What Causes Hair Loss?
Discover what causes hair loss and the key factors that contribute to this common issue.
Key Highlights:
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The causes of hair loss are diverse, including genetics, hormonal shifts, stress, and medical conditions.
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It is normal to experience daily hair shedding, but excessive loss may signal an underlying issue.
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Different types of hair loss exist, such as androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium, which affect the hair follicle differently.
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Factors like nutrient deficiencies and certain medications can disrupt the hair growth cycle.
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Understanding the specific cause is the first step toward finding an effective treatment.
Finding hair on your brush or pillow is a normal part of life. However, seeing more significant hair thinning or bald patches can be concerning. What causes hair loss, and is there anything you can do about it? The reasons are varied and can range from your genetic makeup to your stress levels. Understanding how the hair growth cycle works and what can disrupt it is key to identifying the root cause and exploring potential solutions.
Understanding Hair Loss: An Overview
Losing some hair every day is a completely natural process. The NHS states that people can shed between 50 and 100 hairs daily as part of the normal hair cycle. This hair shedding allows for new growth to take its place.
However, when you notice excessive shedding or thinning, it may indicate one of several types of hair loss. The main causes of hair loss in adults can include genetics, hormonal changes, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors, each affecting your hair in a unique way. Let's explore how hair grows and the different forms of loss.
How Hair Growth Works
Your hair growth journey happens in a cycle with distinct stages. Each hair on your head grows from a hair follicle, which anchors it to your scalp. The cycle begins with the anagen, or growth phase, during which the hair actively grows longer. This phase can last for several years.
Eventually, the hair enters a transitional phase before moving into the telogen, or resting phase. During this stage, the hair stops growing and rests for a few months before it naturally sheds. About 15% of your hair is in this resting phase at any given time.
Disruptions to this hair cycle are often what lead to noticeable hair loss. For example, genetics can affect the risk of hair loss by shortening the growth phase, leading to thinner, shorter hairs over time. When more follicles than usual enter the resting phase at once, you might experience significant shedding.
Types of Hair Loss
Hair loss isn't a one-size-fits-all issue; there are several types of hair loss, each with different causes and characteristics. Understanding which type you might have is crucial for finding the right path forward.
Some of the most common forms include:
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Androgenetic alopecia: This is a genetic condition also known as pattern hair loss. It affects both men and women.
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Telogen effluvium: This type causes significant hair shedding. It occurs when a stressor pushes hair into the resting phase of the hair cycle prematurely.
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Alopecia areata: This is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own hair follicles.
Other types, like cicatricial alopecia, involve inflammation that destroys the hair follicle, leading to permanent loss. Each type affects the hair growth cycle in a specific way.
Genetic Factors in Hair Loss
For many people, the tendency to lose hair is passed down through their family. This hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of thinning hair and is medically known as androgenetic alopecia. It affects a huge number of people, with nearly one in two experiencing it.
This condition manifests as male-pattern baldness in men and female-pattern hair loss in women. If you have a strong family history of hair loss, your genetic makeup could be the primary reason you're experiencing it.
The Role of Family History
Your family history is one of the biggest predictors of hair loss. If your parents or grandparents experienced pattern hair loss, there's a higher chance you'll experience it too. These genetic factors are the root cause of hereditary hair loss, making it a very common condition.
How do genetics affect the risk of hair loss? Essentially, your genes can make your hair follicles more sensitive to the effects of certain hormones.
This sensitivity causes the follicles to shrink over time, producing finer and shorter hairs until they eventually stop producing hair altogether.
This process can begin anytime after puberty, though it often becomes more noticeable with age. For many women, this type of hair loss develops after menopause, suggesting a hormonal link in addition to the genetic predisposition.
Androgenetic Alopecia Explained
Androgenetic alopecia is the medical term for genetic hair loss. This condition affects the growth phase of the hair cycle, causing the hair follicle to shrink and produce weaker hair over time.
In men, it's known as male pattern baldness. This typically starts with a receding hairline and thinning at the crown of the head, creating an "M" shape. This uneven pattern is a classic sign of the condition. For women, it presents as female pattern hair loss, which usually involves a general thinning of hair all over the scalp, particularly noticeable at the part line.
Unlike some other conditions that cause hair to fall out in distinct patches, androgenetic alopecia leads to a more predictable, progressive thinning. The reason some people lose hair unevenly is often tied to this genetic pattern of loss.
Hormonal Changes and Imbalances
Your body's hormones play a significant role in regulating your hair growth. When you experience hormonal changes or imbalances, your hair can be among the first things affected. Fluctuations in estrogen levels, such as those during pregnancy and menopause, can trigger hair shedding.
