Hair loss can either be temporary or permanent. Everyone prays not to experience hair loss because they don’t want to be mocked by their friends. At least, I know my friends will torture me every single day of my life. On a serious note, many people suffer from hair loss very early in life which makes them a little inferior or disappointed. Well, it is not anyone’s, nature happened!
Most times, hair loss can cause psychological distress because you never expected your hair will turn out this way. Would you like to know the common cause of hair loss? Many things can cause hair loss asides inheriting it from your father or grandfather (hereditary). That’s why this article was written: to enlighten you on the common causes of hair loss.
Hair Loss Overview
Hair can come as a medical condition known as Alopecia. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), taking less protein in your diet can lead to hair loss. Also, taking food that doesn’t contain iron can lead to hair loss. It occurs to me that they are trying to tell us the importance of balanced diet.
Fun fact : People tend to lose 50-100 strands of hair in a day
Hormonal changes can also cause temporary hair loss. When you notice that you lost some hair and then gained it back like it never happened- temporary hair loss. Above all mentioned, one of the most common causes of hair loss is genetics and age. There are different factors that can cause hair loss. Drugs can also cause hair loss including Thyroid disease, alopecia areata and so on. We found a few causes of hair loss you may want to know.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
Family History (Hereditary)
We don’t need to be taught before knowing that baldness can be a family trait. It is one of the most common causes of hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), it affects more than 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States.
It normally starts from a young age till they finally grow old. For men, it starts from the temple and extends to the top of their scalp. For females, it is always noticeable whenever you divide your hair- hair thinning.
Age
Hair loss can also be referred to as a sign of old age. Most times, we laugh our bald friend that they getting old.
Yes, as we grow older, it is normal to experience hair thinning and hair loss. This is because the cells tend to die very fast than they regenerate as we grow old. We also produce little oil in the scalp which makes the hair very weak.
Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can cause temporary or permanent hair loss. For people who have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) have high androgen level which leads to female pattern hair loss. Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can also cause hair loss.
Stress
Stress is another common cause of hair loss. Some people will ask how stress is related to the hair. Well, stress has been directly linked to many medical conditions including temporary hair loss. It can be from emotional or physical stress.
When you start noticing that a lot of hair is falling off from your scalp, you should know that it is due to telogen effluvium, which means stress. Most times, treatment is not really required. The hair would grow back itself. Within six to nine months, everything should be back to normal. So, there is no need for you to be scared.
Nutritional Deficiencies
You need to improve your hygiene to avoid situations like this. Nutritional deficiency is also a common cause of hair loss.
When you have low level of zinc, iron and vitamin D. Vitamin deficiencies can be treated with dietary supplements. However, before trying any supplement, it is very important to talk to your doctor.
Medications
There are some medications that can lead to hair loss for some people. Some of this medications include:
- Some cholesterol lowering medications. For example, Simvastatin.
- Some blood pressure medications. For example, captopril.
- Steroids (testosterone and progesterone).
- Gout medications
- Antacid
- Acne medications
So, it is very important to talk to your doctor when you start noticing some strange symptoms while taking some medications.
Traumatic Hairstyling and Inflammation
Inflammation is the greatest cause of scarring hair loss. This is when the hair follicles are destroyed, which makes the scalp really weak whereby hair won’t be able to grow. The symptoms include itching, pain and burning sensation.
There are different things that can lead to traumatic hairstyling. We have hair straightening, chemical hair treatments, tight hairstyles, etc. Most times, whenever the scarring is elaborate, hair restoration options is your best bet. The safest and most effective hair restoration method is Scalp Micropigmentation.
Does changes in water cause hair loss?
This is funny but true. Yes, changes in water can cause hair loss. Most times, people tend to use hard water to wash their hair. Hard water contains a lot of calcium and magnesium which tends to destroy the hair follicles, making it dry and flaky. This leads to hair breakage.
When you use hard water to wash your hair, it will get dandruffs on your scalp. Always check the quality of your water you use before pouring on your head.
Here is how it works:
- High level of magnesium, calcium and salt can form different layers on your head.
- Hard water contains high pH level which can damage your tresses.
Most times, people get confused that despite the fact that they are using the right products for their hair, they are still having hair loss. The reason behind this is because of the kind of water they always use to wash their hair.
Tips to Improving Hair Growth
- Always use water softener. It changes hard water to soft water. It is a non-electric appliance which can be installed in the bathroom.
- Follow the right diet
- Use mild shampoo to wash your hair
- Use right products
- Use water softener
- Regular oil massage on your scalp
- Staying hydrated
- Do a lot of exercise