Dealing with hair loss is hard. It can make you feel self-conscious and sometimes even insecure. You may wonder if hair loss is preventable and, if so, what you can do to keep your locks healthy and full.
This blog post will explore the causes of hair loss and offer advice on protecting your hair against thinning or balding.
So, read on whether you’re worried about losing your hair or want to learn more about this condition.
What Causes Hair Loss?
An average person loses 50–100 hairs per day. Due to the simultaneous growth of new hair, this frequently goes unnoticed. Hair loss occurs when the hair that has fallen out is not replaced by new hair.
Usually, one or more of the following factors contribute to hair loss:
Heredity
The inherited disorder that develops with aging is the most typical cause of hair loss. Androgenic alopecia, male-pattern baldness, and female-pattern baldness are the names for this disorder. It typically happens gradually and in regular patterns, with men experiencing a receding hairline and bald spots and women experiencing thinning hair at the top of the head.
Medical conditions and hormonal shifts
Permanent or temporary hair loss can result from several circumstances, including hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid issues. Alopecia areata, which is immune system-related and causes patchy hair loss, scalp infections like ringworm, and the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania, are among the medical problems.
Medication and dietary supplements
Some medications, including those for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart issues, gout, and high blood pressure, can cause hair loss as a side effect.
A highly stressful occasion
Many people notice general hair thinning several months following a traumatic event, whether physical or emotional—temporary hair loss results from this type.
Hair treatments and styles
Excessive styling and tight-pulling hairstyles like pigtails and cornrows can result in traction alopecia, a type of hair loss. Permanent hair dye and hot oil treatments can make hair brittle and fall out. Scarring could cause hair loss to become permanent.
Is Hair Loss Preventable?
Most baldness is caused by genes and can’t be prevented. This is usually called male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. Androgenic alopecia is the name for this kind of hair loss, which is caused by genes. Androgenic alopecia can’t be stopped, but it can be treated, and it can take longer to get worse.
Anyone of any age can start to get androgenic alopecia. Unfortunately, by the time hair loss is noticeable, half of the hairs on the scalp have already fallen out. Non-surgical treatments can be more effective the sooner you start them.
Alopecia areata is also caused by genes, and it usually shows up in children. The good news is that even if someone with alopecia areata loses their hair, it can grow back. So, you can’t stop hair loss from alopecia areata, but you can treat it.
The National Alopecia Areata Foundation says that even when alopecia areata is active, your hair follicles are still alive. You can grow hair back even if you’ve lost more than half of your hair.
If your hair loss isn’t caused by something in your genes, you can likely prevent it. NYU Langone Health says that hair loss caused by stress, menopause, pregnancy, smoking, or other lifestyle choices or medical conditions can be stopped and sometimes even reversed.
8 Ways to Prevent Hair Loss
How to stop hair loss and improve the health of your hair
You can improve the health of your hair and help minimise the risks of hair loss by following these 8 hair care tips.
1. Avoid wearing your hair in styles that pull on it.
Hair is flexible, but research shows that it can only be pulled and stretched so far before it gets damaged for good. Styles like cornrows, tight braids, and ponytails can pull your hair away from your scalp and weaken the bond between your hair and scalp over time.
2. Avoid using hair tools that get very hot.
When you use heat to style your hair, the hair follicle gets dry and is more likely to be damaged. Hair dryers, straightening irons, and curling irons can all cause damage to your hair.
3. Don’t use chemicals on your hair or bleach it.
When you use chemicals to treat your hair, like bleaching, the protein molecules in your hair, called keratin, break apart. If you are worried about losing your hair, don’t use as many dyes, highlights, peroxide treatments, or perms.
4. Use a mild shampoo that is made for your hair type.
The shampoo is used to clean your hair and get rid of dirt and oil. If you use shampoo too much, it could hurt your hair.
There is no proof that any one ingredient in shampoo causes hair loss, but some of them might make hair less healthy than it could be. If your hair is too dry or frizzy, try a shampoo that comes close to being all-natural.
5. Use a soft brush made of natural fibers.
A soft brush with natural fibers could help your hair have the right amount of oil. Keratin proteins in your hair are stacked like shingles on a roof. Brushing them gently in one direction, from the top to the ends, can help smooth and condition your hair cuticle. You won’t see hairballs in your shower drain if you brush your hair daily.
6. Get a Scalp Massage
There isn’t much evidence that scalp massage helps hair grow, but it may do so by improving blood flow and changing genes. A small study from 2016 found that giving the scalp a 4-minute massage every day made the hair thicker in nine Japanese men who were not going bald.
A scalp massage usually feels good, so you may find it relaxing even if it doesn’t work to make your hair grow faster.
7. Watch Your Diet
Hair loss can be caused by what you eat. Getting a lot of antioxidants in your diet can help fight the effects of oxidative stress. Things in the environment hurt hair follicles and cause hair loss. Antioxidants can be found in many colorful fruits and vegetables, like strawberries, blueberries, beans and legumes, spinach, and kale.
Oxidative stress can be caused by many things, like sugar, processed fats, preservatives, and alcohol. Remember this if you want to stop your hair from falling out.
8. Stop smoking
When you smoke, your hair cells can get hurt, which makes your hair follicles weak and easy to break. Studies have shown a link between smoking and early graying of hair and hair loss. It can be hard to stop smoking, but a doctor can help you come up with a plan that works for you.
When should you see a doctor?
If you’re worried that your hair loss goes beyond normal shedding or temporary telogen effluvium, you should talk to a doctor. Hair that falls out in clumps and leaves bald spots and hair that grows in patches could be signs of a deeper health problem. Talk to a dermatologist or primary care doctor and describe your symptoms if you need more help.
Conclusion
So, is hair loss preventable? Yes! There are many ways to prevent hair loss from happening in the first place.
If you’re experiencing hair loss that goes beyond normal, and want help, don’t hesitate to call Scalp Designs, one of the leading Hair Loss Clinics in Boston, for a free consultation.
Scalp Designs specializes in Scalp Micropigmentation, a non-invasive procedure that injects pigment into the scalp using fine micro-needles. As a result, small hair follicles start to form, thickening the hair and giving it a fuller appearance.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule your free consultation!
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