Changes in male hormones, such as testosterone, can also contribute to hair loss. Furthermore, medical issues such as thyroid conditions can disrupt your hormonal balance and lead to thinning hair. These changes can even be influenced by factors like stress, which can impact hormone levels. We will explore these hormonal triggers in more detail.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Hair Loss
Many people notice excessive hair shedding a few months after giving birth. This common experience is known as postpartum hair loss and is directly tied to hormonal changes. During pregnancy, high estrogen levels keep your hair in the growth phase for longer, leading to thicker, fuller hair.
However, after childbirth, your estrogen levels drop back to normal. This sudden hormonal shift pushes many hairs into the resting and shedding phases simultaneously. While the amount of hair loss can seem alarming, it’s important to remember that this is a temporary situation.
This type of shedding is a form of telogen effluvium, triggered by the physical stress and hormonal shifts of childbirth. The good news is that it usually resolves on its own within a year or even sooner as your body readjusts.
Thyroid Disorders and Their Impact
Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate many functions in your body, including hair growth. When it's not working properly, it can lead to noticeable hair thinning. Thyroid disorders are a common medical condition that can lead to hair loss due to the resulting hormonal imbalances.
There are two main types of thyroid issues: hyperthyroidism, where the gland is overactive, and hypothyroidism, where it's underactive. Both conditions can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause diffuse hair loss across the entire scalp rather than in patches.
Hair loss is often one of many symptoms associated with a thyroid problem. Fortunately, once you begin treatment to correct your thyroid hormone levels, your hair should start to grow back. According to the British Thyroid Foundation, it may take a few months to see improvement.
Stress and Hair Loss
It’s not just a myth—stress can absolutely contribute to hair loss. Both physical and psychological stress can significantly affect your hair follicles and lead to increased hair shedding. This type of stress-induced hair loss is often a condition called telogen effluvium.
Acute physical stressors like surgery, a high fever, or childbirth can trigger temporary shedding. Meanwhile, chronic psychological stress can also disrupt your hair's natural cycle, causing more hair to fall out than usual. Let’s look at how stress affects your hair and the specific condition it can cause.
How Stress Affects Hair Follicles
Stress directly impacts the behaviour of your hair follicles. When your body is under significant physical or emotional pressure, it can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle. This disruption is a primary way that stress contributes to hair loss.
Essentially, a major stressful event can signal a large number of your hair follicles to prematurely shift from the active growth phase (anagen) to the resting phase (telogen). Instead of continuing to grow for several years, these hairs stop growing and prepare to fall out.
This process isn't immediate. The hair shedding typically occurs a few months after the stressful event. This delayed reaction is why you might not connect the hair loss to the stress right away. Managing stress through exercise, meditation, or therapy can help support a healthy hair cycle.
Medical Conditions Associated with Hair Loss
Beyond genetics and hormones, various medical conditions can be a primary cause of hair loss. These issues can range from problems with your immune system to scalp infections. For example, an autoimmune disease can cause the body to mistakenly attack its own hair follicles.
Common medical conditions that lead to hair loss include autoimmune disorders such as alopecia areata and lupus, as well as skin conditions such as ringworm and dermatitis. Understanding these underlying health issues is key to addressing the hair loss they cause. We'll examine some of these conditions more closely.
Autoimmune Diseases (Alopecia Areata & Lupus)
In an autoimmune disease, your immune system gets confused and attacks healthy parts of your body, including hair follicles. This is a common medical reason for hair loss. Two well-known autoimmune conditions linked to hair loss are alopecia areata and lupus.
Alopecia areata causes hair to fall out suddenly in small, round patches. The immune system specifically targets the hair follicles, but the follicles themselves often remain alive, meaning hair can grow back. This condition can affect hair on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Lupus can also cause patchy hair loss, sometimes accompanied by scalp lesions. In some cases, the inflammation can cause permanent scarring and prevent regrowth. Managing the underlying lupus with treatment can help slow or reverse the hair loss.
Scalp Infections and Skin Disorders
Your scalp's health is directly tied to the health of your hair. Various scalp infections and skin conditions can cause inflammation and damage, leading to hair loss. One common example is ringworm of the scalp, a fungal infection medically known as tinea capitis.
Ringworm can cause scaly, itchy, ring-like patches on the scalp and lead to temporary patches of hair loss that get bigger over time. The hair often becomes brittle and breaks easily. This is one reason why some people lose hair unevenly or in patches. Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and dermatitis, can also cause inflammation and hair shedding.
Some types of loss, like frictional alopecia, can occur from constant rubbing or pressure on the scalp. Treating the underlying infection or skin disorder is the first step to stopping the hair loss and allowing for regrowth.
