The Causes Of Hair Loss

The causes of hair loss are many and varied.

Yet, incredible as it may sound in the 21st century, they are still not entirely understood in terms of their full interactions.

This can be disappointing, not to say distressing, for many people that start to experience hair loss only to discover that there is no universal cure.

However, over recent decades some progress has been made in understanding some of the causes of hair loss, even if the exact mechanisms remain relatively unclear.

Hair growth and baldness

Hair grows from follicles beneath the skin.

Each follicle has periods where it intensely generates hair growth, then it stops and commences transition before entering a resting phase.

The technical terms for these phases respectively are anagen, catagen and telogen.

After a period in the telogen or resting phase, hair growth re-commences.

When a follicle is no longer going through this cycle, it is sometimes referred to as being ‘dead’.

At the current time, there is no universally accepted method of re-animating a ‘dead’ follicle.

Diet

Although perhaps rare in most segments of western society, some food regimes that result in the insufficient consumption of certain vitamins and essential foodstuffs, may lead to a thinning of hair.

These conditions may be improved by a change of diet or the addition of supplements. You should consult your physician or a medical professional for further information and generally avoid extreme diets unless under professional medical supervision.

Medication

Oncology and its associated chemotherapy is one of the best-known examples of a medical treatment that can lead to baldness.

Hopefully anyone undergoing such treatment will have received counseling in advance as to what might arise.

Perhaps less well known is that some forms of other medication may also lead to hair loss or thinning.

It’s difficult to give a list of possible culprits as the effects can vary widely between individuals.

If you do find you start to lose larger than normal amounts of hair in a short period and suspect it is to do with a medication, then you must consult a physician or pharmacist.

Keep in mind also that some illegal substances are also believed to sometimes contribute towards hair loss.

Lifestyle

In spite of some controversial claims in some sources, there is no objective evidence that lifestyle has any significant effect on hair loss.

Some sources suggest that pattern baldness is more prevalent today than it was in earlier generations but that remains highly debatable.

What is generally accepted is that taking good care of your hair through various forms of shampooing and massage may help overall hair thickness and appearance though this is not necessarily the same thing as saying that it prevents hair loss.

Environmental effects / Stress

Obviously, if you work in an environment where you are exposed to certain chemicals or toxins then that may well have a serious effect on your overall health including your hair.

That may be particularly so if you’re ingesting or inhaling them etc.

If you do work in such an industry then most responsible employers will have environment health experts available that can offer advice and guidance on general health (and hair) protection.

It is also now increasingly widely accepted that extreme ongoing or regular emotional stress may have a detrimental effect on hair – this being linked to various hormones.

If you think this is an issue for you then stress counseling may be advisable.

Illness

It’s important not to panic if you notice that your hair is thinning. Premature pattern balding hair loss is only very rarely indicative of a serious medical condition.

However, some illnesses may lead to hair thinning and loss that is not of the typical pattern baldness variety.

There is a long, long list including things such as liver and kidney conditions and bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

In many (but not all) such cases the hair loss may be rather more rapid than classic pattern baldness.

If you do start to lose significant and unusual quantities of your hair, particularly if this is over a shorter period of time, you should consult a physician without delay.

Genetics and hormones

These are now generally accepted to be the two major causes of both male and female pattern baldness.

As stated at the outset, some of the exact mechanisms are not well understood in terms of their exact interactions but it has long been recognized, for example, that pattern baldness has a tendency to run in families.

In the case of men, the relationship between testosterone and hair loss is rather better understood as is the fact the pre and post menopausal women may be prone to hair thinning as their hormonal balances change.

Some women report similar thinning (though rarely severe) of their hair during and after pregnancy.

For this category of hair loss, some treatments are available. Their overall effectiveness remains, in some cases, to be highly controversial for many.