Hair fallout can be psychologically damaging, resulting in severe emotional suffering, which often causes work-related, personal, and social issues. Persons with extreme hair loss will more likely suffer psychological distress compared to those with mild hair loss. The fallout of hair changes one’s appearance and can significantly impact one’s self-esteem and result in further anxiety, distress, and anxiety. Understanding the possible causes of hair loss is key to ensuring the correct diagnosis and treatment. Discussed below are six reasons your hair is falling out.
1. Genetics
Genetics plays a significant part in determining how much hair falls out as one ages. When hair loss is genetics-related, it happens in a predictable manner, often known as female or male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Male pattern baldness can start anytime, either in your early teens or later in life. Women commonly experience female pattern baldness after menopause, which starts as a slow recession along their hairline. Many people experiencing androgenetic alopecia may show signs like:
- Hair loss mostly around the crown or temples
- Hair slowly thinning at the top of your head
- A receding hairline that forms in an M-shape
- Hair products are not working like they did before
Genetics-related hair fall occurs as a result of sensitivity to the DHT (dihydrotestosterone) hormone, which is responsible for binding your hair follicles. Androgenetic alopecia is a treatable condition. Several medications, such as Minoxidil Canada, can help reverse, stop, or slow down this kind of hair loss. They work by directly triggering hair growth or lowering your DHT levels. Beginning treatment as soon as you notice signs of hair falling out enables you to slow or stop further hair loss and even regrow hair in parts with noticeable thinning, such as along the hairline.
2. Nutritional deficiencies
Vitamins are vital for each hair growth cycle stage. They offer the nutrients hair follicles require for healthy growth and development. A decline in vitamin intake results in hair follicles struggling to sustain the production of healthy hair. Nutrient deficiencies can provoke:
- Hair thinning
- Slow growth
- Excessive shedding
- Hair texture changes
- Dull, dry hair
- Patchy hair loss
Deficiencies in the following vitamins can trigger hair loss:
- Vitamin D: It manifests as dry and brittle hair that breaks with ease. You may experience moderate to excessive hair thinning and shedding
- Vitamin E: It presents itself as progressive scalp hair thinning and increased daily fall out. Dry and damaged strands susceptible to breakage and split ends may also signify Vitamin E deficiency
- Vitamin A: This results in noticeable hair thinning and more daily shedding. Dandruff flaking can also be a sign of Vitamin A deficiency
Other deficiencies that lead to hair fallout include:
- Vitamin C
- Folic acid
- Vitamin B6
- Zinc
- Iron
- Essential fatty acids
Ensure your meals are rich in these vitamins, and leverage dietary supplements to lower the risk of your hair falling out.
3. Aging
Age-related hair loss, scientifically known as alopecia areata, is one of the common experiences that come with old age. As you get older, your hair changes in multiple ways. It may experience a change in texture or become thinner and duller than usual. These changes are a result of hair growth cycle changes. The anagen hair growth phase (when hair is actively generated and extended) gets shorter.
Also, some follicles might stop new hair growth altogether, reducing hair density. Age-related hair loss may be caused by changes in hormonal levels. Stress is another aspect that can contribute to hair fallout as you age. Eating healthy meals, using the right hair products, and treatments like Minoxidil and laser therapy can help treat alopecia areata while stimulating hair growth.
4. Tight hairstyles
Wearing the same hairstyle for extended periods, particularly those that tug on your hair, such as cornrows, braids, heavy locks, tight ponytails, and more, often causes constant pulling that eventually leads to traction alopecia.
Applying tight hairstyles to relaxed hair may damage it even further. The constant hair pulling loosens the hair from its follicles. When you have traction alopecia, you may start experiencing small flesh white or colored bumps around your hair follicles where hair pulling is most tight. This is followed by symmetric hair fallout, specifically along the hairline.
Repeated hair tension and prolonged inflammation can cause slow hair loss and hair follicle scarring. While traction alopecia may be temporary at the beginning, maintaining the same hairstyling habits can lead to permanent hair loss. Eliminating or limiting tight hairstyles and opting for loose styles can help treat this condition, especially in the early stages.
You can treat bumps and scalp tenderness using topical corticosteroids or topical antibiotics. Leverage oral antibiotics, topical Minoxidil, and other aggressive treatments if your traction alopecia is moderate or severe.
5. Contraceptive pills
If your hair is falling out, birth control pills could be the reason behind it. This is because hormones in these pills can cause your hair to remain in the resting stage for an extended period or get into the shedding phase too soon, contributing to hair fallout. These hormones may include:
- Norethindrone
- Ethynodiol diacetate
- Norgestimate
Birth control-related hair fallout should stop approximately six months after coming off the pill. Soon after stopping the birth control pill, a significant amount of hair may fall out at once due to the hormonal stress resulting from stopping the medication. Note that you may also not experience any hair loss after coming off birth control.
6. Cancer treatment (radiation therapy)
If your cancer treatment involves radiation therapy, you will likely experience radiation-induced alopecia. Unlike other cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation provokes hair loss, but only in the parts receiving treatment or where the beams go through. This implies that if you’re undergoing radiation therapy on the head, your hair follicles and scalp health will be affected.
If the treatment is on other body parts, only those areas will lose hair, not your head. Undergoing radiation therapy for a long time or having a high radiation dose can result in more hair fallout. This kind of hair loss stops once you complete your treatment. Your hair will take around three to six months to grow back. However, you may notice that the new hair is thinner or has a different texture than the hair you had before the radiation treatment.
Endnote
Loss of hair can lead to self-esteem issues and even affect you psychologically. Nevertheless, understanding why your hair is falling out can help you get the correct diagnosis or find ways to prevent hair loss.