Hair Fall - 4 Reasons Behind It!

Hair fall is thinning of hair on the head and the severity can vary from a small patch to complete scalp. Most people experience hair fall at some point in their lives. There are various patterns of hair loss:

1. Receding hairline at the temples with thinning of hair seen in middle-aged men.
2. Appearance of patchy bald spots.
3. Lots of hair come out while washing and combing. This results in overall hair thinning.
4. Certain medicines like chemotherapy results in complete loss of hair. The hair grows back on discontinuing the treatment.

Few of the most common causes of generalized hair loss are:

1. One of the most common cause of hair loss is hormonal imbalance. Hormones are chemical messengers secreted into the blood, which are responsible for important functions of the body. Fluctuations in hormonal levels often result in hair fall which is why many women experience heavy hair loss during and after menopause.
   • Estrogen is a female hormone responsible for maintaining energy levels, stabilizing moods and sex drive. During pregnancy the estrogen levels become high and then dip postpartum resulting in hair loss.
   • Insulin regulates the blood sugar levels. Deficiency of this hormone leads to diabetes and thinning of hair in both men and women.
   • Lack of thyroid hormone causes thinning of hair. Thyroid plays a role in energy metabolism and low levels redirect energy used for hair growth towards vital body functions.
   • Excess male hormones like testosterone in female can result in female pattern baldness.
   • Management of these hormonal imbalances with replacement therapy can result in reversal of hair loss.
2. Nutritional Deficiency is another prominent cause of continuous hair loss. A balanced diet is pivotal for healthy luscious hair. Nutritional deficiency effects both hair structure and hair growth. Lack of iron in the diet leads to anemia due to low haemoglobin levels which results in hair loss as hemoglobin carries oxygen for the growth and repair of cells which stimulate hair growth. This is easily reversible with iron supplements.
   • Vitamin B12 is crucial for biological processes like DNA replication. The hair follicles must reproduce and promote the growth new hair. However, a diet deficient in Vitamin B12 will result in failure of hair follicles to replicate and no new hair is being made to replace the hair which falls of naturally.
   • Protein deficient diets lead to hair loss as hair is made of a protein called keratin. The hair starts becoming thinner and starts shedding more rapidly.
   • Calcium is known to stimulate hair growth and crash dieting can lead to hair loss due to inadequate Calcium in diet. Vitamin D is essential for absorption of calcium, so a deficiency of sVitamin D also impairs hair growth. Calcium is present in all dairy products and exposure to sun is important for getting vitamin D.
3. Due to pollution and exposure to dust, smoke and particulate matter settle on scalp. These migrate into deeper into dermis through hair follicles and lead to hair loss. Coconut oil can go a long way in protecting the hair against the damaging effects of pollution.
4. Hereditary-pattern baldness with classic M shaped receding hairline is seen in 60% men. It is a combination of aging, genetics and hormonal imbalances. This type of hair loss is permanent.