Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons and there is no exact science in determining the cause of your specific hair loss condition. You may have one or many contributing factors.
On average, people lose between 50 to 100 strands per day. There is an estimated 90,000 to 150,000 hairs on a healthy human head. Due to the normal hair growth cycle, for each hair that is lost, there is another hair gained. It’s simply natural to shed 50 to 100 hairs daily. Furthermore, the more hair you have, the more hair you will shed daily.
However, if you suddenly notice an increase in shed hairs or a sudden visibly thin area on your head, it may be a reasonable cause for concern.
The Most Common Causes of Hair Loss
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is the MOST common form of hair loss in both men and women. In men, it is commonly known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern. Without intervention, over time the hairline recedes and will form a characteristic shape. Hair also thins at the crown which can ultimately lead to partial or complete baldness.
If there is a history in your family of male or female-pattern baldness, it is likely to happen to you as well. Hereditary baldness itself is primarily based on how you are simply genetically programmed to process testosterone.
Testosterone, an androgen, converts to DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, via the Alpha 5 reductase which can trigger androgenic alopecia by shortening the normal growth phase in every individual hair’s lifecycle. This usually happens with age, with two-thirds of postmenopausal women and 85% of men over 50 years of age experiencing some degree of hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia in men has been associated with several other medical conditions including coronary heart disease and enlargement of the prostate.
Additionally, prostate cancer, disorders of insulin resistance (such as diabetes and obesity), and high blood pressure have been related to androgenetic alopecia.
Androgenetic Alopecia in women is more commonly referred to as female pattern baldness.
The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male-pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline typically does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia in women rarely leads to total baldness.
This form of hair loss is associated with an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular menstruation, acne, excess hair elsewhere on the body (hirsutism), and weight gain.
There are other issues that can lead to increased androgen activity in the body, including endocrine conditions such as thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, adrenal dysplasia, MTHFR mutation, and more. We all carry two forms of the MTHFR gene that come from our parents. This mutation, combined with other hereditary traits, such androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or sickle cell, can lead to hair thinning and hair loss.
Cushing disease is a problem with the pituitary gland that leads to excess amounts of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids cause masculine body changes in women. Tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause too much production of androgens and can lead to male body characteristics in women.
Auto-Immune Disorders
Hair loss can also be the sign of an auto-immune disorder called alopecia areata, which can be hereditary. In that instance, the body attacks hair follicles and disrupts hair growth which leads to bald patches and can also cause loss of eyelashes and brow hairs.
Covid-19
Covid-19 has been linked to acute telogen effluvium. This severe infection can bring about a hair loss phase depending on several factors which could include the amount of inflammation caused by the infection, the medications required to fight the infection, how long the infection lasted and the overall way it affected your well-being.
Postpartum
The body undergoes major hormonal changes during pregnancy Initially, it’s great for your hair and often becomes extra lush and shiny as pregnancy encourages hair follicles to stay in the anagen growth phase. After delivery, it is normal to notice increased amounts of hair shedding, as many hairs which remained in the prolonged anagen phase during pregnancy change over to the catagen phase. This is considered common and should not be any reason to panic. Even if it feels like you may be losing an abnormal amount of hair, it is just an accumulation of all the hair you would have normally lost had you not been pregnant.
Postpartum hormonal fluctuations can lead to hair loss because many hairs will enter the resting phase as hormones normalize the hair sheds. This hair loss is usually temporary, and soon new hairs will begin to grow back. Hair loss during pregnancy, on the other hand, is not normal, and may signal nutritional deficiency.
Health Conditions
Hair loss can also be one symptom of a medical illness, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), syphilis, a thyroid disorder (such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto disease), a sex-hormone imbalance, adrenal hyperplasia, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, or a serious nutritional problem.
Inflammation
Inflammation due to conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis, can also lead to hair loss. The irritation can damage both the hair follicle and the root of the hair, causing it to shed and disrupt hair growth. The hair loss will usually stop once the inflammation is under control, but in some cases, the hair may not grow back properly if the hair follicle becomes damaged or scarred.
Stress
Extreme or chronic stress can lead to hair loss. During times of stress, the body produces higher amounts of cortisol, a hormone that can disrupt the normal growth phase of the hair, causing it to enter its resting phase prematurely. The hair loss caused by stress will usually stop, and normal hair growth can resume once the stress becomes well managed thus allowing the body to stop overproducing cortisol.
Nutritional Deficiency
A poor diet and/or poor absorption of nutrients can take its toll on your hair growth in many ways due to dietary deficiencies. Hair loss is also a symptom of anemia, which can occur for reasons including iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies. Hair loss is also associated with a deficiency of protein, iron, zinc or biotin. These deficiencies are most common in people on restrictive diets and women who have very heavy menstrual flow.
