More than 80 million Americans are affected by hair loss, which is one of the most distressing and widely affecting factors in self-confidence, but knowledge about the reasons behind hair loss will empower the primary problem solvers to combat the condition through specific methods. By establishing the exact reasons behind your loss of hair, you can turn your treatment process into one that is more focused on you, rather than a generalized one, and that addresses your individual trigger (hormonal, genetic, nutritional or lifestyle-related) of hairs loss. The reason why understanding causes of hair loss is especially valuable is that various causes are solved differently - treating androgenetic alopecia would need different solutions than treating telogen effluvium or nutritional deficiencies. Complicated etiology of hair loss acts via various pathways such as hormonal disequilibrium that shrink follicles, autoimmune reactions that destroy hair roots, nutritional deficiency that starves follicles, and inflammatory diseases that destroy the health of the scalp. Regardless of whether you have been gradual, sudden, patchy, receding hair-loss, knowing the exact causes of the hair-loss will be a starting point on successful intervention by medical prescriptions, lifestyle changes, or optimization of nutrition which will prevent the situation and, hopefully, will revive the growth.
What Are The Causes of Hair Loss in Women?
Female patterns of hair loss vary considerably with the ones observed in men, and would demand gender-specific knowledge. Hormonal changes in pregnancy, after childbirth, and menopause when the level of estrogen is decreased greatly are the main reasons for hair loss in women. The thyroid factor of what causes hair loss in women is many times, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause diffuse thinning. Another significant cause of hair loss among women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) whereby the androgens raised causes scalp hair loss but increases hair growth on the faces. Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common yet most important causes of hair loss in women especially during their menstrual period or restrictive diets. Such autoimmune diseases as lupus and alopecia areata are serious reasons for hair loss in women, which need medical treatment.
Hormonal Causes of Hair Loss in Women
Hormonal imbalances in different periods of life are the leading causes of hair loss in Women. Higher estrogen during pregnancy increases the growth phase forming thick and lustrous hair. Urgent loss of estrogen, which occurs during the postpartum period, causes telogen effluvium- colossal shedding which occurs 2-4 months after delivery and is one of the most drastic causes of hair loss in women. Menopause results in long-term estrogen loss and androgens are relatively constant with hormone ratios altered resulting in progressive thinning along classic female pattern-widening central portion and not receding hairline. The hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills may cause shedding in the delicate individuals and that is why the drug side effects are worthy of causing hair loss in women.
Reason of Hair Fall in Male: Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness is the main cause of hair loss in the male population and is considered in 50 percent of males aged 50 years and above. This genetic cause of male-hair fall is genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT)- a derivative of testosterone which shrinks genetically vulnerable follicles in old age. Advanced logic of hair loss in male is predictable beginning to recede in temples and on the crown which ultimately converge to make typical horseshoe shape. The hereditary cause of hair loss in men is a genetic issue that can be passed to both parents but the pattern in male hair loss is usually dictated by the grandfather of the son. By learning about this prevailing cause of male-hair loss, an early intervention on DHT-inhibitory drugs such as finasteride or minoxidil can be carried out before the loss escapes.
What Causes Hair Loss in Men: Beyond Genetics
Although the greatest role is played by genetics, there are other causes of hair loss in men, which should be considered. Thyroid diseases also occur in men but less frequently compared to women resulting in diffuse thinning of scalp. Nutritional deficiencies especially in proteins, iron, zinc and biotin are ideal in that they are rectifiable in what causes hair loss to men especially those whose diets are restricted or are unable to be absorbed. Drugs such as blood thinners, antidepressants, beta-blockers, and chemotherapy drugs are some of the drugs classified under what causes hair loss in men. Scalp infections such as the ringworm, which is not common among adults are some of the treatable causes of hair loss in men who need antifungal treatment.
Autoimmune Causes of Hair Loss
Autoimmune disorders are the major causes of hair loss in both men and women. Alopecia areata is an unpredictable cause of hair loss that results suddenly in circular bald patches in response to the attack of follicles by the immune system- the unpredictable causes of hair loss can be followed by total loss of scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or all the hair on the body (alopecia universalis). Hair loss is a common symptom of lupus, which is an inflammatory etiology of hair loss, and needs immunosuppressive therapy. Hair loss in thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid disorder, in Hashimoto is a result of hormonal alteration, an example of how autoimmune agents of hair loss operate on several pathways.
Nutritional Deficiency Causes of Hair Loss
Poor nutrition is absolutely a rectifiable reason for hair loss. Women lose follicles which require oxygen-carrying hemoglobin to grow, which is iron deficiency. Crash dieting or eating disorders cause protein deficiency, which stops the production of hair because hair consists mainly of protein. Vitamin D deficiency as an emerging cause of hair loss influences the follicle cycling. Zinc and biotin deficiencies are less frequent, but cause thinning. Nutritional factors causing hair loss and necessitating supplementation include B-vitamin complex deficiencies especially B12 in vegetarians/vegans.
Styling and Chemical Causes of Hair Loss
Causes of hair loss are preventable because of physical damage to hair that results due to styling practices. Traction alopecia which is a result of tight hairstyles such as braids, ponytails and extensions has lasting effects on the follicles which are damaged in the hairline and temples. Hair loss is imitated by chemical treatments, such as relaxers, perms, bleaching, that weaken the structure of hair leading to breakage. Unprotected heat styling destroys the hair shaft. Understanding these mechanical factors which cause hair loss enables it to be prevented by using milder hairstyles.
Medical Conditions as Causes of Hair Loss
Different diseases are co-morbidities associated with loss of hair that need medical intervention. Seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis provide an inflammatory condition that destroys follicles. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that occurs in 10 percent of women resulting in androgenic hair loss due to high levels of testosterone. Diabetes compromises blood circulation to follicles which are metabolic causes of hair loss. Treatments of cancer, especially chemotherapy, result in enormous but temporary loss of hair on the whole body.
Medications as Causes of Hair Loss
One of the common causes of hair loss that can be easily ignored is drug side effects. Hair loss is a listed side effect of blood pressure medications especially those of the beta-blocker type as well as antidepressants especially of the SSRI category of drugs, anticoagulants, NSAIDs particularly those involved in long-term use, retinoids used in the treatment of acne, and even immunosuppressants. Identification of causes of hair loss induced by medications provides an opportunity to discuss the alternatives with the doctors or adjust the timing.
Final Thought
In women, the causes of hair loss are most often the changes in hormones, dysfunction of the thyroid, iron deficiency, and autoimmune diseases that need a gender-specific approach. Hair fall in male is mostly caused by the interplay of other factors and is mainly caused by genetic androgenetic alopecia which is DHT sensitive. When one determines the causes of hair loss in women as opposed to the causes of hair loss in men, one finds out about the gender effects and the similarities among the same triggers such as stress, nutrition, medications, and medical conditions. The causes of hair loss are multifactorial and therefore it is better to have a comprehensive evaluation in terms of hormones, genetic factors, nutrition, stresses, medications and underlying health conditions.
