to shrink when exposed to it. This shortens their lifespan and prevents them from producing hair normally.
Male pattern baldness can start at any age; it can begin in your teens, 20s, or 30s, often causing most of your hair to shed by middle age. Hair loss typically results in a receding hairline and hair thinning around the crown (top of the head) which eventually culminates in a bald spot. Often a rim of hair around the sides and rear of the head is left as the hair follicles in that area are usually not genetically sensitive to DHT.
The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male pattern baldness and is known as female pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline does not recede.
2. Hair styling and treatments
Hair treatments with hot oils or irons, and perming, coloring, or bleaching may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss. The more frequent these treatments are done, the higher are you chances of an early hair fallout. Similarly, if you use tight hair rollers or wear pigtails, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. The pulling of the hair can lead to scarring of the scalp which can cause permanent hair loss.
3. Lack of protein in diet
You hair is basically a dead tissue. Like any other tissue, it is also made from proteins. If your diet lacks the adequate amount of protein, the body will save protein by shifting growing hairs into the resting phase. This results in a slower hair-growth cycle.
4. Stress
Physical or mental stress can cause temporary hair loss. The hair loss in this case can be categorized into two types:
* Telogen effluvium: The resting stage of the hair growth cycle is known as telogen. Traumas like chemotherapy, major surgery, childbirth, poisoning, and severe stress can cause hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state, leading to a condition called telogen effluvium. The hair stops growing and lies dormant, only to fall out 2 or 3 months later. The condition normally resolves itself within a few months and the hair eventually grows back. Telogen effluvium can also be caused by too much vitamin A in the diet or low blood iron levels.
* Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" which involves antibodies attacking the hair follicles. In this type of hair loss, the hair usually falls in patches, but can involve the entire scalp and even body hair. For most, hair may grow back on its own, though in rare cases, there can be a total loss of hair.
[Read: Healthy Foods That Reduce Depression ]
5. Cancer Treatments
Some cancer treatments will cause hair cells to stop dividing. Hairs become thin and break off as they exit the scalp. This occurs one to three weeks after the treatment.
6. Hormonal changes: If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss can usually be helped by treating the thyroid disease. Sometimes imbalance of male or female hormones (androgens and estrogens) can also lead to hair loss.
7. Menopause
After the menopause, thinning of the hair is more pronounced due to decreasing levels of estrogen and by the age of 50 more than 50% of women have thinning hair.
8. Child birth
A mother may lose a great quantity of hair for some months after child birth, but generally the hair should come back naturally. In this situation, the hair is actually thicker during pregnancy due to high levels of certain hormones (like oestrogen). After the baby is born, the oestrogen levels fall back to normal pre-pregnancy levels and the additional hair foliage falls out. [Read: How to Reduce Length Menstrual Cycles ]
9. Disease or illness
High fever, severe infection, severe flu and other such illness may cause a temporary hair loss which corrects itself as soon as the disease is cured. Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. This is generally a sign of the about-to-come disease.
10. Medications
Some prescription drugs may cause temporary hair loss in a small percentage of people. Medicines that can cause hair loss include anti-depressants, anti-coagulants (also called blood thinners), medications to control cholesterol, birth control pills, steroids, and medications to treat arthritis, high blood pressure or heart problems.
11. Scalp infection
Fungal infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.
12. Environmental factors
Factors such as exposure to caustic gases, xrays, pollutants and UV rays can cause your hair to become brittle and eventually to break.
As the causes are varied, it is essential for the sufferer to obtain a correct diagnosis of their condition and find the underlying medical problem. Once the cause is known the appropriate treatment can be figured out easily.
source: lifemojo.com
12 Causes of Hair Loss
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Oleh
Abine Naufal
