Sudden Hair Loss

Sudden hair loss can be a stressful experience, and people who experience rapid hair loss wonder why and look for cures. While it may seem like hair loss sometimes occurs out of the blue, there are usually easily recognizable causes if you know what to look for.

Here are some common causes for sudden hair loss.

Surgery
Surgery can cause rapid hair loss. This hair loss occurs a couple of months after the surgery, and is a result of the anesthesia. The anesthesia does not actually cause hair to fall out right away, but causes hair to enter a resting phase. After this resting phase, the hair falls out. The hair loss may seem sudden and surprising if you are not expecting it, but it is normal and hair will regrow on its own.

Childbirth
During pregnancy, few hairs enter the resting phase, so hair grows thicker and more luxurious. Following delivery, however, more hairs enter the resting phase. A few months later, just like after surgery, the hair falls out. The sudden hair loss can be frightening to unsuspecting mothers, but it’s normal and the hair will regrow in a couple of months. Some women prefer to use a hair loss treatment to help speed that process, though.

Menopause
Menopause can also cause hair loss to occur rapidly. That’s due to hormonal changes, similar to the changes following childbirth. A hair loss treatment will be helpful in this situation. If you take estrogen replacement therapy, it will also help your hair regrow.

Medications
Certain medications, such as those used for chemotherapy to treat cancer, can cause very rapid hair loss. Chemotherapy patents are usually warned of this side effect, so they are not surprised when it happens. Still, it can be stressful to have such sudden hair loss. There is little that can be done while the treatment is being administered, but patients may want to use a hair loss treatment to help speed hair regrowth when the treatments have been completed. Other medicines besides chemotherapy drugs can also cause hair loss, such as antidepressants, medication for high blood pressure, and birth control pills, although these generally do not cause such rapid loss of hair.

Stress
Traumatic stress can cause rapid hair loss. This is not normal day-to-day stress, but a severely stressful event. As with surgery or childbirth, the hair loss does not occur immediately, but the hair goes into a resting phase and then falls out a few months later. Because of that, people may not connect the hair loss to the stressful event and may wonder why they are losing their hair.

Illness
Certain illnesses can cause sudden and rapid hair loss. These include thyroid disorders, diabetes, kidney and liver disease, autoimmune disorders, lupus, and some types of cancer. If you have sudden hair loss and don’t know the cause, you should see a doctor to rule out any medical problems.

Chemical Treatments
This one is your own fault. Use the wrong chemicals on your hair, and you may be surprised to find your hair falling out. Be careful about using home perms or straighteners on your hair. If you use the wrong one or if you have a severe reaction to the chemicals, you may lose some hair.

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