You wake up in the morning and brush your hair to keep the tangles out of them, but you end up with a handful of hair in your comb, on the room floor, and your clothing. For some people, this may seem like a normal occurrence but for others who take their hair health more seriously, it can mean more than just a regular hair fall.
We lose about 50 to 100 scalp hairs every day. The amount of hair loss varies from person to person and may be more obvious if you have long hair. That’s because our hair cycle typically produces more hair than we lose. But when the cycle produces less hair, that’s when hair loss may occur.
You’ll then find unusually large amounts of hair everywhere. You’ll also notice that your hair is thinning, you have wider hair parting, and your hairline is changing or there are one or more bald spots on your head. That said, hair loss affects both men and women regardless of their age.
In this article, we explore some of the facts related to hair loss, common causes of hair loss, and ways to prevent hair loss.
Facts About Hair Loss
#1 Male-pattern baldness
Male-pattern baldness can be inherited and hair loss usually begins later in life. For some males, hair loss can occur much earlier and may notice their hair thinning in their 20s. The baldness typically starts with receding hairlines and begins thinning at the crown and temples, creating a horseshoe shape around the sides and back of the head.
#2 Hair loss also affects women
Like #1, females also experience hair loss albeit less common. Known as female-pattern hair loss, it can be inherited and typically affects post-menopausal women. The baldness begins at the top of the head and involves thinning of the hair. Pregnancy can also cause hair loss in some women due to hormonal changes – this is fortunately reversible with some care after the pregnancy.
#3 Alopecia areata
This is a type of hair loss that occurs in both men and women. This condition affects the scalp and is often caused by an autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss to occur. The damage to the hair follicles isn’t permanent and can be recovered with the right treatment.
#4 The hair has an average lifespan of 2-6 years
Each strand of hair on your head has a continuous growth cycle, known as the hair growth cycle. Whenever your hair shed, a new strand of hair will grow to replace it.
Common Causes of Hair Loss
There are many factors causing people to experience hair loss. This includes family history, hormonal changes and medical conditions, medications, radiation therapy, extreme stress, and hairstyles and treatments.
1. Hereditary hair loss
Family history is a common cause of hair loss which occurs with age. Known as androgenic alopecia, this type of hair loss usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns – a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair along the crown of the scalp in women. If you have a family history of hair loss, chances are that you’ll also experience it.
2. Hormonal changes and medical conditions
Aside from your genetics, hormonal changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems can also cause permanent or temporary hair loss. Medical conditions such as alopecia areata can cause patchy hair loss, scalp infections, and hair-pulling disorder known as trichotillomania.
3. Medications
Hair loss can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as those used to treat cancer, arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, heart problems, and gout. If you suspect that your medication is causing you to experience a significant hair fall, consult your doctor about it. Also, you mustn’t stop taking the medication abruptly as it can cause serious health problems.
4. Radiation therapy
When you receive chemotherapy or radiation treatment to the head or neck, it’s common to lose all or most of your hair within a few weeks after starting the treatment. This type of hair loss may be temporary depending on the therapy period and hair growth is possible with the right treatment and medication.
5. Extreme stress
Under extreme stress, known as telogen effluvium, it can push the hair follicles into a resting phase so that they don’t produce new hair strands. Over time, your hair falls out more easily, causing you to experience a temporary hair loss. Also, a physical or emotional shock such as a death in the family, extreme weight loss, and high fever can trigger hair loss.
6. Hairstyles and treatments
Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight such as pigtails or ponytails can cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Not only that, but hot-oil hair treatments and permanent can also cause hair fall. If you continue to damage your hair, it can lead to permanent hair loss.
7. Insufficient nutrients
You are what you eat. When your diet is lacking in protein, iron, and other essential nutrients, it can lead to thinning hair as the hair is considered a non-essential tissue. However, when you consume enough nutrients, the body can distribute them everywhere they’re needed, including the hair. Consider your hair to be a reflection of your body’s vitality and overall well-being.
Now that you’ve learned about some of the facts related to hair loss and the common causes of hair fall, it’s time to find out how you can prevent hair loss at home.
Preventing Hair Loss
If you’re currently experiencing hair fall albeit gradually, there are things you can do to prevent further hair loss. You should first avoid tight hairstyles like braids, ponytails, or buns that put pressure on your hair. Those styles will damage your hair follicles permanently.
Additionally, try not to pull, twist, or rub your hair when you’re stressed. It can gradually turn into a habit and put pressure on your scalp. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of protein and iron to strengthen your hair and encourage hair growth.
Switch your hair shampoo to a suitable shampoo that combats hair loss and supports hair regrowth. Take note that it should be free of parabens, sulphate, SLS and artificial fragrances as these ingredients can further aggravate hair loss. In Singapore’s hot and humid climate, it is advisable to wash your hair daily due to the oil and grim build up from perspiration and environmental pollutants.
If you want to style your hair with hot styling tools, you can do so when your hair is dry and use the lowest setting when possible.
If you’re still experiencing hair fall after your numerous attempts at preventing further hair loss, there are hair loss treatment available in Singapore. Eeva’s Cell Bio-Signal Cytokine Nano-RF Hair Regrowth Treatment involves the use of Bio-Signalling Technology from Korea in synergy with Israeli transdermal technology that can help restore your hair follicles at the cellular level. The in-clinic hair loss treatments can be enhanced by the home use of Eeva’s BioSignal Hair Growth Shampoo and PDRN Hair Growth Tonic.
With a collective experience of more than 40 years in the medical and aesthetic field, our doctors are always on the lookout for innovative, creative protocols in treating hair loss. Consult our doctors at Eeva Medical Clinic to know more about the available treatments.