7 Major Reasons Behind Hair Loss and Ways to Handle It

Losing your hair can definitely be frustrating and often times it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is causing your hair to begin thinning.  There are many steps you can take for Management Of Hair Loss, and we will be sharing those steps with you here, but it’s also a good idea to look into what might be the root cause of the loss of hair in the first place. Often, by understanding what the cause is, it will allow you to treat the problem so that your hair will begin growing as it once used to.  Read on to learn more about the causes and solutions of hair loss.

What is Hair Loss? And what causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss, is also called Alopecia (al-o-pee-shah).  On average you should be losing about 75-150 hairs per day.  That is normal hair loss, however if you feel that you are losing more than this, it may be time to research further.  If you are noticing a lot of thinning or even bald patches, you may be experiencing hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary.  Most often, hair loss can be stopped and/or treated. If you feel that you are experiencing hair loss, you should see a dermatologist who specializes in treating hair as well as skin and nails.


At this point, you may be wondering, what causes hair loss?  In women, hair loss often will begin suddenly. The causes can be due to a number of things such as illness, diet, childbirth, and even some medications can cause hair loss.  Here is a list of some more possible causes for your reference.

 

 

1. Hair Disorders

This can include hereditary thinning or baldness which is the most common cause of hair loss.  On the other hand, Alopecia Areata is believed to be the cause of an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune means that the body begins attacking itself, and in this instance, it means that the body begins attacking the hair.

 

2. Disease

Hair loss can often be caused by an underlying medical condition. Many diseases including thyroid disease and anemia are known to cause hair loss.  However, if disease is the cause, then treating the disease will often reverse the hair loss.

 

3. Hormones & Stress

Hair loss can be one of the side effects of stress and hormones. Often after giving birth, women will notice hair loss.  This is caused by drops in estrogen levels. This type of hair loss is usually temporary. For the same reasons, Menopause can cause hair loss as well.  During times of stress or a traumatic experience hair loss can become more prevalent. Be reminded that stress management is always a huge topic for everyone.

 

4. Dieting & Poor Nutrition

Weight loss of more than 15lbs will sometimes cause hair loss within 3 to 6 months of losing the weight.  Other diet and nutrition reasons can include too much vitamin A, not enough protein, iron deficiency, and eating disorders.  Again, the hair will begin to grow back once these have all been taken care of.

 

5. Medication

Were you aware that certain medications can cause hair loss?  If you are experiencing hair loss and are taking medications from the list below, this could be the cause.

• Birth Control Pills
• Blood Thinners
• Vitamin A in high doses
• Certain Steriods
• Medicines that treat arthritis, gout, depression, heart conditions and high blood pressure

 

6. Hair Care

Believe it or not, your hairstyle and even what you use on your hair can be responsible for hair loss. For example, frequent bleaching or perms, regular or improper use of hair dye, haircare products and even hairsprays.  For this reason, we recommend our Iles Formula Haute Performance haircare system.  Our products are silicone, sulfate and paraben free, which means you aren't bombarding your system with unnecessary and potentially toxic ingredients. Another culprit can be the hair tools you use, as well as hairpins, clips and rubber bands.  So be sure to limit the amount of time you are using these on your hair.

    

7. Hairstyles

Wearing hairstyles that create a lot of tension within the hair, can cause it to break or fall out.  Limit ponytails, cornrows, and braids for best results.  In addition, backcombing the hair daily can cause a lot of tension on the hair and may cause breakage or loss.

How to Manage Hair Loss?

There are many causes of hair loss as you can see, and there are just as many ways to manage and treat it.  The earlier you are able to treat it the better.  The further along that it has become, the more difficult it will be to treat.  So as soon as you notice this to be a problem, have a dermatologist treat you.  Here is a list of some ways to manage hair it:

1. If it is because of the products, tools or chemicals you are using, or even hairstyles, simply refrain from them to see if this corrects the problem.  Be sure you are using proper haircare products as we mentioned earlier such as our Iles Formula 3 Step System.
2. Medication:  There are treatments both over the counter as well as prescribed than can be taken for treatment.
3. Topical Solutions:  There are certain topical solutions that can be recommended by your dermatologist that may help.
4. Laser Treatments:  Laser brushes, combs and other handheld devices that emit a laser light are known to stimulate hair growth.
5. In advanced hair loss situations, there is the option of transplanting, scalp reduction, scalp expansion, and scalp flaps.

 

Outcome

Once your dermatologist has determined what is causing your hair loss, they can help you to understand what you can expect and how long it should take for your hair to begin growing back.  This can be a slow process, so have patience and understand that it took some time to lose your hair and it will take time to grow back as well. Have you had any personal challenges with hair loss? Share with us what has worked for you when it comes to management of hair loss.