The problem of hair loss is relevant for many people. She does not bypass not only women, but also men and even children. The reasons for the thinning of hair can be very different, ranging from improper care for it and ending with serious illnesses. Why does hair fall out and what measures should be taken to stop this undesirable phenomenon? About it below.
Causes of Hair Loss in Women
If a woman began to notice that the hair is losing its former density, she needs to know that this can be due to various reasons. These include the following.
- Improper scalp care. The use of poor-quality and inappropriate cosmetics, staining using aggressive formulations, frequent drying with a hairdryer and other factors negatively affect the hair rods and roots, which leads to a violation of their nutrition and blood circulation in the skin. If you minimize this effect and resort to restorative procedures, you can stop the loss. The negative effects can also include ultraviolet light, bad weather conditions (snow, frost, wind). To protect your head from hypothermia and overheating, you need to wear an appropriate hat and apply protective equipment in the hot season.
- Diseases of the scalp. Another reason why hair loss in women can be the development of diseases such as dermatitis, seborrhea, fungal infection. All these ailments contribute to the weakening of the roots and hair loss.
- Chronic diseases and unhealthy lifestyles. Inadequate blood supply to the bulbs is often caused by certain ailments. These include osteochondrosis and cardiovascular pathologies. The condition of the hair is also affected by alcohol abuse, smoking.
- Weakened immunity. Diseases that require taking antibiotics, impaired intestinal microflora often negatively affect the state of hair.
- Avitaminosis. The reasons why hair falls out include a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. In most cases, this problem makes itself felt in spring or autumn. Women who are on diets or those whose diet consists of harmful products are at risk of colliding with it.
- Hormonal disorders. Malfunctions of the hormonal system, in contrast to the natural changes in the hormonal background, are not considered the norm. Diseases of the thyroid gland, an imbalance of sex hormones are one of the common reasons why hair falls out on the head.
- Drug exposure. Taking certain drugs can provoke a negative reaction of the body, which entails damage to the hair follicles. Antidepressants, antihypertensive drugs, chemotherapeutic agents have a strong effect on follicles.
- Anemia. Iron deficiency in the body manifests itself in the form of reduced hemoglobin, weakness, increased weakness and fatigue. Such health problems negatively affect the condition of the hair - they noticeably thinner, become lifeless and brittle.
- Stress. Staying under constant stress is a major factor in hair loss. The reasons that they actively "climb" are associated with spasm of the vessels of the head and, as a result, insufficient nutrition of the follicles.
Physiological reasons
Enhanced hair loss can occur for natural reasons. In women, this may be due to fluctuations in the hormonal background caused by pregnancy, taking hormonal drugs. Why does hair fall out during this period? It is worth noting that during pregnancy or at the time of taking oral contraceptives, the hair becomes thick, and after completion, the opposite effect occurs. The thing is that during the period of carrying the baby, female hormones help to slow down the development of follicles, and this delays the phase of their growth. As soon as the level of estrogen is normalized, all the hair that was supposed to fall out begins to actively “roll in”. The same principle of work with hormonal drugs.
Causes of Hair Loss in Children
Hair loss in children is a common occurrence. In some cases, it can be considered normal and regular. However, more serious reasons should not be ruled out. That is why it is important to find out why a child has hair loss, and proceed with actions. Possible reasons include the following.
- Improper care. Often, many mothers are too keen on creating hairstyles for their children. However, even the most common ponytail can lead to hair loss. Why does hair fall out after such hairstyles? If the tail is made tight enough, the follicles will not withstand the tension and the hair rods will be damaged. In this regard, the hair roots will cease to be fed, and the hair will begin to fall out. Incorrectly selected cosmetic products for the care of baby curls can also have a negative effect.
- Lack of vitamins. Vitamin deficiency is a common reason why hair loss in women and children. Deficiency of minerals and vitamins leads to the fact that follicles weaken and begin to break down.
- Stress and nervous shocks. Children, like adults, are prone to nervous disorders. The period of experiences does not always go unnoticed. Against the background of stress, the child may begin to actively lose hair.
- Ringworm. A similar disease is due to the activity of fungi. Its manifestations are the occurrence of foci of baldness on the child’s head. In these places, redness and peeling may be observed.
- Rickets. Such a disease is characterized by a lack of vitamin D, which is responsible for the absorption of calcium. The latter plays an important role in hair growth, therefore, if the question arose as to why hair falls out on the child’s head, it is possible that this is due to just such a pathology.
- Diseases of the scalp. Seborrhea and dermatitis are considered frequent culprits of hair loss not only in adults but also in children. With seborrhea, the sebaceous glands malfunction, which leads to damage to the follicles. Scales form on the skin, hair begins to fall out.
- Diabetes. If a child begins to thin hair very much, this may be due to a violation of metabolic processes.
From newly moms, one can often hear the question: why does the hair on the head of a newborn fall out? First of all, this may be due to insufficient strength of the hair follicles. Secondary reasons include mechanical damage caused by constant friction - the baby constantly turns his head. In this case, you should not be worried in vain.
If the hair began to “crumble” in a child 4-5 years old, this may occur in connection with changes in his body. The level of hormones and other substances can change; thin, baby hairs are replaced by new, thicker and stronger ones. This process is not considered pathological.
When hair falls out in school-age children, the cause may be stress, overstrain, lack of sleep, and overwork.
Causes and types of early baldness in men
The problem of hair loss is quite relevant for the stronger sex. Why do men lose hair? The reason for this may be different factors.
