Hair loss is a normal process in the hair growth cycle and is necessary for the production of healthy hair. It can fall off while you are washing, brushing or styling. But if you've been noticing more hair loss than usual, one of the reasons described below may be the culprit.
Causes of hair loss
Lack of protein
If you are not consuming enough protein, your body will shut down hair growth in an attempt to ration the small amounts of protein. Eat more protein-rich foods for an easy fix, or incorporate protein powder into your diet. Vegetarian? Click here for 5 Meatless Ways to Get More Protein.
Skin condition
A healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair growth. Dandruff, yeast infections and psoriasis can all affect the way your hair grows. Talk to your dermatologist to see if you have any of these problems.
Telogen effluvium
Telogen effluvium, also known as trauma or stress, occurs after pregnancy, major surgery, weight loss, or any highly stressful event. It could even be the result of a drug. Typically, you will start to notice excessive hair loss about six weeks to three months after a stressful event.
What happens is that your hair cycle rapidly shifts from its resting phase to its shedding phase, resulting in premature hair loss. You just have to wait for the time until the hair loss slows down, or if it is a result of some medication, your doctor may change the dose or switch to another medication.
Thyroid disease
Hypothyroidism, or thyroid disease, occurs when not enough of your thyroid hormone is produced, which can lead to unexplained weight gain, fatigue, depression, and brittle hair, skin, and nails. Your doctor can perform a blood test to measure thyroid hormone.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases like lupus or alopecia areata can affect your body in many ways, hair loss being one of them. With lupus, the immune system attacks healthy tissues in your body. According to Prevention, this disease affects 1.5 million people in the US, women of childbearing age are more susceptible to lupus.
With alopecia areata, the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Alopecia areata affects 4.7 million people and causes bald circles on the scalp, eyebrows, and legs.
Excessive chemical beauty treatments
Heat and chemicals can damage hair and cause it to break and fall out. If you dye your hair, try to keep some of your original hair color. Too much color difference requires more harmful chemicals. You should also lower the heat levels on the hair dryer or iron. You can even try letting your hair air dry for a while before using the hair dryer.
Hereditary hair loss
The good news: your hair loss is not caused by a disease or disorder. The bad news: hair loss could only be in your genes. Women with inherited hair loss may begin to lose their hair in their 20s, and a fine hairline will begin to show behind the bangs. Confirm with your doctor that it is hereditary and not a consequence of another disorder.
Anemia - Iron deficiency
Anemia is a disease that shows that you are not consuming enough iron, and as a result you do not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your brain. A side effect of anemia is hair loss. A blood test may be administered to see if you suffer from iron deficiency anemia. If it is simply iron deficiency, it is a matter of incorporating more iron into your diet to avoid taking medications.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
About 5 million women in the US are affected by this disease, which is primarily a hormonal imbalance created by the ovaries producing too many male hormones. The side effects of polycystic ovary syndrome are less hair on your scalp, but more hair on your body. Women with this syndrome can also become infertile.
A diabetic coma is a life-threatening diabetes complication that causes unconsciousness. If you have diabetes, dangerously high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to a diabetic coma. If you lapse into a diabetic coma, you're alive but you can't awaken or respond purposefully to sights, sounds or other types of stimulation. Left untreated, a diabetic coma can be fatal.