Common causes of hair loss can be listed as:
- Stress: Physical and mental.
- Hormonal imbalance: Birth control pills and menopause among others.
- Medication: Some medicines such as beta blockers, thyroid pills and anticoagulants can stimulate hair loss. Chemotherapy also causes massive hair loss.
- Medical conditions: Certain diseases and disorders are accompanied by hair loss.
- Poor nutrition: An imbalanced diet is the primary cause for hair loss during adolescence.
- Stress is the most common cause of hair loss today. Hair loss can indirectly be blamed on stress. Actually it results from our neglect of our bodies when we let other things take priority over our health. Dietary imbalance, insomnia and other disorders caused by stress adversely affect the immune system so that it no longer supports hair growth.
- Hair loss is called alopecia in medical terms. There are two kinds of stress alopecia. Telogen effluvium is a less severe form of alopecia and can be corrected through dietary balance and lifestyle changes within 6 to 9 months. In this condition hair stops growing for a while and then starts falling in 2-3 months. In Alopecia areata hair falls out in tufts, causing great damage in a short period. It can only be corrected through proper treatment.
- Hormonal changes – Any hormonal imbalance in the body that causes testosterone or androstenedione levels to rise or progesterone and estrogen levels to drop can cause hair loss. Increase in testosterone or androstenedione promotes male characteristic of baldness to show in women. Lowering of female hormones of progesterone and estrogen can lead to slower or stopped hair growth. Hormonal imbalance is corrected through supplying your body with necessary hormones. Intake of soy isoflavones can help restore estrogen by activating beta receptors. Progesterone supplements can increase progesterone levels in the body, consequently androstenedione decrease. Naturally compounded hormones are also used to restore normal estrogen levels in the body.
- Medication: Sometimes medication that has the side effect of hair may be prescribed for teen troubles like acne. These could be medicines like isotretinoin, and lithium. Diet pills could also bring on hair loss due to content called amphetamines. Chemotherapy drugs also cause severe hair loss in some cases. This hair comes back naturally in about a year after therapy ceases. Medicines given to menopausal women like beta blockers, thyroid pills and anticoagulants are also causes of hair loss. If sudden hair loss is observed and you are on any of these medicines you must consult your doctor for means to stop your hair falling.
- Medical condition: Hair loss can occur as a symptom of lupus, a skin disease wherein ulcers appear on the body; and diabetes. If your diabetes is undiagnosed and you observe continuous hair loss, you must consult your physician.
- Lack of proper nutrition: This is the most common cause of hair loss in children. A balanced diet of necessary vitamins and minerals is necessary to ensure proper hair growth. Vitamins A, B, C and E and minerals like iodine, sulphur, potassium, zinc and iron are essential for hair growth.