The common causes of hair loss, and how to combat them
If you’re prone to hair loss or are currently noticing a difference in the thickness of your hair, you’re not alone. Hair loss is a common problem for many people, including both men and women, and can be due to a number of different factors. While losing your hair can be scary and unsettling, this guide will give you an insight into the reasons behind hair loss, and the easy ways you can combat and conceal it.
Stress
Stress, both emotional and physical, can result in temporary hair loss. Trauma such as surgery or a severe illness, or a strain on your mental wellbeing through anxiety can alter the hair cycle, prompting a condition called telogen effluvium which causes hair to fall out. At this point of frustration, a must read article might be your last resort, if nothing else has worked out.
Hormones
Hormonal changes play a big part in the hair loss of many people, particularly women. From pregnancy to excess estrogen or high testosterone levels, women’s bodies can go through a lot of changes in a lifetime, all of which can cause sudden loss of hair. Thyroid levels can also contribute to this, with fluctuations like low thyroid being the culprit behind thinning hair around the scalp.
Lack of protein
A balanced diet is key to your health, but did you know it’s also key to your hair? A lack of protein in the diet has been known to shut down hair growth as a result of the body rationing what small amount of protein is left. This delayed hair growth is usually noticed around a couple of months after dietary changes, but can grow back as normal once protein intake is increased.
Male pattern baldness
Perhaps the most common cause of hair loss in men is male pattern baldness. This often hereditary problem is something a lot of men face as they age, usually beginning as a receding hairline and eventually resulting in thinner, shorter hair, or loss of it completely.
Vitamin deficiency
There are many vitamins that contribute to healthy, strong hair growth, but it’s not always easy to get enough of these in our diets. Anemia is a common condition caused by iron deficiency which can make hair fall out, as can a lack of vitamin B and vitamin D. Vitamin deficiency can also lead to various dental and gum problems. Visit South Fremantle family dental for a regular and thorough oral check up.
What you can do
Prevent it
If you’re worried that a poor diet, stressful career or unlucky genes are going to affect the fullness of your hair, there are things you can do to try and stop hair loss in it’s tracks. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, incorporating more protein into your diet could prevent hair loss, and taking supplements could make up for some of the lost vitamins and minerals that can contribute to this problem. Simply taking good care of your hair by washing it with protein enhanced shampoo, using a good hairbrush and avoiding excessive bleach or chemicals can all improve the likelihood of strong, healthy hair.
Grow it
There are a number of over the counter hair boosting supplements available that claim to help thinning hair grow, many of which also benefit skin and nails. If you’re looking for a more natural route to growing your hair back, castor oil is a great option, which can increase circulation to the scalp when applied regularly. Since stress may have been the cause of your hair loss, make sure you encourage new growth by lowering stress through meditation, exercise, and generally taking more time for yourself. You are also welcome to undergo a follicular micro-pigmentation (also known as scalp micro-pigmentation) which is a non-surgical solution that corrects any type of baldness.
Conceal it
So after you’ve altered your eating habits, found some supplements and introduced a proper grooming routine, one quick and easy solution is to conceal any thinning areas of hair while you wait for new hair growth. There are some great products on the market to do this, such as 3d hair fibres which mimic the appearance of natural hair that lasts all day long through all types of weather.