Are you losing hair? Seeing your hair falling out in amounts more than usual can be alarming. Did you know that the average person loses as much as 100 strands a day? It you are seeing significantly more hair in your shower than you’re accustomed to, it could be time to see your doctor. In most cases, speaking with your doctor will put your mind at ease by discovering that it isn’t anything serious.
You probably know that genetics and/or stress can be a cause for hair loss so let’s examine other reasons hair can fall out besides those factors.
1. YO-YO DIETING
Many of us have checked out the “latest and greatest” weight loss diet de jour in search of that miracle. Paleo, Keto, Whole 30. No fat, no carbs, etc. While some of these may be good for you and produce the desired results, what Is NOT good for you is bouncing around from one diet to another with no specific diet in between. This is called yo-yo because you go up and down in your weight and in your food intake. This can easily create a situation where your hormones and metabolism are no longer regulated properly. Such changes in hormones always lead to complications related to hair loss.
2. POST-PARTUM
Of the many changes our bodies experience after childbirth, losing hair is quite common. The reason this happens is due to the estrogen changes that occurred during your pregnancy. A lot of women report fuller hair on their head during pregnancy. This is also because of the shift in estrogen levels. As your body returns to its normal state, it will shed a lot of that excess hair. Conversely, many women see a significant increase of natural hair growth in the three to six months after giving birth. While your hair may be falling out now, give it some time and see what happens. Relax, you will most likely see a change in the near future.
3. YOU COULD BE ANEMIC
Fear not! Anemia is not all that uncommon and can usually be managed by diet and supplements. This is one of the reasons to see your doctor for blood work to determine the cause of your hair loss. Hair loss due to anemia could result in a large amount of hair loss in a short amount of time.
4. YOU MIGHT HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER
An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Our immune system guards us against bacteria and viruses. When it senses them, it sends out cells to attack them. Basically, when you have an autoimmune disease your immune system turns against you. When the immune system begins attacking your skin or hair follicles, it can cause hair loss. Once again, it’s recommended to have blood tests to rule out (or confirm) any type of autoimmune condition. Autoimmune diseases are not uncommon. They create temporary changes to your body, significant inflammation to the hair follicles, or even scarring of them in some cases. Treatment sooner, rather than later, is imperative.
5. TRAUMA
Many things count as trauma. Death of a loved one, an accident, physical and/or emotional abuse, and divorce are common situations that affect our stress hormones which could lead to hair loss. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone and it alters the immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.
By kicking your stress hormones into action, its taking nutrients and oxygen away from your hair follicles, and, the hormones that are important to help you to deal with trauma, are also bad for hair growth.
If you are suffering from any of these situations, seek out care from your doctor. Your hair care professional can also provide you with the best solutions to deal with your hair loss.