What Causes Hair Loss in Men & Women?

Although hair loss is a distressing situation, many people don’t understand its causes. Fortunately, hair loss causes can often be traced back to a series of common conditions. Sometimes, these conditions can even be resolved with proper treatment. If you or someone you know is losing hair, read on to learn more about potential causes.

1. Stress

Any kind of severe stress, be it an illness, large change in lifestyle, or accident, can cause temporary hair loss. This is because hair has a life cycle just like anything else: it grows, rests and sheds on a regular basis. When you experience a severely stressful event, it can shock your hair and cause it to become stuck in the shedding phase. In most cases, hair loss becomes noticeable anywhere from three to six months after the traumatic event. Stress-induced hair loss is often temporary, and normal hair growth will typically resume as the body recovers.

2. Excess Vitamin A

While Vitamin A is good for your body, too much of it can hair loss causes. Although the daily recommended dose of Vitamin A is 5,000 International Units (IUs) per day, many supplements contain between 2,500 and 10,000 IUs. Fortunately, hair loss will generally stop once the body begins to flush out the excess Vitamin A.

3. Protein Deficiency

Nutrition has a great deal to do with healthy, beautiful hair, and if you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may begin to conserve protein by shutting down body systems with high protein demand, like hair growth. Hair loss often becomes apparent two to three months after the protein deficiency begins and will reverse when you start to get adequate levels of protein once more.

4. Pattern Baldness

Pattern baldness — a type of hair loss that is caused by genetic predisposition and hormones — affects both men and women, and typically occurs in middle age. People struggling with pattern or hereditary baldness can often find relief with prescription topical creams or oral medications that can halt or reverse hair growth. Surgery and hair grafts are also an option.

5. Alopecia

Alopecia is a hair loss condition that arises when the immune system begins to attack hair follicles. Alopecia commonly occurs in people younger than 20, but can affect people at any age. While 10 percent of people affected by alopecia do not regrow their hair, most cases can be treated through corticosteroid injections and other prescription treatments.

Hair Loss Solutions in Fort Lauderdale

While there are many hair loss causes, these five are some of the most common. Fortunately, there are treatment options for each condition that can help people regain a healthy, beautiful head of hair once more. If you are experiencing hair loss, then we invite you to schedule a free private consultation with a Transitions hair loss specialist at our Fort Lauderdale offices today.

Additional Reading:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/expert-answers/stress-and-hair-loss/faq-20057820
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/tc/hair-loss-caused-by-lack-of-protein-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/tc/alopecia-areata-topic-overview