August 13, 2013

The 5 Most Common Causes of Hair Loss. ~ Chris Carter

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Hair loss is not an uncommon issue for both men and women to face.

In fact, there are a few reasons why a person may experience this problem. Whether the issue is a receding hairline or actual hair loss, there could very well be a logical explanation to the issue. Keep in mind that men are more likely to experience a receding hairline, but men and women can both experience significant hair loss caused by certain culprits. The following is a list of the top 5 causes of hair loss. If you are experiencing any of these problems, talk to a doctor about ways to stop or reverse a receding hairline or hair loss.

1. Stress

Stress is a common cause of hair loss. In fact, stress is closely related to three hair loss culprits:

Telogen effluvium
Alopecia areata
Trichotillomania

Telogen effluvium is a condition in which physical or emotional stress will actually cause hair to enter a resting phase. Within a few weeks to a few months, the hair may suddenly seem to fall out by the handfuls while washing or brushing it. Alopecia areata is a condition that is believed to be caused by different factors, one of which is stress. This condition causes the hair to stop growing and fall out. Trichotillomania is a term in which a person cannot resist the urge to pull hair out of their body, which is usually related to stress, tension, frustration and anxiety.

2. Iron Deficiency

Studies are revealing that iron deficiency or anemia may be closely related to hair loss. Dermatologists came to this conclusion after they had reviewed research that had been conducted over the last 40 years regarding hair loss in patients with an iron deficiency. It is now believed that treating a patient with this medical issue may actually restore hair, promoting it to grow back. Doctors often tell patients that hair loss may be related to a serious illness. Anyone experiencing hair loss should follow up with their doctor for testing of illnesses such as anemia.

3. Medication

There are several types of medication that can cause a person’s hair to fall out. These medications may be used to treat other conditions, but hair loss could potentially be one of the side effects. For example, patients who are treated for cancer often face significant amounts of hair loss. Talk to your doctor about potential side effects of the medication you are taking to find out of hair loss is one of them.

4. Hypothyroidism

Along with iron deficiency, as was already mentioned, hair loss may be a sign of hypothyroidism. People with hypothyroidism often experience hair that is dry, coarse and brittle. The hair may break easily of fall out while in the shower or while brushing it. Severe hair loss is common in people with this medical condition. In this case, hair loss will likely occur on the scalp but may also occur around the outside edge of the eyebrows.

5. Dihydrotestosterone

If the body is producing too much dihydrotestosterone or DHT, it may very well cause hair loss. DHT is a hormone produced by the body that results in the thinning of the hair follicle, causing the hair to fall out easily and in large amounts. Talk to your doctor about a medication that may slow down the body’s production of DHT as a form of treatment for this issue.