What Causes Hair Loss and How to Prevent It

Hair loss, also referred to as alopecia, is a clinical condition that is widespread. It affects both women and men, and it can range from mild hair thinning to total baldness. There are several different reasons for hair falling out, from hormonal problems to genetic factors. Also, loss of hair can be either a temporary or permanent condition. Identifying the cause is essential to being able to provide appropriate remedies to alleviate the situation. As such, it’s critical that you see your dermatologist early to prevent it from worsening. In addition, there are some lifestyle and nutritional strategies that might help.

Who Experiences Hair Loss?

While hair loss can be hereditary, it can also result from hormonal changes, medical problems, or be a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head. However, it's more common in men. The most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia. According to an article in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, androgenetic alopecia affects 80% of men and 50% of women.

Furthermore, on a global level, half of men experience hair loss by the time they are 50 years old. Also, before the age of 21, 25% of men who will later become bald see the first signs of hair loss.

The most significant reason for hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss (FPHL). It affects roughly one-third of vulnerable women, which is some 30 million women in the United States.

A combination of genetic factors and a production of male sex hormones, or androgens, is the major culprit of balding among men. The hormone DHT -- a byproduct of testosterone and an androgenic steroid, is primarily responsible for male pattern baldness. Specifically, DHT can affect the hair follicles, targeting them and causing them to shrink. As time progresses, these hair follicles may not grow any new hairs.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

The main signs and symptoms of alopecia include the following:

• A widening part that shows signs of thinning hair.
• A receding hairline with characteristic thinning hair above the temples.
• Excess loose hair stuck in your brush or comb after use.
• Bald patches that range in size and grow over time.
• Drains clogged with hair.
• Pain or itching on your scalp.

These are all signs that you are losing too much hair.

Causes of Hair Loss

There are several causes of hair loss, and many can be treated successfully. However, getting to the root of the problem must be the starting point to achieve this. If you figure out what’s causing it, you can understand the behavior to expect from your hair. Specifically, you can determine if your hair falls out slowly or suddenly thins, will regrow without or without treatment, or needs immediate care to stop permanent hair loss.

Here’s a glance at some reasons people suffer from hair loss.

Hereditary Hair Loss

Hereditary hair loss can affect both men and women, and it’s the main cause of people losing their hair. The medical term for hereditary hair loss is androgenic alopecia. It means that inherited genes that result in shrinking hair follicles and hair that eventually stops growing.

Some people may notice their hair shrinking as early as in their teens, but typically, it begins later in life. Furthermore, women can usually expect overall thinning or a widening part. Men can usually expect to notice a receding hairline or bald spot at the top of the head.

Age-Related Hair Loss

As age progresses, you may notice some hair loss, since hair growth slows the older you get. Eventually, your hair follicles stop growing hair, and this causes the hair on your scalp to thin. Also, you may notice that your hair begins to lose its color. Usually, in women, the hairline naturally begins to recede.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a condition that develops when your immune system attacks hair follicles and results in hair loss. With this condition, you can lose hair from any area of your body, such as your scalp, inside your ears and nose, and eyebrows or eyelashes.

Cancer Treatment

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy to your head or neck for cancer could cause you to lose your hair. Some people lose most, if not all, of their hair within a few weeks of beginning treatment.

Childbirth, Illness, & Stressors

Some women may notice hair loss a few months after delivering their baby. Also, you may lose hair after recovering from an illness or experiencing an operation. Furthermore, significant emotional stress or stressors in your life can also be factors. The stress of dealing with a divorce or death can be the cause of a lot more hairs in your brush.

Hair Care and Hair Style

Your hair care routine could be the reason your hair is falling out. If you color, perm, or relax your hair, these have the potential to damage your hair over time. Also, certain hairstyles, like an up-do, braids, or cornrows, can pull on your scalp. Sometimes, the hairstyle may pull your hair too tightly and if this continues, permanent loss of hair or traction alopecia could result.

Hormonal Imbalance

In women with hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is sometimes the cause. This condition causes cysts to develop on a woman’s ovaries, and can cause symptoms like hair loss. Additionally, taking a break from particular birth control pills can also result in a temporary hormonal imbalance. This, too, can cause the hair to thin or fall out.

Other Causes of Hair Loss

Some of the other causes may include:

• Scalp infection
• Prescription medication
• Scalp psoriasis
• Pulling your hair for stress relief
• Scarring alopecia
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI), like syphilis
• Thyroid disease
• Frictional alopecia
• Poison (arsenic, thallium, mercury, and lithium)

Types of Hair Loss

There are three different types: female pattern hair loss (FPHL), anagen effluvium, and telogen effluvium.

1. Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia or female pattern alopecia, is the most common type. Here, there is hair thinning over the top of the head and on the sides.
2. Anagen effluvium: This type results from medications that poison a growing hair follicle. Chemotherapy is an example of such a medication.
3. Telogen effluvium: This type results from an increase in the number of hair follicles reaching the telogen phase where hair falls out.

Cycles of Hair Growth

There are three cycles that hair goes through:

1. Anagen phase: This is the growing phase, which characterizes roughly 80% to 90% of the hair on your head. It can last from two to eight years. However, shorter hairs, such as eyelashes, arm and leg hair, and eyebrows typically have a short anagen phase of roughly one month.
2. Catagen phase: This is the transition phase, when hair follicles shrink. It lasts for roughly two to three weeks.
3. Telogen phase: This is the resting phase, which lasts for roughly two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

Hair Loss After COVID

One of the long-term side effects of COVID-19 infection that has been reported is hair loss. This is among the list of common symptoms, including brain fog, loss of taste and smell, and fatigue. People who experience hair loss resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection may observe clumps of hair falling out with daily combings, or when washing their hair. Scientists refer to the phenomenon as telogen effluvium, or hair loss due to a stressor.

