Did you know that according to the American Academy of Dermatology, around 80 million people have hair loss of varying degrees?
Here are some more scary facts.
Aging is not just one of the causes of hair loss, and the problem with falling hair seems to affect both men and women. Though, men do have a greater tendency to lose their hair.
Like this article on Fox News reports, a more worrying fact is that people as young as 17 to 18 years are now developing bald patches and hair loss thanks to environmental factors and the kind of lifestyle they follow.
If you’ve been noticing the rapid advance of the receding hairline, balding pate, or widening parting, it may be time to take a good hard look at the causes and begin taking steps to correct the problem before you end up going bald completely.
1. Specific Medical Conditions
Several medical conditions can act as causes of hair loss. Should you consult your trichologist, he may ask you a series of questions and run tests to identify the particular reason why you’re losing hair. For instance:
- Androgenetic alopecia is a genetic tendency to lose hair, and you may be noticing the hair loss in a pattern similar to one or both of your parents.
- Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where your body attacks the hair follicles and stops them from growing hair.
- Hormone imbalances can result in hair loss. Testosterone is a hormone present in both men and women, though men have much higher levels compared to women. This hormone interacts with the enzymes present in the oil glands of your hair follicles and converts into dihydrotestosterone or DHT. When the DHT acts on the hair follicles, it can shrink them to a point where they can no longer produce hair.
The solution? Consider opting for PRP therapy, a treatment that uses a special serum created from the blood of individual patients. After harvesting a small 10 ml sample of your blood, the doctors at PRP Injection MD extract a 5 ml serum that they later inject into your scalp. The serum works to repair and revive the hair follicles so that they can grow hair again. The serum has a concentration of growth factors that also stimulate the development of new blood vessels to nourish the scalp with an infusion of fresh oxygen and nutrients. This treatment for most causes of hair loss is possibly the safest since it is unlikely to cause any side effects.
2. Nutritional Deficiencies
Should you check this article on Health, you will learn about the deficiencies of essential nutrients in your body that can lead to hair loss. Here are some of them:
- Iron (the deficiency manifests itself in pale skin, dizziness, lack of stamina, and cold hands and feet.)
- Vitamin C that is essential for the absorption of iron into the blood
- Vitamin B
- Protein
The solution? A simple blood test can reveal the nutrients that your body lacks. In addition to taking supplements under the guidance of your medical practitioner, you can include foods that contain these nutrients in your daily diet. Interestingly, an overdose of vitamin A is also one of the causes of hair loss. If you’ve been taking supplements of 5,000 International Units (IU) or more of vitamin A each day, it might be time to cut back.
3. Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety set off a release of stress hormones in your body that target different areas bringing about psychological, physical, and emotional responses. One of the physical responses you might notice include thinning hair, balding patches, hair falling out in clumps, or any others. Even if you have had a physical trauma, the shock sets of a response in your body with more hair strands entering the telogen effluvium stage and falling out. Further, although not exactly a trauma, pregnancy also brings about various changes in your body that can result in hair loss a few months after the birth of the baby.
The solution? You can stop hair loss resulting from stress by eliminating the mental pressure. Opt for stress release techniques like deep breathing, meditation, relaxation, or even, aromatherapy. Using natural solutions in place of anxiety-relieving medications is preferable. That’s because an overuse of drugs can also cause hair loss. As your body recovers from the anxiety, you’ll slowly watch the hair regaining its thickness and gloss. In case of physical trauma, as your body works to heal the injuries, it will restore the normal hair growth cycle and you’ll soon have the growth and texture you had before the incident.
4. Over styling and Using Chemical Hair Products
Environmental pollution and toxic chemicals in your food can have disastrous effects on your scalp including dandruff and skin infections. In addition, overexposure to the UVA and UVB rays of the sun can trigger dryness and brittle hair. Using too many styling products like hair colors and gels along with tools like dryers, curling irons, and straightening irons can damage the hair shaft making it prone to breaking and falling. Research carried out at the National Center for Biotechnology Information lists all these factors as causes of hair loss that can be easily avoided by taking a few simple precautions.
The solution? Protect your hair by cutting back on the use of chemical products and opt for natural and organic hair care products that also include sun protection. Use organic oils like coconut, olive, or argan oil to condition and nourish the scalp and tresses so they are strengthened. You can make several hair masks using these ingredients along with fruits like banana and eggs to restore the shine and luster of your hair. As for hair tools, use them with caution and only when absolutely needed so they don’t damage your hair.
Hair loss is quickly becoming a common problem that people are dealing with all across the world. But, by identifying the causes and taking the necessary precautions and opting for natural treatments, it is possible to reverse the problem and get back a full head of hair.
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