Do your tresses threaten to abandon you every morning, leaving bristles on your hair brush full of hair? Do you get cold feet dreading the day when your tresses might be too thin to brush through without fear? Well, it is high time you armed yourself with the knowledge about the causes of hair loss. Did you know that hair loss occurs because of some common reasons, yet few people know much about those? Here are some of the general reasons for hair loss:
1. Did you know that your hormones can be pretty important reasons for hair loss? Men have high quantities of androgen hormone in their bodies, while women have estrogen. When the levels of these hormones in the body fluctuate, hair loss occurs. Women during pregnancy do not lose much hair, because of the high quantity of estrogen in their bodies at that time. After childbirth, however, the hair loss resumes as usual, as the body reacts to receding levels of estrogen.
2. Hair care gone wrong: Chemical treatments such as permanent straightening or curling are also reasons for hair loss. Using tight rubber bands and curlers or braiding your hair too tightly will cause the hair shaft to stretch and eventually snap. Prolonged use of hair straighteners, dyes, bleaches and curlers will strip your hair of its vital nutrients and result in rough textured hair, split ends and hair fall.
3. Medications: Many drugs that we consume are responsible for the alarming rate in increase of hair fall. Medications for hypertension, depression, heart disease and arthritis cause weakening of hair roots and hair fall. The radiation treatment for cancer is also a reason for hair fall.
4. Malnutrition and stress – Malnutrition is one of the most important reasons for hair loss as well. This is because when you lack vital nutrients in your diet, your body fails to supply adequate nutrients to the hair roots, preventing growth of new hair.
5. Genetic factor: Genes being passed from one generation to the next is also a cause for hair fall. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself going bald knowing that grandpa had a shiny bald pate. Genetic hair loss is influenced by the hormone testosterone and is visible more often in men. One must note that hereditary or genetic balding is not because of hair fall but the body’s inability to produce more hair.
The treatments of hair loss are as varied as the reasons themselves. The best way to combat hair loss is to find out the actual reason and work towards eliminating it.