For centuries, we have known men and women to lose hair, to the extent, that many acquired wigs to cover up baldness. Various studies, as well as research in the socio-cultural history, reveal that many famous and powerful men were bald, but this does not compensate those who are losing hair [and losing sleep over it] as they look at themselves in the mirror.
With the progress of time and compounding facts, researchers have been able to pinpoint 8 major reasons for people losing hair. These include: Stress, Hormonal imbalance, Birth control, Weight loss, Vitamin deficiency, and Fungal infection; in addition, hair loss can be triggered by treatment with Antibiotics, or Chemotherapy.
Stress is known to be a major factor resulting in loss of hair. When people go through stressful situations in life, which could include the loss of someone dear to them, or face any problem that results in stress, face illness, or, suffer from any kind of emotional or physical abuse, a direct fall-out could be hair-loss. After childbirth, a lot of mothers also experience hair-loss, though in such cases, the hair normally re-grows. Women who suffer a miscarriage are also likely to go through this phase. Telogen Effluvium is the name given to this kind of hair-loss. The hair stops growing prematurely, when the follicles go into a 'resting' period; some months later, the hair is shed. This condition is normally a temporary one, which resolves, when the underlying problem itself gets resolved.
Hormones are vital to maintain a chemical balance in the body, but the right amount has to be present in the bloodstream to circulate the chemicals created by them to various parts of the body. Dihydrotestorone [DHT], a by-product of the male sex hormone - Testosterone, binds itself to the hair follicles, acting in a manner that restricts hair growth and encourages shedding of hair. DHT causes androgenetic alopecia in men. Another hormonal upset that can bring about hair loss is due to a thyroid problem - an under-working [Hypo] or over-working [Hyper] thyroid. This condition occurs in men, women and children. Sometimes, the drugs being used to treat Thyroidism may bring about alopecia due to a side-effect. However, this is not a common occurrence in people suffering from a thyroid problem, neither does Thyroidism always bring about a reduction in hair growth.
Birth control
Birth control measures adopted by women also lead to stress in the lives of those women who take these pills. The stress of having an unwanted pregnancy, which could lead to abortion, are also contributory factors of hair loss in women, as much as a miscarriage, or childbirth is. Stress is known to cause the hair follicles to take a 'rest' from their work, and after a few months, the hair starts falling. Besides, the side-effect of some medicines can also lead to hair loss. The medicinal effect, as well as the psychological causes in such situations, have a role in leading to hair loss in women, but this is a temporary phase, and such women generally recover their hair after 6 months.
Weight loss
Many-a-time, when men and women, boys and girls, want to lose weight, they resort to a crash diet. The attempt to lose weight fast could be because of a job-related stress, or an effort to 'look good' at the earliest possible time. Crash dieting leads to an eating disorder, which can also happen due to eating the wrong kind of food that is lacking in minerals-vitamins-proteins-calcium, so essential for a healthy diet. A healthy diet means a healthy body, as we all know, but it also means having a healthy crop of hair, which we sometimes overlook. An eating disorder, while leading to diminishing nutrients in the body, can affect the growth of hair. In some cases, people who resort to this kind of diet, may find that though they lose weight, they also lose hair.
Vitamin deficiency
There are two vitamins that play a key role in a healthy crop of hair. When there is a Vitamin A deficiency, an excessive production of a protein called keratin takes place, which makes the skin rough and dry, and in extreme cases, hyperkeratosis can lead to hair loss, as keratin blocks hair follicles, stunting hair growth. Vitamin A deficiency can be easily overcome by including those food items that contain this vitamin in our diet, such as: milk, eggs, carrots, turnips, spinach, parsley, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, cabbage, celery, green peas, apricot, papaya, oranges, grapefruit, watermelon, and plums. However, excessive intake of Vitamin A can be toxic. Another vitamin, earlier known as Vitamin H, Biotin also helps in hair growth. When Biotin is bound by avidine - a sugar-protein-containing molecule present in the raw egg white, then the body cannot absorb this vitamin. Biotin is essential as it metabolises the sugar content in our bodies into a usable chemical fuel. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to hair loss. Biotin is found in milk [cow's milk and goat's milk], chicken eggs, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, onions, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, walnuts, oats, and halibut. Carrots, tomatoes, romaine lettuce and chard however, are the richest source of this vitamin.
Fungal infection
Tinea Capitis, also called the scalp ringworm, is not caused by worms, but is caused by a mold-like fungi, dermatophytes, that causes hair loss. It is called scalp ringworm because of the way it marks the skin. This is considered to be the commonest infection leading to loss of hair in children, which disappears when they reach puberty, but it can affect adults as well, for it is contagious. M. audouinii, M. canis [also affects, dogs, cats and kittens] and T. tonsurans are the 3 kinds of Tinea Capitis fungal infections. Dandruff can be present, accompanied by inflamed abcesses. Hair loss caused by this infection is not only common, it can also be permanent. M. audouinii, also known as Tinea favosa causes the greatest damage to the hair, as the fungus penetrates into the hair shaft, causing swelling, and yellow, scarred crusting of the skin. M. canis also results in hair loss and scaly patches on the head, but in this infection, the fungus lives on the exterior of the hair. The commonest of the 3 is T. tonsurans, in which also the fungus resides inside the shaft and causes hair loss.
Antibiotics & other drugs
There are various antibiotics and medications that can lead to some degree of hair loss; in these cases, the hair loss becomes a secondary problem. This depends on the dosage, length of treatment and individual response. Ingredients like boric acid, citrate, morphine, arsenic, lithium, warfarin, selenium, bismuth and estrogen are known to possess properties which can induce hair loss in people. However, when a person is on an antibiotic, and notices hair loss, the best thing would be to talk to the doctor, for if the course of the antibiotic is stopped, it can make the original ailment to return. Drugs are available to treat hair loss also, as well as some ointments.
Chemotherapy
Cancer, remains a deadly disease, despite all the treatments available in this age to combat it. One of the major problems, is loss of hair, induced by chemotherapy, when the patient is treated with radiation and deadly chemicals
