Why am I Losing my Hair?

Why am I Losing my Hair?

Hair loss has many causes, but in some cases, hair loss can be prevented, stopped, or even restored. ILEA Hair Restoration offers a free consultation to help you understand the cause of your hair loss, and to provide you with treatment options specific to your condition.

Causes of hair loss

Hair loss, or alopecia, is generally classified into two categories:

  • Scarring alopecia
  • Non-scarring alopecia

As the name implies, scarring alopecia includes several infrequent diseases that lead to scar formation resulting in the permanent damage of the hair follicle. The early identification and control of these illnesses is the primary method of combating this form of hair loss. Ongoing care with a dermatologist is an important component of preventing hair loss from scarring alopecia.

Among scarring alopecias, traction alopecia is a completely preventable cause of hair loss. Traction alopecia results from the tight pulling of hair by styles such as tight ponytails, braids, locks, weaves, and glued on hair pieces. Read on for further for details.

Non-scarring alopecias are fortunately much more common and they are also much more treatable. We will discuss such in detail.

Hereditary hair loss

Both men and women develop this type of hair loss, which is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. In men, it’s called male pattern hair loss. Women get female pattern hair loss. Regardless of whether it develops in a man or women, the medical term is androgenic alopecia.
No matter which term you use, it means that you’ve inherited genes that cause your hair follicles (what each hair grows out of) to shrink and eventually stop growing hair. Shrinking can begin as early as your teens, but it usually starts later in life.
In women, the first noticeable sign of hereditary hair loss is usually overall thinning or a widening part.
When a man has hereditary hair loss, the first sign is often a receding hairline or a bald spot at the crown of his head.
Treatment can help stop or slow hair loss. It may also help regrow hair. The earlier treatment is started, the better it works. Androgenic alopecia is a progressive condition. Without treatment, you will continue to lose hair.

Age

With age, most people notice some hair loss because hair growth slows. At some point, hair follicles stop growing hair, which causes the hair on our scalp to thin. Hair also starts to lose its color.

Cancer treatment

If you receive chemotherapy or have radiation treatment to your head or neck, you may lose all (or most of) your hair within a few weeks of starting treatment.
Hair usually starts to regrow within months of finishing chemotherapy or radiation treatments to the head or neck. Dermatologists can offer medication to help hair grow back more quickly.
Wearing a cooling cap before, during, and after each chemotherapy session may help prevent hair loss.

Childbirth, illness, or other stressors

A few months after giving birth, recovering from an illness, or having an operation, you may notice a lot more hairs in your brush or on your pillow. This can also happen after a stressful time in your life, such as a divorce or death of a loved one.
If the stress stops, your body will readjust and the excessive shedding will stop. When the shedding stops, most people see their hair regain its normal fullness within 6 to 9 months.

Hair care

If you color, perm, or relax your hair, you could be damaging your hair. Over time, this damage can lead to hair loss.
You can change how you care for your hair, which can prevent hair loss. Once you damage a hair follicle, hair cannot grow from that follicle. Having many damaged hair follicles creates permanent bald spots.

Hairstyle pulls on your scalp

If you often wear your hair tightly pulled back, the continual pulling can lead to permanent hair loss. The medical name for this condition is traction alopecia. Other hair styles such as braids, weaves, locks, and glued on wigs also lead to traction alopecia.
You can prevent hair loss by changing your hair style. However, once the follicles have scarred, hair will not grow again from it.

Hormonal imbalance

A common cause of this imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It leads to cysts on a woman’s ovaries, along with other signs and symptoms, which can include hair loss. Stopping some types of birth control pills can cause a temporary hormonal imbalance. Women who develop a hormonal imbalance can develop thinning hair (or hair loss) on their scalp.

Scalp infection

A scalp infection can lead to scaly and sometimes inflamed areas on your scalp. You may see what look like small black dots on your scalp. These are actually stubs of hair. Some people develop a bald spot in areas of infection.
Treatment can get rid of the infection. Once the infection clears, hair tends to grow. Untreated infections that persist for a long time may lead to a scarring alopecia and permanent hair loss.

Medication

A possible side effect of some medications is hair loss. If you think a medication is causing your hair loss, ask the doctor who prescribed it if hair loss is a possible side effect. It’s essential that you do not stop taking the medication before talking with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious health problems.

Pulling your hair

Some people pull on their hair, often to relieve stress. They may be unaware that they’re pulling their hair. The medical term for this is trichotillomania. Counseling may help this condition.
If you haven’t destroyed the hair follicles by repeatedly pulling out the hair, then regrowth is possible. For your hair to regrow, you must stop pulling it.

Sexually transmitted infection

Left untreated, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) can lead to hair loss. Syphilis is such an STI. Left untreated, syphilis can cause patchy hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows, beard, and elsewhere. Other STIs can also cause hair loss. After treating the STI, hair often starts to regrow.

Thyroid disease

If you have a problem with your thyroid, you may see thinning hair. Some people notice that their hair comes out in clumps when they brush it. Treating the thyroid disease can reverse the hair loss.

Too little biotin, iron, protein, or zinc

Because of the abundance of food in the U.S. such nutritional deficiencies are rare. However, If you’re not getting enough of one or more of these, you can have noticeable hair loss. When your body gets enough of the missing nutrients, hair can regrow.

About the author

I’m Dr. Cesar Aristeiguieta, founder of ILEA Hair Restoration and Board Certified Emergency Physician with over 23 years of practice. Born in Venezuela, I emigrated alone to the United States at fifteen. My path to medicine ran through work as an EMT, Red Cross volunteer, and police officer where I earned the “Top Gun” award from my academy class. I hold degrees from Cal State Bakersfield and USC, where I later served as assistant professor. My research has appeared in JAMA. I’ve advised the White House as a Presidential Fellow, served on the Medical Board of California, and directed California’s Emergency Medical Services Authority. A lifelong community servant, I’ve volunteered with the Red Cross since 1984. I’m also a National Geographic-published photographer, triathlete, and Master Class sporting clays competitor. My greatest passion, however, is helping patients reclaim their confidence through expert, compassionate hair restoration care.

Recommended Posts

An attractive man with his head held
Why Am I Balding at 20?: Learn How to Stop Early Hair Loss
a man with a beard looking sideways while smiling
How Do I Find the Best Hair Restoration Doctor?
a couple smiles as they hug each other
Hair Loss Treatment Before And After Results In Houston, TX
a man with a beard staring sideways
Understanding Hair Loss Treatment Cost At Ilea Hair Restoration