Hair Loss - 6 Common Causes

A friend of mine called me one day and said “I think I’m getting bald! I’m losing a lot of hair!” Well, his frightened response is justified. The thought of losing your hair is horrifying, especially if you did not expect it to happen in your mid-twenties. But don’t panic! Experts say that hair loss will not necessarily lead to baldness. Some of the common causes of hair loss include the following:nn1. Major Illness or SurgerynYou may notice that you are losing hair about 3 or 4 months after a major illness or surgery. This is temporary and is an effect of the stress of the body relative to the illness. nn2. Hormonal ProblemsnYour hair fall may be due to the over activity or under activity or your thyroid gland. Hair loss can happen if the male or female hormones are out of equilibrium in the body. If you can correct the hormone imbalance, you can stop the hair loss.nn3. Autoimmune DiseasenIf you have alopecia areata (defined as an autoimmune disease where the immune system in a person’s body attacks its healthy tissues, cells and organs), this can cause your hair loss. It affects 1.7% of the global population. It usually starts as bald round patches on the scalp and can sometimes lead to total hair loss. But usual cases report that the hair grows back in 6 months to 2 years. nn4. Post PregnancynIf you just gave birth to a baby about 3 months ago, you may notice some hair loss. The culprit here is also called hormones. There is a surge in Hormone levels during pregnancy. When the hormone level declines, those hairs will fall out and the normal cycle of hair growth and hair loss will start again. This time it will be for a longer term hair growth.nn5. Fungal InfectionsnYou can check with your doctor if you have certain infections that can cause hair loss. These infections can be easily treated with many antifungal medicines.nn6. MedicationnIf you are taking medicines such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), excessive Vitamin A, some birth control pills or antidepressants, you may experience some hair loss. The most known medications to cause hair loss are medicines used to treat cancer. Your hair loss will stop when you discontinue taking the medicine. Other causes can be improper hair treatments or excessive styling, poor nutrition or Male-Pattern Baldness. This type of hair loss is common among men. It is also called androgenetic alopecia. This condition is caused by a combination of androgens and genetics. Men usually inherit this type of trait. It is typically seen in a receding hair line and hair loss on the top of the head. Although rare, women may also develop female-pattern baldness. This is a condition where the hair can become thin over the entire scalp. As for my friend’s dilemma, I asked him if his father or grandfather was ever bald. And his answer explains it all.