9 Main Causes of Hair Loss

What are the 9 main causes of hair loss? Hair loss occurs when there’s an insufficient replacement of fallen out hair. Hair loss can affect your entire body or your scalp. Also, hair loss can be either permanent or temporary.

There are many factors that may lead to alopecia, such as hormonal changes, heredity, medical conditions, e.t.c. Based on science, baldness is a common sign of old age or hereditary disorder.

There are various remedies to excessive hair loss. Some individuals will choose to suitable treatments to restore hair growth or prevent further hair fall out. Before opting for a particular treatment, it’s a great idea to consult your doctor.

This will help you identify the primary cause of alopecia. Alopecia may appear in varying forms because it depends on the cause. Below are signs and symptoms of alopecia.

Patchy or circular bald spots:

These symptoms impacts various parts of your body, such as eyebrows, beard, and scalp.

Gradual hair thinning:

Scientifically, this is the common type of alopecia. It comes as a result of old age.

Sudden hair loosening:

Emotional and physical shock are the leading causes of hair loosening.

Full-body hair loss:

Some medical treatments and conditions, such as chemotherapy, can result in alopecia.

Patches of scaling:

These patches will spread over your scalp after some period of time. This is a major sign of ringworms. These patches comprise of swelling, redness, broken hair, and oozing.

It’s great to visit your doctor immediately when you notice abnormal hair fall out when combing or washing your hair. As previously mentioned, there are various causes of hair loss. Below are the main causes of hair loss.

1. Hereditary Disorder

Research shows that hair loss is a result of family history. There are various terms that can refer to this cause, such as female-pattern baldness, male-pattern baldness, and androgenic alopecia. Family history as a cause of alopecia is a predictable pattern.

2. Supplements and Medication

Based on science, alopecia can be a side effect of various types of drugs, such as those used for arthritis, cancer, gout, heart problems, depression, and high blood pressure.

3. Hormonal Imbalance and Medical Conditions

Various medical conditions can lead to temporary or even permanent alopecia. Some of these conditions will cause hormonal imbalance due to childbirth, pregnancy, thyroid problems, and menopause.

In addition, medical conditions, such as alopecia areata, which is an immune-related hair loss cause. It leads to various types of alopecia, such as hair-pulling disorder(trichotillomania), scalp infections, and patchy hair loss.

4. Stress

Medical research shows that most individuals experience a gradual thinning of hair after an emotional or physical shock. Note that this type of alopecia is temporary.

5. Hair Treatments and Hairstyles

Some hairstyles and treatments will cause traction alopecia. Note that only the hairstyles that pull your hair tightly will lead to severe traction alopecia. Permanents and hot-oil hair solutions can cause hair to fall out on a long-run basis.

If these hairstyles and treatments lead to scaring, you’ll have permanent alopecia.

6. Nutritional Deficiencies

Scientifically, nutritional deficiencies will cause alopecia. Diets with insufficient protein and vitamins, such as Iron, will lead to hair shedding.

It’s a good idea to see your doctor immediately, in order to identify if you have nutritional deficiencies. It’s essential to eat a balanced diet.

7. Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium is whereby you’ll experience a rapid hair loss during the growth phase hair cycle. This condition may cause alopecia in various areas, such as scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

There are multiple causes of anagen effluvium, such as autoimmune diseases, fungal infection, radiation, and chemotherapy. If you’re experiencing anagen effluvium during your chemotherapy sessions, it’s advisable to cool your scalp in order to reduce the rate of hair fallout.

8. Telogen Effluvium

This is a condition whereby your hair will remain in the natural shedding(telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle.

Telogen effluvium is a temporary cause of alopecia. This condition comes as a result of surgery, severe stress, thyroid problems, childbirth, and certain medications.

9. Scalp Psoriasis

Individuals struggling with plaque psoriasis will develop scalp psoriasis, which causes rapid hair fallout. This is a temporary cause of alopecia because your hair will regrow after scalp psoriasis clears.

9 Main Causes of Hair Loss – Conclusion

There are various hair loss risk factors, such as age, family background, weight loss, stress, medical conditions, and poor nutrition. Above-listed is various causes of excessive hair loss.