While it may not cause physical pain, there is no denying the emotional and mental suffering that accompanies thinning hair. Each clump of hair may feel as if a part of the self-image is being peeled away.
To hear the American Academy of Dermatology tell it, the average person parts ways with 50 to 100 hairs every day. That’s the norm. So what happens when the hair count exceeds what’s typical? Obviously, we sound the alarm.
Aside from the normal hair wear and tear, it’s important to know what other factors can play a role in the shocking shedding that occurs in both men and women. Here are a few culprits that can bring on a major loss.
Stress
Although there are many widely known effects of stress, such as headache, tight muscles and anxiety, one of the lesser-known effects of stress is hair loss. Whether your stress has been emotional or physical, it could cause hair loss. This is referred to as temporary hair loss, or telogen effluvium. During a Fox News interview, a New York City doctor stated that a stressful event “can shock the hair cycle.” Often, this system shock is felt between three and six months after the initial trauma. When it comes to stress-based hair loss, though, many people regain natural hair growth over time.
Heredity
Conversely, some people may have inherited hair loss. For a long time, men were the focus of inherited hair loss treatments, but recently, female hair loss treatments have started to gain visibility. In both men and women, inherited hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia. However, some men and women see differences in the way they lose their hair. For example, while men experience patches of baldness, usually beginning on the top of the head, women often instead experience hair thinning. Additionally, many women keep their hairlines, while men experience a receding hairline. Strangely, though, sometimes these symptoms can be reversed, and men experience thinning with no receding hairline, while women experience receding hairlines without the hair thinning. To find out if you are at risk for inherited balding or thinning, pay close attention to the hair loss the men or women in your family experience.
Diet
It is no secret that what you put in your body could have an effect on your overall health. Consequently, you might not be at all surprised to discover that your diet can impact hair loss. For instance, rapid weight loss could be the culprit responsible for hair loss, but hair often regrows after the body normalizes at a new weight. Additionally, vitamin A, iron and protein are all important for hair growth. Therefore, if your diet doesn’t contain sufficient amounts of these nutrients, then it could cause hair loss. For example, getting too much vitamin A through supplements or medicines could result in hair loss. However, not getting enough iron or protein could be causing your hair loss. When you don’t have enough protein in your diet, for instance, your body could stop hair production in order to save protein. For this reason, people who have vegan or vegetarian diets are cautioned to add other foods rich in protein and iron, like nuts and seeds, to their diets.
Diseases, Deficiencies and Disorders
Likewise, many diseases, deficiencies and disorders can be responsible for hair loss. The iron and protein deficiencies mentioned above, for instance, are rather common reasons. However, there are numerous medical conditions that could cause hair loss. Some of the most common types are:
- thyroid disease;
- anemia;
- trichotillomania;
- autoimmune diseases;
- scarring alopecia;
- lupus;
- polycystic ovary syndrome;
- vitamin b deficiency;
- ringworm on the scalp;
- eating disorders;
- dermatitis; and
- psoriasis.
Hair Care and Styling
Can hair styling and care really impact hair loss? Shockingly, poor hair care and certain hairstyles are one of the most preventable reasons for hair loss. As a matter of fact, hair products or treatments with harsh chemicals or high heat and hairstyles that pull hard at the hair follicles could result in hair loss. Some examples of products or treatments that increase the risk of hair loss are hot oil treatments, straightening, coloring and relaxing. Similarly, the hairstyles most frequently responsible for hair loss are cornrows, tight ponytails, and hair weaves or extensions. Likewise, overusing hairbands, hairpins, blow dryers and flat irons put you at risk for hair loss. In addition, some hair care practices might cause hair loss, like over brushing, shampooing or combing. Before you dump all those rough chemicals on your hair, invest in extensions or pick up that flat iron, think about how it can affect your natural hair growth.
Medications
Sadly, some prescribed medications carry hair loss as a side effect. It is beneficial to be aware of what types of medications can increase the risk of hair loss, especially if you already are at risk due to other factors, like heredity or vitamin deficiency. Some medications most commonly associated with hair loss are:
- high blood pressure medications;
- blood thinners;
- vitamin A supplements;
- arthritis medications;
- depression medications;
- gout medications;
- heart medications;
- birth control pills; and
- anabolic steroids.
Coping with Hair Loss
For many people who experience hair loss, it can feel like they are losing much more than just hair. Thankfully, there are treatments that can lessen hair loss and help people regain hair growth. While these treatments are not always successful, they have brought a lot of hope to many people affected by hair loss. However, you must decide how you want to cope with losing your hair. Based on the cause of your hair loss, there might be options available to you.