With COVID-19 infection, some patients experience a premature shift of a large amount of growing anagen hairs into a resting telogen state. As such, the normal 10% of hairs in the resting and shedding phase could jump to 50% instead. Some people experience shedding two to three months after COVID-19 infection.

The good news is that telogen effluvium does not destroy hair follicles. This means that, while your hair may not temporarily grow, your hair will eventually grow back because the follicles are still intact.

How Do I Stop My Hair from Falling Out?

There are a few steps that you can take to limit losing your hair from your scalp. These include:

• Keep your hairstyles loose if you style your hair into braids, buns, or ponytails. This limits the pressure on your hair.
• Avoid pulling, rubbing, or twisting your hair.
• After washing your hair, gently pat dry; don't rub or twist it with a towel.
• Stick to a nutrient-rich, balanced diet.
• When styling your hair with heated tools, use the lowest setting, and only use it on your hair when it’s dry.
• Minimize stress in your life.
• Eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet.
• Use sensible hairdressing or hairstyling techniques.
• If possible, switch to medications that do not cause your hair to fall out.
• Keep your hair clean and do not share head coverings, like hats, or hair tools, like combs or brushes.

Stress, Hair Loss, and the Hormone Circuit

Stress can play a role in hair shedding and other conditions like adrenal fatigue. Your body’s first line of defense against stress is the adrenal glands, which produce the anti-stress hormone, cortisol. This is part of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response, a system of related organs your body uses to manage stressors. The adrenals are part of the Hormone Circuit, along with the thyroid gland and reproductive organs.

The body can handle short-term stress, but chronic stress can lead to problems like hair loss and deplete the adrenals. Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is the non-Addison's form of adrenal dysfunction, where the body's stress response cannot keep up with life's chronic stressors.

In the beginning stages of AFS, your body’s cortisol level is high. However, as stress continues, the adrenal glands typically become exhausted and cortisol output decreases. The symptoms of adrenal fatigue include fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, hair loss, brittle hair, brittle nails, dry skin, itchy skin, brain fog, and an inability to handle stress.

One of the biggest stressors that you may experience is an unhealthy diet. Nutrition plays a key function in the dysregulation of the adrenal glands and the Hormone Circuit. Nutrition is also a crucial factor for healthy hair, since certain foods you eat can strengthen and grow your hair.

Best Vitamins for Hair Loss

Nutritional supplements are often used for remedying hair loss. A recent review published in the journal JAMA Dermatology combines research data on nutritional supplements that could treat it. Their findings reveal that supplements like pumpkin seed oil, zinc, vitamin E, omega fatty acids, and certain commercial formulations like Viviscal and Nutrafol showed promise in alleviating specific types of hair loss.

Several vitamins can help to stimulate hair growth. The best options are as follows:

• Vitamin A: Vitamin A is important for the growth of hair cells, and supports sebum production, which helps to keep your scalp and hair nourished.
• B Vitamin: Biotin or vitamin B7 supports hair growth and can minimize hair thinning.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron, which is an important nutrient your hair needs. Also, it helps the body to produce collagen, a protein that your hair is made of.
• Vitamin D: Vitamin D plays a role in the production of new hair follicles, which grow new hairs. New follicles have the potential to help hair maintain its thickness and stop existing hair from falling out prematurely.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E can make your scalp healthier, which helps to grow healthy hair. It’s important for hair growth for people with alopecia.
• Zinc: Zinc supports healthy hair growth and strengthens hair by keeping the hair follicles closely intertwined.
• Iron: Iron plays a role in faster hair growth and hair health by boosting circulation and carrying oxygen to your hair's roots.
• Collagen: Collagen may improve the health of your scalp, boost hair growth, and help fight damage to hair follicles.
• HSN Formula: Dr. Lam's HSN formula is comprised of vitamin E, vitamin B-6, biotin, calcium, zinc, and several herbal extracts. This combination of vitamins, minerals, and herbs support healthy hair and can help your hair to grow.

Diet Changes to Improve Hair Loss

A healthy diet helps your hair. It should consist of lots of organic vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. These help ensure that your body has all the vitamins and minerals it needs. Avoid a poor diet of mostly processed foods that are high in sugar and salts and lack important nutrients. This type of diet can affect cell growth and cause hair loss. Aim to include in your diet good levels of vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, and essential fatty acids, like omega-3s.

You can stimulate your hair growth by adding certain superfoods to your diet. These include:

• Nuts that contain omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, vitamin E, and copper.
• Oysters that are rich in zinc.
• Shrimp with B12, iron, and zinc.
• Sweet potatoes that contain omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium phosphorus, plus potassium, sodium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, K, and E.
• Eggs that provide protein, plus biotin, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, sulfur, and iron.
• Spinach with iron, beta-carotene, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
• Carrots with vitamin A.
• Prunes with iron.
• Green peas contain iron, zinc, and B vitamins.
• Oats rich in zinc, iron, and omega-6 fatty acids.

These foods contribute to a healthy diet and may help prevent some types of this issue.

The Takeaway

Hair loss affects both men and women and can impact your quality of life. Genetics and aging are the most common causes of a person losing their hair. If you are losing your hair and want answers, visit your doctor to know why your hair is falling out and what can be done. However, taking steps like eating a healthy diet and avoiding certain styling choices may also help.

If you would like to learn about natural ways to regrow your hair, the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234 where we will privately discuss your health concerns and various options. You can also send us a question through our Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.