Why does hair loss or thinning occur?

Why does hair loss or thinning occur?

Although it is a problem that occurs more frequently in men, hair loss or thinning can also occur in women and children. It is normal for between 20 or 100 hairs to fall out each day (up to 200 in the fall), although they naturally recover. It is part of the tissue regeneration process that occurs throughout the body and, in fact, hair is usually renewed in its entirety every six months.

The problem arises when all the hair that falls out is not replaced, in such a way that it becomes less thick, gradually exposing the skin of the scalp, generating the appearance of entries (temples or crown) and even causing baldness (total hair loss in certain areas).

Hair loss or thinning can be a temporary process, but also continuous or recurring. And it can occur suddenly or occur slowly, almost imperceptibly. The important thing is to bear in mind that in more than a few cases it can be a symptom of the existence of specific diseases, so a specialist should always be consulted, specifically when the fall occurs drastically.

Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms that could indicate a hair thinning problem:
 

• An increase in the number of hairs that fall out each day.
• Changes in the quality of the hair, which becomes finer than before.
• Loss of volume.
• Some areas reveal the skin.
• Prominent inlets, especially at the temples, making the forehead look wider.

Causes of hair loss or thinning



There are numerous factors that can predispose to hair loss or thinning:
 

Genetics: Baldness can be an inherited problem especially in men.

Aging: age generally entails a gradual loss or thinning of the hair due to multiple factors: diseases, hormonal changes in women, use of certain medications, poor diet, etc.

Stress: One of the symptoms of excessive stress can also be unusual hair loss.

Bacterial or fungal infections: These types of infections can cause dry scalp skin, flaking, and hair loss or thinning.

Hormonal changes: it is one of the most common causes of alopecia in women, especially after menopause.

The use of some medications: hair loss is usually associated with chemotherapy that is used in the treatment of cancer, although once the hair is finished it comes out again. However, there are other drugs that can cause hair thinning: cortisone, drugs indicated for the treatment of high blood pressure, anticoagulants (heparin), cholesterol regulators (lipid-lowering drugs), tricyclic antidepressants, etc.

Certain diseases: Hair loss can be a symptom of certain diseases, such as lupus erythematosus or diabetes.

Poor diet: thinning hair may be the first sign of a nutrient-deficient diet, such as a lack of iron and the absence or shortage of protein or certain vitamins.


 

Hair Loss in Women

Hair loss in women

Hair loss in women: causes and solutions

Losing Hair between 50 and 100 hairs a day is totally normal. But if when you wake up in the morning you discover a lot of hair on the pillow and if every time you brush you notice excessive hair loss, it is another story. But don't panic. Let's start by identifying the causes of hair loss in women to remedy it.

Normally, the biological processes are responsible for hair growth are naturally balanced. While some hair falls out, others grow, and so on. It is a normal and healthy cycle that reflects on different stages of hair growth. But when this mechanic is disturbed, hair loss can accelerate. We have created a list of the main causes of this phenomenon and the solutions that can be adopted. If you have been experiencing excessive hair loss for more than 6 months, it is recommended that you visit your dermatologist. In this article, we will focus on hair loss in women.

1. Hair loss in women of hormonal origin

Our hormonal system is very sensitive and reacts to the smallest changes. Normally, estrogen (female sex hormone) is the origin of a nice and dense mane. For this reason, many women have especially beautiful hair during pregnancy. However, male hormones (androgens), also present in the female body but in less quantity, do not promote hair growth. In both men and women, stress increases the secretion of androgen hormones, which can upset the hormonal balance and cause hair loss due to stress. In the most serious cases, dermatologists can prescribe antiandrogens. But in most cases, it is enough to lead a less hectic life and relax more often. This imbalance can also be motivated by the dysfunction of the thyroid gland. To verify this, your doctor may perform a blood test or a hormonal checkup.

2. Hair loss in women due to excessive capillary manipulation

Submitting hair to too many aggressive treatments can weaken and turn it off. Discolorations, frequent color changes, perms or regular use of hair straighteners do not directly cause hair loss in women, but they can damage it and cause hair to split at the root.

Only "chemical accidents" can directly cause hair loss in women. This happens when we do not respect the exposure times of discolorations and permanent ones. After such a situation, there is no other choice but to wait a while for the scalp to recover. You must use a small amount of shampoo and apply it gently. If possible, avoid dyeing hair and tone-on-tone coloring for a while.

3. Hair loss in women due to vitamin deficiency

For hair to grow, you need a balanced diet rich in vitamins. A lack of these or too intense a regimen can cause temporary hair loss. To avoid this, follow a balanced diet based on fruits, legumes, proteins, dairy products, cereals, nuts, and oils of superior quality. If you cannot take these foods, take special food complexes for your hair that contain biotin, niacin, zinc and vitamins B6, B12, A, and E. These will also help you if you have fine hair, to give it more strength.

4. Hair loss in women caused by a dysfunction of the immune system

Hair loss can be the late consequence of an infection. So you can lose hair in the spring, after having flu during the winter. This phenomenon stops after about 3 months when the damaged roots regenerate.

Hair Loss and Menopause

Why does hair fall out during Menopause?

We have spoken on several occasions that Menopause is a stage in a woman's life full of changes and that it must be lived as one more stage with absolute normality. It is also a stage full of myths that we must banish. What is certain is that hormonal changes cause physical changes in some women but not in others.

Hair loss

The appearance of hair problems or those that already existed is one of the most frequent changes that can occur on a physical level.

