Causes of Losing Hair
Hair loss happens for a number of different reasons. Changes in hormone levels, poor nutrition, certain medications, and genetics all play a role. Poor hair care, including using poor-quality hair brushes and poor-quality shampoos can also make a difference. Ultimately, there are things you can do to minimize hair loss. Does this Spark an idea?
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Function
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Hair grows in a three-phase cycle. At birth, it grows at a uniform pace, but as we age, this cycle becomes random. If it were not random, we would go through periodic times of complete baldness, according to the Proctor and Gamble website. In healthy hair about 90% of it is in the growth phase. The other 10% is either dormant or falling out. Healthy hair loses between 50-to-100 hairs per day. Each hair grows for about six years.
Hormones
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Hormones regulate the hair-growth cycle. A proper balance of hormone levels is important. Each hormone involved plays a role in hair growth and loss. Testosterone, for example, when converted into a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) regulates when hair will fall out. However, estrogen regulates how long hair stays in the growth phase, and the thyroid hormone regulates how long hair stays dormant. An imbalance of any of these hormones can cause hair loss, as hair will either fall out too fast, not stay in the growth phase and become dormant too quickly, or stay dormant too long.
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Nutrition
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According to the Proctor and Gamble website, scientists have known for a long time that people who are malnourished have poor-hair quality. People with alcoholism, anemia or zinc deficiency, for example, have poor-hair quality and growth. There is a connection between a lack of certain vitamins and minerals and hair loss. Vitamin B complex, magnesium, zinc, protein, and the trace element sulfur are all important to hair growth and preventing hair loss.
Hair Care
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Using harsh hair brushes and putting your hair into tight braids will also cause hair loss, according to Hairgrowthpartner.com. Treating your hair gently by using natural boar's-bristle hair brushes will actually stimulate the scalp and moisturize the hair. If you have long hair, finger combing after shampooing will ensure that more hair than necessary does not fall out when hair is wet and more prone to breakage.
Medications
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Certain medications are known to cause hair loss. According to The Today Show's health editor, Dr. Judith Reichman, these medications are known culprits: retinoid, anti-depressants, blood-pressure medication, and even NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) including Ibuprophen. Dr. Reichman suggests talking with your doctor about changing medications if they are the cause of your hair loss.
Trauma
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Trauma or stress can also make hair temporarily fall out. Having surgery, severe dieting, psychological trauma such as suffering loss or emotional pain, or suffering from an illness can all contribute to hair loss. The silver lining in these cases is that the hair loss is temporary. When the trauma or stress subsides, hair almost always grows back. There are many things which can be done to reverse hair loss. See resources for suggestions of solutions for hair loss.
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