Common Causes and Treatments for Hair Loss

Introduction

Hair loss, which includes notable thinning of hair or baldness, is on the rise. Even though it might not have direct physical health effects, it may cause significant emotional turmoil, especially for women.

Interestingly, hair loss may occur as a side effect of health problems that should be addressed. Hair loss will resolve itself in such situations once the health condition is treated. However, hair loss may become permanent if it results from conditions that directly affect the hair.

Fortunately, if diagnosed early, you can benefit from several treatment options by hair loss Canada experts and home remedies that may just save your looks.

Let’s first take a look at the most common causes of hair loss and then take a gander at some effective natural remedies to potentially treat your issue before it gets worse.

What are the Causes of Hair Loss?

Some of the most common causes of hair loss include:

1. Hereditary Hair Loss

Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss. It can occur with both men and women. It is also known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss. In a nutshell, this means your hair loss is an inherited trait. You’ve inherited genes that cause your hair follicles to shrink and eventually stop growing.

2. Nutritional Deficiencies

Essential vitamins and nutrients from a healthy and well-balanced diet promote good health throughout the body. Poor nutrition resulting from fad diets can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies that affect different organs in the body. Missing essential nutrients, such as copper, zinc, iron, vitamin D, and proteins in your diet can cause hair loss.

3. Thyroid Problems

Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid and hyperthyroidism/overactive thyroid cause hair loss. Both thyroid problems lead to hormonal imbalance. Hormones control various body functions, including hair health and growth. Patients experiencing hair loss due to thyroid problems should find an appropriate treatment to restore normal hormone production.

4. Pregnancy

Pregnancy can also cause hormonal imbalance and a resultant hair loss in women. This occurs especially after pregnancy and childbirth, as female hormones wildly fluctuate during this period. Generally, it takes a while (up to three months) before hormones level up after pregnancy. It is common for postpartum mothers to notice patches and thinning hair. Hair loss due to pregnancy is often temporary, and hair will resume growing naturally as the body recovers.

5. Side Effects of Medications

Hair loss may also occur as a side effect of various medications used to treat different health conditions. Medications that can cause hair loss include oral contraceptives, antidepressants, beta and calcium channel blockers, blood thinners, and NSAIDs. Excessive vitamin A or retinoids can also cause loss of hair. Similarly, chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatment cause complete hair loss. Like other causes, your hair should grow back once these medications are stopped.

6. Emotional and Physical Trauma

Emotional stress is another unpopular cause of hair loss. Dealing with life-changing events, such as break-up or divorce, financial problems, death of loved ones, and other forms of significant emotional stress disrupts the normal hair growth cycle. This causes temporary hair loss, which resolves once the stressors are eliminated.

Similarly, physical trauma disrupts the normal hair growth cycle and rest. This leads to hair loss, which often presents initially as hair thinning. Shock in your body, either from a serious accident, burns, or after surgery.

Natural Remedies That Treat Hair Loss

Hair loss resulting from medical conditions requires that you speak to a medical doctor for appropriate treatment. Knowing the following tips can prevent hair loss and encourage growth.

1. Massage

Massage can be used with hair masks and oil to stimulate hair growth. Stretching provided during the massage stimulates the dermal papilla cells in the bottom of hair follicles, promoting hair growth and thickness. The dermal papilla cells play an important role in the normal hair growth cycle, which involves shedding and regrowth.

Massaging the scalp also improves blood circulation and the health of the scalp. That aside, daily massage on the scalp relieves tension and stress, which are a bonus for those experiencing hair loss due to emotional challenges.

2. Dietary Changes

An imbalanced diet, specifically lacking proteins and irons, can cause hair loss. To counteract this, you should eat more proteins and increase your iron intake. Healthy proteins to include in your diet include:

• • Eggs
  • Beans
  • Fish
  • Lean meat
  • Nuts
  • Seeds

On the other hand, dietary sources of iron include:

• • Spinach
  • Lentils
  • Lean beef
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • White beans

3. Aromatherapy

A 2011 study found that aromatherapy can also effectively stimulate hair growth. Those who practice aromatherapy often use the following herbs to prevent hair loss:

• • Lavender
  • Cedar wood
  • Thyme
  • Tulsi
  • Rosemary

If you want to practice this at home, mix a few drops of essential oils with a carrier oil, such as walnut or coconut oil and apply the mixture to your scalp. Inhaling scents of these oils also promote hair growth. However, more studies are required to confirm the effectiveness of these remedies. Coconut oil, beetroot juice, Aloe Vera, fenugreek seeds, Amla, and green tea are other natural remedies that treat hair fall.

Conclusion

Humans have approximately 100,000 hair strands on their heads. Similarly, they lose between 50 and 100 strands daily, but this amount varies from one person to another.

The natural hair cycle produces more hair than hair loss. However, hair loss occurs if the hair loss exceeds the hair produced.

The specific cause of your hair loss determines if your hair thins, falls out abruptly, can regrow naturally, or requires some medications to grow.

If you are suffering from hair loss, speak to a specialist today. The sooner you remedy your hair loss with medical or natural solutions, the better.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.