Hair Loss Causes
Causes of alopecia hair loss
Hair loss (also known as alopecia or alopecia hair loss) is not something anyone wants, but for many people it's unavoidable. Genetics, physical health and lifestyle choices can all play a role in not only the healthiness of hair, but in whether or not a person will keep it.
It's difficult not to associate hair with self-image and self-esteem, but it's important to know that, no matter what the cause of hair loss, there are ways to treat or manage the condition. Understanding the hair loss causes can help you figure out the best treatment options and can also help remove the stigma and fear associated with losing your hair.
Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss affects both genders, but often for different reasons. The common causes for men's and women's hair loss can be broken down as follows:
- Male hair loss causes. It's commonplace to see men with receding hair or a bald patches, due to the prevalence of male pattern baldness. This condition affects over 40 million men in the U.S. alone and is the leading cause of hair loss for males.
- Female hair loss causes. While genetic female pattern baldness does exist, most women's hair loss causes are due to external factors. The biggest trigger for hair loss in women is the hormonal change that occurs after a pregnancy. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is typically temporary.
Both men and women can lose their hair due to a medical condition. Thyroid hair loss or chemotherapy hair loss are two of the most common, but there are many more.
You should always report any unusual hair loss to your doctor to determine the cause; while it may be something trivial, it could also be something serious. For example, losing a few eyebrow hairs may not seem like a big deal, but eyebrow hair loss causes range from simple factors like over-plucking or overuse of cosmetics to serious conditions such as "Hertoghe's sign," which is a condition associated with low thyroid.
Living with Hair Loss
Depending on the cause of your hair loss, the condition may be temporary or permanent, and may range in severity from barely noticeable to completely bald. The degree to which you suffer from hair loss will likely dictate the treatment options you pursue, but common treatment options include:
- Wigs and scarves. These are typically used by people with temporary hair loss, such as cancer patients.
- Hair loss products. This might include hair growth vitamins, hair loss shampoo, topical ointments and more, each with varying degrees of success. Most people choose these products when they wish to protect their current hair and make it look healthier and thicker, with the added bonus of growing more hair.
- Hair transplant or restoration. This option is typically chosen by those who have large areas of permanent hair loss.
