Did you know that you lose 50 to 100 hair each day? While that is normal, shedding a significant amount of hair over time should be cause for concern as it could indicate baldness or hair loss.
Baldness and hair loss are caused by many factors. Cancer is one of the most common, and it is often a result of chemotherapy. If your family has a history of hair loss, you may also experience it. Chemo and family history aren’t the only causes of hair loss and baldness; there are more.
Here are 6 major causes of hair loss and baldness.
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Anagen Effluvium
Anagen effluvium is a common form of hair loss. It causes significant amounts of hair to fall off during the anagen phase of the hair cycle.
Anagen effluvium is caused by a stressor like a severe infection, radiation, exposure to a toxin, or harsh chemical treatment like chemotherapy. Individuals with this condition may experience hair loss on the head and other parts of the body, such as the eyebrows and eyelashes.
Anagen effluvium can be treated. However, its treatment depends on the trigger. If an individual has anagen effluvium due to chemo, cooling the scalp during the procedure may help. Hair will always regrow 3-4 months after chemo.
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Traction alopecia
People who love tight hairstyles are prone to traction alopecia—a type of hair loss that causes hair to break and come off. Common hairstyles associated with traction alopecia are:
- Extensions
- Tight buns or ponytails
- Cornrows
- Braids
Recurring traction alopecia may result in bald spots and thinning of the hair. To prevent this condition, we recommend avoiding tight hairstyles. There are many loose hairstyle options that can make you look your best.
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Hormonal imbalance
Too many androgens, aka male sex hormones, and hormonal imbalance can lead to hair loss. Androgens play big roles in female and male pattern baldness. In the case of females, this hormone can cause weak hair follicles, also resulting in excess hair loss. While for males, their baldness is due to an increase in an estrogen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
This estrogen doesn’t just merge with hair follicles to restrict hair growth but may also reduce a hair’s life span overall. This is also regarded as androgenetic alopecia, and it can be caused by high blood pressure, heart disease, prostate cancer, etc.
You may want to check your testosterone levels to determine if it’s balanced or not. If it’s low, we suggest contacting a leading testosterone therapy provider for Testosterone replacement therapy treatment. The therapy is designed to boost your testosterone levels, thus improving the signs and symptoms associated with low testosterone.
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Medications
Medications are designed to cure, halt, prevent, or alleviate your condition, right? But some come with side effects that can result in hair loss. Here are a few examples of such medications:
- Accutane, for acne treatment
- Beta-blockers
- Antidepressants, including Prozac and Zoloft
- Blood thinners, like warfarin
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs, like Lopid
Do you think your hair loss results from the medication you are taking? If so, you need to see a doctor. The doctor may go on to lessen the dosage. Or recommend a different medication with zero side effects.
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Nutritional deficiencies
Hair loss can also be a result of nutritional deficiencies. Diets that contain low protein and certain vitamins, like iron, can sometimes trigger significant hair shedding. Try to see a doctor for a blood test to determine if you have a nutritional deficiency that could trigger hair loss.
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Ringworm
Ringworm is a skin condition that can contribute to hair loss. If ringworm infects the scalp, the area can turn bald temporarily.
Common symptoms of ringworm are:
- Brittle hair that breaks easily
- Oozing blisters on the scalp
- A small spot that grows bigger, resulting in scaly, bald patches of skin
- Ring-like patches, with a red outside and the inside of the circle matching the skin tone
Many ringworm cases heal by themselves. However, if it doesn’t, it’s best to see a doctor who may prescribe an antifungal medicine or an antibiotic like Griseofulvin.
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Pregnancy
Hair loss is a common postpartum condition for some mothers. This is a result of low estrogen levels. Hair loss due to pregnancy is often temporary, and it disappears within a year or sooner. People with this condition can promote hair growth by:
- Using products created for fine hair
- Using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner
- Applying conditioner to the ends of the hair, rather than the scalp, to prevent weighing hair down
- Avoiding harsh conditioners or conditioning shampoos as they can be heavy for fine hair
Conclusion
Hair loss, especially for women, can lead to low self-esteem. The same applies to some men. So it’s important you take note of the causes of hair loss and try to avoid them, if possible. You should also try to contact a dermatologist if you are experiencing unexplainable hair loss.