10 reasons why you’re losing your hair-By Dr. Nigam
It's true that men are more likely to lose their hair than women, mostly due
to male pattern
baldness (more on that later).
But thinning hair and hair loss are also common in women, and no less
demoralizing. Reasons can range from the simple and temporary—a vitamin
deficiency—to the more complex, like an underlying health condition.
In many cases, there are ways to treat both male and female hair loss. It
all depends on the cause. Here are some common and not-so-common reasons why
you might be seeing less hair on your head.
1. Physical
stress
Any kind of physical trauma—
surgery, a car accident, or a severe illness,
even the flu—can cause temporary hair loss. This can trigger a type of hair
loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: a growth
phase, rest phase and shedding phase. When you have a really stressful event,
it can shock the hair cycle, (pushing) more hair into the shedding phase.
What to do: The good news is that hair will start growing back as
your body recovers.
2. Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one example of the type of physical stress that can cause hair
loss (that and hormones). Pregnancy-related hair loss is seen more commonly
after your baby has been delivered rather than actually during
pregnancy.
“Giving birth is pretty traumatic.
What to do: If you do experience hair loss, rest assured that your
hair will grow back in a couple of months. “It’s a normal thing and it will
work its way out .
3. Too
much vitamin A
Overdoing vitamin A-containing supplements or medications can trigger hair
loss, according to the American Academy of
Dermatology. The Daily Value for
vitamin A is 5,000 International Units (IU) per day for adults and kids over
age 4; supplements can contain 2,500 to 10,000 IU.
What to do: This is a reversible cause of hair loss and once the excess
vitamin A is halted, hair should grow normally.
4. Lack
of protein
If you don't get enough protein in your diet, your body may ration protein
by shutting down hair growth, according to the American Academy of
Dermatology.
This can happen about two to three months after a drop in protein intake, they
say.
What to do: There are many great sources of protein, including fish,
meat, and eggs.
5. Male
pattern baldness
About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 60, and most of the
time it's due to male pattern
baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a
combo of genes and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in
which the hair recedes at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.
What to do: There are topical creams like minoxidil (Rogaine) and
oral medications such as finasteride (Propecia) that can halt hair loss or even
cause some to grow; surgery to transplant or graft hair is also an option.
6. Heredity
Female-pattern hair loss, called androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, is
basically the female version of male pattern baldness. “If you come from a
family where women started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might
be more prone to it. Unlike men, women don't tend to have a receding hairline,
instead their part may widen and they may have noticeable thinning of hair.
What to do: Like men, women may benefit from minoxidil (Rogaine) to
help grow hair, or at least, maintain the hair you have. Rogaine is available
over-the-counter and is approved for women with this type of hair loss.
7. Female
hormones
Just as pregnancy hormone changes can cause hair loss, so can switching or
going off birth-control pills. This can also cause telogen effluvium, and it
may be more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. The change in the
hormonal balance that occurs at menopause may also have the same result. “The
androgen (male hormone) receptors on the scalp becoming activated,” explains
Dr. Mark Hammonds, a dermatologist with Scott & White Clinic in Round Rock,
Texas. “The hair follicles will miniaturize and then you start to lose more
hair.”
What to do: If a new Rx is a problem, switch back or talk to your
doctor about other birth control types. Stopping oral contraceptives can also
sometimes cause hair loss, but this is temporary. Don't make your problem worse
with hair-damaging beauty regimens.
8. Emotional
stress
Emotional stress is less likely to cause hair loss than physical stress, but
it can happen, for instance, in the case of divorce, after the death of a loved
one, or while caring for an aging parent. More often, though, emotional stress
won’t actually precipitate the hair loss. It will exacerbate a problem that’s
already there.
What to do: As with hair loss
due to physical stress, this shedding will eventually abate. While it's not
known if reducing stress can help your hair, it can't hurt either. Take steps
to combat stress and anxiety like getting more exercise, trying talk therapy,
or getting more support if you need it.
9. Anemia
Almost one in 10 women aged 20 through 49 suffers from anemia due to an iron
deficiency (the most common type of anemia), which is an easily fixable cause
of hair loss. You doctor will have to do a blood test to determine for sure if
you have this type of anemia.
What to do: A simple iron supplement should correct the problem. In addition
to hair loss, other symptoms of anemia include fatigue, headache, dizziness,
pale skin, and cold hands and feet.
10. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the medical term for having an underactive thyroid gland.
This little gland located in your neck produces hormones that are critical to
metabolism as well as growth and development and, when it’s not pumping out
enough hormones, can contribute to hair loss. Your doctor can do tests to
determine the real cause
What to do: Synthetic thyroid medication will take care of the
problem. Once your thyroid levels return to normal, so should your hair.
alluded to as "male example male pattern baldness" or "regular" hair loss. It is because of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone(DHT) following up on hereditarily defenseless scalp hair follicles that makes them get to be continuously more modest and inevitably vanish. This methodology is called "scaling down."
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