Hair loss is common. Men more often have thin hair. Some hair loss is temporary, while some others experience permanent hair loss over their entire scalp. The causes may be hereditary or medical. If you are experiencing hair loss you may want to talk to your doctor to see if your scalp is irritated.
Hair Loss Causes
The most common reasons why you lose hair are hereditary or medical. For example, you may lose hair if you take certain medications, if you have a severe febrile illness, or if you are mentally over-stressed.
Hereditary hair loss
Hereditary hair loss is the most common type of hair loss. In men, it can begin even before the age of 20. Hair gradually becomes thinner and shorter after that.
Although women can have hereditary hair loss, it is not as common as in men. Women can gradually have thinning hair in an oval shape at the front of the head. Hereditary hair loss affects mostly women during menopause.
Medical hair loss
Many diseases may cause damage to the hair roots or affect hair growth. For example, skin disease or metabolic disorders can cause hair loss. You can get temporary hair loss three to four months after severe febrile illness, poor diet, psychological stress, or childbirth. Some drugs can cause hair to fall out.
Patchy hair loss is usually caused by a relatively common skin disease and can occur at any age. The disease can leave multiple areas on the scalp bald but the skin will remain soft without redness or peeling. Half of the people who get this will grow back their hair within a year.
For most people, it’s very easy to diagnose hair loss. Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is by far the most common form of hair loss and follows a very natural pattern. It usually starts with the hair becoming thinner around the crown, resulting in a bald spot. Typical male pattern baldness is usually diagnosed based on the appearance and pattern of the hair loss, along with a detailed medical history which includes questions about the presence of hair loss in your family.
Different types of hair loss
There are many types of hair loss. For some people, the symptoms can be quite severe. A diagnosis of hair loss usually occurs by examining the pattern of hair loss on the head. Some forms of hair loss can be a sign of a serious illness. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the help of a medical expert to get a full diagnosis of your hair loss.
Alopecia areata – This is caused by an autoimmune reaction in the body, which leads to the immune system attacking the hair follicles. Alopecia areata can occur anywhere on the body. Hair tends to fall out in clumps, and although it can appear anywhere on the body, is most commonly occurs on the head or face.
Alopecia Totalis – As the name implies, it is a complete loss of hair. This form of hair loss occurs only on the head. The cause is still unclear, but it is believed that this is caused by either stress or some form of autoimmune disease.
Telogen effluvium – This form of temporary hair loss is caused by stress or psychological issues and can involve hair loss or thinning of the hair. A high level of stress may cause hair follicles to go into a dormant phase causing no new hair to grow.
Traction alopecia – This is a relatively common form of hair loss. Its main causes are hair cream (wax, gel, spray or mousse), too much heat (flat iron or hairdryer), or hair pulling. Extreme tension on the hair can make the hair follicles stop producing new hair cells. Sometimes, if you stop braiding your hair and avoid using harsh chemicals, you can also stop hair loss.
Alopecia barbae – Occurs only in males and is a temporary but drastic hair loss. The reasons are unknown, but it could be caused by an immune deficiency disease. Personal consultation and diagnosis are recommended if you suffer from this type of hair loss.