What are the causes of your unexpected hair loss?

What causes hair loss?

Losing more than 100 strands of hair can actually be a sign of damage to the hair.

This is because you have approximately 100 thousand hairs on your head and new hairs will grow to replace the lost hair. If more people are losing than are growing, you are at risk of going bald.

There are many things that cause hair loss, from fungal infections of the scalp, trauma, chemotherapy, to autoimmune diseases. The following are various causes of excessive hair loss according to experts.

1. Heredity

One of the causes of severe hair loss is heredity. That is, when a parent or family member has experienced hair loss, you are also at risk of experiencing the same thing.

You see, genes can be passed on from one parent and the risk is greater when both of your parents experience loss.

Women who experience genetic thinning of hair (androgenetic alopecia) will usually be characterized by thinning in the hairline. Although this condition generally appears around the age of 50-60 years, it is possible that symptoms will appear and develop in your 20s.

In addition, genetic factors also affect the age when hair starts to fall out to the severity.

Generally, every time the hair falls out, it will be replaced with new hair of the same size. However, genetic factors mean that each new hair will have a finer and thinner texture. This happens because the hair follicles shrink and gradually stop growing.

2. Diseases of the scalp

Apart from genetic factors, other causes of excessive hair loss come from diseases of the scalp. Conditions on the scalp affect hair growth, so when it is unhealthy and inflamed, it will certainly lead to hair loss.

Here are some diseases of the scalp that can cause hair thinning.

Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a condition when the hair follicles become inflamed due to a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. This condition is usually characterized by itching and burning, scalp blisters, and the presence of pimples on the scalp.

If itching and hair loss doesn't get better, consult a dermatologist who can deal with hair loss problems.

Tinea capitis

If your scalp is scaly and patchy, chances are you have a scalp disorder called tinea capitis. This disease is caused by a fungal infection or ringworm which can cause red bumps and black patches on the scalp.

These bumps cause inflammation on the scalp which causes hair loss.

Scalp psoriasis

Psoriasis does not only occur on the scalp, but also on the forehead, back of the neck and head, to the back of the ears. One of the early symptoms of scalp psoriasis is hair loss and skin that feels itchy to bleed.

Not only that, this one cause of hair loss also makes the scalp dry and thickened which of course can damage healthy hair.

3. Hypothyroidism

One of the thyroid hormone problems that cause excessive hair loss is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland does not produce metabolic hormones, as well as growth and development in the body.

This thyroid disorder is caused by a lack of nutritional intake, namely iodine or iodine. As a result, a variety of troublesome symptoms appear, including hair loss and skin and nails breaking easily.

4. Lack of vitamins and nutrients

Apart from disturbing the health of the body, lack of vitamins and nutrients also causes hair loss.

For example, protein deficiency can actually affect hair health. Protein is the body's main building blocks, including hair cells.

When protein intake is too low, the hair structure weakens and hair growth slows down as well. Normally, hair loss caused by protein deficiency will appear 2-3 months after you reduce protein consumption.

Not only protein, iron deficiency can make hair break and thinner easily. Although the main cause is not yet known, experts believe that iron plays an important role in the process of hair growth.

Meanwhile, there are several nutrients from food for hair loss that need attention, namely:

zinc,
niacin,
fatty acid,
selenium,
vitamin D,
vitamins A and E, as well
folic acid and amino acids.

5. Stress

All kinds of physical and emotional trauma, such as severe stress, accidents, childbirth, and serious illness, can be a cause of severe hair loss. This condition, also known as telogen effluvium, is usually temporary.

Women who experience telogen effluvium generally notice hair loss 6 weeks to 3 months after experiencing severe stress. This is related to the hair growth cycle.

The hair growth cycle consists of three important phases, namely the growth period, the rest period and the loss period. Severe stress can disrupt the hair cycle, which can speed up hair loss.

This condition can be characterized by hair loss from the roots that usually have oval 'pocket' like a bulb at the end. These follicles indicate that the hair has gone through all phases of growth and that the cycle is accelerated by stress.

6. Hormonal changes

Did you know that hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause can all contribute to hair loss? These three conditions are linked to changes in the hormones progesterone and estrogen.

For example, a mother who has just given birth will experience a decrease in estrogen levels. As a result, the hair will enter the resting phase (telogen) more quickly.

When this phase occurs, the hair will experience hair loss every day and the day will be more and more. There is no need to worry because hair loss that occurs after childbirth usually does not cause baldness.

Within 6 months the hair will grow back even with a different texture. If you experience loss after giving birth for more than 12 months, consult your doctor to get the right treatment.

On the other hand, diseases caused by hormonal imbalance between sex and men can also cause hair loss. This condition, called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), results from an excess of androgens.

Excess androgen hormones can cause cysts in the uterus, weight gain, and hair loss.

7. Anemia

Anemia is a condition when the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood is drastically reduced. Hemoglobin is a protein compound that carries oxygen in red blood cells.

Anemia usually results from a lack of iron and can cause quite disturbing symptoms, including hair loss and headaches.

This is because the body requires adequate iron intake to carry oxygen to body cells through the blood, including hair follicles. That is why, anemia sufferers are more prone to experiencing hair loss.

8. Certain drugs

Hair loss can also be caused by certain medications, such as drugs for cancer, depression, heart problems, and high blood pressure. In addition, excess vitamin A supplements also trigger hair loss.

9. How to maintain healthy hair

Although not the main cause, how to treat hair also affects hair loss. For example, often styling your hair with a straightener or a hair dryer can damage the hair's natural properties, especially when the temperature is too hot.

Temperature that is too hot can strip your hair of natural moisture by reducing its water content. As a result, the hair is damaged, branched, and dry. In fact, the use of these two tools also inhibits hair growth.

In addition, often tying your hair or using harsh chemical products also reduces the strength of the hair roots.

10. Trichotillomania as a cause of hair loss

Trichotillomania is a control disorder that causes a person to continuously pull out their hair. This habit is usually done consciously. Not only pulling out the hair on the scalp, the sufferer can also pull out eyebrows, eyelashes, and other hair.

If not treated immediately, the scalp will become irritated and damage the natural protection of the hair. As a result, baldness in the plucked hair area occurs.

Actually, there are various easy ways to deal with hair loss. However, it would be nice to consult a hair doctor to make it easier to find out which hair loss treatment is right for you.