Hair Loss Causes - Major Reasons for Hair Loss

This is an informational article about the causes of hair loss, the kinds of treatments for hair loss, and tips to keep your hair healthy. Both men and women lose hair for similar reasons. Hair loss in men is often more dramatic, and follows a specific pattern of hair loss which has been termed "Male Pattern Baldness". This hair loss is caused by Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Factors for male hair loss include heredity, hormones, and aging.

Main Causes of Hair Loss

• Long Illness - One of the more common hair loss causes is a long bout with a serious illness or a very stressful period of family strife. Stress can cause many problems with your body one being the excessive loss of hair.
• Hormonal Imbalance - Another cause can be the hormonal imbalance brought on by something like thyroid disease. Correcting a hormonal imbalance like the excess of androgens or estrogens could cause hair loss.
• Pregnancy - Many women begin to lose hair a few months after pregnancy due to the loss of balance in their hormones. Another cause of hair loss is usually cured on its own several months after the hormones return to normal.
• Infections - Certain types of fungal infections or degenerative diseases can cause hair loss. To overcome the fungal infections that cause hair loss the patient needs to purchase an anti-fungal shampoo or lotion.
• Genetic - The biggest cause of hair loss is the genes being passed on from generation to generation. Though there are a number of wives’ tales, from the mother’s father, and that it skips a generation, they are most commonly untrue. The only known genetic cause has nothing to do with what side of the family or generation you are a part of, it is simply the luck of the draw.

This may also apply to women but to a lesser degree. Women may experience loss of hair after menopause and 2-3 months after having a baby. Other contributing factors include a poor diet, poor circulation, acute illness, radiation, chemotherapy, high stress, thyroid imbalance, certain drugs, coming off the contraceptive pill, diabetes, high doses of vitamin A (more than 100,000 IU), sudden weight loss, high fever, iron deficiency, ringworm, some fungal infections, chemicals and hair dyes, vitamin deficiencies, and lack of proper nutrition.

Drastic or premature hair loss may be caused by:

1. Stress and bodily weakness from overwork.
2. Dietary imbalances or nutritional deficiency.
3. Using abrasive shampoos, hair lacquers, dyes, bleaching, etc.
4. Endocrine disorder.
5. Genetic factors.
6. Infectious diseases.
7. Hormonal metabolic changes in lactating women.
8. Nutrient and protein deficiencies in the hair cells.