Before you start baldness treatment, first find out what caused your hair loss. Only the correct diagnosis of the cause of hair loss will allow the use of an appropriate solution. If you do not have a diagnosis, at best you will lose money for inappropriate therapies, in the worst case you will risk your health. So what are the likely causes of hair loss?
Before you get to know the causes of premature hair loss, understand that sometimes hair loss is completely normal. Hair grows according to a strictly defined pattern that repeats regularly. The hair growth stages are as follows:
- Growth period, which usually lasts from two to seven years. The average annual hair growth is 15 centimeters.
- A transitional period that lasts about two to four weeks. During this phase, the hair shaft is torn off and moves upward within the blister.
- A rest period that lasts about three months.
After a period of rest, there is a period of growth again, which means that new hair begins to grow. Unfortunately, the natural process of hair growth can be disturbed by many factors, which can lead to hair thinning or premature baldness.
The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women is androgenetic alopecia. It usually involves aging and develops in predictable stages. In order for this type of baldness to occur, there must be two factors: genetic predisposition to hair loss and the presence of male hormones. All men and women produce male hormones (testosterone and DHT). They play an important role in both sexes, but occur in different concentrations. A higher level of androgens in men is the reason for the more frequent occurrence of androgenetic alopecia in men. These hormones have a destructive effect on the hair growth cycle. The stages of growth gradually become shorter, until finally the hair is completely lost.
In the case of alopecia areata, it is believed that its cause is a disorder of the immune system. As a result of these abnormalities, hair follicles stop producing hair in some areas of the skin. In severe cases, it can lead to complete baldness or even loss of hair throughout the entire body area. The cause of this disease can be determined by the doctor after conducting physical tests and blood tests.
Another type is telogen effluvium, which is characterized by general thinning of the hair and most often occurs in people who have recently experienced trauma. The most common causes are childbirth, surgery, severe illness, psychological stress or chemotherapy. Hair loss disorders associated with telogen effluvium are temporary and reversible.
There are many other less common causes of hair loss that must be eliminated before starting treatment. Hair loss can be caused by mechanical damage caused by hair styling or under the influence of chemicals or the sun. Finally, hair loss can be the result of a serious illness or nutritional deficiency.
