Hair Loss Causes

Hair loss is a common dermatological condition affecting men and women of all ages. Healthy hair is a sign of a healthy body. It is well known that hair falls cause unpleasant psychological and emotional effects for both men and women.

More than just how you think or feel, your hair's appearance can be the first sign of hair loss. Several medical conditions could result in hair loss. The majority of people have severe hair loss as a result of their stressful lifestyle, poor diet, family history, and other factors like pregnancy and hair styling, which are also common hair fall reasons in females. Premature baldness must be carefully examined because it is more common than ever.

One of the most common reasons for hair loss as people age is considered to be heredity. However, there are many other hair fall causes, some of these are explained below:

Understanding Causes of Hair Loss:

Various factors can cause hair loss; understanding these can help find the right solutions and treatments. Here, we will explore the reasons for hair fall, including age, hereditary factors, hormonal changes, medical conditions, and lifestyle influences.

Age

As people age, almost everyone experiences hair loss and thinning. As our bodies slow down with age, so do our hair cells. According to a National Library Of Medicine (NLM) study, age may contribute to general hair thinning. Age is certainly one of the common reasons for thinning hair.

Heredity or Family history

Genetic conditions are also one of the common causes of hair loss. Androgenic alopecia is also known as male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. It is one of the common reasons for hair loss in men, and it normally occurs in receding hairlines and bald spots. Meanwhile, it develops as thinning hair at the scalp's crown for women. This is believed to be one of the most important reasons for balding.

Nutritional Deficiencies

According to a research study by The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), nutritional deficiencies are one of India's main reasons for hair loss. Iron deficiency (anaemia) mainly contributes to hair loss, followed by a lack of protein. Nutritional deficiency may also result from improper nutrient absorption, which in turn can affect the hair growth cycle. This is one of the most common causes of sudden hair loss and hair shedding.

Hormonal Changes

The hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, PCOS, and thyroid issues are just a few of the situations that can result in permanent or temporary hair loss. Hormonal imbalances associated with disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are reasons for hair loss in women. PCOS is a common reason for hair thinning in women.

Infection

Infections can damage the scalp and can be a reason for hair loss. This occurs when yeast, fungus, or bacteria affect the hair follicles. Scaling, redness, and bumps may be visible. Itching or even pain may be felt in the scalp.

Fungal Infection

Fungal scalp infections like tinea capitis can also lead to hair loss. These infections are caused by dermatophyte fungi that invade the hair shafts and follicles, resulting in itchy, scaly patches on the scalp. Infected areas may become inflamed, and the hair in these regions often breaks off at the scalp, leading to noticeable bald patches. Fungal infections are more common in children but can affect adults as well. They are typically spread through close contact with an infected person or animal.

Stress

Stress can be a key contributor to hair loss. It is unknown how exactly this cause works. Several months after a physical or emotional trauma, many people start to notice hair thinning. This cause typically results in temporary hair loss.

Types of Stress

Here, we will explore the main types of stress that can impact hair health: physical, emotional, and psychological.

Physical Stress

Physical stress refers to any trauma or injury that affects the body. This can include surgeries, severe illnesses, accidents, or significant weight loss. Physical stress can shock the hair growth cycle, pushing hair follicles into a resting phase and causing temporary hair shedding, known as telogen effluvium. The good news is that hair typically regrows once the body recovers from the physical stress.

Emotional Stress

Emotional stress results from intense feelings such as grief, anxiety, or depression. Major life events, like the loss of a loved one, divorce, or financial problems, can lead to emotional stress. This stress can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, leading to hair thinning or loss. Managing emotional stress through therapy, support groups, or stress-relief techniques can help mitigate its effects on hair health.

Psychological Stress

Psychological stress involves ongoing mental strain from chronic conditions such as work pressure, academic challenges, or long-term anxiety disorders. Unlike short-term stress, chronic psychological stress can have a more prolonged impact on hair health, leading to conditions like chronic telogen effluvium or even triggering alopecia areata in some cases. Effective stress management strategies, such as mindfulness, meditation, regular exercise, and adequate rest, can help reduce the impact of psychological stress on hair loss.

Coping Mechanisms

Managing stress is key to reducing its impact on hair loss and improving overall well-being. Different types of stress need different approaches.

