What causes the hair to fall out?
Hair loss affects two thirds of men by the age of 40, and for women it's over half, by the same age. That's a huge number of people who suffer from some from of hair fall before they even reach middle age. We know hair loss is common, but what is the actual reason our hair falls out?
Our hair (on the head) goes through a life cycle that involves three main phases; growth, resting, and falling (shedding). It’s common for people to lose anything from 50 to 150 hairs a day.
That may seem like a lot of hair to lose in one day, but as long as you are reproducing new hairs to replace the fallen ones, then all is fine. If you have stopped producing hairs, or the follicles are dying, then this can lead to gradual baldness.
Some shedding is temporary and may respond well to changes in diet, certain treatments, or lifestyle changes. A common example of temporary shedding is seasonal hair loss, this is when we shed excessively during a certain time of the year, but the shedding usually stops when the seasonal phase is over.
That may seem like a lot of hair to lose in one day, but as long as you are reproducing new hairs to replace the fallen ones, then all is fine. If you have stopped producing hairs, or the follicles are dying, then this can lead to gradual baldness.
Some shedding is temporary and may respond well to changes in diet, certain treatments, or lifestyle changes. A common example of temporary shedding is seasonal hair loss, this is when we shed excessively during a certain time of the year, but the shedding usually stops when the seasonal phase is over.
So, it is perfectly normal to lose hair on a daily basis, as long as you continue to reproduce new strands. Androgenic alopecia (pattern baldness) is the most common hair loss type in men and women, and to put it simply, this is when the body stops producing new head hair.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that pattern baldness is a result of the hair falling out, but it is actually a result of the scalp not producing any new hairs.
Other common reasons why our hair falls out can be related to medical conditions, like alopecia areata, scalp infections, or even a self-inflicted condition like hair-pulling disorder).
Other common reasons why our hair falls out can be related to medical conditions, like alopecia areata, scalp infections, or even a self-inflicted condition like hair-pulling disorder).
Hormonal changes from pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or thyroid issues, can all play a key role in hair fall, as well as medications or supplements, such as those used for cancer, high blood pressure, depression, or arthritis.
An increasingly common hair loss type is stress-related shedding. Stress can play a significant role in excessive hair shedding in both men and women.
How to stop hair falling out
Hair loss, whether temporary or long term, can be combated in a number of ways, be it by medical treatments and surgery, to natural supplementation and therapies.
For short term, temporary hair loss types, like seasonal hair loss or stress related shedding, for example, key supplementation can cater for this. Multivitamin supplements can help slow down excessive hair fall, and support the function of healthy hair growth.
Non-medical supplements can also help tackle earlier stages of male/female pattern baldness. Hair supplements can be highly effective, and they are safe alternatives to medical treatments like finasteride and minoxidil - both of which can give negative side-effects.
For more advanced stages of hair loss, patients may want to consider surgical procedures like hair transplantation or Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), but these procedures can be very costly.
Remember, a protein-rich diet and a healthy lifestyle can play a key role in the stoppage of hair loss. Our hair is no different to any other part of our body, so, the better you look after your body, the more likely your hair will thrive.
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