Hairstyles
Hair loss can also be caused by chronic external pressure on the scalp, typically from very tight ponytails or extensions. Chronic pulling of the hair can lead to serious damage, especially if the follicle becomes scarred. In the same vein, traction alopecia can also be caused by regularly pulling out hair follicles. Those dealing with stress-related conditions that lead to hair-pulling, like trichotillomania, are also very susceptible to scarring alopecia.
Medication
There are certain medications that can lead to hair loss, usually by triggering nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalance. There is a very wide range of medications that can do this, with chemotherapy drugs being the most infamous. However, there are other drugs that have hair loss as a potential side effect, including antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and many more.
Androgenetic Alopecia in women is more commonly referred to as Female Pattern Baldness.
The pattern of hair loss in women differs from male-pattern baldness. In women, the hair becomes thinner all over the head, and the hairline typically does not recede. Androgenetic alopecia in women rarely leads to total baldness.
This form of hair loss is associated with an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular menstruation, acne, excess hair elsewhere on the body (hirsutism), and weight gain.
There are other issues that can lead to increased androgen activity in the body, including endocrine conditions such as thyroid disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, Adrenal Dysplasia, MTHFR mutation, and more. We all carry two forms of the MTHFR gene that come from our parents, this mutation, combined with other hereditary traits, such androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or sickle cell, can lead to hair thinning and hair loss.
Cushing disease is a problem with the pituitary gland that leads to excess amounts of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids cause masculine body changes in women. Tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause too much production of androgens and can lead to male body characteristics in women.
Auto-Immune Disorders
Hair loss can also be the sign of an auto-immune disorder called alopecia areata, which can be hereditary. In that instance, the body attacks hair follicles and disrupts hair growth which leads to bald patches and can also cause loss of eyelashes and brow hairs.
Post-Partum
The body undergoes major hormonal changes during pregnancy Initially, it’s great for your hair and often becomes extra lush and shiny as pregnancy encourages hair follicles to stay in the Anagen Growth Phase. After delivery, it is normal to notice increased amounts of hair shedding, as many hairs which remained in the prolonged anagen phase during pregnancy change over to the catagen phase. This is considered common and should not be any reason to panic. Even if it feels like you may be losing an abnormal amount of hair, it is just an accumulation of all the hair you would have normally lost had you not been pregnant.
Post-Partum hormonal fluctuations can lead to hair loss because many hairs will enter the resting phase as hormones normalize the hair sheds. This hair loss is usually temporary, and soon new hairs will begin to grow back. Hair loss during pregnancy, on the other hand, is not normal, and may signal nutritional deficiency.
Health Conditions
Hair loss can also be one symptom of a medical illness, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), syphilis, a thyroid disorder (such as Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto Disease), a sex-hormone imbalance, Adrenal Hyperplasia, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, or a serious nutritional problem.
Inflammation
Inflammation due to condition such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis, can also lead to hair loss. The irritation can damage both the hair follicle and the root of the hair, causing it to shed and disrupt hair growth. The hair loss will usually stop once the inflammation is under control, but in some cases, the hair may not grow back properly if the hair follicle becomes damaged or scarred.
Stress
Extreme or chronic stress can lead to hair loss. During times of stress, the body produces higher amounts of cortisol, a hormone that can disrupt the normal growth phase of the hair, causing it to enter its resting phase prematurely. The hair loss caused by stress will usually stop and normal hair growth can resume once the stress becomes well managed thus allowing the body to stop overproducing cortisol.
Nutritional Deficiency
A poor diet and/or poor absorption of nutrients can take its toll on your hair growth in many ways due to dietary deficiencies Hair loss is also a symptom of anemia, which can occur for reasons including iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies. Hair loss is also associated with a deficiency of protein, iron, zinc or biotin. These deficiencies are most common in people on restrictive diets and women who have very heavy menstrual flow.
Hairstyles
Hair loss can also be caused by chronic external pressure on the scalp, typically from very tight ponytails or extensions. Chronic pulling of the hair can lead to serious damage, especially if the follicle becomes scarred. In the same vein, traction alopecia can also be caused by regularly pulling out hair follicles. Those dealing with stress-related conditions that lead to hair-pulling, like trichotillomania, are also very susceptible to scarring alopecia.
Medication
There are certain medications that can lead to hair loss, usually by triggering nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalance. There is a very wide range of medications that can do this, with chemotherapy drugs being the most infamous. However, there are other drugs that have hair loss as a potential side effect, including antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and many more.