Physical stress, like surgery or illness, requires time for your body to rest and recover. Sleeping and eating a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals can help. Drinking plenty of water keeps you hydrated, aiding recovery. Following your doctor's advice is crucial to healing well and helping your hair growth return to normal.

Emotional stress, such as grief, anxiety, or depression, can be tackled with several methods. Talking to a therapist or counsellor can help you understand and manage your feelings. Leaning on friends, family, or support groups can provide comfort and support. Practising mindfulness or meditation can calm your mind, and keeping a journal to write down your thoughts and feelings can be very helpful.

Psychological stress from long-term issues like work pressure or academic challenges needs ongoing strategies. Regular exercise like walking, running, or yoga can reduce stress and boost mood. Organising your tasks and managing your time better can help you feel less overwhelmed. Techniques like deep breathing and muscle relaxation can ease chronic stress. Spending time on hobbies and activities you enjoy can provide a much-needed mental break. If needed, a mental health professional can offer more support and therapy.

These simple coping mechanisms in your daily life can help you manage stress better, improve your overall health, and promote healthier hair growth. Expert homeopathy doctors at Dr Batra’s can help you know how to regain hair loss from stress and offer personalised treatments.

Dandruff

Dandruff is a common condition that causes the skin on your scalp to flake. These flakes are often noticeable in your hair and shoulders, especially when wearing dark clothing. Dandruff can make your scalp feel itchy and dry. It is a flaky, inflammatory skin condition that prevents healthy blood flow and nutrients to the hair, which can lead to hair loss.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is another skin disease that causes hair loss. It mainly affects the scalp, causing red, scaly patches, greasy skin, and stubborn dandruff. It can also affect other oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids, and chest. This condition is often associated with an overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia, which lives on the skin's surface.

Smoking

Nicotine (tobacco) causes blood vessels to constrict and prevents the flow of blood to your hair follicles. Your hair development cycle is thrown off when the blood flow to your hair follicles is reduced. As a result, smoking is a major contributor to hair loss.

Medication

Some medications, including those for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart issues, gout, and high blood pressure, can cause hair loss as a side effect. If you notice hair loss after starting a new medication, it's important to discuss this with a dermatologist, as they may suggest treatments or adjust the dosage to help manage the side effects.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are known for causing significant hair loss because they target rapidly dividing cells. Cancer cells divide and grow quickly, but so do some normal cells, including those in hair follicles. Chemotherapy can't distinguish between cancer cells and fast-growing healthy cells, so it attacks both. This leads to the destruction of hair follicle cells, resulting in hair loss.

Hair loss from chemotherapy usually starts within a few weeks of beginning treatment. It can affect hair on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body parts. The extent of hair loss depends on the type and dosage of chemotherapy drugs used.

The good news is that hair loss from chemotherapy is typically temporary. Hair usually begins to regrow a few weeks to months after treatment is completed. Sometimes, the new hair may have a different texture or colour.

If you're undergoing chemotherapy and concerned about hair loss, talking to your oncologist or a dermatologist can be helpful. They can provide information on scalp cooling caps, which may reduce hair loss during treatment, and offer advice on wigs, hats, or scarves to help you feel more comfortable during this period.

Hormonal Contraceptives

Hormonal contraceptives, such as birth control pills, patches, injections, and implants, can sometimes lead to hair loss. These contraceptives contain hormones like estrogen and progestin, which can affect the hair growth cycle. For some, one of the reasons for sudden hair loss in women might be switching to hormonal contraceptives due to a sensitivity to the hormones in the contraceptive. Women with a family history of androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) are particularly susceptible. Stopping hormonal contraceptives can also cause a temporary imbalance in hormones, leading to hair shedding as the body readjusts.

Excessive Hair Styling

Excessive styling and tight-pulling hairstyles like pigtails and cornrows can result in traction alopecia, a type of hair loss. Permanent hair dye and hot oil treatments can also make hair brittle and fall out, and scarring could cause permanent hair loss.

Heat Styling Tools

Heat styling tools, such as hairdryers, straighteners, curling irons, and hot rollers, can cause hair damage and contribute to hair loss if used excessively or improperly. These tools use high temperatures to shape and style hair, but the intense heat can weaken the hair shaft, making it more prone to breakage and thinning.

