Hair > Hair Loss: Causes and Prevention
The causes of hair loss are multiple and only some can be slowed or prevented. Genetic baldness or the gradual normal thinning associated with aging are built-in processes that are hard to counteract. The same holds for hair loss associated with auto-immune disease such as alopecia areata or lupus.
Hair normally goes through cycles of growth, rest, and shedding. The growth phase can last for up to three years, followed by a resting phase of about four months, after which the hair falls out and a new one begins growing in its place. Genetics, disease, drugs, and even stress can accelerate or delay duration of these normal cycles.
So, shedding of some hair is normal and not a cause for concern. On average, most people shed about 50-100 hairs each day. Hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when the new hair is thinner than the previous hair, or when the hair falls out in patches.
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Factors that may alter a normal equilibrium include:
• Excessive traction on the hair from extreme hairstyling, constant brushing, or habitual hair pulling
• Fad diets and eating disorders that limit adequate intake of protein, iron, and other nutrients
• Medications, including some used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, blood pressure, and birth control pills
• Hormonal changes, from thyroid disorders to pregnancy to testosterone excess
• Sudden emotional or physical episodes of stress
• Excessive hair treatments using harsh chemicals
• Scalp infections such as ringworm
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