- Androgenic alopecia. This form of baldness is considered one of the most common (95%). Its cause is a hereditary factor. With this form of alopecia, hair thinning is observed in the parietal and frontal zones. Suppression of hair follicles is caused by the influence of male sex hormone - dihydrotestosterone. As a result, new hair stops growing, old ones become thinner, lose pigment and begin to fall out.
- Diffuse baldness. This type of male pattern baldness is called symptomatic, since it occurs against the background of certain diseases. This hair loss is characterized by uniform hair loss. Diffuse alopecia is of two types: anagen and telogen. The first is the result of the death of follicle follicles, which are in the anagen phase, due to the negative effects of toxic substances, radiation, chemotherapy. As for the second type, such baldness can be triggered by stressful situations, chronic diseases, genetic predisposition, diets.
- Focal (nesting). Hair loss is quite specific: oval or round bald patches appear with clear contours. Alopecia areata is observed in case of malfunctions of the immune system. Such baldness often provokes the use of antibiotics, surgery performed under general anesthesia, and antiviral vaccination.
- Cicatricial. This damage to the hair follicles is due to injury to the skin. May be due to mechanical effects on the skin, fungal and other lesions of the deep layers of the epidermis. As a rule, cicatricial alopecia manifests itself as a result of thermal or chemical burns of the skin. Scar tissue forms in the area of damage; hair growth is no longer observed in this area.
Other reasons why hair loss on the head in men can also be attributed to a lack of vitamins and minerals, improper care for hair, an unhealthy lifestyle.
Pharmacology against baldness
If alopecia has been diagnosed, it can be stopped using various means. In advanced cases, the following drugs may be prescribed.
- Minoxidil A steroid drug that is intended for topical use. Stops age and hormonal hair loss in men and women.
- Spironolactone. A remedy that is often prescribed to women who have experienced hair loss during menopause. The first results make themselves felt a few weeks after the start of the intake.
- "Propecia". A medicine for the treatment of male pattern baldness. It stops hair loss, activates the awakening of sleeping follicles. Used in combination with Minoxidil.
Hormonal drugs against baldness
Why hair falls out on the head and what to do are two main questions that often concern women. If the causes of “hair loss” are associated with hormonal disorders, oral contraceptives will help to solve the problem. Such drugs reduce the production of male sex hormones in the ovaries, increasing estrogen levels. As a rule, in case of hormonal instability, the doctor prescribes "Janine", "Yarina", "Diane-35" to women.
General strengthening procedures
After finding the reason why hair is lost in large quantities, improve the situation under the power of general strengthening procedures that contribute to the activation of blood circulation in the scalp. To prevent the follicle from lacking oxygen and nutrients, microcirculation must be improved. For this, massage, physiotherapy, a number of salon procedures are indicated - ozone therapy, cryotherapy, mesotherapy, plasmolifting, iontophoresis, myostimulation.
What procedures are useful to carry out at home?
After it is revealed why the hair falls out in large quantities, and measures have been taken for the main treatment, a number of procedures should be performed that stimulate the work of follicles and strengthen the roots.
- After washing the head, it is necessary to rinse not with plain water, but with herbal infusions. A strengthening effect will be provided by plants such as nettle, St. John's wort, sage, burdock.
- To moisturize the scalp, remove peeling and saturate the hair roots with nutrients, base oils must be applied to this area: burdock, castor, olive. Before rubbing the oil, it must be heated.
- The use of essential oils has a positive effect on the condition of curls and scalp. Such funds can be added to masks or used for self-massage. For such procedures, ylang-ylang, peppermint, lavender essential oil has proved to be the best.
- An excellent strengthening effect is observed from natural dyes in the form of henna, basma, amla. These powder products can dry curls, so it is advisable to apply them to strengthen the hair only on the basal zone.
Masks
If the hair is actively falling out, various masks prepared at home will help overcome the problem. As a basis, products that have a warming effect are suitable. Their action is to strengthen nutrition and strengthen the roots.
To achieve a greater effect, it is recommended to apply the mask on a clean head, actively rub it into the hair roots and wrap it with a film. The entire course should consist of 8-10 procedures.
The following mask recipes will help cope with hair loss.
- Onion. Grind one onion and squeeze the juice. Combine it with castor oil and honey in equal proportions (1 tsp each). Stir and apply to the roots.
- Cognac. This alcoholic drink in the mixture helps to warm the scalp. To prepare a restorative composition, you need to combine 1 tsp. cognac with honey and yolk. Apply the mixture to the roots, wrap with a film and leave for half an hour.
- Mustard. For cooking, mustard in powder form is required. Pour 2 tbsp. l product boiling water, stir until a thick mixture. Supplement the composition with yolk, honey, burdock oil. Apply to the head, wait for a burning sensation, then rinse with warm water.
Baldness Prevention
In order not to run into the question of why hair on the head falls out so much, it is worth following certain recommendations.
- Care for your hair using the right cosmetic products.
- Avoid staining with aggressive formulations.
- Minimize the use of hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners.
- Eat well, take vitamin complexes.
- To wash your hair, use water with a temperature of 36–42 degrees.
- If you have health problems, seek medical attention immediately.
- Take antibiotics and other serious medications only after consulting a doctor.
- Regularly take hormonal tests.
- At the first sign of hair loss, the causes of which are unknown, you should not resort to the use of strong medications.