Hair Loss

What is hair loss?

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons and in a variety of places. The one that affects most people is hair loss on the scalp, usually in the form of receding hairlines or visibly thinning hair. This can be the result of unfortunate genetics, hormonal changes, and medical conditions. 

Losing your hair is normal, in fact, most people will lose 50 to 100 hairs on a daily basis! The problem often presents when the rate of hair growth drops significantly below the rate of shedding. This can result in hair thinning and bald spots. 

Nearly all men and women will lose some thickness to their hair as they age. With that said, its more noticeable form will affect up to 40% of men and women.

What causes hair loss?

Identifying the type and cause of your hair loss can help to find out how to best maintain and grow your hair. The four major types are hereditary, hormonal, medical conditions, and drug-related hair loss.

Hereditary causes for hair loss

As the name suggests this type of hair loss is passed down via family genes. It is commonly referred to as male-pattern baldness or female pattern baldness. This is the most common cause of hair loss. 

Typically for men, this can begin to occur in the twenties and thirties and progress from there. For women, it tends to occur more commonly after menopause. 

For men, this condition is also called androgenic alopecia as it is mediated via predominantly male hormones or androgens. This type of hair loss is progressive and starts at the hairline and recedes back from either side of the forehead towards the crown of the head. 

This can lead to dramatic drops in confidence and ridicule from others. Skin, hair, and nails for many are not just parts of their body, but an extension of their personality. Therefore, loss of hair can result in a negative self-image and increased levels of stress, anxiety and even depression. The news isn’t all bad however, treatments can be effective against hereditary hair loss if action is taken early.

Hormones and hair loss

The growth of hair follicles is controlled mainly by hormone levels. Therefore conditions and hormonal changes or imbalance can result in excessive shedding of hair. Triggers for these hormonal changes can be due to pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause in women. 

The good news here is that hair loss after childbirth and pregnancy (postpartum hair loss) often resolves within 12 months postpartum. Other hormonal causes for hair loss include thyroid hormone imbalance resulting in hair shedding. This should aim to be controlled before attempting to restore their hair via treatments.

Medical conditions that cause hair loss

The most common medical condition known for causing hair loss and bald patches is alopecia areata. This occurs when the immune system attacks healthy hair follicles resulting in excessive hair fall in the attacked areas. This differs from traction alopecia which is the result of consistent tugging and pulling of the hair shaft by styling and wearing hair up.

Both types have been linked to stress, which is where the term pulling out your hair due to stress likely came from. Also resulting from high levels of stress is a condition called Telogen effluvium. This is from stress causing hair follicles to remain in their resting phase, not allowing the hair to grow. 

Fungal infections such as ringworm can occur on the scalp, which can easily lead to temporary, yet damaging hair loss. It tends to present with patchy hair loss, and an itchy, flakey scalp, which has a red ring with a normal scalp centre. Treating the infection with antifungals will usually result in the restoration of hair in the area.

Drug-related hair loss

Worryingly, many medications can cause hair loss as a side effect, but some cause it much more than others. Radiation therapy and the associated drugs for cancer treatment are perhaps the most well known. They cause a large amount of hair loss all over the body rapidly as they target rapidly growing cancer cells but also healthy cells. 

Drugs that control hormones can also have a large effect on hair. Drugs like anabolic steroids, hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and under or overtreatment with thyroid hormone. Medicines used to treat heart conditions, skin conditions, and auto-immune conditions can also sometimes cause hair loss. 

In many cases, the hair loss will stop and hair will return back to normal upon stopping the medicine causing it. It is never recommended to stop the medicine prescribed to you by your doctor without first consulting them. So please consult your doctor if you think a medicine is causing your hair loss.

Treatments for hair loss

Hair loss treatment varies depending on individual health and needs and should be determined by a doctor.

Surgical treatment for hair loss

There are a number of surgical procedures available for hair loss. Typically they involve transplanting full follicular units from a healthy section of hair to the areas which are thinning and balding. Hair transplant surgery is usually reserved for those who cannot use topical or tablet treatments.  This is because it is invasive, has a high cost, and slight risks of pain, swelling or infection. 

Surgery does provide an option for those whose balding has progressed too far for other treatments to work.

Lifestyle changes to improve hair loss

Managing your risk factors for hair loss can be one of the most effective treatments, particularly in stress-related or traction alopecia. Finding effective ways to manage your stress can reduce hair loss and increase your quality of life. 

To improve traction alopecia you need to reduce the amount of time your hair and scalp are under tension. This can be done by changing your hairstyle to be worn down or avoiding braids or avoiding sticky rubber or elastic bands. 

Vitamins for hair loss

Research has suggested vitamin deficiencies in folate, Vitamins B2, B7 and B12 have a role in hair loss. While deficiencies may play a role in hair loss, it is unclear if they help in those who do not have any dietary deficiencies. Research on amino acids effect on hair loss found a similar result supplementing may help but only in those people with dietary deficiencies. As such it’s always best to get a blood test with your doctor before starting any unnecessary supplements.