Hair loss causes

Hair loss can happen to almost everyone throughout their life. But it can be alarming seeing the brush hold more hair than it should. The good news is that hair loss is to be expected, and it can be treated. But what causes hair loss? This article will cover the most common hair loss causes and treatment options available.

Signs and symptoms

Hair loss can manifest in many different ways on a temporary or permanent basis, based on the hair loss causes. It happens suddenly or gradually affecting some specific areas on the scalp and whole body. The signs and symptoms of hair loss include:

• Gradual thinning – This is something that affects both men and women with age. For men, it will occur mostly in the forehead with the hair receding in an “M” shape. For women, it will appear gradually mainly on the top of the scalp.
• Patchy bald spots – This category of hair loss occurs mostly on the scalp, but it can also happen in the beard or eyebrows. It’s possible for your skin to become itchy or sore before hair shedding.
• Hair loosening – Physical or emotional distress can cause hair to loosen. This is the hair you see on the bathtub after washing your hair. This kind of hair loss will not create bald patches but a general thinning of the hair.
• Loss of body hair – There are some treatments such as chemotherapy, which may result in the loss of body hair on a temporary basis. The hair will eventually grow back in most cases.

Causes of hair loss in men

Most men start realizing that they are losing hair a bit too late. It should not be that way. Firstable, losing hair is not the same as going bald. Hair loss can be caused by many factors while male pattern baldness is a genetic condition. Men losing hair in patches may have alopecia. That is a condition that causes hair loss throughout the body. Male pattern baldness, on the other hand, happens on a receding pattern typically from the temples and top of the scalp.

While hair loss can be hereditary, there are other causes to follicle fallout. Health and dietary factors, for example, can contribute to the balding rate. There are ways to prevent it or slow it down with a few lifestyle changes. Some common causes of hair loss in men include:

• Tight hairstyles – We have all seen it. Some men still adore the ponytail, popularly known as the “man bun.” While this is a unique hairstyle, it puts too much stress on your hair when pulled back and it may cause hair loss.
• Thyroid problems – The thyroid is a significant contributor to your body’s metabolism. When the thyroid is underactive, a range of health problems can occur, including cancer and hair loss.
• Stress – Stress can cause balding but generally on a temporary basis. The hair follicles can go into a resting phase, which can lead to hair loss when combing your hair. Hair loss can also occur as an autoimmune response from extreme stress, and when someone pulls hair from his head and face due to too much stress or frustration.
• Infections – Some infections are linked to hair loss. For example, the ringworm can grow anywhere throughout the body pushing the hair into the shedding phase. Other infections such as dermatitis can also affect your hair.
• Poor nutrition – A poor diet can also lead to poor hair quality. If there is no protein in your diet or you have iron and vitamin deficiency, your hair will suffer the consequences. However, a high-protein diet is not always beneficial to your scalp because it might limit carbohydrate consumption and create other nutritional deficiencies.
• Smoking – Smoking is also linked to hair loss. It simply poisons the hair.
• Meds and drug use – Some medications and prescription drugs such as blood thinners, and antidepressants, have side effects that include hair loss.

Hair loss causes in women

Losing hair can be a traumatic experience for any woman. It can mostly affect a woman’s emotions and well-being. Unfortunately, female hair loss is hardly discussed in the popular media so many women are not sure what can be causing their hair loss. Among the most common hair loss causes in women we have:

• Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) – This is the most common type of hair loss in women. It’s a hereditary condition that can be passed down from any side of the family. The hair loss will generally start on the top of the head and spread across the scalp.
• Traction hair loss (traction alopecia) – It can cause stress to the scalp and hair loss will occur slowly over time. Some causes of alopecia in females include hairbands, braids, wigs, or very tight headgear.
• Scaring from surgery – After the skin heals from a cut or damage, or from a surgical procedure, a scar is formed where hair may not grow back.
• Crash dieting or nutritional deficiency – Poor nutrition can impact hair structure and hair growth. Iron and zinc deficiency, lack of protein, for example, are some of the most common dietary risk factors to consider.
• Birth control pills – Women who are particularly sensitive to hormones, may suffer hair loss from birth pills.
• Hormonal imbalances – This generally happens during pregnancy and menopause.
• Lupus – This condition can cause the immune system to become overactive and produce antibodies that attack hair follicles and healthy tissues.
• Medications – Any drugs can affect hair loss because they are toxic to hair follicles.
• Extreme stress – Stress can cause hair shedding by kicking hairs out of the growth period.

Treatment Options and Solutions

Thanks to breakthroughs in hair loss treatments and a deeper understanding of hair loss, we can now enjoy a variety of hair loss restoration options. Some surgical and non-surgical hair treatment options include:

• Surgical hair restoration with either a FUT or FUE hair transplantation where hair is transplanted from the donor area to the recipient area. FUE is a minimally invasive procedure with no stitches required and no linear scars. It allows the removal of individual hair from the donor area so it can be transplanted to the thinning areas. FUT is a more aggressive surgical treatment approach. The hair grafts are removed as a group. Then the follicles are individually transplanted to the recipient area. This procedure will leave a visible linear scar.
• There are two non-surgical treatments approved by the FDA: minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is available with a prescription and is topically applied while finasteride is taken orally in pill form. These treatments can be combined or used independently. They can help delay hair loss also preserving a good appearance until hair transplantation is carried out.
• Scalp micro pigmentation, which replicates the appearance of thicker and fuller hair as a formula of ink is applied to the scalp to create minuscule impressions, giving the illusion of hair.
• Capillus laser caps is an FDA-cleared and battery operated laser therapy device highly recommended by doctors to restore thinning hair caused by genetics and prevent further hair loss.