Experiencing hair loss can be distressing, especially when it goes beyond the typical 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. It may be tempting to hide it under a Carolina Panthers ballcap, but it's essential to determine the underlying cause.
“Some individuals are simply more genetically predisposed to baldness and don’t have any other health concerns present,” explains Dr. Nikesh Patel, a dermatologist at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. “However, many health factors can cause hair loss, including hormone changes, diet, stress and certain health conditions.”
Underlying reasons for hair loss:
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that targets healthy hair follicles, leading to bald spots or complete hair loss. Severity can range from affecting only the scalp to losing all your body hair.
Iron deficiency anemia
The hemoglobin deficiency impairs the red blood cells’ ability to deliver oxygen throughout the body, which is crucial for cell repair and growth. This impairs the hair follicle cells by slowing the hair regrowth process that occurs when a hair is shed.
Thyroid disease
Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, and hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, can cause hair shedding. However, managing the condition with medication can help decrease hair loss.
Hormonal imbalances
During pregnancy, your estrogen levels surge to support the growing baby. These hormone levels then drop significantly during postpartum, which can lead to hair shedding and thinning.
Menopause can also bring about a significant drop in estrogen levels, leading to hair loss. This also causes other common symptoms, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Medications
Chemotherapy targets rapidly growing cells, which mistakenly include healthy hair follicles. This often leads to temporary hair loss that affects the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair.
Hair loss can also stem from medications, specifically if you are taking an anti-coagulant, oral retinoid, antidepressant, beta blocker or anticonvulsant.
Severe stress
Whether you lost your job, experienced the death of a loved one or undergone a major surgery, unmanaged stress can cause hair loss. This occurs since chronic stress prevents new hair regrowth where hair was shed.
Can you minimize hair loss?
“To prevent further hair loss, we must first determine the underlying cause and then treat or manage that problem,” says Dr. Patel, who treats a variety of dermatological conditions at the Atrium Health Pineville office. “Your primary care provider likely will refer you to a dermatology provider who has expertise on various hair loss and regrowth treatment options. However, keep in mind hair regrowth is a gradual process.”
If you suspect you are losing more hair than the average person, discuss possible underlying causes with your primary care or dermatology provider.
Find an Atrium Health dermatology provider near you.
