Hair Loss - What Causes Hair Loss

Inherited hair loss

This is the most common cause for hair loss. They are the genes that make you inherit the tendency for losing hair from either or both of the parents. This is termed as male-pattern hair loss and female-pattern hair loss. The medical terminology for such type of hair loss is Androgenetic Alopecia. In this kind of hair loss, the genes affect the overall hair growth. They trigger some sensitivities to a class of hormones medically known as androgens that includes testosterone that can cause hair follicles (from where the hairs grow) to shrink. Shrinking hair follicle then produces thinner hairs and eventually nothing at all.

A man generally develops bald spots onto the forehead region or on the top of the head, whereas woman has an overall thinning of the hair all across the scalp. About 50 per cent of all people have inherited hair loss by they enter in their 50s

Common causes of hair loss

Some of the common causes of hair loss include:

Ringworm onto the scalp (medically known as tinea capitis) that is quite common in children.

Any kind of mental stresses or physical stresses like some recent surgeries, illnesses, or high fever. One might have some severe hair loss within 4 wk to 3 months after being highly affected due to physical or emotional stresses. The hair generally will grow back within a couple of months.

Poor hair care can also result in hair loss. Pulling the hair back too tightly or wearing some hard braids or ponytails might cause hair loss. One can lose hair around the edges of the hairlines, particularly around the face and forehead areas. If one uses curling irons or dyes constantly, it can also result in hair loss. Hair generally grows back when such activities are arrested.

Age is another common factor. As one grows, the hairs tend to break more easily and simultaneously, hair follicles stop growing much hairs.

Poor nutrition, particularly lack of proteins or Fe in the diets can turn in hair loss. Hairs return after changing the dietary patter to get enough of those nutrients.

Thyroid diseases such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can also cause hair loss.

Some other causes of hair loss:

An Alopecia areata which comes under autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks own hair follicles can result in factually round hairless patches on any site of the scalp or rest of the body. Severe cases include many bald patches of hairs or total loss of hair onto the scalp or body, though in some cases there could be hair thinning free from distinct patches of baldness. Hair generally grows back within one year and may not seek any treatments; nevertheless, 10 per cent of people with the condition might never re-grow their hairs.

Some of the diseases like lupus, syphilis, or cancerous growth can also lead to hair loss. Hair might grow back on the own mechanism though one may also require treatment.

Side effects of medicines or medical therapies, such as using some anticoagulants (blood thinning agents) or chemotherapies can result in hair loss. Hairs generally grow back after such things are stopped or when the treatment is over.

Trichotillomania is a compulsive condition wherein a person pulls his/her own hair off the scalps, eyelashes, and/or eyebrows. There is generally mounting tension before the procedure and a feeling of relaxation afterwards. Trichotillomania often ensures detectable and heavy hair loss.

Any sort of injuries to the scalp such as scarring can result in hair loss. Injury damages hair follicles and makes hair loss.

Changes in hormone level are another popular cause for hair loss. Childbirths, taking birth control capsules, or changes in a woman's menstrual period can affect the hair growing cycle and produce hair loss. Hair generally grows back.

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