Blonde, red, brown, or black, straight, curly, or wavy – our hair is a symbol of beauty and health. But what if hair loss becomes excessive? Here you can learn more about hair loss: causes, tips, and interesting facts.
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Hair – Much More Than Just a Symbol of Beauty
Hair is not only a natural adornment but also fulfills important functions: it protects the scalp from sun exposure, body hair helps regulate temperature, eyelashes protect the eyes, and nose hairs prevent dirt and pathogens from entering the body. Healthy hair is therefore an important component of a healthy body. Every single hair has a hair root, which lies deep in the skin and produces or grows the hair. It is actually a keratin filament.
It is completely natural for us to lose hair daily, as it goes through various growth phases. Scalp hair can grow for several years before it is shed. Then the hair follicle takes a short break before a new hair grows. Hair loss goes beyond the natural loss through the different growth phases.
Hair Loss: One Symptom, Many Causes
If you notice bald patches on your head or find whole clumps of hair in your brush, you might be suffering from hair loss. But what are the reasons for this? Three different types of hair loss are distinguished, which have different causes:
- Genetic hair loss (androgenetic alopecia): One of the most common forms, affecting more men than women. Here, the hair roots of the scalp are hypersensitive to male hormones. This gradually leads to no more hair growing.
- Alopecia areata (circular hair loss): This is characterized by circular hair loss, which usually occurs before the age of 30. In alopecia, the immune system is misguided and attacks the hair roots. There are different forms of this type of hair loss. Some affected individuals lose hair all over their body, others only suffer from circular hair loss in one spot for a short time.
- Diffuse hair loss (thinning of the hair): There are many different causes for this. Among the most common are malnutrition and a hormonal shift. Examples include thyroid dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome, pregnancy, or menopause in women. But stress is also discussed as a cause of hair loss. In addition, high pressure from a tight braid, overall improper care such as frequent hair dyeing or a lot of heat, medications such as chemotherapy, or inflammatory scalp conditions like a fungal infection can damage hair growth.
Hair Loss in Women vs. Hair Loss in Men
There are certainly other causes of hair loss, but what is already noticeable from these examples: Men and women differ in the reasons for hair loss, especially when hormonal changes are the trigger. With increasing age, men significantly more often develop receding hairlines or even baldness. By the age of 50, about half of all men lose their hair. Later, it is even more.
Women, on the other hand, more frequently suffer from thyroid disorders and associated hair loss. In addition, they can temporarily suffer from diffuse hair loss in certain situations, such as after pregnancy or discontinuing the birth control pill. The autoimmune disease alopecia areata also occurs more frequently in girls and young women. For women, hair loss is often associated with significantly greater emotional distress.
What You Can Do About Hair Loss
How you can counteract thinning hair depends on the cause. In the case of hereditary hair loss, it is also a matter of attitude whether you want to take action at all or whether you feel comfortable with your new hairstyle. For your physical health, this type of hair loss is harmless. However, some people, especially if they are affected at a young age, suffer psychologically from it. For them, a foam or solution with the active ingredient minoxidil can be useful. There are other medications or hair transplantation that are in principle suitable for treatment, but can also be associated with side effects.
For alopecia areata, various medications such as cortisone can also be used. If you suspect circular hair loss, seek advice from a doctor for optimal treatment.
In the case of diffuse hair loss, it is particularly important to find the exact trigger. This is the best way to tackle your symptoms. One of the causes is an iron deficiency. In this case, iron supplements and, in the long term, a change in diet can help. A deficiency in vitamin B12, which is often associated with a vegan diet, can also have hair loss as a symptom. In addition, it has been proven that biotin contributes to the normal maintenance of hair. The trace element selenium is also known for its involvement in hair health. Here, too, a deficiency can lead to hair loss. Furthermore, the two amino acids lysine and proline are associated with healthy hair.
In addition to a healthy diet and a good supply of vital nutrients, reducing stress can also be helpful for diffuse hair loss. How you achieve this is very individual. Certain plant substances, so-called adaptogens, can improve your sensitivity to stress. But breathing exercises, yoga, and your inner attitude also influence your stress level and thus also hair loss. In general, you should also pay attention to gentle hair care. Less use of heat, meaning if you have hair loss, you should avoid using a straightener and curling iron and blow-dry your hair with cold air. You should also avoid dyeing your hair.
FAQ About Hair Loss
What is actually normal and what is already hair loss? There are many questions about this topic. We have listed some of these questions with their respective answers.
How many hairs does a person lose per day?
A healthy person loses about 60 to 100 hairs per day. Those who suffer from hair loss lose significantly more hair.
How do you recognize hereditary hair loss?
In men, this is characterized by receding hairlines or a receding hairline at the back of the head. Women lose their hair from the part in the middle.
How do you recognize diffuse hair loss?
After combing, you have a whole clump of hair in your brush. Your hair becomes thinner overall.
How fast does hair grow?
Each hair grows about one centimeter per month.
How long can hair grow?
Before a hair falls out, it grows for about three to six years. Thus, they usually become between 36 and 72 centimeters long. How long hair actually becomes, however, is very individual and depends on many factors.
Which vitamins are good for hair?
A varied diet is generally good for your health, skin, and hair. Vitamin B12, biotin, and folic acid are among the vitamins that are particularly important for healthy hair. You should also pay attention to the minerals iron, zinc, and copper.
How long does it take for hair to recover from hair loss?
Hair roots can recover from circular and diffuse hair loss. After the hair has fallen out, the hair root needs some time to recover. That means it can take several weeks for new hair to grow.
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