Understanding three different causes of hair loss

​Collaborative Post | Most of us are affected by hair loss at some point in our lives, but despite this, the topic is rarely discussed. Sometimes, thinning hair is just part of getting older – it occurs in both men and women and is generally seen as normal, albeit an inconvenience. However, sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of something more serious going on. It’s important to recognise what has triggered your hair loss, and look out for any signs and symptoms that may indicate an underlying health condition.
 
Most of the time, minor hair loss is nothing to worry about – and even if it’s caused by a health concern, it’s often manageable. But, how do you know whether or not your thinning hair is something that requires treatment? To help you recognise what to look for, here are three different causes of hair loss you should know about.

Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash

Hormonal changes and health conditions

Many women will find that they experience hormone fluctuations throughout their lives, whether as a result of pregnancy, childbirth or menopause. Each of these can affect hair growth, although everybody’s experience will be different.
 
It’s possible for health conditions in both men and women to trigger hair loss too, such as alopecia or infections of the scalp, like ringworm. While not directly linked, hair loss can occur as a side effect of medications used to treat other illnesses – this is commonly seen in patients being treated for cancer, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Stress and mental health

How we feel inside can have a huge impact on how our body functions. Often, we see hair loss occurring as a result of prolonged stress, or other enduring episodes of poor mental health.
 
The reasons for stress-related hair loss aren’t well understood, but researchers believe it happens as a result of the hair follicles entering a prolonged rest phase. Luckily, stress-related hair loss is reversible, and should return to normal once your mental health has improved.

Treatments and hairstyles

Some of the hairstyles that look great aren’t always the best for our hair. Tight, slicked-back hairstyles in particular can put a great deal of stress on our hair follicles, leading to thinning at the root. Similarly, shampoos, conditioners and other treatments applied directly to the scalp can irritate or damage hair follicles, or even cause breakage to the entire hair shaft.
 
To avoid hair loss as a result of treatments and hairstyles, it’s best to always perform a patch test before using a new product, and to limit the amount of strain you put on your scalp, by tying your hair back loosely as opposed to more tightly. Some people also find that sleeping with a hair wrap helps to prevent pulling on the hair throughout the night, further improving the hair’s strength and condition.

Symptoms to watch for

Most people will notice fairly early on if they’re starting to lose hair. Whether or not you seek treatment for non-health-related hair loss is a matter of preference – there are plenty of routes to go down if you choose to do so. Effective treatments include some medications or an artificial hair transplant. Treatments for hair loss triggered by a health condition will vary depending on the underlying issue, but usually, hair growth will return to normal once the root cause of the problem is resolved.
 
As with any change in the way your body functions, you should always check to see if any other symptoms coincide with your hair loss. Be sure to watch out for weight fluctuations, aches and pains, shifts in mood, or just a general feeling of being unwell – while you should get any unusual hair loss checked out, coinciding symptoms may be a sign you should seek more urgent medical attention.

Seek advice if you're concerned

​Hair loss is common and has a range of potential causes. If you’re concerned about thinning hair, be sure to seek advice from a medical professional – most hair loss concerns are easily rectified with the correct treatment plan.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.