Most of us experience hair loss at some point in our lives. We wake up one day and realize there are more strands of hair in the shower drain or hairbrush than there used to be. Perhaps we look in the mirror and see changes in our hairline or catch a glimpse of scalp that was not visible before. If you are experiencing hair thinning or hair loss, the first step toward addressing the issue is determining its underlying cause.
Types of Hair Loss
To choose the best course of treatment for your hair loss, we must first understand why it is occurring. There are many conditions that result in excess hair shedding and hair loss, typically falling into one of these categories:
Heredity/Genetics
The most common cause of hair loss is heredity. About 80 percent of men and half of women will experience androgenic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. This form of hair loss is encoded in one’s genetic makeup and usually progresses with age.
In men, it is characterized by an M-shaped receding hairline, often accompanied by an expanding hairless patch at the top of the scalp. In women, it usually appears as overall hair thinning with a visibly widening part. Androgenic alopecia is permanent, but it can be slowed down significantly with non-surgical treatments or reversed with transplantation.
Stress
Stress is hard on every part of your body, including your scalp and hair. It often leads to a condition called telogen effluvium, where the stress hormone cortisol disrupts your hair’s growth cycle – leading to excess shedding and fewer follicles producing new growth.
Fortunately, this type of hair loss is often resolved over time if you remove or manage the stressor that caused it. While you work on reducing your stress, there are non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments to improve the health of your scalp and to spur regrowth of lost hair.
Styling or Pulling
When one’s hair is over-styled or pulled too tightly for too long, it weakens both the hair shaft and follicle – causing hair strands to break or fall out. This can be the result of tightly pulled hairstyles like braids, buns, ponytails, or locs. But it can also be exacerbated by frequent use of tight headwear, sports helmets, or work gear that pulls on the hair shaft.
Another cause of pulled hair loss is a condition called trichotillomania, where one develops the nervous habit of pulling on or pulling out the hair on their scalp or face. Typically, hair loss from most types of pulling is reversible if addressed early, but hair loss may become permanent if the behavior continues over an extended period of time. These forms of hair loss may respond well to non-surgical treatments in their early stages, with surgical hair replacement becoming an option for permanent hair loss.
Health Conditions or Medications
Medical hair loss encompasses many diseases, conditions, and treatments that result in hair loss. From the hormonal changes of pregnancy and menopause, to burn or chemical injuries, to viruses like COVID or influenza, to autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, anything that affects the body or injures the scalp can have a negative effect on your hair.
There are also dozens of medications that impact hair growth or cause hair loss. Treatments for cancer, depression, high blood pressure, and clotting disorders are just a few types of medication that list hair loss as a potential or expected side effect. Many types of medication-related hair loss can be managed or reversed with non-invasive treatments, while permanent types of scarring alopecia may be addressed with surgery.
Find The Right Treatment for Your Hair at Hair Restoration of Lehigh Valley
Hair Restoration of Lehigh Valley invites you to set up a free consultation to determine the cause of your hair loss and create a plan for achieving the hairline you desire. We offer state-of-the-art surgical procedures to replace lost hair, using the most advanced technology in the region. We also offer non-surgical treatments to augment, preserve, and sometimes even regrow your existing hair. Schedule a consult today; we look forward to hearing from you!
Talk to Lehigh Valley About Our Hair Restoration Options
Dr. Patel and his experienced team of professionals are excited to get you started on your hair restoration journey. Our treatments offer noticeable, permanent, thicker, visible hair growth. Book your consultation today to learn more about what is causing your hair loss and discover the best treatment plan for you.
