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Hair Loss - Causes |
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Hair Loss - Causes
What is hair exactly?
Genetic Pattern Hair LossIn people affected with genetic hair loss, there appears to be a higher number of hormone receptors in the areas of the scalp with hair loss. In most people affected by hair loss, male hormone levels are the same as in normal people, but because there are more receptors in the balding areas of the scalp they are affected as if their hormone levels were higher than normal. It is still not clear why the presence of DHT, a male hormone, appears to damage hair follicles which causes any hair growing to become thinner with each growth cycle. Eventually for those people with genetic hair loss no new hairs or a very small hair is all that can be produced. As more and more hairs become smaller thinner, the person appears to have less and less hair.On the left is a diagram illustrating the typical form of genetic hair loss in men, ranging from slight thinning at temple area of the hairline to spot thinning at the vertex, or topmost part of the head, through to general loss of hair across the frontal hairline and crown.
Alopecia AreataThose suffering from this form of hair loss experience hair usually completely falling out, resulting in totally smooth, round patches about the size of a coin or larger. Although it is very rare, it can result in the complete loss of scalp and body hair. This form of hair loss can affect children or adults of any age and it can be very distressing to those afflicted.The cause of alopecia areata is as yet unknown. Those affected by the disease are usually in excellent health, and in the majority of cases hair regrows by itself. Today this form of hair loss is highly treatable by dermatologists, who treat the condition via a range of treatments including topical medications, tablets and a specialised form of light treatment.
Other forms and causes of hair lossPregnancy During pregnancy a woman's hair grows more than at other times. This is why one usually notices her hair looking thicker and stronger during the mid to late months of pregnancy. However, after the delivery of her baby, these extra hairs enter the resting phase of their growing cycle, and, a few months afterwards many women notice large amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and when they wash their hair. This loss is a normal part of pregnancy and this condition usually resolves itself within a few months as new hair grows in to replace the majority of those which were lost. Illness Illnesses such as infections, severe flu and a high fever may cause hairs to enter the resting phase. Even as much as one to four months after recovering from a nasty illness such as this someone can be shocked to see a lot of their hair coming out in their brush or pillow. However this form is hair loss is usually just a delayed effect of their previous illness and usually corrects itself in time. Thyroid disease An over-active thyroid and an under-active thyroid can both cause hair loss. This condition can be easily identified by a doctor who will usually take a sample of blood for laboratory testing. This form of hair loss can be corrected with proper treatment. Diet Diets, particularly of the crash variety can be dangerously low in protein. Those following such a diet may develop protein malnutrition. In order to save protein the body will shift growing hairs into the resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three months later. Hair can then be pulled out by the roots fairly easily. This condition can be reversed and prevented by eating the proper amount of protein and, when dieting, maintaining adequate protein intake. Medications There are some medications which can cause temporary hair loss. Examples include some of the medicines used for the following: Arthritis Depression Gout High blood pressure or Heart problems High doses of vitamin A may also cause hair to shed. Chemotherapy Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy may cause hair cells to stop dividing. Hairs become thin and break off as they exit the scalp. This occurs one to three weeks after the treatment. Patients can lose up to 90 percent of their scalp hair. The hair will regrow after treatment ends. The contraceptive pill Usually women who experience hair loss whilst taking the contraceptive pill have a genetic predisposition to hair loss. If hair thinning occurs, a woman should consult her doctor about switching to another contraceptive pill or contraceptive method. When a woman stops using oral contraceptives, she may notice that her hair begins shedding two or three months later. This may continue for six months when it usually stops. This is however similar to hair loss after the birth of a child and usually corrects itself in time. Iron deficiency A deficiency in iron can occasionally produce hair loss. Some people do not consume enough iron as part of their diet or they may not fully absorb iron. Women who menstruate heavily can develop an iron deficiency. Low iron can be easily detected by laboratory tests and can be corrected by taking iron pills. Fungal infection Ringworm (which has nothing to do with worms) begins with small patches of scaling that can spread and result in broken hair, redness, swelling, and even oozing. This contagious disease is most common in children, and oral medication will cure it. Next steps Make an appointment with your doctor who may refer you in turn to a dermatologist. Hair loss can have many different causes. Sometimes, the hair will regrow on its own; other forms can be treated successfully by a professional or at home. And for those forms of hair loss for which there is currently no cure, medical research is progressing apace and there is always hope for a cure in the future. Causes Treatments 1 Treatments 2 FAQs Further Reading
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