Factors that Increase Risks of Hair Loss

Factors that Increase Risks of Hair Loss

Hair loss and its causes is a very broad topic, and a book can be written to explain them. Different people take hair fall differently. While some start panicking after seeing only a few strands in the brush, others may not notice a drain clogged with hair. Similarly, some keep cursing their genes for hair loss throughout their lives, while others rush to the trichologist as soon as they start losing a few more strands than normal. Here we will discuss with you some common factors that increase the risk of hair loss so that you could better understand your hair fall. But before that, it is important that you determine whether you are really losing hair or it is a normal hair fall.

Is it really a hair loss?

Differentiating hair loss from normal hair shedding is important in a sense that helps you save the expenses of consulting a doctor, and sometimes being scammed as well. Losing up to 100 strands daily is quite normal and you should not be worried about this as more than 100 hairs your head grows every day. Shedding hairs becomes a problem only when you start losing more hair than you grow, as this leads to hair thinning and in the worst-case baldness as well.

It is pertinent to mention here that most of the time patients do not notice hair loss until they have lost 50% of their hair, and that is a very precarious situation. So, be vigilant enough to notice any unusual hair fall and fix it at the earliest.

Listed below are the factors that increase the risk of hair loss:

Genetic factor:

The genetic factor is the single most important cause of hair loss in both men and women. Everybody is programmed to lose his or her hair at a specific time in their lives. This is in their genes. While slowing down or delaying the hair loss process is very much in our hands, completely avoiding hair loss is not under our control yet. While the simplest way to determine if your hair is genetic or not is to look at the hair pattern of your parents and grandparents. If you see a lot of bald people in your family, chances are high that you are suffering from genetic hair loss. But still, it is advised to consult some trichologist (a physician who specializes in hair care), as he can better differentiate between a genetic hair loss and the one caused by other factors. Besides that, he will also guide you about the preventive measures that you can take to slow it down.

Nutritional deficiency:

Genetics is the most common cause of hair loss but it is not the only one. There are numerous others as well and among them, nutritional deficiencies remain at the top. Like your body, hairs also need a proper, balanced diet for their nourishment and growth. If your diet is lacking any nutrients essential for hair growth, this can trigger hair loss. Essential nutrients for healthy hair growth include iron, proteins, vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids, sulfur, and zinc. Protein and iron are particularly important for your hair.

Hair products:

The use of the wrong hair products can also accelerate or even trigger hair loss. Perming and straightening are particularly dangerous. Excessive use of hair dryers is also not good for your strands as well as follicles, as the heat from blow dryers causes your hair to become dry and brittle. Other styling products like flat iron, curling rollers, etc are also catalysts of hair loss. If you are a styling freak, go easy on your hair and start wearing natural hairstyles.

Harmful cosmetic:

The use of harmful cosmetics is another factor that can trigger hair loss. Always go for mild shampoos and conditioners as well as hair styling serums. When selecting a shampoo or conditioner make sure it suits your hair type. If you have oily hair, buying a shampoo manufactured for dry hair may further worsen the situation.

Being rough to hair:

Our hairs want us to be gentle with them! We should wash them gently, massage them gently, and use gentle hairstyles. Hairstyles that exert continuous traction to a specific point cause traction alopecia, which also among the most common causes of hair loss.

Brushing wet hair:

Never take the risk of brushing soaking wet hair. Wet hairs are three times more delicate than dry hairs, and brushing them or rubbing them harshly will not only damage the strands but will also weaken the follicles, making your hair prone to hair fall.

Stress and anxiety:

Although mentioned in the end, never ignore stress and anxiety when losing hair. Your emotional directly defines the health of your hair and skin. When happy, your skin automatically starts glowing and your hair becomes thick and silky. Stress has an otherwise impact on your hair. It is pertinent to mention here that hair loss caused by physical or emotional stress is never instant; rather the patient starts inhibiting hair loss symptoms several months after facing any stressful event or incident. So, if you are losing hair for no apparent reason, think if you have gone through a traumatic experience over the last few months or not.

This list is not exhaustive by any means, but most hair loss sufferers lose hair due to one of the above-mentioned causes. You should consult a trichologist for proper evaluation of your hair loss cause.

FREE CONSULTATION

If you have already lost a lot of hair, the reverse may not be that easy, and in some cases not possible even. In the latter case, chances are good that you are a good candidate for a hair transplant. Book a free online consultation now and let our experts assess your hair loss pattern.

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Written By: Dr. Cagatay Sezgin

Dr. Cagatay Sezgin is a celebrity hair transplant surgeon with over 20 years of experience in hair transplantation and restoration. He is the First Turkish Board Surgeon to become a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) and the Asian Association of Hair Transplant Surgeons (AAHRS). Moreover, he has the honor of becoming the first hair transplant surgeon in the world to perform hair, eyebrow, and beard transplantation all in one case and that too in a single session.

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