Causes of hair loss
You occasionally discover a bald spot or have a tuft of hair in your brush. In this blog, you will discover all about the causes of hair loss and whether there is a solution. There are several reasons that cause your hair to fall out. These include:
- Heredity
- Stress
- Medical reasons
- Processing
- Insufficient vitamins and nutrients
Cause 1: Hair loss is hereditary
You know your father mostly as a balding man, while in photos from the past he shows off a beautiful head of hair. Baldness or hair thinning can be hereditary. You may inherit through your parents certain genes that make you sensitive to dihydrotestosterone, also abbreviated as DHT. This hormone is produced by the testosterone in your body and is responsible for potentially thinning your hair. In women, the hormone oestrogen prevents dihydrotestosterone from having free rein. After menopause, the amount of oestrogen decreases, making your hair thinner if you are sensitive to dihydrotestosterone. So chances are you will eventually suffer from it too.
Cause 2: You have (a lot of) stress
Hair loss due to stress is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men and women. Especially with prolonged or chronic stress, there is an increased risk of slowing hair growth. This is because the hormone cortisol that you produce when stressed causes an increased production of adrenaline. In the sebaceous glands, this adrenaline accumulates causing an overproduction of lactic acid and this is harmful to your hair causing hair fall out. Try de-stressing if you want to reduce the chances of losing your hair.
Cause 3: Medical reasons
Losing your hair is never fun, especially if it is due to a medical reason. There are several medical causes that cause your hair to fall out such as:
- Drug use
- Cancer
- Reduced thyroid function
- Anaemia
There are also autoimmune diseases like alopecia that cause sudden hair loss or bald patches on your head and in your eyebrows, for example.
Cause 4: You edit your hair too much
You probably take editing your hair for granted. You may not realise that editing your hair is a possible cause of hair loss in women and men.
Editing your hair is done with, for example:
- Aggressive hair products
- Unprotected heat styling such as using a straightener
- Dyeing the hair
- Insufficient use of grooming products
So you can reduce the risks of hair loss yourself by paying attention to the ingredients of your hair products at the shop and taking better care of your hair. Always make sure the hair products you use match your skin and hair type. Be careful when using the following ingredients:
- Laurylsufates
- Formaldehyde
Cause 5: Lack of vitamins and nutrients
To grow properly, your hair needs enough vitamins and minerals that you can get from food. The following vitamins are important for stimulating hair growth:
- Biotin (vitamin H / B8)
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
In addition, a lack of vitamin A can cause hair loss, as this vitamin plays a role in the production of sebum, an oily substance that moisturises the scalp and thereby protects it. However, taking too much Vitamin A can actually lead to hair loss, so proper dosage is necessary. Adequate healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals naturally contributes to a full head of hair.
Differences hair loss between men and women
Hair loss has several causes in men and women.
Men often experience incipient baldness, also known as androgenetic hair loss. In women, hair sometimes becomes thinner due to hormones, menopause and pregnancy, for example. Do you suffer from hair loss and would still like to boost your hair growth in an easy way? Then try Velform Hair Grow Max from Slimminglabs.
Bibliography
National Institutes of Health (april 2021) How Stress causes hair loss https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-stress-causes-hair-loss
Nederlandse Haarstichting opgeroepen in maart 2023 Verminderde werking van de schildklier https://www.haarstichting.nl/haarziekten/verminderde-werking-van-de-schildklier/
Nioxin opgezocht maart 2023 Kan haarverlies erfelijk zijn? https://www.nioxin.com/nl-NL/about-hair-loss/hair-loss-genetics
Verry Well Health (juni 2022) Certain Shampoos May Cause Hair Loss, Here's What to Know https://www.verywellhealth.com/shampoos-that-cause-hair-loss-5268050