You stand in front of the mirror, combing your hair – and when you take a closer look at your brush, you suddenly find that it’s filled with a whole bunch of hair strands. The realization of hair loss can be devastating, especially if it becomes so bad that you’re seeing bald patches on your head. However, all hope is not lost. By understanding what causes hair loss, you’ll be able to identify your risks. Plus, in this case, you’re also giving yourself a better idea of why you might be experiencing this issue and how to go about treating it. In this post, we’ll not only consider the causes and treatments but also take a closer look at how you can prevent hair loss.

What is hair loss?

Hair loss, just as the name suggests, means you’re noticing your hair strands falling out. It can range from mild cases to severe, where bald patches start to show up and your hairline is quickly receding. It’s actually a rather common problem that men and women face.

Studies found^[1] that about 85% of men have at least some level of hair thinning by the time they reach the age of 50. And by 35 years of age, about one in every six men will have signs of hair thinning or loss. Now, according to research, men are actually more likely to experience hair loss, especially at an earlier age. However, there are still a significant number of women with these issues. A study^[2] published in the American Academy of Dermatology Journal found that around 32.3% of women may also have signs of female pattern hair loss. The severity was significantly different among the women who were part of the study, and there was a limited number of recruits. Yet, it still provides some insight into the prevalence.

What causes hair loss?

When it comes to managing this problem, one of the most important things is knowing what causes hair loss. This will give you a better idea about why you’re experiencing hair loss. It can also help to provide more details about the possible risk factors that are involved.

In this section, we’re going to take a closer look at things that can cause hair loss.

• Hereditary hair loss: The first factor is one of those that you don’t really have control over – and that is your genetics. If you’ve got a family history of hair loss, then your own risk actually increases. This factor may be because some of your previous generations had specific diseases that are hereditary and linked to hair loss in some cases, too.
• Age: Statistics show that the older you are, the more likely you are to experience hair loss. Thus, age becomes another one of those factors that we don’t really have control over.
• Alopecia areata: This is actually an autoimmune condition^[3] where your immune system wrongly attacks healthy hair follicles, which can result in hair loss.
• Childbirth, illness, or other stressors: If you go through a traumatic event, it’s possible to experience some temporary hair loss. Usually, this isn’t permanent, and hair will start to grow back once you get to the other side of the situation.
• Hair care: How you care for your hair is also a factor that can affect hair loss. If you’re using harsh or the wrong products to care for your hair, then these factors can result in hair breakage and loss.

• Hairstyle pulls on your scalp: If you’re wearing a hairstyle that is tight, it can pull your hair. This can also aggravate hair loss and make your strands more likely to break off.

• Hormonal imbalance: You have many hormones in your body, and some of them play a role in keeping your hair follicles and scalp healthy. An imbalance in your hormones can sometimes also be the reason you’re experiencing hair loss.
• Scalp infection: Skin infections that affect your scalp may have an impact on hair follicles as well. In these cases, it can cause hair loss. Fortunately, it’s often just a temporary problem until you clear up the infection.
• Scalp psoriasis: While there isn’t too much data available about the exact cause^[4], scalp psoriasis causes patches of your skin to appear raised and flaky. There are scales that can develop, too. This can have a negative impact on your hair growth.
• Scarring alopecia There are different kinds of alopecia. In scarring alopecia, hair loss can progress based on how the disease develops. In some cases, it may be difficult to regrow hair that falls out due to this condition.
• Thyroid disease: If you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, it can cause disruptions to your hormone balance. In these cases, it’s possible that you can experience hair loss as a result.

