hair loss : Various factors ranging from illness to improper nutrition, hormonal imbalance and severe stress can contribute to hair loss. If your hair is thinning and a part of your hair is bald, you should find the root of the problem in order to do the best treatment for your hair.
Hair loss, whether in the form of baldness or thinning hair, is one of the side effects of health problems in the body that must be resolved, and when the problem in the body is resolved, the problem of hair loss will decrease. However, in some conditions such as alopecia, hair loss may be permanent.
Table of Contents
What is the hair growth cycle?
Hair goes through three cycles:
- The anagen phase (growth phase) can last from two to eight years. This stage generally accounts for about 85-90% of your hair.
- The catagen phase (transition phase) is when the hair follicles shrink and takes about two to three weeks.
- The telogen phase (resting phase) takes about two to four months. At the end of this stage, the hair falls out.
Shorter hairs such as eyelashes, arm hair, leg hair and eyebrows have a short anagen phase, about one month. Head hair lasts up to six years even longer.
Types of hair loss
In general, there are 3 types of shedding:
- Anagen effluvium: Anagen effluvium poisons the growing hair follicle due to the use of certain drugs. One of the reasons can be chemotherapy.
- Telogen effluvium: This type of telogen effluvium is caused by an increase in the number of hair follicles that reach the telogen phase, which is the phase of hair loss.
- Androgenetic alopecia: Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss or baldness is the most common type of hair loss where hair thins on the top of the head and on the sides.
Symptoms of hair loss
The main symptom of alopecia is excessive shedding of hair, it is not easy to identify the stage of hair loss.
Some symptoms include:
- Thinning hair
- Excessive hair loss after combing.
- Bald spots that vary in size and progress over time.
- Excessive shedding of hair while bathing
- Pain or itching If you have an underlying skin condition that causes hair loss, you may experience pain or itching on the scalp.
cause of hair loss
Finding the cause of hair loss requires a doctor’s diagnosis and tests, but in general there are several reasons for hair loss.
thyroid
Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss. This happens due to hormonal imbalance, hormones help regulate almost all body functions including hair growth. Getting the right treatment to control any thyroid condition will control hormones, control hair loss, and allow hair to regrow.
Hair thinning after pregnancy
Other hormonal problems that occur during or after pregnancy can also cause hair loss. It takes a while for hormone levels to return to normal after pregnancy, so it’s not at all unusual for mothers to notice thinning hair or even bald patches after giving birth.
This issue occurs about 3 months after the birth of the baby. Of course, there is no need to worry and as the rest of the body recovers, the hair follicles recover as well. Hair loss is temporary and will grow back.
Taking some medications
Hair loss and thinning is one of the side effects of a number of drugs used for some diseases. Blood thinners, oral contraceptives, antidepressants can cause baldness. Too much vitamin A and vitamin A-based medications called retinoids can also cause hair loss.
Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer can cause baldness and hair loss because they kill cancer cells. Just as hair usually grows back after chemotherapy, it should also grow back after you stop taking medications that cause hair loss.
Different types of alopecia
Alopecia in different types causes baldness or hair loss. This disease may even cause hair loss. Several genetic reasons cause this problem.
Physical trauma
When the body is under serious physical stress, the natural cycle of hair growth and rest is disrupted, and as a result, hair loss often occurs in the form of thinning hair. Any shock to the system, such as a serious accident, surgery, or burn, can shock the hair follicle, resulting in up to 75 percent of your hair falling out, sometimes months after the event.
The effect of stress on hair loss
When you are faced with a stressful problem such as a divorce, bankruptcy, loss of a home or the death of a loved one, significant stress is placed on the body that disrupts the life cycle and may cause your hair to fall out. But when the stress is under control, normal hair growth is usually restored.
diet
Essential vitamins and nutrients come from a healthy diet. Improper nutrition, restrictive diet, strict diets can lead to all kinds of nutrient deficiencies, which also cause hair loss.
Excessive use of hair heat tools
Trying to create a stylish hairstyle can actually cause significant damage and breakage to the strands, which thins the hair. Excessive and frequent shampooing or blow-drying, frequent use of heat tools, pulling hair for example in a ponytail can all cause hair loss.
How to prevent hair loss?
There are a few things you can do to minimize hair loss:
- Do not tie your hair tightly and try to keep your hair loose. If you regularly style your hair in a ponytail, try to keep it loose so as not to put too much pressure on the hair.
- After washing the hair, dry it. After the bath, dry the hair gradually with a towel.
- Avoid touching the hair. Try not to pull, twist or rub your hair as much as possible.
- Try to have a balanced diet of rich and nutritious ingredients. Try to include plenty of iron and protein in your snacks and meals.
- Use mild shampoos to wash your hair. If you don’t have very oily hair, wash your hair every other day or less.
- Hair styling products and tools are common causes of hair loss. If you decide to style your hair with heat tools, do it when your hair is dry and use the lowest setting.
The last word
Hair loss can make you uncomfortable. Whether it is due to genetics, stress or disease, it is often treatable and there are many ways to treat and prevent it. As soon as you notice this problem and your hair starts to fall out abnormally, visit a dermatologist and hair specialist to start with a treatment consultation. In your opinion, what problems can cause hair loss? We are waiting for your comments.
