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Causes of Hair Loss
None of us are truly safe from hair loss. It can affect any one of us
at any time, yet many of us are unwilling to consider the possibility
that we could lose our hair. So what causes it? Well, aside from
medical conditions, there are a few factors that govern the likelihood
of us losing our hair – some programmed into us from the moment we're
conceived.
Hereditary factors and genetic predisposition are the number one reasons for hair loss. Men are most susceptible – in them it is known as male-pattern baldness. But women can get it too, in the form of female-pattern androgenetic alopecia. It's rare for women to suffer from permanent hair loss, however.
With age, hair loss becomes more common. A study in Australia showed that by the time we reach 80, 73.5% of men and 57% of women start suffering hair loss. In male-pattern baldness, hair tends to start disappearing from the temples and the crown – a type of androgen hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair production to thin and eventually stop, is to blame. Men tend to get receding hairlines and an “M” shape baldness pattern, whereas women tend to suffer from an overall thinning of their hair. If someone closely related to you has pattern baldness, it's generally accepted that your chances of suffering from it are increased.
Lifestyle also plays its part. In Japan, a huge increase in male and female pattern baldness occurred after the Second World War as a reaction to the move towards a higher fat, higher calorie diet.
There are medical reasons too. Stress, iron-deficiency anaemia and an under active thyroid can all cause hair loss – as can certain types of medication. But the good news is that these aren't usually permanent, and if you and your doctor can identify the cause, it's usually quite easy to treat these problems.
If you do start suffering from hair loss, as a first port of call it's best to see your doctor or registered healthcare professional, so they can determine whether there’s an underlying medical issue causing the problem.
Hereditary factors and genetic predisposition are the number one reasons for hair loss. Men are most susceptible – in them it is known as male-pattern baldness. But women can get it too, in the form of female-pattern androgenetic alopecia. It's rare for women to suffer from permanent hair loss, however.
With age, hair loss becomes more common. A study in Australia showed that by the time we reach 80, 73.5% of men and 57% of women start suffering hair loss. In male-pattern baldness, hair tends to start disappearing from the temples and the crown – a type of androgen hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair production to thin and eventually stop, is to blame. Men tend to get receding hairlines and an “M” shape baldness pattern, whereas women tend to suffer from an overall thinning of their hair. If someone closely related to you has pattern baldness, it's generally accepted that your chances of suffering from it are increased.
Lifestyle also plays its part. In Japan, a huge increase in male and female pattern baldness occurred after the Second World War as a reaction to the move towards a higher fat, higher calorie diet.
There are medical reasons too. Stress, iron-deficiency anaemia and an under active thyroid can all cause hair loss – as can certain types of medication. But the good news is that these aren't usually permanent, and if you and your doctor can identify the cause, it's usually quite easy to treat these problems.
If you do start suffering from hair loss, as a first port of call it's best to see your doctor or registered healthcare professional, so they can determine whether there’s an underlying medical issue causing the problem.
Expert says fad diets and stress cause hair loss
- By Jeremy Harkin
- Published 2nd February, 2010
- Causes of Hair Loss
- Unrated
On average we lose between 75 and 100 hairs a day - but this can increase significantly during periods of stress or if we stop taking in enough nutrients.
Turbans causing baldness in Sikh men
- By Jeremy Harkin
- Published 10th November, 2009
- Causes of Hair Loss
- Unrated
A leading hair transplant surgeon claims that an increasing number of Sikh men are seeking surgery for hair loss that is caused by tightly wrapped turbans.