What causes Alopecia or Hair Loss?
Hair loss can be a traumatic experience for many people. A healthy head of hair is often an important factor in how you feel about yourself and in feeling good about your appearance.
When hair begins to fall out, appears thin and lifeless or comes out in patches, this can cause a great deal of distress and insecurity.
The health of your hair is a good indicator of the health of your body. When hair loss becomes excessive, it is important to find out what is causing it so that you can also treat the underlying problem.
There are many causes of hair loss, including:
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Aging (e.g. male pattern baldness)
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Harsh chemicals (e.g. hair coloring, incorrect brushing and tight hair bands or rollers)
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Smoking
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Stress
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Hormonal changes
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Thyroid problems
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After effects of pregnancy
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Dietary deficiencies
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Fungal infections of the scalp
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Side Effects of medication (e.g. anticoagulants, gout medication, antidepressives, contraceptives and excess Vitamin A)
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Reaction to illness or major surgery (hair may fall out up to three months afterwards)
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Reaction to chemotherapy
Rarely, hair loss may be an early symptom of disease like diabetes or lupus.
What should I do if I notice excessive hair loss?
It is important to pay attention to undue hair loss, even if this is just to reassure yourself that all is well.
The first step would be to visit your doctor, homeopath or health care professional who will usually ask a series of questions and even do some tests to find out what is causing your hair loss.
If it is found that you have a medical condition which is responsible for the hair loss (e.g. thyroid problems) then treating the condition will often stop hair loss and new hair growth will begin to take place.
Each case is different and the underlying causes should always determine how your particular problem is handled medically.
Once the cause has been found, there may be a number of different ways of treating it, ranging from a change in medication, treating an underlying medical condition and using products to promote faster hair growth.
What about male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness is one of the most common causes of hair loss in men and early balding often runs in families.
Male pattern baldness is hormonal in origin. Young men have relatively high amounts of a hormone called testosterone in their bodies. As they grow older, the testosterone levels fall due to the presence of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
DHT effects the hair follicles and slows down hair production, producing weak, shorter hair and even stops the hair follicle from producing hair at all. Over time, this causes balding.
While this is perfectly normal and many men come to accept that a balding or bald head does not affect their attractiveness, others have difficulty in accepting the change and seek treatment.
This can range from using prescription drugs like finasteride (which inhibits 5-alpha reductase) or Minoxidil to expensive hair implants.
How can a natural hair loss remedy help?
Hair is mostly made from a fibrous protein called keratin, which is also found in fingernails and toenails.
The supply of nutrient-rich blood to the scalp and hair follicles is essential in promoting healthy hair growth and preventing hair loss.
Natural remedies can help hair grow stronger and more plentiful by nourishing it at the roots, stimulating blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the hair follicles and thereby promoting healthy hair growth and slowing down excessive hair loss. | 
