Here’s why men, women experience hair loss

by | Oct 16, 2015 | Hair | 0 comments

While men are more likely to suffer from hair loss than women, thinning hair is quite as common in women as well. The reasons for hair loss in men and women can vary from a vitamin deficiency problem to an underlying health ailment.

There are several treatments available these days to treat hair loss. However, it all starts with first identifying the cause of the same. Here are some reasons why you may be experiencing hair loss.

Stress – any trauma – accident, severe illness, or even the daily hectic schedule – can lead to temporary hair loss. Hair loss due to stress is referred to as telogen effluvium. Hair has a growth cycle. During stressful times, more hair is pushed into the shedding phase. The best part is that hair starts growing again after you recover from stress.

Pregnancy – pregnancy-related hair loss happens after the delivery of the baby and not as much while you are pregnant. If you have faced hair loss due to childbirth, it will grow again in a few months. It is normal to lose hair while pregnant, and it grows back soon.

Excess vitamin A – too much vitamin A in your medications can lead to hair loss in men and women. It is a reversible reason, and once you stop the consumption of vitamin A, hair grows back normally.

No protein – if there is a lack of protein in your diet, hair growth is stunted. You can include several great protein sources in your daily diet to grow thick hair.

Male pattern baldness – this hair loss results from a combination of male sex hormones and genetic factors. Your doctor can recommend oral and topical medications to halt hair loss. Grafting and transplanting hair are also good options for treating the condition.

Female pattern hair loss, also referred to as androgenic or androgenetic alopecia, is the female version of male pattern baldness. If any woman in your family suffers from this, you are at risk of contracting it, too. Unlike men, however, women do not face a receding hairline; instead, their hair parting may widen, and they may face thinning of hair. Your doctor can suggest over-the-counter medicines to help you grow hair again.

Female hormones—Hormonal changes due to avoiding or switching birth control pills can lead to female-pattern hair loss. The change in hormonal balance during menopause can also trigger hair loss. Consult your doctor to learn how to counter this type of hair loss.

Emotional stress – though a less likely reason, but it has been found that emotional reasons can also cause hair loss in men and women. Take steps to control your stress for the health of your hair.

Anaemia—Many women suffer from anaemia due to iron deficiency. This is an easily treatable cause. To correct the problem, take iron supplements daily.

Hypothyroidism means underactive thyroid glands. Your doctor can perform some tests to understand the cause behind it and prescribe medicines. The medication is enough to treat the condition. As the thyroid levels return to normal, the health of the hair improves, too.

Sudden weight lossa sudden drop in weight can lead to hair thinning and hair loss in men and women. It is a type of physical trauma that can lead to mineral or vitamin deficiencies. The period of hair loss for this reason lasts around six months before hair starts to grow again.

If you are experiencing hair loss, the first step is to talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to diagnose the cause and prescribe the right treatment for hair growth.

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Amelia Smith

Nutritionist, herbalist, health and medicine writer and yoga enthusiast, Amelia Smith, is a professional in the health, nutrition and diet industry.

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