What is normal hair loss? Why do we lose a lot of hair? How long does normal hair loss last? These are questions that most of us don't often think about. In reality, hair loss affects many people at some point in their lives and some lose more hair than others. It can be temporary hair loss as a result of a new hairstyle and excessive use of hair products, or a serious condition, such as alopecia. Knowing the causes of excessive hair loss and knowing what you can do to prevent and manage this situation will help you take the necessary steps to fix the problem.

Let's take a look at some of the main causes of common hair loss problems.

Main Causes of Hair Loss

Hereditary hair loss

La perte de cheveux héréditaire, autrement appelée alopécie, est une maladie génétique transmise par les parents à leurs enfants. Bien qu’il s’agisse de l’une des causes les plus courantes de la perte de cheveux, elle n’est pas prédominante chez les femmes. La perte de cheveux diffuse comprend l’alopécie androgénique (AGA), fréquente chez les hommes, l’alopécie areata (AA) et la trichotillomanie (TTM), un trouble du contrôle des impulsions, également appelé dermatillomanie, qui touche aussi bien les hommes que les femmes. L’alopécie causée par des conditions médicales comprend l’effluvium télogène (TE), les maladies thyroïdiennes, la déficience androgénique, l’anémie et les troubles auto-immuns. L’alopécie areata est l’un des troubles les plus courants de la perte de cheveux et une maladie auto-immune qui affecte les follicules pileux.

Déséquilibres hormonaux

Hormonal imbalances are responsible for many hair loss problems. Thyroid imbalance, irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy and PMS, an adrenal gland imbalance, and an imbalance in menopausal hormones can cause hair loss. The most common hormonal imbalance that causes hair loss is a thyroid disorder. Hair loss usually starts around the eyebrows or on the sides of the face. Hair loss occurs in a circular pattern that tends to go down towards the forehead. The condition can gradually worsen if thyroid hormone is not replaced with medication.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Although hair loss is usually associated with hormones, factors such as medications, diseases, diet, and pregnancy can also contribute to it.

Anaemia

This is another cause of hair loss in women, affecting women between the ages of 15 and 55 approximately. It causes redness of the skin, patches of baldness, patchy hair loss, and thinning hair. The main cause of anemia is low iron intake. Anemia can be treated by increasing the intake of iron and vitamin B12 in your diet.

Infections

Some infections such as pityriasis rubra pilaris can also lead to excessive hair loss. Pityriasis rubra pilaris, also known as Christmas tree hair, is a viral infection of the scalp. People who suffer from the severe form of this disease may also experience total hair loss. It begins to appear around the age of five and causes circular bald patches with white hairs on the scalp. This infection can also produce thick, dark-colored hair.

Medicaments

There are many medications, drugs, and treatments that can cause hair loss. Hair loss can be temporary, reversible, or permanent. Medications such as antibiotics, antiandrogens, some antidepressants, birth control pills, Depakote, Tegretol, and heart medications can also cause hair loss. Immunosuppressants, prescribed for certain diseases and conditions, are also likely to cause hair loss.

Poor diet

A poor diet is the cause of many hair loss problems in both men and women. This is because the diet is deficient in nutrients that the body needs for healthy hair. A poor diet can lead to iron deficiency, which is the main cause of hair loss in women. Hair loss occurs when the body replaces iron that is no longer present in the blood. It also occurs due to the low levels of nutrition in the body.

Pregnancy

Hair loss is a very common consequence of pregnancy. During pregnancy, hair loss is usually temporary, and hair grows back before the baby is born. Pregnancy-related hair loss results from a combination of hormones and pregnancy-related factors. These factors affect hair loss by increasing the amount of androgens and decreasing the amount of progesterone, which is responsible for hair follicle growth.

Stress

Hair is very much linked to our mood. When our stress levels are high, the scalp and hair are affected. This can lead to hair loss, dandruff, damaged hair, and much more. Stress also causes an imbalance of hormones in the body, which leads to hair loss. When we are stressed, hair follicles increase their cell turnover rate and become more fragile. This means that the hair breaks or falls out more easily.

Hair loss is not necessarily a disease. It is essential to know the cause of your hair loss so that you know which direction to take to treat the problem. It is also important to know how best to protect our hair from the many degradation factors it may be exposed to.