What Causes Hair Loss in Men and Women?
August 4, 2008 – 10:21 am
People lose normally between 50-100 hairs a day. They have more than 100 000 hair and shed 50-150 hairs a day. Shedding is normal. It is experienced by everyone. However if you shed more than 100 hairs a day, new hairs do not grow in their place and excessive hair loss occurs. Hair grows approximately 1 centimetre per month.
Hair can be affected by variety of conditions. It is important to know what causes hair loss.
Here is the list of these factors.
Hormonal Problems
The most common cause of hair loss is hormonal. The changes in hormone levels can cause hair loss in men and women. Pregnancy, menopause are big factors in female hair loss. During puberty the high levels of testosterone cause hair loss in males. If androgens (male hormone) or estrogens (female hormone) are out of balance, hair loss occurs in both males and females.
Childbirth
Within two or three months after having a baby, most of the women experience hair loss. This type of hair loss is very common. New mothers lose a lot of hair after each hair wash. Hair loss after childbirth can be due to hormonal problems.
Some Drugs
Hair loss is one of the side effects of the following drugs.
The following is the list of the drugs that can cause hair loss:
Some Birth control pills.
Cholesterol lowering drugs: clofibrate, gemfibrozil
Medication for gout: allopurinol
Parkinson medications: levodopa
Ulcer drugs: ranitidine, cimetidine, famotidine
Anticonvulsants: trimethadione
Antidepressants: tricyclics, amphetamines
Anticoagulants: heparin, coumarin
Drug derived from vitamin A: etretinate, isotretinoin
Antithyroid agents: lodine, carbimazole, thiocyanate, thiouracil
Beta Blockers: metoprolol, atenolol, nadolol, propranolol
Some thyroid drugs.
The Genetic Factors: One of the possible causes of hair loss is genetic factors. This type of hair loss affects both men and women. Medical treatment is available.
Illnesses or Medical Conditions
Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy drugs for cancer and radiation treatment cause hair loss. One or three weeks after the treatment, the patient loses a large amount of hair. However the patient’s hair will usually grow back when the therapy is finished.
Diabetes: Hair loss one of the early symptoms of diabetes. Chronic diabetes reduces the growth of the diabetic’s hair. If you want to prevent hair loss, you should visit a doctor.
Emotional or Physical Stress: Most of the people experience sudden hair loss after some traumatic events such as the death of a family member, divorce, an accident, or any other traumatic events. This type of hair loss is temporary.
Aging: During your youthful years your body can produce the proteins that are required for your hair. When you are old, your body begins to reduce its ability to regenerate itself. This type of hair loss is more common among men than women.
Improper Hair Care: Some chemical treatments such as dyeing, perms, bleaching make hair weak and cause hair loss. Wearing braids, buns, tight ponytails damage to your hair and you can lose your hair prematurely. Combing and brushing too often can also cause hair loss.
Nutrition: Poor nutrition can contribute to hair shedding. The body is not equipped nutritionally to grow new hair. You should get enough vitamins, protein and minerals.
Excessive Shampooing: You should avoid excessive shampooing. Excessive shampooing strips vital vitamins from your hair. Once a day is enough.
Trichotillomania: It is a psychological disorder. People with Trichotillomania repeatedly pull their hair out. These people need professional help.
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