For just about all of us, hair thinning or loss is an unavoidable part of our lives. And as we age, the likelihood of being afflicted with hair loss continues to increase. While some men may start to experience male pattern baldness in their 20s and 30s, many will be nearly bald by the time they’re in their 60s. Individual hair strands start to thin naturally with age as well.
Although experiencing some level of hair loss is all but unavoidable, that doesn’t mean baldness is inevitable. Now more than ever, there are proven methods for hair restoration that are helping hundreds of thousands of people every year. One important preliminary step in figuring out the best approach to restoring someone’s hair is understanding the cause of their hair loss.
How Do I Know If My Hair Loss Is Normal?
What most people would consider “normal” hair loss is male or female pattern baldness; a type of baldness linked to hereditary that there is currently no preventive measure for. Also known as androgenetic alopecia, men will experience a receding hairline as well as hair thinning right at the top (or crown) of the head. For women, they will experience hair thinning toward the top of the head. Unlike men, women will very rarely experience total baldness.
Hair Loss Caused By Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a bacterial infection that inflames our hair follicles. The inflamed hair follicles become itchy and sore. Though many cases are mild and clear up in a few days, it is possible that the infection can spread and cause sores to develop on the scalp.
More serious or persistent folliculitis infections will need medical attention. If it goes untreated, it can cause permanent damage in the affected areas – creating patches of hair loss.
Hair Loss Caused By Psychological Stress
Psychological stress has been linked to multiple forms of hair loss. One of those conditions is known as telogen effluvium, which pushes an abnormally high number of hair follicles into the resting phase. This leads to an increased number of hairs shedding at once, creating a form of temporary hair loss.
Other forms of hair loss related to stress include trichotillomania (the act of physically pulling one’s hair out and damaging the hair follicles as a result) and alopecia areata (a condition where your body’s immune system wrongly identifies your hair follicles as a foreign entity in your body and attacks them). The damage to the follicles can result in patchy hair loss.
Hair Loss Caused By Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disorders, including both hyper and hypothyroidism, can lead to hair thinning and loss. This is because both disorders disrupt hormones in the body – particularly T3 and T4 hormones.
In extreme cases of either disorder (or if it goes untreated), the hair thinning and loss could linger as well as creating more fragile and easily broken hair. If you suspect you may have a problem with your thyroid, you should seek an examination with a specialist.
Dr. Frank Can Work With You For The Best Approach To Restoring Your Hair
Whether your hair loss is rooted in a more common cause (such as male or female pattern baldness) or onset by less common circumstances, including folliculitis, psychological stress, or thyroid disease… our dedicated hair restorations professionals will work with you on how best to restore your hair and your confidence. Request a consultation with hair restoration expert Dr. John Frank to learn more.
