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The Cause of Hair Loss
Some causes of hair loss can be corrected by changing your diet, reducing stress, or talking to your doctor about changing the medications that you are on. However, if you are one of the 80 million Americans who suffer from male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss, you really only have 4 options:
- Prevention (a laser comb, propecia, or rogaine)
- Wigs or weaves
- A hair transplant
- Do nothing at all!
For those of us who are unwilling to do nothing at all, and who are extremely concerned about hair loss click here to find out more about hair restoration and preventative treatments.
Diet
Any sudden changes in your diet can cause hair loss; these sudden changes include crash diets, extreme diets, poor nutrition, anorexia, or bulimia. Other factors attributed to hair loss related to diet could be: decreased protein, iron deficiency or excessive Vitamin A intake. There are many dietary products and supplements that are currently being researched and studied to determine if they may cause either temporary or permanent hair loss.
Hair Care
Damaging Chemicals and Styling Devices - Chemicals such as bleaching products, tints, dyes, gels, relaxers, sprays, or permanents can damage the hair shaft by weakening it and causing it to become brittle and break. When the hair breaks prematurely, another hair does not replace it right away which reduces overall fullness and density. If not careful, even too much shampooing, vigorous towel drying, extreme heat blow drying, hot flat irons, curling irons or over brushing can cause the hair to break and look thinner. Also, improper use of hot oil treatments can scar the scalp causing permanent hair loss.
Hair Styles - Any hair style technique that pulls the hair too tightly can cause hair loss that is referred to as traction alopecia. Some examples of this include a very tight pony tail pulled back with a rubber band, pig tails, cornrows, dreadlocks or braids. These techniques can even cause permanent scarring on the scalp which results in permanent hair loss. Hair loss can be reversed if pulling is stopped before scarring occurs.
Genetics
Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss - Hair loss due to hereditary thinning or baldness is the most common reason for hair loss. About 80 million people, both men and women, suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is hair loss due to genetics. Those who inherit pattern baldness are genetically predispositioned to be susceptible to the effects of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone(DHT). An enzyme called Type II 5-alpha Reductase resides in the hair follicle's glands. This enzyme converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up and creates a mucousy secretion that miniaturizes the hair follicle and impedes its growth. Those susceptible to this hormonal conversion are affected by hair loss. You can inherit genetic hair loss from your mother or your father's side of the family and the person you inherit it from can be male or female.
A Hair Transplant Might Be a Good Solution
An excellent solution for those suffering from genetic hair loss is a hair transplant. If you would like to speak to one of our staff members about the possibility of getting a hair transplant to solve your hair loss problems, please ask for a free consultation today!
Medical
Disease - Many diseases cause hair loss. Skin disorders such as lupus erythematosus or lichen planus can cause scarring of the follicles. Auto immune disorders such as thyroid diseases, where white blood cells attack the hair follicles can contribute to hair loss in people of all ages and ethnicities. Hair loss is a symptom (sometimes the only symptom) of over 30 diseases. That is why it is important to see a doctor if you experience sudden hair loss especially in patches or clumps. A full medical work up is necessary to rule out any serious medical conditions.
Hormonal Changes -Any changes in ones hormonal levels could cause hair loss. The effects of menopause, post-pregnancy, changes in birth control pills or the discontinuation of birth control pills could attribute to hair loss. Hormonal levels need to be closely monitored by a professional to assure that this is not in fact the cause of the loss.
Medicines - The side effects of many drugs such as medicine for gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure, blood thinners, or even birth control pills can cause hair loss. Talk with your doctor to see if the medications that you are on could be a contributing cause of your hair loss and see if there maybe alternatives.
Chemotherapy or Radiation - Although chemotherapy does cause hair loss, after the treatment ends hair should regrow over time.
Mental Disorder
Trichotillomania - Trichotillomania is a mental illness where people pull out their own hair and often times go to great lengths to hide it by using hats or wigs.
Stress or "Shock"
Stress or "shock" from emotional or physical conditions can cause the hair to stop growing and go into the resting phase. This causes unusual hair loss in clumps or patches. This kind of hair loss can be caused by fever, death in the family, surgery or some sort of emotional or physical trauma. Hair usually starts to grow again within 6 to 9 months if the situation returns back to normal.
