Know The Symptoms And Causes Of Hair Loss
Did you know? It’s normal to lose 50 to 100 scalp hairs each day. Hair loss (alopecia) happens when new hair does not replace the hair you shed. It can be temporary or permanent and can affect body parts other than the scalp. Excessive hair loss from our scalp is generally known as baldness. Read more to know about the causes and symptoms of hair loss.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hair Loss?
Hair loss may appear in many ways. You may notice,
- Gradual thinning or loss of hair on top of the head
- A receding hairline that gets higher and more visible with each passing year
- Patchy or circular bald spots
- Thinner ponytail
- Seeing more hair fall out daily on the brush, floor, pillows, or in the showers or sink.
- Patches of scaling that spread over your scalp
You may also experience burning, itching, and tenderness in the part you have hair loss. If you notice these symptoms of hair loss, talk to your health care professional. Soon you begin the treatment for hair loss, and the more successful the treatment is.
Understand The Causes Of Hair Loss
1. Hereditary Hair Loss
Hereditary hair loss means you have inherited genetic material that causes hair follicles to shrink and stop growing hair. It is medically known as androgenic alopecia and is the most common cause of hair loss globally. In men, it is known as male-pattern hair loss, and in women, it is called female-pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss can start occurring in the teenage but generally occurs at the later stages of life.
2. Medications And Therapies
Hair loss can occur as a side effect of certain medications. These medications include cancer medications, blood thinners, oral contraceptives, depression drugs, blood pressure medicines, and arthritis medicines. Once you stop taking medication, the hair loss may usually be reversible. However, you should not stop taking any medications without consulting your physician, as stopping them abruptly can cause serious health problems.
3. Extreme Physical Or Emotional Stress
Extreme physical or emotional stress such as injury, operation, mental illness, death of a loved one, divorce, or losing a lot of weight can cause hair loss. This hair loss is usually temporary and may grow back on its own. Day-to-day stresses generally do not cause hair loss. Even if they cause hair fall, it will be very less.
4. Tight Hairstyles
This is one of the preventable causes of hair loss. If you continuously wear hairstyles that pull the hair tight, it can cause hair loss. Hairstyles that pull on your hair include buns, cornrows, ponytails, dreadlocks, tightly braided hair, and hair extensions. Avoid wearing these styles often as the continual pulling resulting from these styles can lead to permanent hair loss.
5. Hormonal Imbalance Causes Of Hair Loss
Hormones are chemical substances that help regulate almost every function in the body, including hair growth, and hormonal imbalances can cause hair thinning. Important life phases such as pregnancy, menopause, and childbirth, and health conditions such as thyroid disorders (either an overactive thyroid or an underactive thyroid) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can cause hormonal changes that lead to hair fall.
6. Nutritional Deficiencies
Proper nutrition is essential for all organs in the body. If your diet is deficient in biotin, iron, protein, vitamin D, or zinc, it can cause hair loss. Correcting the deficiencies can fix the problem.
7. Various Infections And Disorders
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disorder that causes patchy hair loss on the head and other body places. It is generally not permanent. Fungal infections, sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, and infection-causing high fever may cause hair loss. Syphilis may cause patchy hair loss on the eyebrows, scalp, beard, and other body parts.
Some people pull on their own hair to relieve stress. It is medically known as trichotillomania and can lead to hair loss. If they continue to pull, it may lead to permanent hair loss over time. Aging, scarring alopecia, and scalp psoriasis are the other causes of hair loss.
Self-Care For Hair Loss
- Dermatologists recommend using a gentle shampoo and moisturizing conditioner after every shampoo for people experiencing hair loss.
- Avoid frequently wearing tight hairstyles.
- Brush or comb only to detangle and style the hair, as excessive brushing can damage the hair.
- Get coloring, perming, or chemical straightening done by a salon professional. Do not use harsh coloring chemicals on the scalp.
- Avoid smoking, as it can worsen hair loss. If you lose hair more than usual or experience any other symptoms of hair loss, visit a dermatologist. He/ she can find the cause of your hair fall, which will help achieve better results soon.
