The Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss in patients can be caused by a range of various factors.  From genetic pre-disposition through to infection of the scalp, or more serious underlying conditions, excessive hair loss can occur for a vast number of reasons.  In fact, it is common for everyone to lose around a hundred hairs every day through brushing and other contact with the hair, as well as those which naturally fall each and every day.  Additionally, in times of stress, we see increasing numbers of hair lost from the scalp as our bodies try to deal with difficult situations.

It is commonplace for those undergoing surgery to face an excessive amount of hair loss up to three to four months after surgery, or after a major illness, which is a temporary effect of the stress of recovering from such.  This type of hair loss is soon quick to turn around, and resume the normal cycle of hair growth after the stressful element, that is the recovery period, is over.  Additionally, in some patients the cause of their excessive hair loss may be hormonal, particularly as a result of abnormal activity in the thyroid glands.  Disease of the thyroid can be treated, and this may be the cause of hormonal inequalities within either male or female patients, of any age.  As soon as the disease is treated, normal hair growth patterns should resume unless there are further causes of the patient's specific condition responsible for their hair loss.  Again, the hormonal impact on hair loss can be seen in pregnant women, who commonly see hair loss after their pregnancy.  This is the result of excess retention of hair during pregnancy, which would otherwise fall out if it wasn't for specific hormonal properties.  As the hormonal balance returns to normal after the pregnancy, these hairs fall out as part of the ordinary hair growth cycle, causing the hair loss many pregnant women suffer.

It is also not uncommon for the cause of hair loss to lie in the unwanted properties of some other drug or medication, used to treat a completely separate condition.  Birth control pills and antidepressants can cause symptoms of hair loss, as well as chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and excessive vitamin A content in the body. If this is the case, it is advisable to consult the physician responsible and ask for an alternative medication or some form of treatment to help dampen these effects.  Additionally, infections of the follicles or scalp can cause hair loss, although again these are easily treated with selective medication.

Hair loss may also be an early symptom of some far more serious condition.  It is for this reason that it is vital to consult your doctor immediately to report any sudden or unexpected hair loss.  Hair loss is often an indication of diabetes or lupus, which benefit from early diagnosis and treatment, so it is important to visit your doctor without delay to help understand the root cause of your hair loss.

Hair loss news on the Web

Hair Loss: Myths And Truths - North American Press Syndicate

Hair Loss: Myths And Truths
North American Press Syndicate
(NAPSI)-If you're one of the millions of Americans who suffer from hair loss-listen up. Hereditary Hair Loss affects up to 40 percent of American men and 25 ...

Dietary Supplement Causes Widespread Selenium Poisoning - Medscape

Dietary Supplement Causes Widespread Selenium Poisoning
Medscape
Symptoms of selenium poisoning include nausea; vomiting; nail discoloration, brittleness, and loss; hair loss; fatigue; irritability; and foul breath odor. ...

and more »

14 Home Remedies For Hair Loss - International Business Times (press release)

14 Home Remedies For Hair Loss
International Business Times (press release)
Repeat this procedure for a month to get treated of hair loss. 2)Take uncooked egg yolk and massage it on the scalp. Keep it for an hour and then wash off. ...

and more »

Code.ai eyelash and brow growth products - Truth In Aging (blog)

Code.ai eyelash and brow growth products
Truth In Aging (blog)
Licorice root is frequently found in products to prevent male hair loss, although I haven't found any research to back up why that should be. ...

Hair Loss Motivates US Skeleton Racer Zach Lund - Voice of America

Hair Loss Motivates US Skeleton Racer Zach Lund
Voice of America
Lund was suspended for a year and booted from the 2006 Turin Olympics because of a hair-growth product that at the time contained a banned substance. ...

and more »

Q & A With Stuart Elliott - New York Times

Q & A With Stuart Elliott
New York Times
As Iconoculture has noted, the recession has resulted in higher job-loss rates for men than women (and perhaps hair loss, but that's another story). ...

Survey: Most think stress hair loss cause - UPI.com

Survey: Most think stress hair loss cause
UPI.com
Seventy-five percent of Americans incorrectly cite stress as a leading cause of hair loss, while 35 percent say frequently wearing a hat thins hair and 24 ...
Options are available for men and women to deal with hair lossPalm Beach Daily News
Lines Blurred Between Hair Loss Fact and FictionPR Newswire (press release)
Hair, Eyelash And Eyebrow Loss Products Discussed By Beauty ResearchOfficialWire (press release)

all 13 news articles »

Spencer teacher donates cut hair to Locks of Love - Livingston Daily

Spencer teacher donates cut hair to Locks of Love
Livingston Daily
The Locks of Love mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to ...
Charity event benefits Locks of LoveTimes Herald-Record
Gatsby Salon to host Locks of Love eventmyCentralJersy.com
Locks of Love accepting hair donations at salonsTimes Herald-Record

all 5 news articles »

Just love those Valentine's Day memories - Kansas.com

Just love those Valentine's Day memories
Kansas.com
Her ponytail went to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss ...

and more »

Switch of blood pressure drug might help with hair loss - Los Angeles Times

Switch of blood pressure drug might help with hair loss
Los Angeles Times
By Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon The People's Pharmacy I am a 39-year-old nurse who is experiencing drastic hair loss. I started taking atenolol for high ...

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