Medication and Treatment Side Effects
Have you ever wondered if a medication could be the cause of your thinning hair? It's a valid question, as hair loss is a known side effect of many common drugs. Certain medications can interfere with the hair growth cycle, sometimes causing a rapid shedding known as anagen effluvium.
If you suspect a medication is causing your hair to fall out, it's important to speak with a healthcare professional. They can review your prescriptions and discuss potential treatment options or alternatives. Let's look at some of the drugs that can cause hair loss and how certain medical treatments have a similar effect.
Drugs That Commonly Cause Hair Loss
Yes, certain medications can definitely cause hair loss as one of their side effects. This type of hair loss happens because the drugs can disrupt the hair's normal growth cycle, often pushing hairs into the shedding phase too early.
The list of medications with hair loss as a potential side effect is quite long. Some common examples include:
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Antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anticonvulsants
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Retinoids (often used for acne) and anticoagulants (blood thinners)
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Some oral contraceptives and cholesterol-lowering drugs
If you are taking any of these and experiencing hair loss, don't stop your medication on your own. It's crucial to talk to your doctor. They can assess the situation and may be able to adjust your dosage or switch you to an alternative with fewer side effects. There are often other treatment options available.
Chemotherapy and Other Medical Treatments
Chemotherapy is perhaps the most well-known medical treatment that causes significant hair loss. This happens because chemotherapy drugs are designed to attack rapidly dividing cells, which include cancer cells but also healthy cells like those in your hair follicles. This leads to rapid shedding of hair from the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Similarly, radiation therapy can cause hair loss in the specific area of the body being treated. Is this type of hair loss reversible? In most cases, yes. Hair often begins to grow back within 3 to 6 months after chemotherapy ends.
Common ways to treat permanent hair loss from other causes can include medications, laser therapy, or procedures like a hair transplant surgery, where healthy follicles are moved to thinning areas. However, for treatment-induced loss, patience is often the best approach as the body recovers.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Influences
What you eat and how you live can have a surprising impact on the health of your hair. Poor nutrition, specifically certain nutritional deficiencies, can be a direct cause of hair loss. If your body isn't getting the right building blocks, it can't support healthy hair growth.
A balanced diet is crucial for maintaining strong, healthy hair. Beyond nutrition, certain lifestyle changes and hair care habits can also contribute to thinning or breakage.
Nutritional Deficiencies Linked to Hair Loss
Diet and nutrition absolutely impact hair loss. Your hair follicles require a steady supply of vitamins and minerals to grow strong hair. When you have nutritional deficiencies, your body prioritises sending nutrients to essential organs, leaving your hair to suffer. This can result in increased hair shedding and hair thinning.
Several key nutrient deficiencies have been linked to hair loss. A blood test from your doctor can help determine if you're lacking in any of these areas. Some of the most common culprits include:
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Iron: Low iron is a very common cause of hair loss, especially in women.
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Zinc: This mineral is important for hair tissue growth and repair.
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Vitamin D: Research suggests a link between low vitamin D and hair shedding.
Extreme diets that are low in protein can also cause your body to ration protein by shutting down hair growth. Ensuring you get enough of these vital nutrients is a key step in supporting healthy hair.
Hair Care, Styling Practices, and Traction Alopecia
Your daily hair care and styling habits can also lead to hair loss. Constant pulling and tension on the hair follicles can cause a condition known as traction alopecia. This type of hair loss results from wearing tight hairstyles over a long period.
Hairstyles commonly associated with traction alopecia include tight ponytails or buns, braids, cornrows, and hair extensions. The persistent pulling can damage the hair follicle, causing the hair to break or fall out. If this continues, the damage can become permanent.
To prevent this, it's a good idea to vary your hairstyles and avoid ones that pull on your scalp. Gentle hair care, like air-drying instead of using high heat and limiting chemical treatments, can also help prevent breakage and further damage to your hair.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the various causes of hair loss is essential for anyone experiencing thinning hair or baldness. From genetic predispositions and hormonal changes to stress and lifestyle factors, numerous elements contribute to this common issue. By identifying these key factors, you can take proactive steps in managing your hair health. Whether it's adjusting your diet, seeking medical advice, or modifying your hair care practices, awareness is the first step toward effective solutions.
If you're looking for personalised guidance on addressing your hair loss concerns, don't hesitate to reach out for a free consultation today!
Why Choose Our Clinic
At Scalp&Art, we are Nottingham's premier specialists in scalp micropigmentation, dedicated to providing life-changing hair loss solutions. Established in the heart of Nottingham at the Natural Health Centre, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to address a wide range of hair concerns.
Our expertise spans across multiple specialised treatments, including scalp micropigmentation for men and women, alopecia camouflage, hair transplant scar concealment, and innovative PRP hair therapy. Each service is delivered with meticulous attention to detail and personalised care.