Typical Causes of Hair Loss

No one is immune to hair loss and it can take place when you are having your morning shower, when you are drying your hair with a blow dryer or even when you give your hair that daily brush or comb. On average, a person disposes of between fifty and hundred hairs each day! Fortunately, for most of us what we lose is soon replaced. This is not always the case and sometimes hair loss is not natural but due to other issues which include telogen effluvium and hereditary hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia an alopecia areata.

Baldness caused by unnatural stress

Telogen effluvium takes place following pregnancy, after major surgery, after substantial weight loss, or as a result of undue stress. In any of these four situations a large amount of hair may be lost, especially whilst shampooing, brushing or styling. In certain circumstances it can be due to an after effect of particular medications which include antidepressants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta-blockers.
When inflicted with telogen effluvium, the hair moves faster than it usually does from its growing stage to what is called its “resting” stage, before it begins to fall out. This condition generally affects women more than men. Hair loss begins 6 weeks to about 3 months following a stressful event. When it is at its peak, handfuls of hair maybe lost.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle. It can result in the temporary or permanent loss of hair in men and women. When the infection has been treated, if the hair does not grow back naturally, it may be because the hair follicles have been damaged too severely and hair transplants can be considered.

Inherited male pattern baldness

There is another reason for hair loss and that is androgenetic alopecia and this is due to an inherited gene originating from your mother. This type of baldness almost only affects men. It is quite possible for a woman to go bald as a result of inheriting the genes for baldness, but it is much rarer. She would have to inherit a gene from both her mother and her father. Also, the baldness is typically due to a sensitivity of the hair follicles to male sex hormone, which is much less common, although not absent, in women.
Temporary baldness can be caused when the immune system lets the body down
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition which can cause hair loss. Normally if an infection is present the immune system controls it is but with alopecia areata it causes damage to the hair follicles. Usually, this is not permanent but it can result in temporary hair loss. It is likely to be more common and permanent in people who already suffer from another type of autoimmune disorder.

Cancer treatment and baldness

Some types of cancer treatment may cause temporary or even permanent baldness. The loss of hair is not really the main worry for the cancer patient, but it can be an added negative change that can affect the patient emotionally as they struggle to cope with their affliction. Not all cancer treatment leads to hair loss. It may be more common with certain chemotherapy treatment. If the cancer is beaten, then the hair may grow back again naturally. Otherwise, hair transplants will be considered by the NHS for free surgery.

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* Guest post in collaboration with AnyClinics.