What causes hair loss?

Queston: What causes hair loss?

Answer: Many factors may cause hair loss. Hair grows in cycles, some follicles go into the rest cycle while other follicles shed or grow. As you get older the regrowth cycle becomes lesser and hair becomes scarce due to age and aging of the hair follicle. It is said that over 25% of women of the age of fifty or over have lost mare than half their hair.

Common Hair Loss Factors

Hair loss can be passed down genetically from either mother or father. Thinning can start as early as in your twenties and even earlier than that sometimes. Stress, pregnancy, illness, divorce and many other forms of stress can cause shedding of the hair two to six month after an emotional event. This form of hair loss is temporary and your hair should eventually grow back as long as you keep your stress level low.

Nutritional Causes of Hair Loss

Malnutrition and protein deficiencies make hair dry and thin. Women on extreme diets usually will notice a significant amount of hair loss . If you plan on loosing weight, you should always eat balanced meals and supplement nutrition with vitamins. Hormonal imbalances and thyroid problems can increase testosterone. This particular hormone that is found generously in men can make the hair follicle weak. Some doctors will recommend thyroid medication to help hormonal balance.

Physical Causes of Hair Loss

Last but not least the aggravated pulling of the hair causes the follicle to die. Some people have a pulling twitch that needs psychological attention but that’s another article. The pulling of tight braids or ponytails can cause so much tension that it pulls the follicle right out of it’s root and once they’re gone, no more hair can be produced there. If you day requires a high do, make it a relatively loose one.