Hair loss symptoms

Knowing how to spot hair loss is also important. The earlier you take note of this issue, the more successful prevention and treatment strategies will usually be. So, let’s take a closer look at specific symptoms that you should be on the lookout for:

• Widening part: One of the very first signs that you’re losing too much hair is a part that seems to get wider. This usually develops gradually. At first, you might notice a slight widening and not give it much thought. Many people just change their hairstyle at this point. However, over time, it can become more noticeable.
• Receding hairline: Another common way to tell if you’re losing hair is to take a look at your hairline. A lot of people actually start to notice that their hairline begins to recede when hair loss first begins to appear. The receding hairline gets worse over time and may result in a bald spot at the front of your head.
• Loose hair: You should also look out for hair strands that are loose. While it’s normal to lose some hair during the day, you should start to worry if you notice excessive amounts of hair on your brush.
• Bald patches: As hair loss develops, bald patches can begin to develop. These patches can appear in different areas of your head, and they are usually a sign that your hair loss is starting to progress.
• Clogged drains: Something that you may overlook is a clogged drain. If you’re constantly struggling with a shower or bathtub drain that’s blocked, it’s important to understand what’s causing this. When you find hairballs in the drain, it could also be a sign of hair loss.
• Pain or itching: Depending on what causes hair loss for you, there is also a chance that you might experience some pain on your scalp. Certain people also complain about constant itching, which can feel frustrating during the day.

How is hair loss diagnosed?

If you talk to your doctor about hair loss, they first need to consider a couple of factors. Your doctor knows what causes hair loss and can rule out any underlying health problems, such as psoriasis and thyroid diseases. It does, however, start with a physical examination.

When your doctor inspects your scalp, they can sometimes pin down conditions that directly affect your scalp and hair. However, sometimes it’s related to something deeper – such as a disease that’s causing you to experience hair loss. In such a case, your doctor may need to run a couple of tests. This can help them determine if there is an underlying cause to consider – which will then be addressed as part of the treatment.

How can I prevent hair loss?

Understanding your risk and what causes hair loss is definitely a good start. One thing you’ll notice is that you don’t have control over all of the factors linked to hair loss. But there are still several things that you do have control over – and these are the elements that you should be focusing on.

Begin with your hair care routine. Consider taking the Nufolix hair growth supplement to nourish your hair from the inside, and take into consideration the products you use. If you use oiling, for example, make sure you are not too rigorous. Make sure you don’t use harsh products on your hair, and choose a hairstyle that doesn’t pull on your strands. These are all good starting points to help you prevent hair loss from happening.

Hair loss: management and treatment

Targeting the root cause of hair loss is the most effective way to treat and manage it. Sometimes, however, it’s part of genetics or due to your age. In this case, there might not be many options if you want to reverse hair loss, but some potential factors may still help. For example, you might want to take a closer look at natural hair growth products.

In such a case, you might be wondering how long it takes for hair to grow back. Unfortunately, there isn’t one single fixed answer, as it comes down to a personalized situation.

If you’re taking hair growth products and you don’t have a disease that’s causing hair loss, then you might experience faster results. Treating specific conditions that lead to hair loss may also help to further speed up your hair loss.

What are the myths about hair loss?

There are a couple of myths that are going around regarding hair loss, and it’s important to debunk them. That’s going to help you focus on the more realistic causes of your hair loss.

One myth^[5] is that stress will make you go bald. It’s true that stress, along with anxiety, can actually result in hair loss – but it’s generally only temporary and won’t make you go completely bald.

What are the complications of hair loss?

Problems with your own self-esteem and self-confidence are generally the major complications that you should consider when it comes to hair loss. If you’re experiencing severe hair loss, it’s something that can also cause you to stress more and even have an effect on your own personality.

Hair loss itself is often not a serious condition, but you still need to consider the underlying factors. If you’re experiencing hair loss due to thyroid disease, for example, then you have to understand the complications that the disease, especially untreated, can cause.

Takeaway

Hair loss is not uncommon and can affect anyone, male or female. Understanding what causes hair loss is a vital part of managing this problem. Once you know the cause, you can get down to the root of things instead of trying to cover up the symptoms you’re experiencing. It’s not always completely clear why you’re experiencing hair loss, so talk to your doctor if you’re unsure. They might need to do a few tests if they suspect an underlying condition.

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