Hair loss is a common problem; that is why it is not surprising that there are common questions people ask regarding the topic. Common questions include: What causes hair loss? Does stress cause hair loss? Is genetics a factor? How early does hair loss occur? Can hair products lead to hair loss? Can hairstyles contribute to hair loss?
Medical researchers have not been able to clearly pinpoint the main cause of hair loss, but it is believed that the reason is related to the production of male hormones. Testosterones combine with an enzyme called 5-alpha duactase, which produces Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair follicles to shrink, resulting in thinner hair and eventually none at all. This cause affects both men and women. Even women produce testosterone, but pre-menopausal women produces higher levels of estrogen, which balances the production of testosterone.
Stress is not a factor in hair loss; it only worsen an existing problem. Conditions such as illness, high fever, pregnancy, extreme weight loss or weight gain, and drug use may cause stress that can lead to sudden hair loss. But the hair loss caused by stress is temporary, and once stress is relieved, hair would return completely.
Male-pattern hair loss is hereditary, which means that the risk of a man becoming bald when his family underwent the same problem is higher. However, there is more than one factor that causes hair loss, and it is not clear whether the genetic contribution of the father or the mother creates a greater risk to the person.
It is not surprising for male-pattern hair loss to take its effects as early as 15 years old, but it normally starts between 20 and 30 years old. Tracing the effects of hair loss in the family can prepare you for the possible early onset of hair loss.
Allergic reaction or inflammation on the scalp caused by an ingredient in the hair product may cause hair loss.
Hairstyles involving tight braids, pull-backs, or tight pony-tails can lead to hair loss. Tying the hair in such a style over a long period of time may even prevent hair from growing back.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Hair Loss and Menopause
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Women with menopause are prime candidates for hair loss. Statistics show that about 50 percent of women experience some hair loss while going through menopause, and about 66 percent worry about thinning hair or bald spots during post-menopausal stages. This is a natural stage in...
-
Female Hair Loss Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hair loss is a condition that affects both sexes. Although to a lesser degree compared to males, females also experience hair loss. In fact, it has been found that hair loss in females is more widespread than was previously believed with over 25 million Americans...
-
A Look at Male Hair Loss
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
At a research study held in a university in Norfolk, Virginia, it was found that 84 percent of men suffering from hair loss were preoccupied with the loss. They described feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, and jealousy of men with full, healthy heads of hair. Men...
-
Hair Loss: An Overview
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hair, though often overlooked, plays an important role in our lives. Upon meeting someone, one of the first things you notice is their hair. Before a social engagement, our hair is one of the things we spend the most time on getting to look a...
-
The Cause of Hair Loss
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Normally, about 10 percent of the hair on your head is resting (not growing). After a few months, the resting hair falls out and new hair begins to grow in its place. The growing phase can last from 2 to 6 years. While in the...
-
Hair Loss Treatment
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hair loss is a problem that is shared by millions of people of both sexes all around the world. If you have been noticing more hair in your brush, shower drain or on your pillow than usual, you probably have the signs and symptoms of...
-
A Guide to Female Hair Loss
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a consequence, biological events like puberty, pregnancy and menopause that effect female hormone levels can also cause female hair loss. In the case of pregnancy, hair loss is simply a consequence of the stress the body...
-
A Look at Hair Loss Remedies
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Hair loss causes a great deal of stress and anxiety. In society, one of the factors other people judge us by is our looks, which includes our hair. Hair loss, therefore, can have an enormous impact on self-perception, self-esteem, and social life. Although there is...
-
Male Hair Loss Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Male hair loss or androgenic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss. It is hereditary, meaning it is passed on from one generation to the next. It is generally caused by the increased sensitivity of the scalp to male sex hormones or androgen....
-
Sudden Hair Loss
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
If you notice strands of hair on your pillow when you wake up in the morning or some strands entangled in your comb, do not worry. A person looses 80 to 100 hairs each day, and these hairs grow right back. But if you start...