What Cause hair loss?
Alopecia is the medical term for hair
loss.
Alopecia
is the general medical term for hair loss, and it has many
different causes. Normal human hair can be classified
according to their phases of growth.
Anagen
is the growing stage of hair, while
telogen
is the sleeping stage of hair. About 80 percent of the hairs
in the human scalp are growing hair about 20 percent of them
are sleeping hair. It has been estimated that the scalp
normally contains about 100,000 hairs. Therefore, the
average number of hairs that can be lost in a day is about
100. Contrary to popular belief, neither shaving nor
hormonal changes, such as menstruation, has any effect upon
hair growth.
Hair loss
can be broken down into several different types, including “alopecia
areata”
(temporary hair loss in a coin-shaped patch),
telogen effluvium
(temporary hair loss secondary to a stressor on the system),
and
androgenetic alopecia
(male-pattern hair loss). For the purposes of our
discussion, we will focus on male-pattern hair loss. It
generally shows itself in the 20s or early 30s by gradual
loss of hair, chiefly on the top of the head and in the
angles at the frontal hairline. There are several different
patterns to this hair loss, but male-pattern hair loss is
the most frequently encountered type. The exact mechanisms
are still unknown. We have no doubt, however, that inherited
factors and the effects of androgens (male hormones) on the
hair are most responsible.
Is stress a factor in hair loss?
Stress does not cause hair loss—it simply makes a bad
situation worse.
Telogen effluvium,
for example, occurs after an insult to the system. The most
common cause is pregnancy. This can result in extensive and
worrisome hair loss in women in the first few months after
the birth of a baby. It is temporary and returns completely.
What is the relationship between genetics and hair loss?
Although not the primary cause of male-pattern hair loss,
genetics does have a significant role in male-pattern hair
loss. It is, however, polygenic, in that there is more than
one factor at work. It is unclear whether having an affected
mother or an affected father predisposes descendants to
greater risk.
Can hair loss occur in young adults?
Male-pattern hair loss can occur as early as 15, although it
typically begins anywhere from the 20s and early 30s.
Familial history may help determine if this is going to
occur, as parents with a history of early-onset male-pattern
hair loss may increase the risk for this to occur in
descendants. Alopecia areata and telogen effluvium, two
other forms of temporary hair loss, can occur in children as
young as one year of age. Other precipitating factors may
also be involved.
What can be the cause of a sudden loss of a large mass of
hair?
Stressors to your system, such as illness, high fever,
pregnancy, extreme weight loss or gain, and drug use, can
cause temporary hair loss. This occurs when the ratio of
growing to resting hairs is upset and more of the growing
hair shifts into a resting phase. A greater quantity of
normally sleeping hairs falls out, prompting a visit to the
dermatologist. This type of hair loss is temporary and full
re-growth should be expected.
Do shampoos and other hair products cause hair loss?
An allergic reaction to any constituent in shampoo or hair
products can cause hair loss. Shampoos are designed to be as
safe as possible, although there is always someone who will
react to them in some small way. hair dyes, strengtheners,
and other products can certainly cause inflammation of the
scalp and result in hair loss if abused, by leaving
strengtheners and hair dyes on the head to long,
Can my hairstyle cause my hair to fall out?
Certain hairstyles can contribute to hair loss, most notably
styles involving tight braids. This form of hair loss is
called
traction alopecia.
This occurs when the hair is pulled tightly back and
fastened at the base of the skull, or braided into tight
braids or rows. Exposure to this type of hairstyle over long
periods can result in a scarring alopecia, with no potential
for re-growth.
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