When hair is exposed to high heat, it can lose moisture and its natural protective oils. This can lead to dry, brittle hair that breaks easily. Over time, frequent use of heat styling tools can cause significant damage to the hair cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair strand, leading to split ends and breakage.

Chemical Treatments

Chemical treatments, such as hair colouring, bleaching, perming, and straightening, can significantly affect the health of your hair and potentially lead to hair loss if not used carefully. These treatments involve strong chemicals that alter the hair's structure to achieve the desired style or colour. While they can offer stunning results, overuse or improper application can cause damage.

Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune conditions can significantly impact hair health, often leading to hair loss. The body's immune system mistakenly attacks its tissues, including hair follicles, in these conditions. Here are some common autoimmune conditions that can cause hair loss:

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system targets hair follicles, causing hair to fall out in small, round patches on the scalp and other body areas. The severity varies from person to person, and in some cases, it can progress to complete scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or total body hair loss (alopecia universalis). Hair loss from alopecia areata can be sudden and unpredictable, but it is not always permanent. Treatments may include corticosteroids, topical immunotherapy, or other medications that help suppress the immune response.

Lupus

Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting various body parts, including the skin and hair. People with lupus may experience hair thinning or loss, particularly around the hairline, known as lupus hair. In some cases, lupus causes discoid lesions on the scalp, leading to scarring and permanent hair loss. Managing lupus typically involves medications to control the immune response and reduce inflammation, which can help improve hair health.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). An underactive thyroid can cause hair to become thin, dry, and brittle, leading to increased hair shedding and loss. Treating hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone replacement therapy can help restore normal thyroid function and improve hair growth.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition primarily affecting the skin, causing red, scaly patches. When it affects the scalp, the scaling and inflammation can lead to temporary hair loss. Managing scalp psoriasis with medicated shampoos, topical treatments, and light therapy can help reduce symptoms and support hair regrowth.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of hair loss and can affect both men and women at various stages of life. Hormones play a critical role in regulating the hair growth cycle, and any disruption in their levels can lead to hair thinning or loss. Here are some key hormonal imbalances that can cause hair loss:

PCOS

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ) is a hormonal disorder characterised by elevated levels of androgens (male hormones) in women. High androgen levels can cause hair thinning on the scalp (female pattern hair loss) while promoting excessive hair growth on other body parts (hirsutism). Managing PCOS typically involves lifestyle changes, medications to regulate menstrual cycles, and treatments to reduce androgen levels, which can help improve hair health.

Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid hormones are essential for regulating metabolism and the hair growth cycle. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can both cause hair loss. In hypothyroidism, hair becomes dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage, while hyperthyroidism can lead to thinning hair and increased shedding. Treating thyroid disorders with appropriate medication can help restore normal hormone levels and improve hair growth.

Why Choose Dr Batra's® for Hair Loss Treatment?

Dr Batra's® has an expert team of homeopathic doctors specialising in treating hair loss. With years of experience and extensive training in homeopathy and trichology, these doctors provide top-notch falling hair treatment for their patients. They stay updated with the latest advancements in homeopathic medicine and hair loss treatments to offer the best solutions. Their expertise and dedication ensure you receive the highest quality care, helping you achieve healthier hair and improved confidence.

Personalised Homeopathy Treatments

Dr Batra's® offers personalised homeopathy treatments for and knows how to control hair fall for men and women, ensuring that each patient receives care tailored to their needs. By thoroughly understanding your medical history, lifestyle, and hair loss condition, their doctors create a customised treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your hair loss. Homeopathy focuses on natural and safe remedies, promoting hair growth and overall scalp health without the side effects associated with conventional treatments. This personalised approach ensures more effective and long-lasting results.

Expert Team of Homeopathic Doctors

Dr Batra's® has an expert team of homeopathic doctors who specialise in treating hair loss. With years of experience and extensive training in homeopathy and trichology, these doctors provide top-notch care for their patients. They stay updated with the latest advancements in homeopathic medicine and hair loss treatments to offer the best solutions. Their expertise and dedication ensure you receive the highest quality care, helping you achieve healthier hair and improved confidence.

Understanding the specific cause of hair loss is crucial for implementing effective treatment or preventive measures. If experiencing significant hair loss, consulting with a homeopathic hair doctor is recommended to determine the underlying cause and explore suitable treatment options.

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