What Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss can occur to both men and women due to any of a number of factors. Determining the factors initially is a very important step in effectively slowing or stopping hair thinning.
Here is a list of the most common reasons for thinning hair in men and women:
Genetic Makeup
Once thought to come from you maternal grandparents, it is now widely accepted that both parents genes are responsible, androgen tic alopecia is perhaps to most common reason for hair loss. It can start as early as your teens but usually begins in your forty's. This for of hair loss is the most difficult to treat but don't despair. If you have hair loss in your family it does not necessarily follow that you will lose yours. If it does occur, having a healthy diet and plenty of exercise will certainly slow it's onset.
DHT level
DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a powerful hormone produced in adult males and females which promotes among other thing the growth of facial hair. Unfortunately it also has adverse effects for the hair on the head by stopping nutrients from reaching the hair follicles. How much of an effect is thought to be genetically based but it is the major cause of "male pattern baldness" in men and "female pattern baldness" in women (so called due to the M shape receding hair line it often produces).
Stress Trigger
Telogen effluvium is a form of hair loss cause by a shock to your system or emotional distress. When this occurs your hair follicles are put into a resting state and any effected hairs can fall out. Why does this occur? It is generally thought that the hair follicles ar put into the resting state because the body needs more resources for more important things. Thankfully this form of hair loss usually only lasts as long as the reason for the condition and will return fully within six months. Telogen effluvium usually effects small patches of the scalp in no particular pattern and can be caused by a death in the family, rapid weight loss or illness. Women may experience this form of hair loss after giving birth.
Tight hair styles or aggressive brushing
Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss due to pulling of the hair for whatever reason. Commonly found in individuals with tight hair styles like ponytails or buns or those who comb or brush their hair with excessive force. Using too much heat or chemicals including dyes and other styling products can lead to the loss of hair
Chemical Damage
Anagen effluvium is cause by certain drugs or medication. The most common reason are the drugs required to treat cancer which can also kill the hair follicles. The good new is that the hair can grow back fully after the medication of drug therapy has stopped.
Iron deficiency
A common cause for thinning hair in men and women, though rarely causes baldness.
Oxygen deficiency
A lack of oxygen in your blood can be very detrimental to your hair follicles leading to hair loss. Saturated fats and smoking among other thing reduces your blood oxygen level.
Scarring
Cicatricial alopecia is caused by inflammation of the skin due to conditions such as lichen planus or lupus erythematosus which prevents the roots of your hair from growing permanently.
Scalp Infection
Fungal infections or ringworm can infect your scalp and lead to hair loss. Once the infection is gone, hair growth recovers fully.