The Most Common Signs and Causes of Hair Loss
You may not realize it, but you lose around 50 to 100 hairs a day. In fact, everybody does.
What happens if you start losing more? Losing your hair is a horrible feeling. It can result in self-esteem issues, depression, embarrassment and a general lack of confidence. While hair loss is much more common in men, it can also affect women too.
The reasons for hair loss are vast and vary from person to person. Some people experience slow and gradual loss over many years and others lose their hair in a matter of months. Regardless of how it’s affecting you, it always helps to educate yourself.
Let’s go over some of the common signs of hair loss and possible causes.
Signs to Watch Out For
Hair loss manifests itself in different ways. There are a number of symptoms to watch out for. These symptoms could be connected to the reason you’re losing your hair, so make sure to examine your scalp and keep a record of what’s going on.
It’s important to see your doctor if you think you’re losing your hair prematurely or as a result of other health issues. First, look for the following warning signs.
Thinning
Gradually thinning hair is the most common way men and women experience loss. The thinning process often occurs over the course of many years.
For men, thinning begins as a receding hairline. It starts on the sides near the temples and increases in depth over time.
Women, on the other hand, experience a general thinning over the entire head. A good indication is if your part is beginning to increase in size.
Bald Spots
One of the most frustrating signs of hair loss is a bald spot somewhere on the scalp. This can be very embarrassing, as sometimes it happens rather quickly.
Men experience this much more often, though it’s possible in women too. It’s a common symptom of male pattern baldness. A bald spot may start relatively small towards the back of the head and increase in size.
Itchiness
One of the early signs of hair loss is an itchy or irritated scalp. If this starts happening suddenly and you don’t have a history of dandruff, it may mean your hair’s falling out.
It’s possible your scalp has a build-up of sebum, which causes itchiness. Sebum is the oil in your skin. If the pores on your scalp are clogged with sebum, the hair follicles may get blocked.
Keep in mind that an itchy scalp could be the result of a number of things. You’ll need to see a doctor to determine the exact cause.
Your Hair Grows Slower
If you notice you don’t need a haircut as frequently, this could be one of the signs of hair loss. Male pattern baldness occurs because your hair follicles enter a resting phase as you get older. This means your hair won’t grow as fast.
Physical Evidence
You may also notice evidence of loss in the shower when you wash your hair. You may also see more falling out when you brush or comb your hair.
You can also look for hair left on your pillow when you wake up. These all could indicate you’ve started to lose your hair.
Possible Causes
Now that we’ve gone over some of the common signs of hair loss, let’s look at reasons why it could be happening.
Remember, everyone’s different and your genetic makeup may have a lot to do with losing your hair. However, there are some environmental and health-related issues that may cause it as well.
Stress
Too much stress seems to wreak havoc on all aspects of our health, and hair loss is no exception.
Stress affects your blood pressure, and often this means your scalp isn’t getting good blood flow. If you’re under constant stress, don’t be surprised if you notice your hair falling out.
The good thing is you can reverse the amount of loss by finding ways to reduce stress.
Hair Care Products
Unfortunately, many brand name hair care products include harmful chemicals. Your skin absorbs these chemicals when you wash or style your hair. Over time, the result could be hair loss.
If you suspect this is happening, try switching to all-natural products and see if the loss stops. Capillus offers a wide range of products to help with hair recovery.
Pregnancy
Some women experience hair loss during pregnancy as a result of both stress and hormonal changes.
It’s also common after the physical and emotional stress of giving birth. Some women notice hair loss in the weeks after their baby is born. This typically stops and hair grows back within months.
Not Getting Enough Protein
If you can’t discover a cause after seeing signs of hair loss, it may be connected to your diet. This is something many people overlook. The good this is, you may simply need more protein.
When your body doesn’t get enough protein, it naturally rations the protein it has. One of the ways it does this is by cutting back on hair growth.
Heredity
This is one of the most common causes of going bald. You may be genetically inclined to lose your hair. This goes for both men and women.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to fight heredity. However, talk to your doctor about what you can do to slow down the process.
Medications
Certain prescription medications cause hair loss in many people. Some common medications that do this include antidepressants, painkillers, and blood pressure medication.
If you notice accelerated hair loss when you start a prescription, speak to your doctor right away.
Watch for These and Other Signs of Hair Loss
Dealing with hair loss is both embarrassing and a jolt to your self-confidence. If it’s inevitable, the best thing you can do is accept it and try not to stress. Remember, worrying about it could just cause more hair to fall out.
Paying attention to the warning signs and causes above could give you a jump on slowing or preventing the process. If you think you need extra help, speak to your doctor about your options.
For more articles on staying healthy, check out our blog today.