The passage of time causes the hair density to decrease, the hair becomes more brittle and fine, with less shine and vigor and loss of pigment.

All this is due to the sudden drop in estrogen levels, which affects the hair, shortening its life cycle and favoring its fall. While the hair decreases in some areas, it is also frequent that it appears in other more uncomfortable ones such as chin, sideburns or lip.

What factors influence the quality of hair during menopause?

Every person is a world, and on the subject of menopause, it does not affect all women equally. Hair loss during this stage of life is not suffered by all nor does it affect those who suffer it with the same intensity.

• The most common factors we find are the genetic factor and the condition of the hair before menopause.
• Poorly balanced and vitamin and mineral deficiency diet can also affect poor hair health. Stress and poor hair care are also factors to consider.
• Thyroid problems and other associated diseases should also be considered at this stage of a woman's life.

 Tips to take care of hair at this stage

As for everything in life, when a problem appears we must look for the solution, and although hair loss does not pose a serious health problem, if it is related to mood, since enjoying a good physical image always helps the self-esteem of any person. Some tips to keep in mind during menopause to keep hair in good condition are:

Caring for food: A balanced diet is always recommended to enjoy good health in general. Drink plenty of water and consume foods rich in vitamins A and B, minerals and phytoestrogens (such as soy as long as there are no cases of a history of cancer in the family).

Avoid alcohol and tobacco use. These substances are always harmful to health, and also affect hair care.

Vitamin and mineral supplements. Vitamin E and iron improve hair moisture and texture, preventing breakage and dehydration. Vitamin B helps alleviate stress problems.

Take care of hygiene using appropriate products and not abusing the use of irons and dryers.

Playing sports is always good for health and in this case, it helps the blood supply by activating the hair follicles and facilitating the growth of stronger and more abundant hair.

illnesses that cause hair loss

List of diseases that cause hair loss...

What diseases cause hair loss?

Although we often think that hair loss can be related to age and the passage of time, there are numerous diseases that cause hair loss. We review all diseases, their causes and how to fix them.

Alopecia areata

It is a disease with an autoimmune basis, that is, the body's own defenses attack the hair follicles. When white blood cells attack hair follicles, they interrupt hair growth, causing hair loss.

Alopecia areata occurs more frequently in children and young adults. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it is easily detected when perceiving “patches” on the head, clean of hair. It also causes hair loss in any other area, including that of the eyelashes, eyebrows and facial hair.

Lupus

It is an autoimmune disease. Those who are born with a susceptibility to develop it needs an environmental trigger to make it sprout. For example, sun exposure, an infection, or hormonal changes (such as occurs with pregnancy).

Lupus affects many different systems and organs in the body, creating a wide variety of symptoms. In addition to being one of the diseases that cause hair loss, lupus also causes fatigue, headache or joint pain, anemia and abnormal blood clotting.

Diabetes mellitus 1 and 2

People with this disease often have higher than normal blood sugar levels. This excess interacts with red blood cells so that they are synthesized in a compound called glycated hemoglobin. Thus, this modified compound, in turn, causes a deformation in the red blood cells and makes them more rigid than normal, so that they get stuck between the walls of the vessels. This is how circulation and vascular problems develop. If this process occurs in the capillaries that supply blood to the hair follicles, they could be weakened (by not receiving nutrients), which also leads to hair loss or alopecia.

On the other hand, when high blood sugar occurs, the person is more exposed to bacterial and fungal infections, which greatly weaken the scalp and also destroy hair follicles.

Iron deficiency anemia

In iron-deficiency anemia, a decreased count in the number of red blood cells (hemoglobin) is shown. When a diet lacks iron-rich foods or if they are not properly absorbed, this picture arises. However, blood loss, illness, and pregnancy can also act as causes of anemia.

If you lose hair or notice that it is not growing at the rate or with the length it used to, it is recommended that you perform a blood test to determine ferritin and hemoglobin levels. These two parameters help detect iron deficiency anemia. As soon as treatment is started, generally based on oral iron supplementation, hair grows back as it did previously.

Tub

Hair loss is a clear symptom of this disease, caused by fungi of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton. It is frequently accompanied by peeling on the scalp, with a change in color, characterized by the gray tone. The disease usually causes bald patches that are very itchy. It is very contagious and causes severe inflammation, so you should go to a professional as soon as it is detected.

More sensitive or painful areas also appear in this disease. Hair can easily come off and become very brittle. Treatment is based on antifungal drugs, in order to stop the infection.

Other diseases or causes of hair loss

Telogen effluvium

It is detected by a diffuse form of hair loss, in which an abnormal number of hair follicles quickly go into the telogen stage (the "resting" phase in which hair does not grow) and do not shed until several months later. No inflammatory signs or miniaturization of observed follicles are perceived.

People with this disease complain about hair loss while washing or combing. It may be due to high fever, bleeding, surgery, trauma, shock, medication intake, crash diets, malabsorption (of protein, vitamins, iron, or zinc), and endocrine imbalance.

HIV and Syphilis

Also, some diseases that cause hair loss are sexually transmitted. HIV infection, or the second phase of syphilis, can lead to hair loss. However, it is a not so obvious symptom, since it does not manifest itself in all people.

Postpartum

Furthermore, there are several physiological conditions that lead to hair loss. For example, postpartum effluvium causes hair loss in women.

In short, the list would be really long when it comes to detailing the diseases that cause hair loss. For these types of situations, it is most recommended that you go to a dermatological hair clinic that has doctors who can make a first assessment.