What are the Major Causes of Hair Loss

What are the Major Causes of Hair Loss

Summary

Both men and women experience some kind of hair loss during their lives. The severity of hair loss differs from person to person and in extreme cases, may lead to baldness, especially in men. Hair loss can affect men, women and even children. Although there is a normal amount of hair that the body sheds each day as part of the natural hair growth cycle, some people may experience excessive hair loss. Excessive hair loss or baldness can be caused due to several reasons. This knol discusses the major causes of hair loss in both men and women.

Contents

Introduction

Common Causes of Hair Loss

Hair Loss in Men

Female Hair Loss

Conclusion

Introduction

Human hair follows a pattern or cycle of growth which allows new hair to grow and old hair to shed as part of the routine. However, some people may experience more than normal hair loss which can lead to hair thinning or baldness in men, women and children. There are several different causes of hair loss and the timing and pattern of hair loss is different in men and women. People experiencing hair loss are often sensitive and emotional to discuss their problems. Some are even reluctant to take up any treatment for their hair loss problem.

Most men tend to start losing hair in their 30s or 40s, whereas some women can start experiencing hair loss in their 20s, while others begin to lose hair when they reach their 40s or 50s. Men normally lose hair in the front of the head, whereas women’s hair falls throughout the scalp, causing hair thinning. Hair loss is common in both men and women, but the degree of loss varies from person to person, and also depends on age, gender and other factors. Before any treatment can be started for hair loss, it is essential to look into the reasons behind hair loss in both men and women.

Common Causes of Hair Loss

Although men and women experience hair loss due to different causes, there are some common causes which result in hair loss. These common causes include illnesses, diseases, unhealthy diet, medications, stress, skin problems and medical problems. Genetics is also a common cause for hair loss in both men and women.

Diseases and Illnesses

Illnesses like high fever, severe infection and severe flu can cause a person to experience hair loss. Hair loss normally occurs one to three months after the illness, and returns to normal once the illness is over.

Diseases associated with the thyroid can also cause hair loss. The problem can be caused by both an overactive thyroid and an underactive thyroid. Once the disease is treated, hair loss associated with thyroid disease is also reversed.

Other underlying diseases such as diabetes or lupus can also be a cause of hair loss in men and women. In such cases, proper diagnosis is needed to identify the main cause behind hair loss.

Malnutrition

A diet lacking in proteins and essential nutrients can lead to hair loss. Lack of protein in the diet leads to protein malnutrition, and the body saves protein by stopping hair growth. If protein deficiency continues, hair starts falling off in tufts within three months of the start of the deficiency. Proper intake of protein can help reverse the effects of hair loss due to malnutrition. Such a condition is most common in women who follow a very poor or strict diet to loose weight and do not get enough proteins, zinc, fatty acids and vitamins from their food intake.

Iron deficiency can also lead to occasional hair loss. The problem is more common in women who have heavy menstrual periods and may develop iron deficiency. It can also occur in people who are not able to absorb all the iron from their diet. Similarly, high intake of Vitamin A may also cause hair loss in some people.

Cancer Treatments

All chemotherapy and radiation treatments cause hair loss as they stop hair cells from dividing. The hair becomes weak and thin, causing excessive hair loss in three weeks after the treatment. Cancer patients can lose up to 90 percent of their scalp hair. Once the treatment is stopped, hair will grow back.

Medications

Some medicines and prescription drugs cause temporary hair loss. However, the intensity of hair loss varies from person to person. Medicines used for the treatment of arthritis, depression, blood pressure, heart problems, blood thinning and gout can cause hair loss to some extent. Similarly, some anti-depressants and mood altering drugs may also result in hair loss in men and women. Certain diet pills can also lead to the onset of hair loss. Anti-inflammatory drugs, seizure medications, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy can all cause hair loss problems.

Major Surgery

Patients who have undergone a major surgery or a chronic illness also suffer from hair loss, usually one to three months after the surgery. In case of surgeries, hair loss stops once the patient starts to recover. However, people who have suffered from a chronic illness may face prolonged hair loss, which can cause baldness in men or hair thinning in women.

