Causes of Hair Loss

The hormonal process of testosterone converting to DHT, which harms hair follicles, happens to both men and women. DHT is the main cause of hair loss, however other illnesses can have an effect on the levels of DHT in your body, increasing or decreasing hair loss.

Alopecia Areata –

This only occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles which is where hair growth begins. Alopecia Areata usually begins when clumps of hair fall out, resulting in totally smooth, round hairless patches on the scalp or other areas of the body. Anyone can be affected, at any age; however it’s most common in younger people.

Stress –

If you suffer from a lot of stress and anxiety then this can lead to Telogen Effluvium, this is responsible for large portions of hair loss. It leads your hair to stop growing, not hair loss. Stress can also cause Alopecia Areta which is shown above. Stress can also lead to Trichotillomania - this is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. Stress may not cause permanent hair loss. If your stress is under control, this can result in your hair growing back.

Family History (heredity) –

The most common type of hair loss is called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It occurs gradually and in patterns that are predictable. Pattern baldness is most common in men and can begin as early as puberty.

Vitamin Deficiency –

Having a balanced diet and ensuring that your body gets the right vitamins and nutrients is an important part of hair growth. The correct nutrients can promote hair growth. Having a vitamin deficiency can lead to the loss of hair, deficiencies in protein and vitamin B are linked with hair loss. A vitamin deficiency can be easily solved by both re-evaluating your diet and ensuring you get the correct nutrients, or by taking vitamin supplements.

Hormonal Imbalance –

Hormonal fluctuations usually occur in women during times of menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. The decrease in estrogen levels before menstruation and during perimenopause allows for an increase in other hormones, like testosterone, in relation to estrogen. Testosterone is the main hair-producing hormone in the body. However, testosterone also shrinks the hair follicles, so when female hormones drop, testosterone dominance causes female-pattern hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen, or a male hormone, that is derived from testosterone. When androgen circulation increases, hair regrowth might be stunted. For that reason, hormonal imbalance is the primary cause of thinning hair in women going through menopause. It is important to try and restore estrogen levels in order to prevent this from happening.