- Hair loss can take many forms, from thinning to total baldness. Hair loss can occur for a variety of causes. Medically, hair loss is divided into several types, including:
Telogen effluvium – This typical type of hair loss occurs two to three months after a substantial physical stress, such as a protracted sickness, major surgery, or a serious infection. It can also occur as a result of an abrupt change in hormone levels, particularly in women following childbirth. Hair falls out in small amounts from all areas of the scalp and can be found on a pillow, in the tub, or on a hairbrush. While the hair on the scalp may appear thinner in some areas, large bald spots are uncommon.
Drug side effects — Certain drugs, such as lithium, beta-blockers, warfarin, heparin, amphetamines, and levodopa, can cause hair loss as a side effect (Atamet, Larodopa, Sinemet). Furthermore, several cancer chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin), can induce abrupt hair loss that affects the entire head.
- Symptom of a medical condition — Hair loss can be a symptom of a medical condition such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), syphilis, a thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), a sex-hormone imbalance, or a serious nutritional problem, particularly a protein, iron, zinc, or biotin deficiency. People on restrictive diets and women with strong menstrual flow are more likely to suffer from these deficits.
- Tinea capitis (scalp fungus infection) — Tinea capitis is a type of patchy hair loss caused by fungi infecting the scalp. Hair follicles fall off at the scalp’s surface, causing the scalp to flake or become scaly. Tinea capitis is a form of patchy hair loss that primarily affects children.
- Alopecia areata (hair loss in one or more small patches) — This is an autoimmune illness that causes hair loss in one or more small patches. Although it is more common in those who have other autoimmune diseases, the source of this condition is unknown. Alopecia totalis is a condition that causes total hair loss from the scalp due to the same process.
- Traumatic alopecia — Hairdressing practices that tug the hair (tight braiding or cornrowing), expose hair to severe heat and twisting (curling iron or hot rollers), or damage the hair with harsh chemicals produce this type of hair loss (bleaching, hair coloring, permanent waves). Furthermore, some people suffer from trichotillomania, a rare psychiatric illness in which excessive hair pulling and twisting can result in bald areas.
- Androgenetic alopecia (hereditary pattern baldness) — Hair loss in men may follow the usual male pattern (receding front hairline and/or thinning hair at the top of the head). This is the most prevalent type of hair loss in men, and it can start at any age, even during adolescence. It’s commonly caused by a combination of three factors: baldness is caused by a hereditary tendency to baldness, male hormones, and the passage of time.
- In women, thinning develops throughout the top or crown of the head, sparing the front.
We shed roughly 50 to 100 hairs per day from our scalp. You may notice unusually huge amounts of hair in brushes, on clothing, and in the drains of sinks and tubs if more than this is falling out. You might also notice that your hair is getting thinner, your part is getting wider, your hairline is changing, or one or more bald patches have formed.
Things to use to prevent hair fall:
