Hair loss is a serious issue that many men and women struggle with at some point in their lifetime. This condition affects 85 percent of men by the age of 50 and 40 percent of women by the age of 40. These results are jaw-dropping, and it is no wonder that these individuals are constantly seeking treatment options. Hair loss can be extremely devastating and can even take a toll on a person’s self-confidence depending on the degree of hair thinning. For some, they might not even know the real reason their hair is falling out. In this article, I am going to discuss the top 5 reasons for hair loss. If you are someone fighting this battle, hopefully, it will give you some insight into why you might be losing your hair so you can get control of this issue immediately.
1.) Lack of Protein and Proper Nutrition
Just like the human body, hair needs the proper protein and nutrition to be healthy and strong. Having a deficiency in these key areas can cause the hair to become damaged and brittle. Because hair is made up mainly of proteins, it is important that the body gets enough of this nutrient to keep it healthy and growing. Consider eating protein-dense foods in order to make sure that the body has enough to continue hair growth. Multivitamins are also very effective if one cannot get the appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals to keep the body healthy. This is an easy way to make sure that you are getting a sufficient amount of nutrients.
2.) Androgentic Alopecia
Androgentic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss between both men and women today. This can also be referred to as male/female pattern baldness. Unfortunately, there has not been any permanent cure, but medical professionals and scientists are constantly doing testing and working to find answers.
Androgentic alopecia has been said to be caused by the hormone DHT, which is produced from testosterone. When too much DHT is produced on the scalp, it starts binding to healthy hair follicles and does not allow them to grow and breathe. This essentially kills off these cells, which in turn leads to a dead hair follicle that then falls out. This is how hair loss occurs.
3.) Chemotherapy
Some chemo drugs are more likely to affect the hair on the scalp than others. But there is usually some sort of hair loss resulting from these powerful doses of medication. These drugs are designed to attack rapidly growing cells in the body in order to kill off the cancer cells. These oftentimes include the hair follicle cells on the head. On the bright side, this hair loss should be temporary and new hair growth should occur in the months to follow.
4.) Heat
Especially for women, both heat and chemicals are common occurrences with hair routines. Whether getting your hair colored or using a curling iron, these are both relevant procedures that could lead to hair loss.
Using heat on the hair strips the natural moisture from the strands, causing them to become brittle and break off. Try cutting back the use of hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners to give your hair a chance at survival. You can also try eliminating the number of trips you make to the salon during the year to put the damaging chemicals and bleach to achieve a new fun color. Trust me, your hair will thank you for doing this and will repay you with its shine and beauty.
5.) Hypothyroidism (Mainly Women)
Although it is more common for women to experience hypothyroidism, it is not unheard of for males. This occurs when the thyroid, a gland in the neck, is not producing enough hormones to support the body’s functions. Hypothyroidism can trigger hair loss if untreated. When the hormone production is disrupted, it alters the development of hair at the root and can cause it to fall out.
Conclusion
Hair loss is oftentimes inevitable. However, if you catch it in the early stages it is easier to treat and take control of. Be aware of these top 5 reasons for hair thinning so that you can get ahead of your hair loss journey before you’re hair loss is severe.
