Millions of us have been there, and millions more will be at some point: We glance in the mirror after a shower as we have our entire lives. We wipe away a bit of the steam that remains on the mirror and as we fix our eyes on our next grooming task tool on the counter, we notice something in a flash in the corner of our eye. That something is a bald or thinning spot in our hair that we have never seen before. Is it real? Is it just the way my hair is sitting on my head? That can’t be me, right? I’m too young for hair loss! My maternal grandfather had a full head of hair, so that means I’m fine, right? What Causes Hair Loss?!
These are just a few examples of the questions and thoughts we have when we begin to realize that hair loss is real and that it’s happening to us. We may go through several stages that include denial, negotiation, anger and all the rest. Regardless of what we say or how we react, our hair is thinning and it’s not going to stop unless we do something about it.
The team at Kiierr has heard all of this many times as we’ve helped people fight to restore their hair. Many of them come to us with the correct question to begin with, which is, “What causes hair loss?” We’re going to go through some of the most common causes below in hopes that you’ll be able to use that information to reverse the hair loss process and help you grow thick, healthy hair again.
Table of Contents
What Causes Hair Loss? The Most Common Causes
Heredity
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, or the AAD, the leading cause of hair loss in men and women is genetics. Men who suffer from male-pattern hair loss and women who suffer from female-pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia, have genes passed on to them that cause their hair follicles to shrink and stop growing hair over time. The old “rule” of following your maternal grandfather is largely a myth. This process can begin at several stages in life, but it generally hits hardest as people get older.
Some people have inherited genes that enable their body to produce more dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is now understood to be one of the main causes of hair loss in both men and women. While changing your DNA is obviously not a feasible option, there are a number of products that block DHT and can help your hair grow back thicker and healthier. These include DHT blocking shampoo, Conditioner for Hair Growth, and even DHT blocking vitamins.
Read More: What is DHT and How to Stop It
The Aging Process
A lot of things happen as we get older. Men lose testosterone. Women face menopause. We physically begin to experience physical declines in ways that are seemingly unavoidable. We can’t run as fast as we used to or jump as high, and we can’t function on little sleep like we did when we were younger.
The same happens with hair loss, as the aging process includes a slowdown of the hair growth process. That leads to thinning hair, the loss of hair and the loss of color in the hair.
To learn more about how the hair growth cycle is affected as you age, read more here: Types of Hair Loss and Their Causes
Cancer Treatments
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, approximately 650,000 people undergo chemotherapy in the United States every year. Hundreds of thousands more undergo radiation treatments, and these are just people in the United States. Aside from the obvious concern that we all have for those who suffer from some form of cancer given its potential outcome, it’s also difficult for many people to accept the fact that these treatments cause hair loss in the majority of the patients who are treated.
Traumatic Events
When we talk about traumatic events, we’re not just referring to negative occurrences, which are obviously difficult for anyone to overcome. Traumatic events are those that substantially alter our lives, even temporarily. Clearly, the death of a loved one is traumatic, but so is childbirth. Any of these types of events can lead to a massive amount of stress, and the physical and chemical changes in the body during this time can and often do lead to some type of hair loss.
Infection
Almost every part of our body is on some level vulnerable to some type of infection. There are thousands of different infections that doctors can diagnose, and while treatment is often available, that doesn’t mean that the infection still doesn’t take its toll. The scalp is one of those areas of the body that can become infected in a number of ways. It’s common for people who suffer from a scalp infection to also experience hair loss on some level.
Medication Side Effects
There are medications that exist these days for just about any type of illness or other problem we can consider. Many of these medications, especially those that are available only via prescription, are extremely powerful and can carry significant side effects. One common side effect of different types of medication is the temporary loss of hair. In some cases, that hair loss can take months to overcome.
Psoriasis
Image from WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/scalp-psoriasis
The skin is an organ. It exists on every outward location on the body to protect our organs and sensitive tissues. The skin, like anything else, is vulnerable to infections, and one of those that arises often is known as psoriasis. Psoriasis is a problem where skin cells tend to build up with too much density, and this buildup leads to patches of scaly, itchy skin. Psoriasis can and does occur on the scalp, and that can lead to hair loss.
Thyroid Disease
The thyroid is a vital gland in the body that helps to regulate its systems by releasing hormones into the circulatory system with regularity. If something goes wrong with the thyroid, it can lead to a whole host of problems, as at that point the body’s allocation of hormones is knocked off balance. When this occurs, it can affect the hair follicles and the scalp among many other areas, and this in turn can lead to hair loss.
Vitamin Deficiencies
We need all different types of vitamins to remain healthy. We get most of them through the foods we consume, and if we go for prolonged periods of time without consuming the proper amount of certain types of vitamins, the body is going to react. For instance, if we don’t consume enough biotin, iron, protein or zinc, our hair can begin to thin and eventually fall out of our scalp.
Scarring Alopecia
When people have surgeries or they are injured in the scalp area, it often leaves scars behind. These scars, obviously, are permanent, and the damage inflicted on the scalp is often such that the hair follicles are permanently destroyed. This clearly leads to a loss of hair, and it’s extremely difficult for some and impossible for others to be able to regrow hair after this takes place.
- Read More: Why Am I Losing My Hair?
- Read More: Types of Hair Loss and Their Causes
- Read More: Hair Loss In Men vs Women
Kiierr Can Help You Know What Causes Hair Loss, and How to Fix It
As you can see, there are many answers to the question, “What causes hair loss?.” We’ve only listed 10 of the most common causes of hair loss, but there are countless others that can arise at almost any time in life and with almost any person, male or female, healthy or sick, fit or not. Hair loss does not discriminate, and it does not stop simply because we hope that it does in most cases.
That means that you need to be proactive and take the fight to your hair loss before it’s too late. Once your hair loss reaches a certain point and your hair follicles are permanently destroyed, the prospect of hair regrowth is slim at best.
Kiierr has been helping people all over the world overcome hair loss triumphantly. Our leading-edge technology and treatment has made it possible for people to overcome thinning and lost hair without having to undergo expensive treatments, without having to endure pain and without having to continually pump drugs into their bodies. We do it with our LLLT, or low-level light therapy. Basically, our products can fit inside of a ballcap and the light that they generate help to stimulate hair growth over time. Check out our laser hair growth caps to learn more.
These products are painless, and some have even called them therapeutic, and they are also easy to use. Those who have trusted us with their hair restoration efforts have reported back with highly encouraging results, and we intend to continue down that path until everyone who suffers from hair loss has a fighting chance to overcome it.
However, it all starts with information like what you saw above. You need to identify what causes hair loss with your scalp so that you can obtain an idea of what needs to be done going forward.
Once you have done that, hopefully with the help of a dermatologist, you need to review our Hair Growth Products page and move towards making a decision on what could be the best solution for your situation.
Of course, if you need help in this regard, our team of experienced professionals is standing by, ready to answer your questions and talk through any concerns you may have. You should feel free to contact us at any time. In the meantime, we wish you the best in your battle and hope to hear from you soon as you get ready to take back your hair.
What Causes Hair Loss FAQs
How do I stop my hair from falling out?
There are several methods to help stop your hair loss. One of the best treatment options available is by using FDA-cleared laser caps to stimulate new growth and stop your hair loss condition.
Can hair loss be a sign of something serious?
It is always recommended to consult your doctor if you feel the need.
Can hair grow back after thinning?
Yes. With the proper treatment therapy regimen, hair can grow back after thinning.
Can you fix hair thinning?
Regrowing hair on the scalp is possible when using a laser cap for hair growth.
