People consider hair as a person’s ‘crowning glory’ because it affects their perception of the individual, particularly in terms of style and personality. But what if your hair is starting to fall out?
The sad truth is that hair loss problems are very common in both men and women. It causes worry and can negatively affect a person’s self-confidence.
When you’re suffering from hair fall, it’s crucial to find clinics in Dubai that offer effective hair growth treatments that will not only stop excessive hair fall but will also help your locks become thicker and healthier.
To make sure the problem is dealt with from the roots (no pun intended), it’s important to determine the underlying cause and get the right treatment to deal with it.
This article tackles the different causes of hair fall and a couple of solutions to help you deal with the most common hair loss issues.
What Causes Hair Fall?
There are several reasons people experience hair fall. From nutrient deficiency to stress, you have to make sure that you pinpoint the main cause of your thinning hair in order to put an end to it.
Below are some of the common causes of hair fall affecting both men and women:
Hormonal Imbalance
An imbalance of hormones can lead to hair fall in both men and women.
For ladies, hormonal imbalance typically occurs after their 30th birthday. This is usually caused by the excessive conversion of dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
As you may already know, women mainly produce oestrogen hormones. However, they also have testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and other androgen hormones in their body. When they reach 30 years of age, these androgen hormones are converted to DHT, leading to an imbalance of hormones.
As for men, some of them experience a condition called androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. This is an inherited condition that usually affects over 50 percent of all men aged 50 and above.
Androgenetic alopecia is characterised by thinning hair because of a weakened hair growth cycle. This condition results in the production of shorter and finer hair strands caused by the shrinking of the hair follicles. According to research, male pattern baldness is caused by an abnormal supply of androgen hormones.
Nutrient Deficiency
Another possible cause of hair loss is the lack of essential nutrients in the body. Some minerals, like iron, zinc, copper, and proteins, are vital for the healthy growth cycle of the hair.
An insufficient supply of B vitamins, such as biotin (B7 or vitamin H), riboflavin (B2), cobalamin (B12), and folate (B9), is also seen as a major cause of thinning hair. Vitamins D, C, and E are also essential for the healthy growth of hair.
Stress
The link between stress and hair loss has already been established.
In fact, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, one specific hair loss condition is primarily characterised by the premature uprooting of hair during the shedding or resting states: telogen effluvium.
To fully understand this condition, you must first know how the hair’s lifecycle works. Essentially, hair undergoes three phases during its lifespan: the growth phase, the resting phase, and the shedding phase.
During a stressful event (e.g., a physical injury), the shock can cause the hair cycle to move to the shedding phase, where more hair is ‘pushed out’ from its roots. This usually happens about three to six months after the traumatic event.
Fortunately, this is only a temporary condition. Once you recover from the stressor, your hair’s lifecycle will return to normal.
Hairstyling
People – women, most especially – love to express themselves through hairstyling. But did you know that too much styling can lead to hair fall as well?
When over-treated, hair tends to fall out because of the toxic chemicals contained in hair dyes and other styling products.
Similarly, shampoos that contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) have negative effects on the immune system and can corrode the follicles of the hair, thereby impeding normal hair growth.
Medical Conditions
Hair loss may also come as a symptom of certain medical conditions.
For example, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can experience hormonal imbalance, which results in higher androgen levels. And, as mentioned earlier, the abnormal production of androgen hormones can cause head hair to grow thinner.
Problems related to the thyroid gland can also lead to hair fall. The thyroid gland is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. Too much or too little of these hormones can lead to changes in the hair growth cycle.
If the problem is related to the thyroid gland, you may also experience the following accompanying symptoms:
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Sensitivity to heat or cold
- Changes in heart rate
Two Best Solutions for Hair Loss
Although hair fall comes with age 99 percent of the time, there are certain methods you can try to help slow down the process.
Below are two solutions that can potentially solve your hair fall problems:
1. Lifestyle Changes
One of the most effective ways to stop your hair from falling out is to put an end to what causes it. For stress and certain medical conditions, this can be achieved through a major lifestyle change. Below are some of the things you can do to change up your lifestyle:
- Quit smoking. Research shows that smoking can cause the premature greying and falling of hair. This means that if you stop smoking, there’s a good chance that you can stop your tresses from falling out.
- Reconsider your diet. Be sure to incorporate a variety of vitamin-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats. Reducing your intake of sweets can also help. When rethinking your diet, be sure to consume green leafy vegetables, lean beef, eggs, beans, iron-fortified grains, and other iron-rich foods. Other healthful additions to your diet include flax seeds, salmon, mackerel, tuna, hemp seeds, walnuts, egg yolks, and other foods with high omega-3 fatty acid content; and lean meats, seafood, eggs, and other high-protein foods. Aside from eating a balanced diet, you should also make sure that you drink lots of water.
- Manage stress. Physical trauma aside, a stressful lifestyle can also lead to hair loss. Some strategies you can try to reduce stress are being physically active or partaking in regular exercise; doing yoga and meditation; listening to music; and getting enough sleep.
2. Hair Transplant
Another hair loss solution you can try is having a hair transplant. There are two very popular types of procedures under this category: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Considered the classic method of hair transplantation, FUT entails removing a portion of the skin at the back of the scalp where a lot of hair grows. Then, the follicles are removed from that strip of skin and reinserted into the area where hair loss is most prevalent.
As for FUE, the hair follicles are removed from the scalp directly. Then they are transplanted onto the balding areas.
While these procedures ensure hair growth, it is worth noting that you may need to undergo several sessions of hair transplant treatment before the desired outcome can be achieved.
Put an End to Hair Fall
Before choosing a procedure to deal with hair loss, make sure you fully understand the underlying cause of the condition.
Getting yourself checked by a healthcare provider or medical specialist will make a world of difference as it will increase your chances of solving your hair loss problem for good.