Losing your hair can be scary, especially if it’s the thing that makes you confident. There are a lot of reasons why our hair falls out, and most of them can be dealt with.
So let’s take a closer look at what causes hair loss and how to deal with it.
The Types of Hair Loss in Women
There are many reasons why we suddenly or gradually lose hair. Sure, blaming it on stress is one way to explain it all. However, it’s important to note that hair loss can occur on all body parts. We’re sure nobody would mind if the hair in unwanted places just fell out and never grew back.
Sadly, the scalp is where hair loss is the most evident, and that’s where it usually happens. Plenty of conditions can cause hair loss, but we will keep our list short.
Hair loss is also known as alopecia, and one of the types we’ll mention is androgenetic alopecia. This type is commonly known as female (or male) pattern hair loss. The hair doesn’t completely fall out, and this doesn’t cause a receding hairline. However, your hair will thin out dramatically.
The next two types are telogen and anagen effluvium. Telogen effluvium causes your hair to fall out daily, but it won’t cause baldness. Your hair might be thinner in some places because your hair follicles enter a resting phase and never come out of it. That means that the hair falls out, and no new hair grows back. Anagen effluvium, on the other hand, is rapid hair loss. Both of these are results of medications or medical events. The latter is caused by chemotherapy.
Psychological conditions can cause hair loss as well. One of these disorders is trichotillomania. People who have it tend to pull their hair out and can’t stop. This can be due to many personal struggles, so talking to a therapist is always your best bet.
If you love wearing your hair in a ponytail, you might want to rethink that hairstyle. Why? It can cause hair loss by the name of traction alopecia.
The Causes of Hair Loss
There’s a number of conditions that affect your hair. Most of them are medical events or diseases you might be suffering from. That means you’ll either know why you’re losing hair, or it will be an indicator that something is wrong with your body.
As we know, certain medications or medical events can cause hair loss. We’re talking about pregnancies, surgeries, and hormonal medication, such as birth control. Birth control, for example, has many side effects, so taking it feels like playing Russian roulette — you never really know what you’re going to get.
Why do pregnancy causes hair loss? Find out here.
Hair loss can also be hereditary. Think about your family — think generations back — and the kind of hair they’ve had. Don’t just think about women. You get your genes from the male side as well. If most of them are bald, it might just be meant to be.
Medical conditions such as PCOS — or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome — can cause hair to fall out. We’re not talking about any dramatic amount of hair loss though. Other conditions like lupus or hypothyroidism can be the causes as well.
Last but not least, if you’re iron deficient, chances are that your hair won’t be as luscious as you might want it to be. Thankfully, anemia is curable most of the time. The worst-case scenario is you needing continuous treatment.
With all of that in mind, let’s move on to how to manage already existing or prevent possible hair loss.
Managing Hair Loss
Luckily, there are plenty of options for you to try if you’re experiencing hair loss. We know it might seem like it’s the end of the world because many people pride themselves on having great hair. We assure you that this problem isn’t irreversible. So here’s a few things you can try:
- Visit a qualified dermatologist! Rule #1 when it comes to anything medical is not to try to play your own doctor. Hair growth supplements do sound all too real and perfect, but we guarantee that only a dermatologist will know what’s best for you in this situation.
- Reduce the amount of heat. This includes curling or flat irons, blow dryers, heating combs, etc. Apply heat to your hair only on special occasions (read: as rarely as possible!).
- Forget about dying your own hair. If you’re not a professional, leave things like coloring, chemical straightening, relaxing, etc. to the people who work at salons. We know it’s more convenient to do it on your own, but at what cost?
- Wash your hair carefully. Yes, there is a correct way to wash your hair. Try mild shampoos before you apply moisturizing conditioners. Leave-in conditioners can be helpful as well. Lastly, wrap your hair in a microfiber towel, or you can use a soft T-shirt
- Think about hairstyles. Wearing your hair in a tight pony or a bun can hurt your hair more than you think. Try to style your hair loosely.
- Adopt healthy habits! We know you might think that excessive dieting will help you have the beach bod, but you’ll probably change your mind once your hair starts falling out. (Perfect diet to prevent hair loss)
Conclusion
Dealing with hair loss can add a lot of stress to whatever’s already causing it. There’s no need for you to worry that much. In most situations, hair loss is manageable — if not completely reversible!
