Grow Healthy Hair: The Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can be a symptom of many different medical conditions. It's important to consult your doctor if hair loss is sudden and excessive, or you notice hair thinning in patches.

However, there are some hair loss causes that we all experience to some degree: stress, genetics and age. Read on for more information about these hair loss causes and how you can address them!

Hair Dyes

Hair dyes do not cause hair loss on their own but it's possible for a person to experience hair thinning from long-term use of chemical hair dyes. Typically this occurs if the same area is dyed again and again over a number of years – so areas near your scalp are at increased risk as they receive most exposure.

If you have been using permanent hair colors every four weeks since you were 16 years old then there is more chance that some damage will be done than someone who has only used them twice in their life!

It may seem like an unlikely culprit but chemicals found in hair coloring products such as ammonia, resorcinal and hydrogen peroxide can cause hair loss if used too frequently or for long periods of time.

Genetics

Hair loss can also be hereditary. If you notice that hair thinning is especially pronounced in your mother's family then it may be a good idea to ask them about their hair history! Genetic hair loss tends to manifest on the top of the scalp as well as around the hairline, whereas stress-related hair loss typically shows up at the crown or temples first.

No matter what type of hair loss you are experiencing though if it seems excessive or sudden then always consult your doctor for advice! They will likely run some blood tests and rule out any underlying medical conditions before prescribing treatment.

Aging

Research has shown hair thinning, hair breakage and hair loss are three of the most significant hair problems associated with aging. Hair thinning is said to be one of the first signs of aging.

Thinning hair may even begin in your twenties, but it will likely progress as you get older. The number of hairs on your head will gradually decrease over time, which means more scalp showing through the hairline or around your ears where hair tends to thin more quickly than other areas on your head.

Hormonal Imbalance

Hair loss that is caused by the body's hormonal changes can be a normal part of puberty, pregnancy and menopause but it can also occur in some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or anemia.

This type of hair loss typically starts at around two to three months after these big life events take place. It usually resolves itself once your hormones stabilize again.

Here are some of the most common causes of hair loss due to hormonal imbalances:

—Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)

Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is hair loss caused by dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair follicles to shrink and become progressively smaller over time. This type of hair loss tends to affect both men and women equally.

The cause for this condition can be genetic or environmental factors that trigger the gene responsible for AGA development. Symptoms include hair thinning on top of head as well as frontal hairline recession.

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a natural androgen hormone that is produced by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. It can also be converted from testosterone, which is another naturally occurring hormone in both men and women. DHT's role in hair loss is not fully understood, but it has been linked to hair thinning for some people.

DHT levels are usually highest during puberty because of increased production of testosterone. This increase may trigger hair follicles to shrink or prematurely enter into the resting phase called telogen phase, which causes hair shedding or hair loss. The higher the DHT level becomes over time, the more likely hair follicles will enter into telogen phase sooner than normal and stay there longer before re-entering anagen phase to produce hair.

While the hair growth cycle is affected by DHT production, hair loss itself can be caused by many things including: genetics, hormone imbalances, stress levels and certain medications. The most common cause of hair thinning in both men and women is called Androgenetic Alopecia or pattern baldness which occurs when hair follicles are sensitive to male hormones like testosterone (androgens) that are converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). As a result of this sensitivity, these hairs will eventually stop producing healthy hair fiber before their time.

—Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones needed for normal body functions, including healthy hair growth. Hair becomes brittle with breakage resulting in slower than normal hair growth causing greater damage after each cycle, leading to eventual shedding . Other signs include hair loss, dry hair and skin, fatigue , constipation, weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

—Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Women who suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) often experience hair thinning due to the high level of male hormones produced by this condition. It is characterized by small cysts that are formed in clusters on a woman's ovaries which can interfere with her menstrual cycle . Women affected also have higher levels of insulin than normal causing hair growth cycles to be less predictable resulting in hair shedding followed by hair regrowth at unpredictable times throughout the year.

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB) occurs when women begin experiencing hair thinning along the frontal scalp line typically starting around age 35 years old because of genetic factors passed down from one generation to another. In FPB hair loss may be less severe than in male pattern baldness, but this condition is progressive and can lead to more extensive hair loss as time progresses.

—Menopause

Menopause often leads to hair thinning on the top of a woman's head due hormonal changes that occur during this transitional phase of life. Hair follicles tend to become smaller with age resulting in hair breakage and eventual hair shedding .

While hair regrowth after menopause is possible some women experience permanent hair loss from this stage of their lives onward. Women who have been through menopause should see their doctor if they notice any type of unusual change such as itching , bleeding or abnormal dandruff formation along the scalp line which could be a sign hair loss is developing.

Haircare Routine

A change in hair care routine and/or hair styling methods can also trigger hair thinning or hair loss . For example, using heated appliances too often without proper conditioning treatments may damage the hair resulting in breakage which leads to eventual shedding of the follicles over time.

Excessive pulling on your scalp when brushing your hair, braiding it tightly, wearing ponytails that are pulled back very tight or high updos every day for long periods of time all cause traction alopecia, another type of hair loss condition due to mechanical stress placed on individual hairs by these activities.

Although this type of alopecia is less common than other types mentioned previously widespread bald patches can develop if left untreated.

Nutrition

A vitamin and/or hair nutrient deficiency can also cause hair loss . For example, a lack of iron in the diet may lead to hair thinning over time because this mineral is necessary for hair follicles to produce healthy hair.

Without enough protein , hair becomes dry and brittle resulting in breakage which leads to shedding as well. Biotin (vitamin B) deficiencies result in split ends that if untreated will progress into more severe hair damage such as breaking or excessive shedding at the root level where new growth begins due to weak strands unable to withstand daily styling practices.

