Why Am I Losing My Hair?
The typical causes of hair loss in men and women include genetics, hormonal imbalances, metabolic deficiencies, aging, and autoimmune conditions, But hair loss can also result from stress, certain medications and illnesses, vitamin deficiencies and even lifestyle choices such as harsh chemical dyes, tight ponytails or braids, and hats that cause tension on your hair and scalp. The first step to addressing hair loss in men and women is to determine the cause. Through comprehensive assessments, the HairNation team can help you understand the cause of your hair loss and devise a completely customized treatment approach to achieve your goals for hair transformation.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hair Loss Caused By Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are a common cause of hair loss for men and women. DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a byproduct of testosterone in both genders. DHT impacts hair growth, causing hair loss, by impairing growth within the hair follicles. This form of hair loss is called androgenic alopecia, and it results in male-pattern hair loss (receding hairline, thinning at the crown of the head) and female-pattern hair loss (typically an overall thinning of the hair). The HairNation can conduct a comprehensive assessment of your hair loss to determine if the cause is hormonal.
Metabolic Issues
Hair Loss Caused By Metabolic Deficiencies
Insufficient iron levels and thyroid disorders are two common metabolic deficiencies that can lead to hair loss. When your body does not contain sufficient iron stores, the production of hemoglobin in your blood is impaired. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to all the cells in your body, including cells critical to hair health, to promote growth and repair.
Hypothyroidism, and insufficient hormone levels, can cause hair to become brittle and more susceptible to breakage and damage resulting in thinning and hair loss.
Hyperthyroidism, overactive hormone production, speeds up metabolism and hair can fall out without being replaced with new hair growth.
With hair loss caused by low iron or thyroid conditions, it is important to first address these metabolic imbalances. Often the treatment of these underlying conditions is enough to stop hair loss and restore healthy hair growth. If hair loss persists after treatment for metabolic deficiencies, the HairNation team can customize treatments to promote healthy hair growth.
Aging
Hair Loss Caused By Aging
Aging is inevitable. Hair loss related to aging is almost as inevitable. Nearly everyone will experience some hair loss as they age. The hair growth cycle slows, the thickness and health of each strand of hair decreases, hair follicles diminish in size and may stop producing new hairs, and pattern hair loss or overall hair loss can occur. Age-related hair loss is also connected to a natural overall decline in health and function as we grow older. We are at higher risk for disease and the related treatments (medications) that can cause hair loss. Dietary and vitamin deficiencies are more common. Stress management and mental health can change as we age and impact hair health too. Maintaining comprehensive health and making good lifestyle choices as we age can reduce the risk for age-related hair loss and support healthy hair growth for the long term.
Genetics
Hair Loss Caused By Genetics
Genetic hair loss. Hereditary-pattern baldness. Androgenetic alopecia. These all refer to the same thing: a trait that predisposes you to hair loss that is passed down from your parents. There is a common belief that men receive this gene from their mothers and women from their fathers, but this is not true. The genes that influence hair loss can come from either, or both, of your parents. In men, this hair loss typically manifests as a receding hairline and thinning hair at the crown. In women, it is often reflected in an overall thinning of the hair. The good news is that genetic hair loss is the most treatable form of hair loss. There are innovative and highly-effective surgical and non-invasive treatment options available to slow or stop hair loss and promote the growth of healthy new hair.
Autoimmune
Hair Loss Caused By Autoimmune Disease
One of the most common causes of hair loss, especially hair loss at an early age, is an autoimmune disease. The autoimmune disease causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack healthy cells and systems. As the body strives to preserve energy, hair growth is impacted and hair loss is a very common side effect. Some autoimmune diseases that are linked with excessive hair loss include alopecia areata, Lupus, Hashimoto’s Disease, Grave’s Disease, psoriasis, and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and Crohn’s. It is very important to seek treatment for these autoimmune diseases. Many times, treating the disease will correct hair loss. If hair loss persists after treatment for autoimmune diseases, the HairNation team can customize treatment to promote healthy hair growth.
