Causes and treatments for hair loss

While male and female pattern baldness is a primary cause of hair loss, there is a range of other reasons. A doctor will want to explore these before recommending the appropriate treatment.

In this article, we look at the leading causes of hair loss, the treatment available, and home care tips for preventing further loss.

Causes of hair loss

Possible causes of hair loss include:

1. Androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is another term for male or female pattern baldness. It is a very common cause of hair loss.

Both male and female pattern baldness is genetic. Males tend to lose hair from the temples and crown of the head. In females, hair usually becomes thinner all over the head.

Androgenetic alopecia is more likely to happen as a person ages but can start at any point after puberty. Many females who experience androgenetic alopecia develop it after going through menopause. This means that hormones may have something to do with it.

It is possible to treat this condition with minoxidil, a medication for hair growth.

2. Pregnancy timing

Some women may experience excessive hair loss shortly after giving birth. This is due to a decrease in estrogen levels. This type of hair loss is a temporary condition and usually resolves within a year or sooner.

To help hair return to its normal condition, try:

• using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner
• using products designed for fine hair
• avoiding intensive conditioners or conditioning shampoos as these can be too heavy for fine hair
• applying conditioner to the ends of the hair, rather than the scalp, to avoid weighing hair down

3. Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a condition where the hair remains in the telogen (natural shedding) phase of the growth cycle. This causes more hair to fall out, sometimes in handfuls.

Telogen effluvium is usually a temporary condition that resolves over time. It is advisable to see a doctor find out the cause.

Some possible causes include:

• severe stress
• surgery
• childbirth
• rapid weight loss
• thyroid problems
• certain medications

A doctor will need to treat any underlying causes of telogen effluvium.

If a doctor suspects that specific medications are causing hair loss, they may change them.

4. Anagen effluvium

Anagen effluvium causes large amounts of hair to fall out rapidly during the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle.

The condition may cause hair to fall out from the head, as well as from other parts of the body, including eyebrows and eyelashes.

Causes of anagen effluvium include:

• chemotherapy
• radiation
• fungal infections
• autoimmune disease

Treatment for this condition depends on the cause but can include a topical solution of minoxidil.

 

If a person has anagen effluvium as a result of undergoing chemotherapy, cooling the scalp during the procedure may help. Hair will often grow back 3–6 months after stopping the chemotherapy.

5. Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out suddenly. The immune system attacks hair follicles, along with other healthy parts of the body.

Hair from the scalp, as well as eyebrows and eyelashes, may fall out in small chunks.

If a person has this condition, they should see a doctor. A doctor may prescribe medication to help the hair grow back.

Self-care

To prevent hair loss, people may want to try:

• lifestyle changes to reduce stress
• eating a nutritious diet that includes proteins, fats, and certain vitamins and minerals

The following may also help to stop further hair loss:

• using a lightweight shampoo and conditioner to avoid weighing down the hair
• avoiding tight hairstyles
• limiting the use of heating processes that can damage the hair

Summary

It is normal for a certain amount of hair to fall out every day. People usually lose up to 100 hairs each day.

If a person notices that they are losing more hair than usual, they may have an underlying condition. In that instance, they should see a doctor and seek advice on what the best treatment options are.

In many cases, a person’s hair will return to its normal state once a doctor has treated the underlying condition.

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