What Causes Hair Loss

People often wonder what causes hair loss, and in truth, there are many causes for hair loss. Aging is only one cause of many, and hair loss does not have to be an inevitable part of the aging process. Here are some common causes for hair loss.

Aging

Hair loss is a common occurrence as we age. Men may begin to experience male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness usually starts on the top of the head or toward the front of the head and spreads out from there.

What causes hair loss for women as they age? Women may experience female pattern baldness, which is most common after menopause. Female pattern baldness is different than male pattern baldness. With female pattern baldness, hair thins all over the head.

Health Problems

What causes hair loss besides aging? Illness can cause hair loss, including thyroid disorders, uncontrolled diabetes, some autoimmune disorders, psoriasis of the scalp, lupus, kidney or liver disease, cancer, and Cushing’s disease. Treating the causes for hair loss can often reverse the condition, but since many of these illnesses are chronic conditions, simply treating the illness may not be sufficient. If the illness does not go away, the hair loss may not go away either. You may need to treat the hair loss itself.

Some medications can cause hair loss. Most commonly, only the hair on your head is affected, but your eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair may fall out as well. Sometimes the hair thins but does not all fall out. Medications that may cause hair loss include lithium, heparin, beta-blockers, and medications used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Stopping the medications usually reverses the hair loss, but you should not stop taking any medication without talking to your doctor first.

Surgery can cause some hair loss. This is caused by a reaction to the anesthesia. Hair usually regrows within a few months after the surgery.

Poor diet can also cause hair loss. Hair is made of protein, so you need to get enough protein in your diet to have healthy hair. You also need iron, magnesium, and B vitamins in order to have healthy hair. Improving your diet can reverse hair loss due to poor nutrition. Taking a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement can also help.

Other Causes for Hair Loss

Pregnancy and childbirth can be causes for hair loss. During pregnancy, hair grows thicker and stronger. After childbirth, it thins and some falls out. Hair will return to normal to normal after a few months.

Some hair treatments and styling can be causes for hair loss. Hair coloring, bleach, straighteners, and perms can weaken hair and cause it to break. Wearing hair in tight ponytails or braids can actually damage the scalp and can cause permanent baldness.

When Treatment is Needed

If what causes hair loss in your case is aging, medication, or a chronic illness, you may need to consider a treatment for hair loss.

You may also want to consider a hair loss treatment in order to speed hair regrowth in other cases. For instance, while improving your diet will reverse hair loss due to poor nutrition, it can take many months before you notice a difference. Using a hair loss treatment can speed things up, regardless of what causes hair loss.

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Additional Resources:
Follow this link for more information about the causes of hair loss in women. We also have a detailed list of the possible causes hair loss women have. If your currently taking medication and are worried that it could be contributing to your hair loss, be sure to read our medications that cause hair loss page.

More than what causes hair loss on our hair loss treatment home page