Changes are truly inescapable, hair loss is considered to be as a universal change. Genetics, a series of hormonal changes, or diseases cause us to lose hair in our early life. Hair goes through a growing and resting cycle. Anagen is known to be the growth phase that typically lasts two (2) to three (3) years and during this time the hair grows one (1) centimeter in a single month. The resting phase is called telogen. This phase lasts three (3) to four (4) months. The hair strands begin to fall out in the end of the resting phase, while a new one begins to grow in its place.
Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hair shafts a day and gradual thinning can occur as we age, others are burdened with excessive hair loss that can lead to complete baldness.
* Pattern baldness (Androgenetic Alopecia). This type of hair loss is predominantly occurring in males. However, this can occur in females as well. Male pattern baldness is something that men experience at the age of 18 to 40. It is considered to be a natural and age related alteration in the body which designates 95% of hair loss in men alone.
Hair loss in men is considerably inherited either from the mother’s side or father’s side which implies genetic plays an important role in such condition.
A hormone called Dihydrotestosterone or DHT is build up in the body excessively, which whenever accumulated in the scalp, blocks the hair follicles from absorbing essential nutrients from the blood that results to miniaturization of hair and eventually hair starts to fall. Women happen to experience hair loss during their puberty and most often, women endure it after giving birth and to older females, hair loss is in occurrence during menopause.
* Alopecia Areata is a condition that causes open patches on the human scalp or body. More and more medical specialists found out that this disease is due to autoimmune deficiency wherein white blood cells in the immune system attack the hair follicles and block them from producing more hair. Alopecia areata can also be associated with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid diseases, allergic conditions, and lupos.
* Telogen effluvium (Stress Trigger) is the next common cause of hair loss after androgenetic alopecia. Stress from an illness, pregnancy, a sudden weight loss and a depression can trigger hair to fall, body stressors can affect the hair follicle, it is proven to cause a big change in a large portion of the hair follicle that makes the hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state, affecting the growing existing hairs from these hair roots to fall out. Malnutrition, metabolic disorders, physical and emotional stress are proven to be basis of such hair loss.
* Poor nutrition. Having inadequate consumption of protein and other essential nutrients in your daily diet can cause hair loss. Inconsistent diets and eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia can both result in malnutrition.
* Medical treatments. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be the cause of alopecia (hair loss). During these kinds of medical treatment, the healthy growing hair becomes affected but in most cases, hair begins to grow back after the treatment. Diseases like lupos and diabetes can trigger hair loss too. Furthermore, there are other drugs used to treat arthritis, heart problems, depression, and high blood pressure that may cause to develop hair loss in some people.
* Hormonal changes. Imbalances and disorders of hormones can commonly happen in women temporarily. This could be due to pregnancy and menopause, having an overactive or underactive thyroid gland, and inconsistent usage of birth control pills can definitely result in hair loss.
* Hair treatments. There are various ways of treating the hair and harsh chemicals are used in perming, dying, bleaching and straightening that can damage and brittle the hair thus, making it fragile and leading it to fall off from the scalp.
* Scalp infections. Infections such as fungal infections can cause hair fall, producing an unhealthy environment for the hair which hinders the hair follicles to produce a healthier hair. Ringworm can also occur, leading to hair loss. All fungal infections are treated with topical and oral anti-fungal medications.
* Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). Trichotillomania is a type of mental disorder wherein people tend to pull their hair from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. This irresistible urge can leave bald spots on their head. Researchers are still determining what causes this mental disorder but still, no specific cause has yet been discovered.
