Men are more likely to lose hair than women, 70 percent of men and 40 percent of women to be exact. Nevertheless, both, female and male genders can be affected for a variety of reasons. Below are a number of causes of hair loss, as well as treatments:
1) Physical and Emotional Stress
Sudden and chronic stress can lead to hair loss. Especially during stressful times such as divorce, job change, severe illness or the death of a beloved family member. All of this can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This is when there is widespread thinning of the hair but all is not lost. Other body hair is normally not affected and the hair will start growing back as your body recovers from the stress.
2) Male- and Female-Pattern Baldness
This is the most common type of hair loss, which affects around half of all men by the age of 50. Women can also be affected by this. This type of hair loss is caused by a combination of genes and testosterone, the main male sex hormone. It normally follows a pattern of receding hairline, which is followed by thinning of hair. In some cases it can even end up and result in complete baldness. Male-pattern baldness runs in families and is linked to having too much of a certain male hormone. However, it is not proven that female-pattern baldness is hereditary. It often happens to women who have been through the menopause as this leads them to have fewer female hormones.
3) Female Hormones
During pregnancy a great number of hair that will go into resting phase, which would lead to women having thicker hair. But once the child is born, the mother will lose more than hair than normal, which can lead to hair bald spots. This is very common after the birth of your child. Just as pregnancy hormones, so can changing or taking off birth-control pills. The hormonal imbalance during the menopause can also have the same effect.
4) Vitamins
Overdoing Vitamin A supplements can lead to hair loss as can Vitamin B deficiency. Also, you need to ensure that enough protein is going into the body. As if you don’t eat enough protein your body might ration protein by shutting down hair growth. This happens normally two or three months after your body realizes the deficiency.
5) Autoimmune
This is also called Alopecia Areata and is caused by a problem with the immune system. It causes patches of baldness, as the immune system sees the hair as foreign and targets it by mistake.This affects both men and women. It is more common among people with other autoimmune conditions like Down’s Syndrome, Diabetes or Hyperthyroidism. However, the hair will grow back.
6) Medication
Certain medications are designed to treat a variety of health conditions but sometimes they can have unwanted side-effects. Drugs cause hair loss by interfering with the normal cycle of scalp hair growth. Beta-blockers, blood-pressure drugs and blood thinners can lead to hair loss.
7) Styling
Your hair is very sensible and extreme styling, using hair dryers and irons can cause your hair to fall out. Extreme styling includes: hair weaves, corn rows, chemical products, straighten and curling your hair and any kind of chemical products. These practices affect the hair root and your hair might not grow back.
How can you prevent hair loss?
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Reduction of stress
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Eating protein, zinc, vitamin B12 and iron. Fish is great for this!
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Hairstyle which doesn’t damage your hair. Do not forget that dryers and irons can cause breakage and thinning your hair
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Some women are genetically predisposed to female pattern hair loss. Seeking help may minimize this
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Seeing your doctor if you have to take medication which has the side effect of hair loss
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Massaging your hair. As this can improve your blood flow and help your hair to grow
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Taking hair loss products
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