Top 10 causes of Hair Loss

Does your hairbrush hold a big, black furry ball after you’ve combed your hair? Do your present photos show a receding hairline when compared to the older ones? Chances are you may be prone to baldness. Can’t figure out what may be causing this extensive hair fall? Read this list of the top 10 causes of hair loss and baldness.

Stress

Stress and anxiety can cause many conditions that lead to hair loss. The female hormone cortisol can elevate and cause antigens to attack the scalp and cause hair loss. Also, stress can worsen autoimmune diseases by affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland which will secrete hormones that promote inflammation. Experiencing a traumatic stressful event can cause hair loss 3-6 months down the line. However, if it is truly from stress, it is reversible. Therefore, the hair that is lost will eventually regrow once the stressor is removed or if the correct products are applied during the before and after the stress period.

Thyroid Problems

Either an underactive thyroid, a medical condition called hypothyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, can result in hair loss because each condition causes a hormonal imbalance. Hormones help to regulate nearly every function in the body, including hair growth. Getting the right treatment to control either of these thyroid conditions will get hormones under control, stop hair loss, and allow your hair to starting grow back. Check out our shop page above to see what products may be right for you!

Genetics

By far the most common cause of hair loss, in both women and men, is genetics. It’s termed “alopecia androgenetica.” The pattern of hair loss is often diffuse; there are no distinct patches. Look at your mother, father, or siblings to determine your family’s inherited pattern of hair growth and loss. Unfortunately, how much hair you lose largely depends on your genetics.
​
Androgenetica alopecia accounts for a slow decline in scalp hair density. Male pattern baldness sufferers inherit hair follicles with a genetic sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a derivative or by-product of testosterone. Hair follicles sensitive to DHT begin to miniaturize, shortening the lifespan of each hair follicle affected. Eventually, these affected follicles stop producing cosmetically acceptable hair.
​
When testosterone coverts into DHT it has a miniaturizing effect on the hair follicle which leads to thinning and ultimately hair loss. Also, in women, low levels of estrogen and progesterone can be the culprit.

Medications

Hair loss is a side effect of a number of medications taken for common health problems. Blood-thinning medications, oral contraceptives, drugs for depression, NSAIDs, and beta and calcium channel blockers can all lead to thinning hair or baldness. Too much vitamin A and vitamin A-based drugs called retinoids can cause hair loss as well. Some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are known to cause total hair loss as they work to destroy cancer cells. Just as hair usually grows back after chemo, it should also grow back once you stop taking any medication that causes hair loss.
​
Some birth control pills and IUDs can shock the body and cause hormonal imbalances that can trigger diffuse hair loss (telogen effluvium). This causes hairs to pass prematurely to the telogen stage. During typical hair growth, we normally lose between 50-100 hairs however, due to the sudden shock to your body, you may experience excessive hair shedding which you will see in your brush or bathroom floor. This is type of hair loss is normally temporary and self correcting. However, in some cases you should consult your doctor and possibly lower your dosage or switch altogether.

Lack of Vitamins

Low Ferritin (iron storage) and Vitamin D are closely linked to hair shedding and hair breakage. When iron is low, the hair loses elasticity, becomes dry and brittle and easily breaks off. Loose anagen syndrome (hair that can easily be pulled out) can also occur if the connective tissue of the hair bulb is weak.
​
Menstruating women compromise the greatest risk for iron deficiency, which is manifested by anemia. A simple blood test can detect this one. Strict vegetarians who seriously lack iron in their diet can also become anemic. And we always worry about those over the age of 50 who lose microscopic but chronic amounts of blood in their stool.

Pregnancy

Fluctuations in the levels of hormones, especially those during pregnancy and childbirth may also contribute to extensive hair loss. Thyroid imbalances, menopause and other hormone related conditions can also be held responsible for hair fall. It takes time after pregnancy for hormone levels to return to normal, so it's not at all uncommon for post-partum moms to notice thinning hair or even patches of baldness. This often occurs about three months after baby’s arrival.

Chemicals - Bad Products

Shampoos, conditioners and even hair oils today are loaded with chemicals that mess up with your hair in more ways than one. Most cosmetic products that we buy today contain harmful chemicals that contribute to weakening of the hair shaft, making your more prone to split ends, hair loss and other hair related issues. It is important to use products which have been proven to help grow and nourish the hair. Check out our StimuGro Products by visiting our shop page today!

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation shows under your eyes as well as on your head. Insomnia, narcolepsy and other sleep disorders can influence the health of your hair, and over time, it may also cause baldness..

Excessive Styling

Too much shampooing, styling, and dyeing can harm your tresses. Heat and chemicals weaken the hair, causing it to break and fall out. Often, it’s a combination of treatments—keratin, coloring, and blow-drying, for instance—that does the damage.
​
The symptoms: If the fallout is occurring from external damage caused by styling, it will simply break, and you won’t see those club-shaped telogen bulbs at the ends. What you can do: Avoid using appliances that overheat your hair. Set your hair dryer on cool and low settings, and minimize your use of flat irons. Don’t dye your hair more than one or two shades its normal color: The more severe the color change, the more chemicals you require, which can make hair break. If you use hair gel or hair spray, don’t wait for it to dry before you comb through it, because the hair will harden and be more likely to break.

Diet

The essential vitamins and nutrients, like protein, that you get from a healthy, varied, and well-balanced diet ensure good health all throughout your body, making sure all your organs and internal systems are working just as they should. Junk food is criticized and held responsible for almost all health conditions, and it’s mostly because junk food hardly gives your body any nutrients. Living on junk food could lead to nutritional deficiencies, which may contribute to baldness. People having eating disorders are also more likely to suffer from extensive hair loss.