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5 Key Causes of Hair Loss – Can You Reverse Hair Loss?
5 Key Causes of Hair Loss – Can You Reverse Hair Loss?
Shedding hair is part and parcel of the natural hair cycle—that’s why you have to regularly clear those hairballs from your brush and vacuum stray hairs from your floors. But it may be time to see your doctor when those hairballs get bigger and you start to see your crown thinning or that balding patch.
A check with your doctor can help determine if your hair loss is linked to any medical conditions (some of these are treatable!) or associated with your genes and ageing.
Reversible causes include:
1. Nutrient Deficiencies – Iron and vitamin D, low protein status
2. Stress – Acute or chronic physical stress (like a serious febrile illness or an injury) or emotional stress.
3. Medications – Certain chronic drugs for hypertension, blood thinning, depression and contraception.
4. Pregnancy – As pregnancy hormones return to baseline after childbirth, the fluctuating hormones trigger hair to fall; this resolves on its own in about six months.
3. Medications – Certain chronic drugs for hypertension, blood thinning, depression and contraception.
4. Pregnancy – As pregnancy hormones return to baseline after childbirth, the fluctuating hormones trigger hair to fall; this resolves on its own in about six months.
5. The reversible causes aside, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. This is hair loss influenced by genes, androgens (male-type hormones, also present in females) and ageing. Androgenetic alopecia can start as early as in the twenties, and is apparent in about 50% of the population over the age of 50.
In males, the crown and the temporal areas get affected first, with receding m-shaped hairlines.
In females, hair loss appears more as diffused thinning over the crown. Female pattern hair loss is often less pronounced than males.
Is Regrowth Possible?
When reversible causes are identified and addressed early, it can help stop or slow down hair loss. It may also help with hair regrowth. For genetic and age-related hair loss, the earlier the treatment, the better it works. Without treatment, hair will continue to fall at a concerning rate.
Read here for IYAC’s take on hair loss.
