Hair Loss Cause
List
Hair
Loss Cause General: Hair is constantly going through cycles of
growth, resting, shedding. When hairs that are lost are not replaced,
or when more hair follicles go into the resting phase, hair loss
becomes noticeable.
The
list below shows many of the common contibuting factors:
Hair
Loss Cause - Sebum buildup: Sebum buildup in the follicles attacks
the hair bulb, the rounded area at the end of a hair strand which
is rooted in the follicle.
Sebum
causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted.
After
the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle
is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the
hair follicle is so damaged it dies.
Sebum
is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of
which open into hair follicles.
Hair
Loss Cause - Heredity: Androgenetic alopecia is the term used
to describe a genetic predisposition in men and women for pattern
baldness or pattern hair loss. Although there is a dominant tendency
for male pattern baldness, female members of a family can be transmitters
as well.
Hair
Loss Cause - Ageing: The period for hair loss is between the
20 and 50 years of age. Some individuals arrive at the advance stages
of hair loss sooner than others although it becomes increasingly
evident as people advance in age.
Hair
Loss Cause - Stress and nervous disorders: Telogen effluvium
is the term used for a slowing down of new hair growth because of
sudden or severe stress. The stress triggers a large number of hair
follicles to enter the resting stage, so a few months after the
stressful event, those follicles shed hair at about the same time.
Hair
Loss Cause - Drugs/Medications/Radiation: Included are anticoagulants,
antidepressants, contraceptive pills, amphetamines, some arthritis
medications, some antibiotics, some blood thinners, medicines for
gout, drugs derived from vitamin-A, certain drugs for ulcers, beta
blocker drugs for high blood pressure.
Cancer
treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy halt the growth
phase of hair follicles which results in a sudden hair loss as those
follicles all shed their hair at about the same time.
Hair
Loss Cause - Cosmetic chemicals: Particularly bleaching, permanents,
coloring.
Hair
Loss Cause - Immune System Disorder: Alopecia areata is an immune
system disorder which causes hair follicles to stop producing hairs.
Advanced forms of the disorder are identified by the terms alopecia
totalis when all head hair disappears, and alopecia universalis
which results in all body hair disappearing.
Hair Loss
Cause - Poor Blood Circulation: Poor blood flow to the
scalp, insufficient nutrients in the blood, or poor drainage
of waste products through the lymphatic systems can all contribute.
Hair Loss
Cause - Hormonal Imbalance: If the male and female hormones,
androgens and estrogens, are out of balance, hair loss may
result.
Also an overactive
or underactive thyroid gland can contribute to hair loss.
Hair
Loss Cause - Illness and severe infections: These can include
scalp fungal infections, Thyroid disorders, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism,
Diabetes, Lupus.
Hair
Loss Cause - Menopause: Due to hormonal changes after menopause,
some women find their hair begins to thin. There are a variety of
treatments available involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
There may be side effects in some cases and experimentation may
be necessary under the guidance of a physician.
Hair
Loss Cause - Pregnancy: Three to six months after delivering
a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes
into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the
pregnancy on the body.
Hair
Loss Cause - Pulling: Traction alopecia is the term used to
describe loss of hair from constant pulling, as with tightly braided
hair styles such as pony tails. Also the improper use of curling
tongs or rollers can tug the hair so it weakens.
Hair
Loss Cause Information Page - Return to Top
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