What, why, and how of hair loss
Hair loss is a common condition that could be a result of hormonal change, medical condition, or even hereditary issues. It can affect men, women, and children alike. Excessive hair loss from the scalp is known as baldness. It most commonly occurs due to old age. Some people don’t mind getting baldness treated, while others look for prevention and restoration.
There are various hair loss treatments available. Therefore, make sure you consult a doctor before choosing the one.
Hair loss can be classified into four types.
- Pattern baldness in males
- Pattern baldness in females
- Alopecia areata
- Traction alopecia
Symptoms of hair loss
The onset of hair loss depends on the cause. It could occur suddenly or could gradually affect the scalp or even the entire body. Hair loss could be temporary or permanent, depending up on the underlying cause.
Symptoms of hair loss could be as follows.
- Gradual thinning of hair. Hair loss due to old age is common in both men and women. While men start losing hair from their forehead, women experience a general thinning of hair.
- Bald spots that appear as circular patches. This mostly occurs on the scalp, though it can also occur on the face in rare cases.
- Sudden hair loss due to shock. This can be due to a physical injury or a mental shock. This type of condition leads to heavy hair loss without any specific pattern.
- Entire body hair loss due to heavy medical treatments. A common example of this is hair loss following chemotherapy among cancer patients. However, this hair loss is only temporary and hair regrows later on.
- Hair loss caused by ringworm. This create patches of scaling on the scalp. Additional symptoms of this condition are hair breakage combined with swelling and redness.
Causes of hair loss
The following factors are the most common causes of hair loss.
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Hereditary condition
Certain conditions and risks are passed down through genes. If you have a family history of alopecia, then there is a higher risk of hair loss. In this case, the condition is quite predictable. It could start with puberty or the mid 20s.
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Hormonal disturbance
Our hormones are responsible for the overall healthy functioning of the body. When they are out of balance, they could lead to various metabolic problems and skin problems including hair fall. A common hormone imbalance causing hair fall is thyroid problem.
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Physical and mental triggers
A certain adverse event in life could lead to sudden hair loss. Trauma can be a cause for rapid hair loss. Physical conditions like surgery, high fever, and rapid weight loss can also lead to hair loss. Another lifestyle factor that causes hair fall is excessive styling and cosmetic treatments.
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Medical Treatments
Radiation therapy to the head could lead to permanent damage to the follicles. The hair on the affected part may not grow back the same or not grow back at all.
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High dosage of medicines
Most medicines cause side effects when taken for a prolonged period. And some drugs cause hair fall. Sometimes, supplements can also cause hair loss, e.g., vitamin A intake.
