Hairloss and why you lose hair

Excessive hairloss is one of the many types of health related problems that people may experience, as they grow older.  Understanding why there is hairloss can help you discover if it will be a problem at your age, and what you can do to prevent it from happening

At any given time, approximately 10% of the hair in the scalp is in a resting phase. Two to three months later the resting hair will fall out and be replaced by new hair. This growing phase can last between two to six years. During this phase, each hair strand grows on average one centimetre each month. 90% of the hair on the scalp is growing at any given time.

It is quite normal for a person to shed a few hairs every day during this cycle. Some people however may have hairloss at a greater than normal rate. This can affect men, women and children at any stage in their life.

The following are the most common reasons for hairloss 

Genetics

The first major reason for hairloss is related to genetics.  This gene is a dominant trait that is usually present through the male gene.  If you have a father, who is bald or lost hair, then you will most likely lose your hair as well.  However, it is important to realize that while you may lose hair from the gene, you can take care of yourself through nutrients to prevent this from happening. 

The genes may also relate to the make-up of a male’s hormones, which causes hairloss to be a larger factor.  The hormones may interact in a different way.  As they age, the hormones will change how they function and interact.  The focus for hormones to supply specific chemicals will not be on the head area, and may cause less growth of hair in this area.  If you are a woman, an imbalance of hormones may also affect hair growth and cause hairloss. This is important to keep in mind while your hormones change and, as you need different nutrients.  

Pregnancy

It is quite common for hairloss approximately three months after a woman has had a baby. This hairloss is due to hormonal changes occurring in her body. When a woman is pregnant, she produces high levels of hormones that enable her body to keep the hair that would normally fall out. Once the hormones have returned to the pre-pregnancy levels, the hair will begin falling out again and the body will resume the normal cycles of hair growth and loss.

Stress

Hairloss is also known to occur from those who are under stress.  Some people may suddenly lose considerable amounts of hair approximately three to four months following surgery. This is usually due to the stress of their illness and is usually only temporary. However it can be upsetting and unsettling for the person involved. Being under stress will cause the muscles in your scalp to restrict.  As this happens, the circulation to the scalp is cut off.  If this happens often and for longer periods, then it may cause hairloss.  However, stress is one of the smaller factors that relate to hairloss.

Lack of hair care

Another major reason for hairloss is from the way that one may care for their hair. Improper care to the hair can also cause hairloss. Hairstyles such as pigtails or cornrows, tight rollers all pull on the hair causing a condition known as traction alopecia. However, this condition can be prevented if the pulling is stopped prior to the scalp scarring. It is important to note that scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil treatment and chemicals that are used in permanents (perms) also cause the hair follicle to swell, resulting in scarring and loss of hair.

Medication

Certain medicines can cause hairloss. People often find their hairloss slows down when they stop taking the medication. Medications such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines used to treat gout, chemotherapy medications, excessive amount of vitamin A, antidepressants and birth control pills can all cause hairloss.

Infections

Certain bodily infections can also cause hairloss, such as fungal infections to the scalp in children. Infections such as these can easily be treated with antifungal medications and the growth soon reoccurs.
Certain bodily infections can also cause hairloss, such as fungal infections to the scalp in children.

Infections such as these can easily be treated with antifungal medications and the growth soon returns.
Problems relating to hormones may also cause hairloss. An overactive or under-active thyroid gland may cause hair to fall out. This can usually be controlled by treating the thyroid disease with medication. Hairloss can also be caused by male or female hormones (androgens and estrogens) which become out of balance. The hairloss can be controlled by treating the imbalance.

Summary

Knowing why hairloss occurs will help you in taking preventive measures to eliminate hairloss.  By taking care of your hair, as well as understanding how different things will affect hairloss, you can make sure you take the right steps from preventing it from happening.  Gaining the right information about hairloss and knowing how it will affect you are the first step to keeping healthy hair.