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What Causes Hair Loss?

Your hair is a living thing that goes through growth and rest periods, each cycle depends on the person, but the average growth cycle lasts about two and a half years, during this cycle your hair can grow approximately twenty-one inches over the entire two and a half year cycle. The average rest cycle can last three and a half months, itís during this time that normal hair loss occurs, normal hair loss is when an older strand of hair falls out and a new one begins to grow in its place, thus starting the growth cycle over again.

Loosing a few hairs here and there is normal and a gradual thinning of the hair will occur as you get older. On average you will loose fifty to one hundred hairs per day, but when you compare that to the amount of individual hairs you actually have, it is not a noticeable loss. Excessive hair loss however can lead to baldness if the loss is more than what can be replaced during the growth cycle, the hair that is growing in is thinner than the ones that fell out, or if you experience hair loss in patches.

There are a number of types of hair loss some are due to specific reasons and can be diagnosed and treated and some are due to various environmental, hormonal, or medical reasons and have no real diagnosis other than as a side affect of what may be already occurring. Many of the specific reasons are classified as alopecia, which is the medical term for hair loss, these can be corrected but it can a long period of time for the hair to grow back properly.

Specific Hair Loss Types (Alopecia)

• Alopecia areata ñ This is an autoimmune disease; most people who have it also suffer from other autoimmune disorders. It is believed that people who suffer from Alopecia areata have the genetic make-up for the disease and that the condition is set off by a trigger. People who have a family history of Alopecia areata are also more apt to develop the disease. The good news however is that your hair will grow back, it may take a number of growth cycles but it will grow back.
• Androgenetic alopecia ñ Commonly known as pattern baldness, this is a condition in which the growth cycle is cut short and the hairs that do grow in are thinner and not as healthy as normal. The hairs become less secure in the follicle as each growth cycle occurs allowing them to fall out much easier. Your heredity is a major part why you develop pattern baldness.
• Cicatricial alopecia - This is a permanent type of hair loss where damage is caused to the follicle by inflammation which leads to scarring. The scarring keeps new hair from growing and is only part of other diseases such as Lupus.
• Telogen effluvium ñ This occurs when you experience a physical or emotional distress, which can cause the hairs to fall out before the your normal rest cycle begins. Once your body recovers from the shock your normal hair cycle will return and your hair will resume growing at itís regular pace.
• Traction alopecia ñ This is caused by the way you style your hair. If you wear your hair in a way where the hair gets pulled tightly it damages the follicle, if not stopped it can permanently scar your follicles causing permanent hair loss.

Other Hair Loss Causes

• Disease - Hair loss can be a direct side effect to a number of diseases, the ones that are the most prevalent are diabetes and lupus.
• Hair treatments - Overuse or improper use of chemicals on your hair, such those found in bleaching, hair dyes, perms, or straightening products, can lead to damaged hair shafts and follicles.
• Hormones - Your hormones affect the different changes in your body and your hair is no exception, you may experience hair loss if you have an over or under active thyroid. If you are male your hair loss may be due to too much testosterone, if you are female you may experience hair loss a few months after being pregnant or stopping birth control.
• Infections - Infections that effect the skin can lead to hair loss, the most recognized type of infections is ringworm; once the infection is cleared your hair growth will return to normal.
• Medical treatments and medication - Chemo or radiation therapy can be a cause of hair loss, these treatments affect the way new hair grows. Once treatment is over your hair will return to its normal hair cycle. Other medications that are used to treat arthritis, blood pressure, depression, gout, and heart disorders can lead to hair loss.
• Nutrition - Following a diet that is low in iron or protein can cause hair loss as can eating disorders and fad diets that donít provide a well rounded nutrition.
• Trichotillomania - This is a mental disorder where the person has the uncontrollable need to pull their hair. This can lead to large bald patches on the head, the cause of this disorder is still unknown.