Hair loss is more common with men than in women. This can be attributed to male pattern baldness. However, that does not mean that women do not experience thinning hair or hair loss. It can happen to women too and what’s unfortunate is that when it happens to a woman, it is somewhat more demoralizing.
There are a few reasons why a person experiences hair loss, including simple ones like vitamin and mineral deficiencies and more complex reasons like an underlying serious health condition. Here are some of the most common (and not so common) reasons why you’re seeing less hair on your head:
Physical Stress
Whether it’s just the flu, a more serious illness, a surgery, or a vehicular accident, if you had some kind of physical trauma, it can lead to temporary hair loss. See, your hair has a life cycle which includes a growth phase, rest phase, and lastly, the shedding phase. A stressful event can mess with that cycle and push more hair into the last phase.
Not Enough Protein
If your diet is lacking protein, your body may try to save up protein by putting a stop to hair growth. This can occur about two to three months after the body experiences a drop in protein intake. That’s why it is important that you include enough good sources of protein in your diet.
Male Pattern Baldness
Two in three men experience hair loss by the time they reach the age of 60 and usually it’s because of male pattern baldness. This is caused by a combination of male sex hormones and genes. With this type of hair loss, the hair starts to recede at the temples and leaves a hairline that looks like a letter M.
Pregnancy
The combination of physical stress and messed-up hormones can lead to hair loss. Ironically, pregnancy-related hair loss usually happens after the delivery of the baby instead of during pregnancy.
Anemia
About one in 10 women between the ages of 20 and 49 has iron deficiency anemia. This is a cause of hair loss that can be easily fixed. Iron supplement should be able to correct the problem.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is a type of imbalance of male and female sex hormones. It can lead to weight gain, increased risk of diabetes, infertility, and you guessed it – hair loss. Correcting hormonal imbalance can also address the issue of hair loss.
These are just some of the most common causes of hair loss. To know for sure which of these may be causing your hair to thin, it’s best to visit Sloan Natural Health Center so we can better assess your health. We can also give you tips on how you can treat hair loss the natural way!
