My hair is falling out! With all the stress of 2021, let us talk about hair loss. Every year I get at least 20 to 30 people who complain of hair loss.
What is hair loss? Hair is a protein called keratin produced in hair follicles. New hair made pushes old hairs out through the skin’s surface at the rate of about six inches a year. We have about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and lose up to 100 – 200 each day, so a few stray hairs on your hairbrush is normal.
Stages of hair growth
Human hair growth cycles in four phases. Not all hair follicles are in the same stage:
Growing phase (anagen): This is the growing phase of hair. It lasts two to seven years. During this phase, your hair follicles push out strands that continue to grow until cut or until they are shed and fall out.
Transition phase (catagen) starts when the growing phase ends and lasts about
ten days.
Resting phase (Telogen). The resting phase typically lasts around three months. The telogen phase is when new hairs form in follicles that have just released hair during the catagen phase. About 10 to 15 percent of your scalp hairs are in this phase. Hairs don’t grow during the telogen phase, but they usually don’t fall out.
Shedding phase (Exogen). Hair is shed as noted when we wash or brush. Losing 50 to 200 hairs per day during the exogen phase is normal. This phase can last 3-5 months.
Types of hair loss
Many factors can cause hair loss! Not all hair loss is caused by stress.
Androgenic Alopecia is the most common cause.
- Involutional alopecia natural condition where the hair thins with age. More hair follicles go into the resting phase, and the remaining hairs become shorter and fewer in number.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. Often starts suddenly and causes patchy hair loss in children and young adults. This condition may result in complete baldness (alopecia totalis). But in about 90% of people with the condition, the hair returns within a few years.
Alopecia Universalis causes all body hair to fall out, including the eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair.
Trichotillomania, seen most frequently in children, is a psychological disorder in which a person pulls out one’s own hair.
Telogen effluvium is temporary hair thinning that occurs because of changes in the growth cycle of hair. A large number of hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing hair shedding and subsequent thinning. Seen often after pregnancy.
Other factors may influence hair loss:
- Hormones – such as abnormal levels of androgens (male hormones normally produced by both men and women). Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and stopping birth control pills can cause temporary loss.
- Stress or illness high fevers, rapid weight loss, emotional stress like family death can also cause hair loss.
- Medications including drugs used in cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis, birth control or hormonal treatment can cause temporary hair loss.
- Burns, injuries, and X-rays
- Cosmetic procedures can damage and break hair strands. These include excessive shampooing, perms, bleaching, and dyeing hair, tight braiding, excessive heat with hot curlers, and aggressive brushing – combing.
- Medical conditions. Thyroid, lupus, diabetes, eating disorders, and anemias.
- Poor Diet. Low protein or severe calorie restriction.
Prevention
You can do several things to reduce hair loss and encourage new growth.
- Diet and nutrition – Eating a balanced, nutritious diet of whole foods. Nutrients are
important to hair growth: Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin E. Zinc, and folic acid.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Reduce stress – exercise, avoid stressors
- Haircare – Don’t wear tight hairstyles like braids, ponytails, or buns that put too much
pressure on your hair. Hairdryers, hot curlers, hair dyes, permanents, tight braids, hair straightening products, and cosmetics.
