If you ask people, the vast majority of them will tell you that one of the most important parts of someone’s identity and self-expression is precisely their hair. When you have lush and healthy hair, your confidence is generally pretty high.
In contrast, if you’re experiencing thinning or baldness, it can seriously negatively impact your self-esteem, regardless of its cause. This refers to both women and men. As soon as you start noticing that the amount of strands on your pillow has, all of a sudden, increased, you start wondering if it’s something temporary or not, and whether there are some problems with your health.
Even though hair thinning isn’t anything unusual, in fact, it has become pretty common among both genders. If you conclude that it’s getting worse, then it may be a good idea to talk to a dermatologist to unveil the underlying cause.
Since this can be very nerve-wracking to most people, this article is going to further delve into this topic to uncover the potential causes behind it.
When Is It Time To See The Doctor?
As stated in the beginning, thinning hair isn’t anything uncommon, because every person loses around 100 hairs on a daily basis.
That’s a normal part of a hair growth cycle; however, if you notice that hair thinning is more severe, or that you even have some bald patches, then it’s definitely a sign that you need to talk to a healthcare provider.
Seeing bald patches means that you have some sort of alopecia, which isn’t always permanent, depending on the type and cause. Keep in mind that in these instances, early diagnosis is crucial, so if you notice any of the previously mentioned signs, do not postpone professional consultation.
Genetics Can Play An Integral Role
Genetics, in general, can cause a variety of different health conditions. It is one of the most common causes of thinning hair, and those who have inherited hair issues are usually diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia, which affects both men and women. In men, this condition typically appears as a bald spot on the crown, and, at times, it can progress to more widespread thinning.
When it comes to women, it normally causes diffuse thinning across the scalp, and it rarely leads to total baldness. Genetics “decides” how hair follicles react to hormones, especially dihydrotestosterone, which is a derivative of testosterone.
Sensitivity to it results in follicles shrinking over time, producing finer hairs until they, at some point, stop growing.
Hormonal Problems
Another very common cause of hair thinning and hair loss, in general, is this one. Excess androgens and hormonal imbalances frequently cause this. Androgens play a major role in both male and female pattern baldness.
Aside from the aforementioned androgenetic alopecia, thyroid issues can also cause hair thinning, along with the postpartum changes. Those who suffer from hair loss that’s caused by a hormonal imbalance usually turn to medications, such as spironolactone or hormone replacement therapy.
Of course, none of these medications can be taken before you first talk to a dermatologist and do some bloodwork that is going to determine if hormonal problems are the ones causing hair thinning or hair loss.
Stress, Stress, Stress
It has become more than evident that stress is one of the biggest causes of a variety of different health conditions, including hair thinning and hair loss. It doesn’t matter whether it is physical or mental; in both cases, it can negatively influence the normal growth cycle of hair.
A condition, also known as telogen effluvium, pushes a lot of hairs into the shedding stage. Serious life events, such as illness, surgery, and, sometimes, even weight loss, can result in this condition.
On a more positive note, this hair loss is usually temporary. This just goes to show how stress can be impactful and how it can affect our hair. That’s why you should do whatever you can to manage it as much as possible.
Pregnancy
Here’s another case of hormonal imbalance, which occurs during pregnancy and even after childbirth. Postpartum hair loss isn’t anything unusual. On the contrary, approximately fifty percent of women suffer from it.
Why does that happen? Well, that’s because estrogen levels go extremely high during pregnancy, which can change the hair growth cycles. But don’t worry! This is another example of a temporary hair loss. Postpartum hair loss may occur even several months after childbirth, and this problem can last one year or more.
This type of hair thinning is normally more visible in women with longer hair; however, as concluded above, as your body begins recovering and going back to normal, so will your hair. Although that’s something that no woman can prevent, what you can do is to be gentle with your hair during pregnancy, and make sure you take all the necessary prenatal vitamins.
Poor Nutrition
In case you didn’t know, hair is made of keratin, which is a protein, and its growth depends on various nutrients. Those who do not have the right amounts of vitamin D, iron, or zinc typically have issues with hair.
This is particularly the situation with iron deficiencies, which frequently happen during the period. Women who lose a lot of blood during menstruation will probably notice increased shedding. Aside from that, those who resort to crash diets, or do not consume food that’s high in certain vitamins will suffer from hair thinning, too!
In these types of situations, it’s essential to either alter your diet, meaning to incorporate more fruits and veggies into it, or to start taking certain supplements, to compensate for the lack of these vitamins and minerals.
Aging
As we grow older, our hair starts changing, leading to gradual follicle shrinking, and there’s nothing unusual about this. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone will experience hair thinning as they age; however, there will definitely be those whose hair density will change over time.
Image: Pixabay
As you can see, not every hair thinning needs to have a “dramatic” cause, and in some cases, this hair issue is just temporary. Whatever your situation may be, if you do not notice any improvements when it comes to this, then be sure to consult a dermatologist.