hair loss

Hair Loss Causes and Risk Factors

By Yury Bayarski

Hair loss is the tendency of hair follicles in relation to stop producing hair growth. A partial or complete Hair loss is called alopecia. Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or diffuse.

Interesting facts about hair and hair loss


  • the hair is the fastest growing tissue in the body, second only to bone marrow.
  • The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs.
  • About 100 head hairs lost each day.
  • Each individual hair survives on average 4 to 7 years, during which time it grows about half an inch per month.
  • You need to lose about 50% of hair before hair loss significantly.
  • In the U.S., 30 million women experience hereditary hair loss. 70% of women with thinning hair can attribute the hereditary hair loss.
  • Hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in men, over 95% of male cases.
  • Androgenetic alopecia affects more men than women. Approximately two thirds of men experience some degree of appreciable hair loss when they are 35, and 85%, significantly thinning hair at the age of 50 years.
  • In the U.S., it has not started a bald president-elect since the age of television.

The most common cause of hair loss

the most common cause of Hair loss is genetics - inherit the tendency to lose hair, or both parents. The medical term for the genetic predisposition for hair loss is "androgenetic alopecia".

Influence of androgenetic alopecia, the genes, such as the hair grows. They solve a sensitivity to a class of hormones called androgens, including testosterone, which causes the hair follicles (which hair grows from) to shrink. Hair follicles produce thinner shrinking and finally nothing. To produce such androgenic alopecia by the body's inability to new hairs and not by excessive hair loss is caused. Inheritance also affects the age at which you start to lose hair and the speed of development, design and extent of baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia accounts for more than 95% of Hair loss> in men. At the age of 35 years two-thirds of American men experience some degree of appreciable Hair loss and up to the age of 50 years about 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.

Men generally develop bald spots on the forehead or on top of the head. In men, the hair on the top of the head, a genetic susceptibility to the male hormone testosterone, while the hair on the sides and back of the head does not have this gene and are therefore not affected. For this reason, the hair on the sides and back (donor hair) away to keep their genetic predisposition when transplanted and continue to grow if the top of the head which occurred hair loss delayed.

For a woman, female hair loss is the most common form of Hair loss. It can be at puberty, but usually after menopause. Women have a general thinning of hair in the scalp while the frontal hairline generally remains intact.

Other causes of hair loss and risk factors

Hair loss is usually not caused by illness, but it is aging, heredity, and testosterone. In addition to the common male and female models from a combination of these factors, other possible causes of hair loss, especially if there is in an unusual pattern, include:

Side effects of medications or medical treatments.

Certain drugs for gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure can cause hair loss in some people. Because the drugs hair loss may include:

  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs: clofibrate, gemfibrozil
  • Parkinson's drugs: levodopa
  • Ulcer: cimetidine, ranitidine
  • Anticoagulants: coumarin, heparin
  • Medicines for gout: allopurinol
  • Antiarthritic: penicillamine, auranofin, indomethacin, naproxen, sulindac, methotrexate
  • Drugs derived from vitamin A, isotretinoin, etretinate
  • Anticonvulsants: trimethadione
  • Antidepressants: tricyclic antidepressants, amphetamines
  • Beta-blockers: atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol
  • Drugs: carbimazole, iodine, thiocyanate, thiouracil

  • Delayed elimination of stress. The most common form of hair loss happens two to three months after a major body stress. The stressful event will give a higher proportion of follicles in the resting phase at once. A few months later, all now dormant follicles to begin to lose their hair at about the same time. Because the stressful event happened months ago, most people do not connect with their hair loss. It is a temporary condition, and new hair starts to grow later this year. Stress can also trigger genetic hair loss. If your hair loss is already causing stress, you lose your hair faster.
  • Protein in the diet is inadequate. Some people, who follow crash diets that are low in protein, or highly abnormal eating habits, can suffer from protein malnutrition. The body will save protein by shifting growing hairs into the resting phase. Massive hair loss can occur two to three months later. This condition can be reversed and prevented by eating the right amount of protein and, when dieting, maintaining adequate protein intake.
  • Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency occasionally produces hair loss. Iron deficiency is common for women during menstruation and pregnancy and can be corrected by proper diet or iron supplements.
  • Pregnancy and childbirth. Hair loss that occurs during pregnancy is associated, usually after childbirth. If a woman is pregnant, her hair grows at a very high speed. But after a woman delivers her baby, many hairs enter the resting phase of hair cycle. It is a natural process and resolves completely in most cases.
  • Birth control pills. Women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited tendency for hair thinning (androgenic alopecia). If hair thinning occurs, a woman can consult her gynecologist to switch to another contraceptive pill. If a woman has a history of loss of women in her family, she has her doctor before you to discuss the pill.
  • Infection of the scalp. Infections such as ringworm penetrate the skin and hair of the scalp, causing hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.
  • Thyroid disease. Both an overactive thyroid and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be reversed with proper treatment.
  • Patchy hair loss (alopecia). Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. This disorder causes hair follicles to stop producing hair. Approximately 2% of people experience an episode of alopecia areata at some point in their lives. In most cases, the condition is temporary and will disappear by themselves within 6-7 months, continued, and hair growth in balding.
  • Hair pulling (traction alopecia). Traction alopecia is hair loss traction constant, often the result of tightly braided hair styles.
  • Hair Care. Pulling your hair back too tightly can cause hair loss. You may lose hair around the perimeter of the hairline, especially around the face and forehead. Continue with dyes curling iron or hair also cause failure. Hair grows back normally, when those activities are stopped.
  • Blow-drying can worsen hair loss. The reason is that extreme heat damages the proteins in the hair, it is sensitive and susceptible. Brushing the hair during blow-drying more difficult. If you use a hair dryer, it should be placed on the cooler. Hair dyes, perms and lacquers do not touch the hair loss.
  • Age. With age, the hairs tend to break more easily, and hair follicles do not grow as much hair.