What are the Causes of Hair Loss?

Physical Stress

Any physical trauma, surgical procedure, car accident or severe illness; may cause temporary hair loss. This can cause hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: growth phase, resting phase and shedding phase. Dermatologists say that when there is a really stressful event, the hair cycle will be shocked and shedding may occur. Hair loss becomes noticeable 3 to 6 months after trauma.
What to do: The good news is that; With the recovery in your body, your hair will start to grow again.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an example of the type of physical stress that can cause hair loss. Pregnancy-related hair loss is actually more common after delivery, not during pregnancy.

What to do: If you experience hair loss, you can be sure that your hair will grow back in a few months.

Too Much Vitamin A

Excessive consumption of supplements or medications containing vitamin A can trigger hair loss. You should consult your doctor in order not to exceed the amount that should be taken daily.

What to do: After the excessive intake of vitamin A is stopped, the hair will return to its normal pattern.

Protein deficiency

If there is not enough protein in your diet and diet, your body will start to store the protein that the hair needs, and therefore the hair will be without protein. Shedding can occur about two months after protein intake is reduced.

What to do: There are lots of great sources of protein, including fish, meat, and eggs. If you don’t eat meat or animal products, you should take protein supplements.

Male Pattern Baldness

Two out of three men experience hair loss by the age of 60 and are often diagnosed; male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by the combination of genes and male sex hormones, usually occurs in a classical system where the hair is pulled to the temples and leaves an M-shaped hairline.

What to do: You can use oral medications or topical creams that can stop hair loss or even cause some to regrow. Transplantation or graft hair surgery is also an option.

Extends

Female pattern hair loss, also called androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, is basically the female version of male pattern baldness. If you come from a family where women of a certain age experience hair loss, then you may be more prone to it. Unlike men, women do not have a peeling hairline, but rather visible hair thinning and thinning.

What to do: Like men, women can use oral medications or topical creams. They can consult their doctor for extra vitamin supplements.

Female Hormones

Just like pregnancy hormone changes, female hormones can cause hair loss. Hormonal changes in menopause also affect hair negatively. With hormonal change; As the androgen receptors on the scalp become active, the hair follicles shrink and you start to lose more hair.

What to do: You should see an endocrinologist and seek advice on starting the necessary hormone supplements.

Emotional Stress

Emotional stress is less likely to cause hair loss than physical stress, but for example; In the event of a divorce, hair loss can occur after the death of a loved one or in the care of an aging parent. Emotional stress does not actually accelerate hair loss. It will exacerbate a problem that you are not aware of and that has always been there. As a result, you experience hair loss.

What you may need to do: As with hair loss due to physical stress, the shedding will decrease as the stress decreases. While it’s not known how reducing stress can help your hair, it does work for you. You can take steps to combat stress and anxiety, such as exercising more and getting more psychological support when you need it.

Anemia

Almost one in 10 women between the ages of 20 and 49 develops anemia due to iron deficiency. It is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Your doctor will do a blood test to definitively determine if you have this type of anemia.
What to do: You can fix the problem with a simple iron supplement. In addition to hair loss, other symptoms of anemia; fatigue, headache, dizziness, pale skin, and extreme chills.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by underactive thyroid gland and not producing enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid gland; In addition to regulating the metabolic rate, it produces hormones that are critical for growth and development and can contribute to hair loss when it does not pump enough hormones. Your doctor will evaluate the blood test results.
What you can do: Synthetic thyroid medications take care of the problem. Once your thyroid levels return to normal, your hair loss will decrease.

Vitamin B Deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause hair loss.

What to do: You can take vitamin B supplements. Fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits, with the exception of citrus fruits, contain plenty of natural B vitamins. In addition, foods containing lean protein, “natural” fats such as avocados and nuts are good for your hair and overall health.

Autoimmune Causes

A disease called Alopecia Areata, which is basically the result of an overactive immune system; it confuses the body. The immune system sees hair as foreign and mistakenly targets it.

What to do: You can reduce hair loss with steroid injections and topical creams.

Chemotherapy

Unfortunately; Some drugs used to stop cancer can cause hair loss. Chemotherapy is like a nuclear bomb, it destroys rapidly dividing cells. It actually targets cancer cells, but it also affects rapidly dividing cells such as hair.
What to do: After chemotherapy is stopped, your hair will start to regrow and grow back.

Sudden Weight Loss

Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can cause hair loss. Weight loss; Although it is caused by straining your body or not eating right, it is possible to cause vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Along with noticeable weight loss, hair loss can also be a sign of an eating disorder such as “Anorexia” or “Bulimia”.

What to do: Sudden weight loss comes as a shock to the system and you may experience a hair loss period of six months; then it will fix itself.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another imbalance in male and female sex hormones. Disease that means egg cysts; It can cause weight gain, diabetes risk, changes in menstrual period, infertility and hair loss. Because male hormones are overproduced in PCOS, women may have facial and body hair growth. However, hair loss will increase.

What to do: Treatment for PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse some of these changes.

Treatments include diet, exercise, and potentially birth control pills, as well as specific treatment to address the risk of infertility or diabetes.

Antidepressants, Blood Thinners

Some classes of drugs can promote hair loss. It is more common among blood pressure drugs known as blood thinners and beta-blockers. Other drugs that may cause hair loss; methotrexate (used to treat rheumatic conditions and some skin conditions), lithium (for bipolar disorder), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including ibuprofen), and possibly antidepressants.

What to do: If your doctor determines that one or more of your medications is causing hair loss, talk to them about lowering the dose or switching to another medication.

Aging

It is not uncommon to see hair loss in women as they enter their 50s and 60s.
What to do: Experts do not recommend treating this condition. However, there are many tricks to prevent hair breakage and loss.

Anabolic Steroids

You can lose your hair while using anabolic steroids. Experts say that anabolic steroids can have the same effect on the body as polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS).
What to do: Once you stop taking the steroid, it will go back to normal.

Heat Treatments, Paint and Shaping

Severe styling and hair treatments applied for years can cause hair loss. As an example of overstyling; tight braids, rasta, hot oil masks or any kind of harsh chemical products can be shown. Your hair may not grow back, as these practices can actually affect the hair root.

What to do: In addition to avoiding these styles and treatments, you can use conditioner after each shampoo to let your hair air dry. Heat styling should not be more than once a week.