Hair is one polarizing subject for many women. To some, it’s just hair, yet to some others, it is their crowning glory and they’re willing to go far above and beyond to make sure it’s as long as possible. In all of this, there is the role played by genetics. Some people have long, thick hair, while some others do not.
However, no matter what side of the fence they’re on, it can be quite worrisome when they start to lose hair. It is normal for hair to shed, however if you start seeing your scalp, or noticing bald spots then there may be a more significant reason for your hair loss.
Hair loss may not be considered a serious health problem, however it can negatively affect one’s confidence because society considers hair to be an important part of how you look:
Hair loss, known medically as alopecia, is common. It’s estimated, for instance, that around 70% of women over the age of 70 experience female-pattern baldness – the most common type of hair loss, which is thought to be inherited.
Different types of hair loss
There are lots of different types of hair loss. It can take the form of “thinning” or involve a total loss of hair. It can be gradual or sudden; it can affect the old and the young.
Causes
Some causes of hair loss include:
Stress
Physical and psychological stress can cause hair loss. Officially known as Telogen Effluvium, a sudden or stressful event can cause certain hair follicles to prematurely stop growing and enter into the telogen (read: resting) phase. The hairs affected by Telogen Effluvium will then stay in the resting phase for about three months, after which time they will shed. Many people have reported losing hair at times of
extreme mental stress or anxiety.
The causes of physical stress are often temporary, and the hair loss subsides as the body heals.
Hormonal changes
Women may lose hair following childbirth or while in menopause. Women who have hormonal imbalances can have hair loss. Also some hormonal birth control methods can have a negative effect on your hair. Generally, birth control pills with oestrogen are typically good for your hair, but ones with progesterone only can contribute to hair loss. Before selecting the right birth control, consult your doctor about possible side effects.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, some women may notice that they have thicker, more luscious hair. But what goes up, must come down and thanks to hormonal changes, hair loss is also a possibility.
During pregnancy, an increased number of hairs go into the resting phase due to hormonal change, which is part of the normal hair loss cycle.
Thankfully, it’s usually not serious enough to cause bald patches or permanent hair loss.
Thyroid disorders
Perhaps one of the most common hormone-related causes for hair loss is a thyroid problem. Cases of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and too little (hypothyroidism) can lead to hair loss. Treating the thyroid disorder can often reverse the hair loss.
Nutritional deficiencies
Zinc and iron deficiency are the most common nutrients linked to hair loss. Heavy periods, vegetarianism or regular blood donation can lead to low Ferritin levels, the protein that stores iron in the body. Low iron is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in young women with hair thinning. Iron levels can be increased by increasing certain foods in your diet, e.g red meat, spinach, legumes
Sudden weight loss or diet change
Restricting your diet can result in hair loss as your body realises it’s not receiving the same nutrients as it did before. One of the main food groups that help with hair is protein,If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may utilize the limited po0tein it has for other more essential processes and shut down hair growth. This can happen about two to three months after a drop in protein intake. A diet high in both plant and animal proteins can help manage this.
Skin conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis can occur on the scalp and interfere with hair growth. Infections such as ringworm of the scalp and folliculitis can also cause hair loss.
Hairstyle
This is probably the most common one and it is also a self inflicted cause that many women are guilty of. In the quest for beauty, women manipulate their hair into styles that cause too much traction on the hair and cause breakage. Sometimes the weight of hair extensions such as braids can even cause hair to fall off from the root. Sometimes it may be as simple as a tight rubber band on your hair which causes hairs to break and over time this can cause hair loss. This can be avoided by not getting your hair styled too often and also making sure to patronize hair styling experts who care about the health of your hair and not just the fancy styling.
Not taking care of your scalp
Scalp health is instrumental to growth and the condition of growing hair.
Any kind of blockages or buildup on the scalp can suffocate the hair cuticle and therefore does not allow it to ‘breathe’ and this can cause the hair to not grow to its full potential. It’s easy to forget to moisturize your hair and scalp, especially for women who constantly wear their hair in one protective style or the other, however it is important to keep your hair moisturized to prevent hair shedding and breakage.
Treatment for hair loss
Most hair loss doesn’t need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it will grow back, or
- a normal part of getting older
- Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
One treatment for female-pattern baldness is a hair lotion containing minoxidil. After using it, many women see improvements, including a slowing or stopping altogether of balding, as well as thicker hair. Supplements such as biotin have also been shown to help improve hair growth.
In severe cases, there is also the option of a transplant. The transplant process involves taking hair follicles from “donor” regions at the back and sides of the head, and grafting them on to the scalp. (this is done by transferring hair follicles from one part of the patients head where there is good hair growth to another part where there is hair loss) There are many different hair transplant techniques, but some of the newer methods use hair stem cells to stimulate regrowth in the donor area, allowing for repeated transplantations if necessary.
Treating hair loss can be a very slow process, depending on the extent of damage and the cause. For many women it is much simpler to resort to wigs which can still provide the necessary aesthetics and confidence boost.
