Around 8 million people in the United Kingdom suffer from alopecia or hair loss. This is according to a recent statistical report from the National Health Service (NHS) system in the UK.

This can occur at any age as even children can have this medical condition as much as adults would. This affects the entire body and isn’t just limited to the scalp.

Hair shedding is normal. People lose around 100 hair strands a day. This is relatively a small amount as you have hundreds of thousands of hairs on your head. 

Your hair constantly grows, sheds, and is replaced with new hair. However, you could be losing more hair than normal. 

Alopecia may not be apparent from the start, but this could pose a problem if you are constantly losing more hair than usual.

7 Causes of Hair Loss – What You Need to Know

Hair loss is a cause of distress, and you would need to talk to your physician to understand the underlying cause and find the appropriate treatment procedure for your condition.

Here are the common causes of hair loss that you need to know to prevent further damage.

Androgenetic Alopecia

This pertains to male or female pattern baldness. This is by far the most common cause of hair loss in both males and females.

This is usually genetic in origin and comes with ageing. However, a lot of men and women would experience this at any age.

Pregnancy

A decrease in the body’s level of estrogen can trigger hair loss in pregnant women. This could also happen following childbirth. 

Unlike alopecia and other medical conditions, hair loss at this phase is just temporary and would just resolve on its own in a few months or within a year.

Telogen Effluvium

This is a medical condition described as the hair follicles being stuck in the telogen phase. This causes hair to fall in extremes. Some causes would include stress, thyroid problems, childbirth, and hormonal changes.

Anagen Effluvium

This causes a massive amount of hair to shed or fall off, which happens in the anagen phase. Hairs from other parts of the body may also fall off at this stage.

This is apparent with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and having an autoimmune disease.

Alopecia Areata

This is an autoimmune disorder that triggers hair fall. The individual’s immune system targets the hair follicles as well as other body parts.

Traction Alopecia

Too tight hairstyles such as pulling your hair into a tight bun could cause hair breakage and trigger hair loss. This also happens when you braid your hair or put heavy extensions.

Extreme Diets

People who are on extreme diets would be low in iron, vitamins, and proteins which cause hair loss. You end up being nutritionally deficient this way.

Preventing hair loss is a no-brainer. This is as simple as taking care of your health or following a healthy lifestyle. 

If you notice that you are shedding more hair than usual, then it is best to consult your physician right away. Treating the underlying medical condition would definitely help you stop hair loss at an early stage.