_edited.png)
Hair loss can be difficult. Not only is it stressful seeing your hair falling out, but it can also leave you helpless and confused as remedies don’t seem to work. The thing with hair loss is that there are many different causes, some with their own individual method of treatment.
In this short blog you’ll learn about the different types of hair loss and how you can treat them. We recommend you see a medical professional for a diagnosis of your type of hair loss but keep reading to find out more and put your mind at ease regarding your condition. One big cause of
hair loss is stress after all, and understanding more about your condition can relieve some of that and potentially slow it down!
So here are 7 causes of hair loss, and what you can do about them.
1. Genetic (hereditary) hair loss
Commonly referred to as male or female pattern hair loss, this is the type of hair loss that is inherited. It means you have inherited genes from your parents that cause your hair follicles to shrink. Over time these shrinking hair follicles will stop producing hair that leads to the characteristic signs of hereditary hair loss.
In women this is commonly an overall thinning of the hair, or a widening middle parting.
In men this is commonly a receding hair line and/or a bald spot on the top of the head.
The good news about this type of hair loss is that it is treatable. It’s a common myth that hereditary hair loss is untreatable, but treatment is quite simple with the use of PRP (click here to learn more about PRP) with minoxidil or finasteride. When you start treatment you’ll notice hair loss will gradually slow to a stop, and hairs previously “lost” may begin to grow back. It’s important to note however that the sooner you start treatment the better your results will be. Left
unchecked for too long and your hair may never regrow!
2. Aging
Unsurprisingly, aging can also contribute to hair loss. The rate of hair growth starts slowing down as we get older, and hair begins to thin and lose colour. Treatment can help to stop this however, if caught early enough.
3. Severe illness, childbirth, stress
Stress can cause hair loss, as we mentioned previously, in a similar way to serious illness or childbirth. When your body is put under extreme stress it is common to notice hair loss. This type of hair loss is called Telogen Effluvium and is caused by your body pushing hair follicles into what’s called the ‘resting phase’. This stops those hair follicles from producing hairs until they return to the ‘growth phase’.
This type of hair loss will go away on its own once the stress on the body stops. For example when you are fully recovered from illness or childbirth, or if the stress stops. It usually lasts for 6-9 months, and after this the hair will begin to regrow gradually. You can speed up this growth with treatments such as PRP, however it is not necessary if you are happy to wait.
4. Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata is caused by your immune system attacking hair follicles and displays as characteristic bald patches. This can happen to any hairs on your body, not necessarily just your head. Your hair can regrow on its own following this type of hair loss, but treatment can help if not.
Corticosteroid injections into the site of hair loss every 4-6 weeks can help regrow the hair, as well as PRP to speed up regrowth.
5. Medication
Some medication can cause your hair to fall out. If you’ve recently started taking medication, or have been for a while, and notice hair loss we recommend you read at the leaflet that comes with it. You can find the side effects of the medication, some of which could be hair loss. Consult with your doctor if that is the case, and they may change your medication to stop this side effect where possible.
6. Thyroid disease
A common symptom of thyroid disease is hair loss, often coming out in clumps when you brush your hair. If you notice this or have a history of thyroid problems, we recommend you see your GP for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. Hair loss tends to reverse once the thyroid condition is treated.
7. Nutrient deficiency
You may experience hair loss when your body is lacking sufficient biotin, iron, zinc, or protein. This hair loss will reverse once your body gets enough of these nutrients, however we recommend seeing a doctor first. With simple blood tests you can pinpoint the lacking nutrient, however the reason may be a little more complex. For example, iron deficiency can be caused by an inability to properly absorb iron and needs careful treatment.
So, there are 7 of the common causes of hair loss, and what you can do about them. We hope this blog has given you some useful information, and possibly cleared up some confusion regarding hair loss and the different types. The first step is the hardest but seeing a medical professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan will set you up to restore your hair in the best possible way. For free hair loss consultations with Dr Hala please fill out the contact form or get in touch by phone or email, and we’ll be more than happy to get you started on your hair restoration journey!