Hair loss is one such problem that affects both men and women equally. All too often, this phenomenon vies for our attention, frequently, a lot more than needed. While hair fall isn’t a healthy sign, you don’t have to worry about it always. In a normal scenario, a hair grows from its follicle, ages and falls when it is time. Hence hair fall always doesn’t indicate a serious problem. Keeping in mind the hair growth cycle, remember that 75 to 100 hairs that you shed off every day is believed to be normal. However, excessive or abnormal hair fall can be due to various reasons, here are a few of them.
Stress: Stress is known to take its toll on one’s health in various ways and hair loss is just one of them. ‘In young adults whose anxiety levels are high, which is usually a result of stress and a sedentary lifestyle, hair loss isn’t an uncommon occurrence,’ says Dr Apritam Goel, dermatologist, Cutis Skin Studio, Mumbai. The exact reasons why stress leads to excessive hair loss is not ascertained yet, but experts believe that hormonal imbalances due to elevated stress levels could be a probable cause of hair loss. Read about the nine yoga poses to beat hair loss.
Nutritional deficiencies: Imbalances in the diet can lead to excessive hair loss as well. ‘People tend to forget that apart from the macronutrients, micronutrients are also important for the body, which includes the hair too. Deficiency of certain nutrients, vitamins or minerals affects the health of the hair. Apart from making it look dull, limp and lifeless, it can lead to excessive hair fall too. Going on extreme diets, like cutting down on carbohydrates completely or being on a high protein diet, at times, can lead to hair loss as one of its side effects. Remember, to sustain the health of your hair you need a host of nutrients and minerals like iron, folic acid, selenium, essential vitamins and minerals, but with such dieting pattern you tend to miss on most of them and then the damage is inevitable,’ says Dr Goel. However, the damage isn’t irreversible as with proper diet and supplementation this kind of hair loss can be controlled. Read 10 tips to beat hair loss and have healthy hair.
Medications: Medications do come with their own set of side effects. ‘It is usually seen that people who take medications like antidepressants, anabolic steroids, anti cancer drugs, BP medications, pain killers for chronic conditions, etc., suffer from some degree of hair loss. This kind of hair loss is due to a combination of reasons like, physiological changes happening inside the body and the effect of the drugs consumed. Often these factors make the hair follicles go into a state of shock which gives rise to hair fall that could become a cause of concern,’ says Dr Goel. If the drugs are an absolute necessity then alternative hair resurrection procedures are suggested depending on one’s health condition and requirements. Read 9 natural ways to have soft and damage free hair.
Acute illness: After medications, any kind of acute illness can be responsible or a probable cause of the same. ‘People suffering from an acute illness like typhoid, malaria, or a more severe condition like cancer might experience excessive hair loss. At times women can suffer from hair fall during the postpartum phase also due to hormonal imbalances,’ says Dr Goel.
Chronic conditions: Sometimes suffering from conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders or even arthritis can lead to hair loss. ‘With a condition like diabetes, the blood supply to the hair follicles decreases and hence the outcome is loss of hair. Similarly in thyroid disorders where the metabolism of the body goes a bit haywire its effects shows on the health of your hair too, using painkillers to treat acute arthritis pain also doesn’t spare your hair,’ warns Dr Goel.
Genetic conditions: This is one factor over which you have no control whatsoever. ‘Sometimes you might have to compromise on less, weak hair, but you can still ensure that they remain healthy and strong through some supplementation and medications. There are other genetic factors like lupus, leprosy, etc., that can lead to hair loss. Another genetic condition that leads to excessive hair fall in men and is termed as male pattern balding runs in families. However, there is a lot that can be done to prevent this condition if proper care is ensured early in life,’ advises Dr Goel.
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