Scalp Infections and skin infections

Skin and fungal infections associated with the scalp can also lead to hair loss. The infection usually affects patches on the scalp which can cause redness or swelling, leading to hair loss. These kinds of infections are also common in children, so care should be taken in the treatment of fungal infections and other dermatological problems of the scalp. Fungal infections of the skin can be treated effectively with anti-fungal medicines and creams.

Other skin diseases and conditions like eczema, dermatitis, burns and psoriasis can also lead to hair loss in men and women. Burns may cause permanent hair loss in individuals, but other skin problems like eczema and dermatitis can be cured, allowing for normal hair growth after treatment.

Emotional and Physical Stress

Stress is a major cause of hair loss in both men and women. Hair loss normally occurs one to three months after the stressful event occurs, and will stop once the stress period is over. However, continued stress might trigger the onset of genetic hair loss, also known as Androgenic Alopecia (Androgenetic Alopecia).

Hormonal Problems

Both men and women suffer from a shift in the hormonal balance in the body. These male and female hormones are known as androgens and estrogens. An imbalance in these hormones will cause hair loss problems. Once the hormones are balanced after proper treatment, hair loss can be stopped.

Normal Aging

Age is another important factor for hair loss in men and women. Hormonal changes associated with old age are the major factor in hair loss in elderly men and women. However, age is not always the major cause of hair thinning or balding, and you could be experiencing hair loss from an earlier stage in life.

Hereditary

Hair Loss in Men

A number of reasons can cause excessive hair loss in men, leading to baldness. Some men experience hair loss after major surgery or illness, as explained above. Others experience it as a reaction to some stressful event in life, which can cause temporary hair loss. Several medications can also cause hair loss problems, and cancer treatments like chemotherapy. In these cases, hair normally returns to grow back once the body returns to a healthy condition. Genetic hair loss in men is known as Male Pattern Baldness, also called MPB which is responsible for more than 95% of hair loss in men.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male Pattern Baldness, commonly known as “common baldness” is the inherited tendency of men to lose hair. It is also known as Androgenetic Alopecia. The genetics cause hair follicles on the top of the head to be affected, causing a common hair loss pattern. This pattern starts with receding temples, followed by hair thinning on the top of the head. Continued hair loss causes a bald spot on the crown and eventually leads to a stop in the hair growth on the head, leaving hair on the sides and back of the head. The stages of Male Pattern Baldness are explained in Figure 1.

7% - 15% of men in the United States of America start experiencing male pattern baldness by the age of 25 and the percentage increases to 40% in men of the age of 35, with figures coming from Mens Health Experts. Androgenetic Alopecia is a natural age related problem for hair loss in men. In some men, male pattern baldness can begin at the age of puberty at a very slow rate, and may continue with age.

Figure 1

Male Pattern Baldness

Female Hair Loss

According to a study by American Academy of Dermatology, female hair loss is part of the lives of more than 30 million women in the United States alone. Hair loss in women is similar to “male pattern hair loss” in men and is caused due to several reasons. However, women usually suffer from hair thinning around the forehead crown of their scalp and not complete baldness like in men.

Women normally suffer from hair loss due to hormonal changes in their body. These hormonal changes are experienced during puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, intake of birth control pills and menopause. Of all hair causing problems, hormonal changes in women have the most effect. Hair loss in women is associated with the change in the levels of the androgen Dihydrotesterone, also known as DHT. Although DHT is produced by the body, only some people are affected by hair loss due to the increased number of Androgen receptors which attract DHT to attach to them. This is more associated with the inherited traits and treatments include anti androgens which prevent the creation of DHT by the body.

Temporary Hair Loss

Women can experience temporary hair loss at any time of their lives due to reasons like pregnancy, medications, chemotherapy, high fever or infections. Skin problems, especially those associated with the scalp can also lead to hair loss. Both physical and emotional stress also leads to hair loss in women. Once the cause of hair loss stops, hair normally grows back again. Some females also experience hair loss at the start of puberty, mainly due to the hormonal imbalance. Women also experience hair loss when they discontinue the use of birth control pills.

