Hair Loss Causes

If you travel long distances regularly on a two-wheeler, you should wear a helmet throughout your journey. Although wearing a helmet is mandatory for safe travel, long-term use of a helmet may damage your hair by increasing the stress on your hair or through excessive sweating. If you have problems such as dandruff and excessive sweat, this may also cause hair loss. But, this doesn't mean that you stop wearing a helmet. There is a simple solution to prevent this problem. Tie a napkin or handkerchief on your head before wearing a helmet. The napkin will soak the sweat and prevent damage and loss of hair. 

Smoking is a well-established risk factor for several life-threatening health conditions. It is also associated with various negative effects on the skin. Currently, several research studies indicate that smoking has a direct adverse effect on your hair growth. Cigarette smoke affects the dermal hair papilla (the indentation at the base of a hair follicle), and the genotoxins in the smoke damage the DNA of the hair follicle causing hair loss. Baldness caused by smoking can be prevented by being aware of the adverse effects of smoking and the positive impact of smoking cessation on an individual’s health.

(Read more: How to quit smoking)

Hairstyling and various hair care products may have a damaging effect on your hair, thus inducing hair loss.

• Frequent bleaching and hair dyeing and regular use of hair sprays, gels, and other such products cause hair fall. Dermatologists recommend minimal use of such products for healthy hair.
• Blow dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons expose your hair to very high temperatures. Blow dryers also dry out the moisture in the hair shafts making your hair dry and brittle. Straighteners and curling machines use much higher temperatures than a blow dryer. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends air-drying hair and then style the dry hair. It also recommends limiting the use of hair straighteners and curlers. (Read more: Natural ways to hair straightening)
• Hair clips and rubber bands can hold the hair too tightly, leading to breakage and hair loss.
• If you pull and tie your hair tight in hairstyles, such as ponytails, braids, and buns, too often, it may cause a form of hair loss in the forehead area known as traction alopecia, which gives rise to a receding hairline.
• Excessive shampooing may also lead to hair fall. More than 100 strokes of combing and hair brushing in a day can also lead to hair loss.

It is a condition in which the red blood cell (RBC) count is lower than normal or the oxygen-carrying capacity of these cells is reduced. Hence, the RBCs are unable to meet the oxygen demands of your body. The most common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency. Other causes of anaemia include deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12, chronic inflammation, infections among others. The deficiency of these essential nutrients in anaemia leads to hair loss.

(Read more: Anemia diet)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a syndrome that is characterised by the development of fluid-filled cysts in the ovaries, which affects their function in women. Thinning of hair due to hair fall is one of the common symptoms of PCOS.

(Read more: PCOS herbal and home remedies)

• Pregnancy-related hair fall usually occurs following delivery. During pregnancy, the body’s altered physiological state causes an increase in the number of hair strands that are in the resting phase. Hence, following delivery, women may experience excessive hair fall. Increased hair fall after pregnancy is not a serious problem as the condition resolves on its own within three to four months of delivery. Also, hair fall after pregnancy does not cause any bald patches; thus, no need to be stressed out about post-pregnancy hair fall.
• If you experience hair loss during pregnancy, you might be suffering from vitamin or mineral deficiency that can be easily corrected by supplements.
• Hair fall may also occur due to abortion, stillbirth, and miscarriage.

Zinc is an essential mineral that is needed for multiple vital functions in your body. It is involved in a signalling pathway, which governs hair follicle development and hair growth. Hence, deficiency of zinc can lead to hair loss and brittle hair. Excessive hair fall due to zinc deficiency can be reversed by taking zinc supplements or including zinc-containing foods like dairy products, seafood, nuts, poultry and meat in your diet.

When the protein requirement of the body is not adequately met, it leads to various health conditions. Severe deficiency of protein can lead to hair thinning and hair fall. In such conditions, the body tries to save the available protein for more vital functions. Cessation of hair growth is one of the ways by which the body compensates for a deficiency of protein. Hair loss can be observed only after two to three months of inadequate protein intake. Increasing protein intake can help to treat hair loss. You can increase the amount of protein in your diet by eating fish, eggs, and meat. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you can add beans and nuts to your diet to increase your protein intake and reduce hair loss.

(Read more: Protein-rich Indian food)

Excessive amounts of vitamin A in the body due to more intake of oral or injectable supplements can cause hair loss. As soon as you stop consuming excessive vitamin A, the hair fall subsides and hair regrowth begins.

(Read more: Vitamin A test)

Anorexia is an eating disorder in which there is a loss of appetite along with a fear of gaining weight. Due to this, the individual either does not feel hungry or does not eat and receives incomplete nutrition. A deficiency of essential nutrients required for hair growth can lead to hair loss. Bulimia is another eating disorder where the person induces vomiting after eating, resulting in the deficiency of essential nutrients leading to hair loss.

(Read more: Nutritional deficiency symptoms)

Ringworm is a fungal infection that may lead to excessive hair fall. It is a contagious disease commonly seen in children. If it is not treated in time, it may lead to baldness.

Following a high fever or an infection, you may suffer from hair loss for a period of four weeks to three months. This type of hair loss mostly resolves on its own. Occasionally, it requires treatment. Also, an infection of the scalp also results in significant hair loss over a period of time. Conditions such as a fungal infection, dandruff, dermatitis in the scalp, and inflammation of the hair follicles (folliculitis) affect hair growth and cause hair loss.

In this disorder, there is no hair formation in the hair follicle. Hair falls abruptly from its root, creating small, round, and smooth patches or on the scalp. Alopecia areata can affect children and adults of all ages.

Trichotillomania is a disorder in which an individual pulls out his/her own hair. The individual may also feel an urge to pull out not only the hair from their head but from other body parts like eyelashes, eyebrows, and nostrils.

Certain cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also cause hair loss. These treatments lead to the destruction of hair follicles, a poor health status, weak metabolism and stress. However, this type of hair loss is not permanent, and hair usually grows well once the treatment is complete and the person starts recovering.

An underactive thyroid gland results in a reduced production of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) that can cause hair loss. Increased production of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) also results in hair loss. In both conditions, hair loss is seen all over the scalp rather than in specific areas. Hair loss due to thyroid diseases can be cured by taking medications prescribed by your doctor.

(Read more: Homeopathic treatment for thyroid problems)