Why is My Hair Falling Out?

We shed about 50-100 strands of hair a day. This could be known as normal hair loss, which does not cause any significant problems, given the fact that there are about 100,000 hair in the scalp. However, when the rate at which hair sheds, exceeds that of the growth, there is a reason to worry about, as the eventual repercussion could be baldness.

There are specific types of hair loss with different causes. If you are suffering from the condition: traction alopecia, not a permanent hair-loss condition, the reason behind is fancy hairstyles that involves pulling hair too tightly. This may cost a permanent hair loss, if you do not stop styling before the scarring alopecia and permanent root damage.

Apart from the one mentioned before, there are other conditions as well. One of them is pattern baldness, clinically known as androgenetic alopecia. In this condition, hair strands do not remain thick and become more vulnerable to damage. The main cause of this condition is heredity.

Then there is another hair loss condition known as sicatricial alopecia. This is a permanent hair loss condition, wherein, inflammation causes the hair follicles to suffer scarring and extreme damage. Now, what causes this inflammation is still not ascertained.

Alopecia areata is a condition, the causes of which are also unknown. When a person is affected by this condition, he does experience growth of hair. However, he may lose it again and regrow it, for a number of times. This condition is classified as an autoimmune disease, and has some linkage with heredity factors.

Hair fall out in clumps because the roots go into a state of shock, making them rest for 1-2 months, after which they end their rest and new hair start growing. This state known as telogen effluvium is triggered when the body is hit by some kind of physical/emotional stress like high fever, extreme weight loss, nutritional deficiency, personal stress, etc.

Some other causes of hair fall may include:

• Medication side effects

• Inadequate nutrition

• Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, etc.

• Hormone imbalances

• Infection of the scalp

• Trichotillomania (an irresistible urge to pull out your own hair)

• Diseases such as diabetes, and lupus.

It is said that temporary and permanent hair loss, have no cure. However, there are methods to help hair regrow and hide hair loss. The treatment involves medication (depending upon the type and severity of hair loss), surgical procedures (to cover loss grounds) and use of wigs or hairpieces (for cases which do not respond to other hair fall treatments).

Disclaimer: This information is for factual purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.