What Things Make Hair Fall Out?

Hair loss has many causes

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of these are preventable and treatable while others are permanent with little option to reverse the effects.

Illnesses

Diseases, such as the autoimmune disease alopecia areata, can be a cause of hair loss. In this disease, white blood cells attack hair follicles, causing those hairs to fall out.

Stress

Excessive stress can lead to hair loss. External stressors cause hair follicles to go dormant, leading to thinning hair.

Overtreatment

Overly processed hair may fall out because overtreatment with dyes, perms or other processes can weaken the hair strands.

Nutritional factors

Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin E, copper, iron, zinc and folic acid, can cause temporary hair loss.

Hormonal changes

Hair loss is common for women during life phases such as pregnancy or menopause, when hormone levels change dramatically in a short period of time.

Genetic traits

In some people, hair loss is genetic. Pattern baldness is not caused by any external factors, but instead is encoded in the genes.

References

• Slate Magazine Article
• American Academy of Dermatology
• Family Doctor.org

Resources

• Stop Hair Loss Now : Diet and Hair Loss Kimberly A. Tessmer, RD, LD
• BBC Women's Health