Inflammation in your body happens because the body’s immune system is actually responding to protect it. It likewise happens when injuries happen in conjunctions with bruising. Chemically, it happens because of our white blood cells and the chemicals they release to protect us from the damage or infection.

The inflammation in our body is a way for it actually to heal from what triggered it the first place, it is there to help us. Yet, besides the swelling, the inflammation can have some other effect which sometimes includes hair loss. To know if it is inflammation in your body causing the hair loss that afflicts you, first know which types do so.

Types of Inflammation in Your Body Causing Hair Loss

While some of them do not, certain kinds of inflammation in your body cause hair loss, treatments for each one is a little different. They are the following

Alopecia Areata

There are cases in which the immune system, instead of protecting, attacks you. The immune system can actually get confused and start attacking your very own tissue and cells. The mane of said condition is an autoimmune disorder, and the exact reasons that trigger it are not currently known.

When it happens, the immune system proceeds to attack any rapidly dividing group of cells inside your body. It is rather unfortunate that rapidly dividing cells its what its inside your hair follicles when your hair is growing. 

Due to this, an immune system that is suffering from an autoimmune disorder will go after your hair follicles. The result is none other than the hair from the hair follicle falling. 

This type of hair loss goes by the name of ‘Alopecia Areata’. Also, it is technically a ‘hair shedding ‘condition because the hair loss comes back once it is under control.

Several prescription drugs can normalize the immune system. Meanwhile, injections of corticosteroids directly into the scalp can make the hair grow back faster.

Folliculitis

When the hair follicles across the body get infected from bacterial or fungal sources, they swell. The swelling makes them resemble acne and ends up with the hair actually falling from the hair follicle. A ringworm infection is an example of this condition. Over the counter hair, medications can treat it.

Overproduction of Sebum

Sebum is the oil secreted by the hair follicle to protect your hair, an overproduction of it does wrong to it. Your hair follicles can start overproducing sebum due to hormonal imbalance. The result of the overproduction is that the sebum accumulates and clogs the pores as it oozes out. The result is an inflammation of the hair follicle beneath, and the shedding of the hair ultimately solves it. It will continue until the hormonal imbalance resolves either on own or via medication.

Skin Conditions

Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic eczema are all skin conditions that cause hair loss. Psoriasis is particularly aggressive. It develops scaly patches in the scalp that cause the inflamed hair follicle underneath to shed the hair. Left untreated the patches expand considerably as does the hair shedding.

Both seborrheic dermatitis and atopic eczema do not directly cause hair loss. Rather they cause extensive itching that compels the afflicted to scratch the area, which tends to be the scalp. Topical ointments and oral medications are available either as a prescription or over the counter to treat all of them.

In Conclusion

Certain types of inflammation in your body do cause hair loss but detecting and treating them early can save you much of the hair shedding from them. Contact your physician if you suspect them of occurring to save your precious hair locks from their effects.