Why You’re Losing Your Hair

By: Melody Rabor-Dizon

 

“The hair is the richest ornament of women” (Martin Luther)

The effect of hair loss came real to me when I saw my sister who has been battling with Lupus for nearly 20 years have balding spots in her scalp. To be honest, it crushed me. My sister and I or should I say my family never had issues with alopecia. I know that hair is very important for us as it is part of the whole look. There are times you want it down, undone to create a subtle appearance and other times you can also vie for a sophisticated, upscale demeanor just with the touch of your hair. So hair to me is a BIG DEAL. Let’s tackle some other issues why people are losing their hair.

“Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself” (Hubert De Givenchy) 1

. Physical stress: Any kind of physical trauma surgery, a car accident, or a severe illness, even the fl u can cause temporary hair loss. This can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a programmed life cycle: a growth phase, rest phase and shedding phase. “When you have a really stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, (pushing) more hair into the shedding phase,” explains a dermatologist in New York City. Hair loss often becomes noticeable three-to-six months after the trauma.

2. Pregnancy: Pregnancy hormone -related hair loss is seen more commonly after your baby has been delivered rather than actually during pregnancy as giving birth is pretty traumatic event. What to do: If you do experience hair loss, rest assured that your hair will grow back in a couple of months. It’s a normal thing and it will work its way out, per gynecologists.

3. Too much Vitamin A: Overdoing vitamin A-containing supplements or medications can trigger hair loss. Vitamin B defi ciency: In the same way, low levels of vitamin B are another correctible cause of hair loss. What to do: This is a reversible cause of hair loss and once the excess vitamin A is halted, hair should grow normally. Supplementation of Vitamin B should help the problem.

4. Lack of protein: If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may ration protein by shutting down hair growth. This can happen about two to three months after a drop in protein intake, experts say. What to do: There are many great sources of protein, including fi sh, meat, and eggs that you can start indulging in.

5. Male pattern baldness: About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 60, and most of the time it’s due to male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genes and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in which the hair recedes at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline. Female-pattern hair loss, called androgenetic alopecia, is basically the female version of male pattern baldness. If you come from a family where women started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might be more prone to it, their parts may widen and may have noticeable thinning of hair. What to do: There are topical creams like Minoxidil and oral medications such as Finasteride (Propecia) that can halt hair loss or even cause some to grow; surgery to transplant or graft hair is also an option.

6. Female hormones: Switching or going off birth-control pills can cause telogen effluvium (shedding phase) and it may be more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. The change in the hormonal balance that occurs at menopause, activating the androgen (male hormone) receptors on the scalp, miniaturizing the hair follicles will miniaturize will give hair loss. What to do: If a new Rx is a problem, switch back or talk to your doctor about other birth control types. Stopping oral contraceptives can also sometimes cause hair loss. Don’t make your problem worse with hair-damaging beauty regimens as well.

7. Emotional stress: More often, emotional stress will not precipitate the hair loss. It will exacerbate a problem that’s already there, per dermatologists. What to do: Take steps to combat stress and anxiety, like getting more exercise, trying talk therapy, or getting more support if needed.

8. Anemia: Almost one in 10 women aged 20 through 49 suffers from anemia due to an iron which is an easily fixable cause of hair loss. What to do: A simple iron supplement should correct the problem.

9. Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland that produces hormones is not pumping out enough and can contribute to hair loss. What to do: Synthetic thyroid medication will take care of the problem. Once your thyroid levels return to normal, so should your hair.

10. Autoimmune related hair loss: This is also called alopecia areata and basically is a result of an overactive immune system. “The body gets confused and the immune system sees the hair as foreign and targets it by mistake.” Per dermatologists. What to do: Steroid injections are the first line of treatment for alopecia areata. The course of the condition can be unpredictable, with hair growing back then falling out again.

11. Dramatic weight loss: Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can result in thinning hair. Loss of hair along with noticeable weight loss may also be a sign of an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. What to do: “Sudden weight loss seems to shock the system and there will be a six-month period of hair loss and then it corrects itself,” per dermatologists

12. Chemotherapy: “Chemotherapy is like a nuclear bomb. It destroys rapidly dividing cancer cells and rapidly dividing hair cells.” What to do: Once chemotherapy is stopped, hair will grow back although often it will come back with a different texture (perhaps curly when before it was straight) or a different color.

13. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another imbalance in male and female sex hormones. An excess of androgens can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a higher risk of diabetes, changes in your menstrual period, infertility, as well as hair thinning. Because male hormones are overrepresented in PCOS, women may also experience more hair on the face and body. What to do: Treating PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse some of these changes. Treatments include diet, exercise, and potentially birth control pills, as well as specifi c treatment to address infertility or diabetes risk.

14. Antidepressants, blood thinners, beta blockers, Anabolic steroids, NSAIDS or Ibuprofen and more: What to do: Switching meds or going off medications only if it is safe and recommended by physician should help the issue once it is figured out.

15. Overstyling: Vigorous styling and hair treatments over the years can cause your hair to fall out. Examples of extreme styling include tight braids, hair weaves or corn rows as well as chemical relaxers to straighten your hair, hot-oil treatments or any kind of harsh chemical or high heat. Because these practices can actually affect the hair root, your hair might not grow back. What to do: In addition to avoiding these styles and treatments, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using conditioner after every shampoo, letting your hair air dry, limiting the amount of time the curling iron comes in contact with your hair and using heat-driven products no more than once a week.

16. Trichotillomania: Classified as an “impulse control disorder,” causes people to compulsively pull their hair out. “It’s sort of like a tic, the person is constantly playing and pulling their hair, per dermatologists. Trichotillomania often begins before the age of 17 and is four times as common in women as in men. What to do: Some antidepressants may be effective, but behavioral modification therapy is another option.

17. Aging: It’s not uncommon to see hair loss or thinning of the hair in women as they enter their 50s and 60s. Experts aren’t sure why this happens. What to do: Experts don’t recommend that this condition be treated. That leaves women with cosmetic approaches such as scarves, wigs and hair styled so as to cover up thin spots..

“I have little hair because my brain is so big it pushes the hair out” (Silvio Berlusconi)

There it is folks. Yes, hair is hair but to take it in perspective, hair is really just hair. There is more to life than hair.

“Her messy hair a visible attribute of her stubborn spirit. As she shakes it free, she smiles knowing wild is her favorite color” (J Iron Wood) …….. “there’s your diamond in the rough” (excerpts from cnn health)