What are the Causes for Hair Loss?  

There are several causes for hair loss although depending on the amount of hair that is shed, it is most often considered to be normal. The hair’s normal growth cycle lasts for 2 to 3 years. In fact, about 90% of your hair is growing at any time and the rest of the 10% is at a resting phase. It will take 3 to 4 months before the hair that is at the latter phase falls out and gets replaced. Experts have said that shedding 100 to 150 strands of hair every day is normal. However, shedding more than this amount can be due to other factors.

In general, reasons for hair loss are neither associated with internal diseases nor with an unhealthy diet. Most of the time, the cause of hair loss is genetic and runs in the family. Many men and women may notice that their hair begins thinning out upon reaching their thirties or forties. Pregnancy can also make some women experience hair shedding. This is due to hormonal imbalance. Having high levels of hormones can cause hair loss. A few months after when the hormones are back at their normal levels, normal hair growth will usually resume.

It is also true that stress can cause the hair to fall out particularly physical or emotional stress linked to an illness or surgery. There are 2 types of hair loss due to stress and the first is called Telogen Effluvium. This is the less severe type in which the hair stops growing for 2 to 3 months and starts to grow again in 6 to 9 months. The second type is Alopecia Areata. This occurs when the white blood cells attack the hair follicles. In this type, the hair falls in a matter of weeks and usually leaves bald patches. It is not uncommon though for someone to be entirely bald. Alopecia Areata can also attack body hair.

Taking some medicines can be one of the causes of hair loss. Among these medications include blood thinners or anticoagulants, those used for gout, high blood pressure and heart problems, Vitamin A supplements (if taken in high amount), antidepressants and birth control pills. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can also cause  hair to fall out. After the treatment, hair generally grows back in 6 to 12 months.

There are certain health conditions that can become reasons for hair loss such as thyroid diseases and iron deficiency or anemia. It is usual for doctors to require people experiencing hair loss to undergo lab tests and CBC or Complete Blood Count. This is done in order to rule out other underlying conditions that may be causing this.  Dermatologists can also best provide people with diagnoses and treatment related to their hair loss.

Other causes of hair loss include puberty, menopause, nervous habits and fungal infections.

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