Most Frequent Reasons For Hair Loss
It is perfectly normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs per day. It is a different matter, however, when you wake up in the morning and find a lot of hair on your pillow or find yourself constantly emptying handfuls of hair out of your brush every day. Firstly, don’t panic! There are many reasons for hair loss that can easily be rectified. We’ll explain them to you.
Under normal circumstances, the biological processes involved in hair growth are balanced. Hair falls out and new hair starts growing – this is totally normal and reflects the various growth phases of hair. If these growth phases no longer occur as nature originally intended then you may experience increased hair loss. We will inform you about possible causes of hair loss and what you can do about it. In case your hair loss has already lasted for more than six months, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist or your physician.
1. Hair loss due to improper hair care
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While hair is very resilient, too much stress will make it rough and fragile. Stress may be caused if you bleach or color your hair frequently, or use a flat iron too often. These things do not directly cause hair loss but may lead to hair breakage. The hair may break close to the roots, resulting in unsightly stubble.
Only genuine chemical mishaps can cause direct hair loss. This happens, for example, when bleach or hair dye remains on your scalp for too long. Once this has happened, all you can do is leave your scalp and hair alone and wait for it to recover. You should use shampoo sparingly, wash as infrequently as you can, and abstain from too much styling. If it’s possible, you should also not color or tint your hair for a while or at least use hair-friendly products such as Simply Color hair dyes, which contain no ammonia, alcohol, or silicone and nourish your locks with argan oil, botanical oat milk, and soy protein.
2. Hormone-related hair loss
Our hormone system is very sensitive and reacts to even the tiniest changes. Under normal circumstances, the female sex hormone estrogen ensures dense hair growth. Many women also experience hair loss during pregnancy, but this normally rectifies itself 3-4 months postpartum. Not conducive to hair growth are male hormones (androgens), which in smaller amounts also occur in the female body. In males and in females more androgens are secreted when the person is suffering from stress. This can upset the hormone balance and can lead to hair loss.
In severe cases, a dermatologist will prescribe anti-androgens, but sometimes this drastic measure isn’t necessary – removing stress factors from your life and relaxing a bit more can be a huge help. A dysfunctional thyroid gland is another possible cause. Your doctor may take a blood sample to analyze your hormone levels and see whether they are the reason for your hair loss.
3. Hair loss caused by vitamin deficiency
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Hair growth requires a balanced vitamin-rich diet. An unbalanced diet and crash diets may lead to temporary hair loss. Hair is at its best when you stick to a balanced diet containing fruit, vegetables, protein (e.g. from milk, yogurt, curd, lean meat, and fish), whole grains, nuts and high-quality oils. If you cannot stick to this optimal diet it may be sensible for you to take special supplements that benefit your hair. These include biotin, niacin, zinc as well as vitamins B6, B12, A, and E.
4. Hair loss due to immune deficiencies
Hair loss may also happen after you’ve gotten over an infection. In spring, you may suddenly notice that some of your hair falls out even though you had the flu in winter. The hair loss usually stops after the damaged hair roots have had time to recover. If you have circular pattern hair loss, this is very likely due to an immune deficiency. Zinc supplements sometimes help to regrow hair in these spots. It does not hurt to try zinc as a remedy, at least not in the approved dose.
Tips to combat hair loss
Tip 1: Do not comb or brush your hair while it is still wet. Wet hair is particularly sensitive and can easily be pulled out or broken. Instead, you should carefully dry your hair before detangling it with a wide-toothed comb.
Tip 2: Silk pillows do wonders for your hair and skin. Rather than letting your hair get matted and break on rough fabrics while you sleep at night, satin or silk pillowcases encourage the strands to lie flat and glide over the surface. This results in less breakage and damage to your hair, and help to promote shininess.
Tip 3: People who endure hormone-related acne often also suffer from hair loss. If you use birth control pills, you may consider asking your doctor to prescribe a brand containing anti-androgens. These medications help against acne and hair loss.
Tip 4: Certain medications can also lead to hair loss, among them malaria prophylactics as well as thrombosis and high blood pressure medications. You should therefore always study the package inserts and consult with your physician about medications and hair loss.