Temporary hair loss is often an indication of baldness in women, so care should be taken in controlling hair loss whenever any problem occurs. At any time, if you experience hair loss, you must consider the reasons or events which took place two to three months prior to hair loss. Any traumatic incidents experienced in the past few months are the common cause of temporary hair loss.

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss, also known as “diffuse hair loss” is one of the most common causes of hair loss in women. About 15% of women suffer from some degree of genetic pattern hair loss. The main reasons behind female pattern hair loss nowadays are hectic schedules and increased stress. Hair loss in women does not lead to baldness, but it can lead to thinning of hair. Some women suffering from female pattern hair loss eventually develop bald patches on the scalp, where hair stops growing. This is explained in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in females. Commonly known as hereditary baldness, it is caused by the action of two enzymes, aromatase and 5-a reductase. Women have high levels of aromatase at their frontal hairline, which is responsible for the formation of female hormones estrone and estradiol. The presence of aromatase decreases the formation of DHT in females causing a different kind of hair loss in women. This also helps in the preservation of the hair frontline in females.

Pregnancy

Childbirth is another reason of hair loss in women. Women often experience large amounts of hair loss two to three months after giving birth. Hormonal changes are the main reason behind hair loss in pregnant and child bearing women. During pregnancy, the change in hormones in the female body causes the body to keep hair which would have fallen out normally. After the baby is born, the body hormone levels return back to pre-pregnancy levels, causing the hair to fall off which can last for up to six months. Hair loss in women after childbirth resolves completely after six months and the normal hair growth cycle starts again.

Birth Control Pills

The use of birth control pills can trigger the onset of hair loss in women who are genetically prone to hair loss. If a woman has a history or female pattern hair loss in her family, she should consult a doctor before taking birth control pills. The pill causes hormonal changes in the body which can trigger the onset of Androgenic Alopecia, one of the main causes of hair thinning in women. Normally, hair loss is experienced two to three weeks later once the woman discontinues the pill. Some women experience hair loss up to six months after which their hair stops falling, while in other women, the effect is irreversible due to the genetic factors.

Most women experience hair loss when they reach menopause. This happens due to the increasing amount of DHT and low thyroid function which are common in menopausal women. Changes in hormone levels in old women also trigger the onset of hair loss at the age of menopause.

Mechanical Damage

Women also suffer from hair loss due to several hair style treatments and also due to the way they may tie their hair. Use of pigtails and tight hair rollers can cause the hair follicles to become weak. Chemical treatments like waxes, hair colouring, hair bleaches, straighteners, perming, dying and permanent waves may cause the hair follicles to swell and the hair to become weak and break if done improperly or if poor quality products and chemicals are used. If these chemicals are left on for too long, they can also damage the hair permanently. Only good quality products should be used for hair treatments and you should always consult a qualified hair stylist for advice.

The way hair is tied can also cause hair loss problems, especially if the hair is tied too tightly for a very long period of time. This problem is common in black men and women who often braid their hair in tight braids. Pulling and tying the hair puts constant strain on the hair follicles, causing it to become weak. Such a hair loss problem is known as Traction Alopecia and is common in people who weave or braid their hair. Traction Alopecia can be permanent in people if the hair style is worn for an extensive amount of time, causing permanent damage to the hair follicles.

Improper hair care can also lead to hair loss in women. If you have a habit of pulling your hair, or use excessive shampoo or hair dryer, it can lead to loss of hair. Hair pulling is a common cause of hair loss in children.

Conclusion

It is essential for men and women experiencing hair loss to identify the actual cause of hair loss so that appropriate treatment can be taken. Most of the causes of hair loss can be treated effectively, reducing it by a significant amount. However, very rare cases of hair loss may not have a permanent treatment. Medical advice is always worth seeking to diagnose the cause of your hair loss problem.