A diet lacking sufficient vitamins E, C & D along with Omega -three fatty acid intake is another reason women may experience serious hair problems like patchy bald spots throughout the hairline.

Stress

Stress has been shown to contribute to the development of alopecia areata - a condition that causes patchy baldness in certain areas of the head. This hair loss condition is thought to be related to the stress hormone cortisol, which can cause hair follicles to shrink and hair production decreases. The hair cells may also die off when exposed for too long.

The hair growth cycle consists of three phases: anagen (active), catagen (resting) and telogen (shedding). When people are stressed out or sick, they enter into a resting period called 'telogen'.

During this time their hair falls out in large quantities - but will eventually grow back again once the person has recovered from their illness. This explains why some women experience increased hair fall during stressful periods such as exams week at university!

What else can cause hair loss?

In some cases hair loss can be a sign of more serious health problems like an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) or cancer. Women experiencing hair thinning and hair shedding with associated symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation and weight gain should see their doctor for diagnosis immediately to rule out the possibility of thyroid disease which is actually quite common in women over age 40 years old that may go undiagnosed until significant hair loss occurs.

Blood tests known as serum ferritin levels will indicate if excess iron stores are present along with blood testing checking your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level which helps assesses how much active thyroid hormone exists in your system at any given time. If test results indicate hair loss is related to thyroid disease, anti-thyroid medications are usually prescribed which can help hair regrow in most cases.

Other medical conditions that may lead to hair thinning and hair shedding over time include iron deficiency anemia , diabetes , psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis . All of these problems must be diagnosed by your doctor first before the appropriate treatment plan begins.

If you notice changes with your hair on a regular basis seek professional medical advice as soon as possible because some forms of hair loss cannot be reversed once they progress past a certain point on their own.

Your physician will discuss all available options based on individual factors present such as age, nutritional deficiencies noted along with other health concerns like hormonal imbalances or autoimmune disease.

Treatments for Hair Loss

Hair loss is a difficult issue to deal with, and the treatments available can vary greatly in effectiveness and cost. The hair loss treatments that follow range from very affordable to expensive, but they all have one thing in common: they are not only effective at hair regrowth, but also hair retention.

There are many hair loss treatments available for people with hair thinning or hair loss. The treatments that follow can be used alone, but most hair restoration surgeons recommend combining at least two hair restoration methods to achieve the best results in terms of hair regrowth and retention.

Minoxidil

This is a topical treatment that has been proven to stimulate hair growth on the scalp when applied regularly over time.

It works by opening potassium channels within cells located in the dermal papilla (the area of skin where new hairs grow from) allowing more blood flow into these cells, which stimulates them to produce healthy follicles and stronger strands of hair overall.

People who use minoxidil report visible changes after about four months; however, hair loss will return once you stop using the treatment as it does not address the root cause of hair thinning.

Finasteride

This is a medication that prevents dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from converting into its more potent form, which can weaken hair follicles over time; this causes them to miniaturize and become progressively smaller until they cannot produce healthy hair strands at all.

Fortunately, finasteride blocks DHT conversion and allows affected follicles to recover their normal size within six months or so – provided that no other factors are responsible for hair thinning in your case.

Hair transplant surgery

The most effective way of treating baldness today is undoubtedly through laser hair transplantation surgery, but it does come with a hefty price.

This hair restoration treatment works by transplanting hair from areas of your scalp where it is still thick and plentiful to the thinning or bald patches in order to restore hair density in these affected regions.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP treatments involve isolating blood cells known as platelets from a sample taken from your own body, then injecting them into the patient’s scalp at the site of hair loss; this stimulates stem cell growth that can help regrow hair over time.

In fact, many people choose PRP treatments because they are also effective when used alongside other forms of hair restoration such as minoxidil and finasteride – but you should note that results vary according to hair type and severity of hair loss.

Laser Hair Therapy

This treatment works by stimulating the hair roots with low level laser light; this helps increase blood circulation to these areas, which stimulates hair growth in at least two ways – firstly, it makes follicles produce thicker strands because more nutrients are available for them than before so they can work harder; secondly, the increased flow of blood into these tissues encourages their cells to divide rapidly (which is how hair regenerates).

Supplementation

If you’ve tried everything else and your hair is still falling out, it might be time to consider supplements as a possible treatment option. But before you invest in any product or service, there are some things that you should know about hair loss and how supplements can help.

Supplements work by providing nutrients which help repair damaged cells and stimulate growth so supplementing with vitamins may be helpful if you don’t get enough through diet alone. Some supplements contain biotin, zinc, vitamin A, iron or copper. All of these are excellent hair growth supplements that have proven to be effective in clinical trials.

-Biotin is a B complex vitamin which helps with hair loss because it’s needed for cell division

-Zinc also plays an important role in hair health by stimulating new hair growth and preventing dandruff

-Vitamin A encourages the production of sebum, which moisturizes your scalp and keeps your hair healthy

-Iron allows oxygen through the blood so it can reach your hair follicles resulting in healthier looking locks

-Copper stimulates collagen production which promotes faster growing hair and prevents dryness and brittleness.

Conclusion

Hair loss is a common problem for both men and women of all ages who may be experiencing hair thinning as well as hair shedding at any time during the year.

There are many factors that contribute to this condition whether it's nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances or an autoimmune disease which can lead to more serious medical problems.

Hair regrowth treatments depend on individual levels present so consult your doctor before beginning any type of hair regiment because not every option will work effectively in cases where hair has become very weak over time due mostly to hair follicle damage caused by chronic inflammation leading to scar tissue formation along with other complications resulting from underlying conditions diagnosed through blood testing procedures used today.