What causes your hair to fall out?
There is no doubt that more men will lose their hair than women. However, hair loss and thinning hair are also common in women. Whether you are a man or a woman it is often demoralizing to lose your hair and this will be especially true if you are still young. The reasons why people lose their hair can vary from both something simple to something more complex. It could be a serious underlying health condition or a simple vitamin deficiency. This article will discuss a few of the not so common and common reasons why you might see less hair on your scalp.
Is Alopecia Areata caused by stress?
The first reason could be because of physical stress. A car accident, surgery, or an illness can cause a person to temporarily lose their hair. The term for this type of temporary hair loss is called telogen effluvium. A person's hair has a definite programed life cycle. There are three phases including a growing phase, a resting phase, and a shedding phase. Under certain stressful situations or events your hair can be shocked to go directly to the shedding phase. A person's hair loss will normally become more noticeable between 3 to 6 months after the trauma. Once your body starts to recover however your hair should start growing back normally.
Why is my hair falling out after having a baby?
Another reason why women in particular can lose hair is pregnancy. During a pregnancy there is a lot of physical stress placed upon the body. The temporary postpartum hair loss will normally occur soon after your baby has been born as opposed to during the pregnancy. Most doctors agree that giving birth is a very stressful which can lead to this temporary hair loss. Eventually, your hair will return but it is important to not add additional stress by worrying about this temporary hair loss.
Can excess vitamins cause hair loss?
It is interesting that a person can also lose their hair by taking too much vitamin A. The American Academy of Dermatology warns against overdosing on vitamin A containing medications or supplement. The average amount of vitamin a that a person should take on a daily basis is 5000 IU but many supplements can contain anywhere from 2500 to 10,000 IU. Once a person stops taking excessive vitamin A supplements or medications the hair should start to grow back.
What foods to eat to promote hair growth?
It is obvious that a good diet provides many benefits and this is true in regards to hair loss. People who do not eat enough protein in their diet may find that their body starts to ration the protein by reducing or shutting down hair growth. This information is also from the American Academy of Dermatology. People who have a drastic reduction in protein will often notice hair loss within three months. This can easily be corrected by including more protein in your diet including meat, fish, and eggs. There are also many excellent vegetarian and vegan protein sources.
Can iron deficiency cause hair loss?
Anemia is another key reason why women in primarily may lose their hair. There is a study that shows that women aged from 20 through 49 have a 1 in 10 possibility of suffering from anemia due to an iron deficiency. A doctor can do a simple blood test to find out if you are susceptible to this particular type of anemia. If you are, an iron supplement may correct the problem. Some other symptoms of anemia include pale skin, dizziness, headache, and cold feet and hands.
Is hair loss in men and women hereditary?
The number one culprit for hair loss is heredity. Women or men who experience hair loss at a certain age may belong to a family where this is common. Women will not have a receding hairline as do men but rather they may notice a thinning of their hair or a widening of their part.