Why does the hair fall out?

Sometimes the hair falls out  for reasons that are not relevant, but other times, this can be a sign that something is wrong with the body. Normally, we lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. In turn, daily, new hair is also being born, which balances that loss.

The worrying thing is when you lose hair, but do not renew it . These processes usually take place very slowly and, therefore, are often not noticeable in their early stages. If in doubt, it is best to compare the current appearance with photographs from previous years.

In any case, the reasons why hair falls out are many . Below we present the main reasons why this happens.

Why does the hair fall out? Androgenic alopecia

In androgenic or androgenetic alopecia two factors combine:

• Androgen imbalance , which are masculinizing hormones , but are present in both men and women. Currently, there are treatments to manage the hormonal factor.
• Hereditary factor : If there is a history of hair loss in a person’s family, it is highly likely that this feature will be inherited. Currently, there is no treatment or control over the genetic factor.

Acute Telogenic Effluvium

This is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss. It takes place two or three months after the body has been subjected to intense stress , a prolonged illness, a serious infection, surgery, etc.

It also occurs when hormonal changes have occurred, such as those caused by pregnancy, for example. It requires an analytical study to determine the cause and it is treatable .

Alopecia areata

In alopecia areata hair falls out due to an autoimmune reaction . This means that the hair is attacked by our own defenses. Sometimes this also affects the eyebrows, eyelashes and hair on the entire body. Sometimes it leads to total baldness.

Currently, there are multiple treatments for this form of alopecia . An evaluation is necessary to rule out the presence of concomitant autoimmune diseases .

Cicatricial alopecia

The scarring alopecia resulting from other diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, lichen planus pillar, dissecting cellulitis, folliculitis and erosive pustulosis decalvans. A particularly aggressive form of scarring alopecia is fibrosing frontal alopecia, in which there is also loss of eyebrows.

Normally, a skin biopsy is required to establish the diagnosis, which must be done early.

Side effect of a drug

There are several medications that affect hair loss . Some of them are those that contain lithium, beta blockers, amphetamines, warfarin, heparin and levodopa.

It also occurs with some drugs that are used to control blood pressure and depression, as well as those used in cancer chemotherapy . Generally, hair stops falling out by suppressing such medications .

Yeast infection on the scalp

There are several scalp problems that hair can fall out of. The most aggressive are fungal infections, which cause hair to be lost in pieces or patches, causing bald patches on the surface of the scalp and scaling on it.

Chronic stress

One of the frequent causes of hair loss is stress . This is because normal blood flow in the scalp is affected and this leads to the hair shedding easily. The positive is that it is enough to overcome these states of anxiety, through therapy or some relaxation technique, and the hair grows back normally.

Why does the hair fall out? Incorrect care

Another frequent reason why hair falls out is poor hygiene or beauty practices . Some shampoos or fixatives are very strong and cause the scalp to weaken. Frequent use of the dryer, curling iron or iron can also harm hair health, as well as the regular application of dyes.

Other health conditions

Hair loss is common in people with thyroid problems, as well as in people with diabetes or going through menopause. Likewise, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis significantly affect hair loss.

It is also a common symptom in those who have anemia or suffer from vitamin deficiency . It is important to restore vitamin C so that iron can be absorbed and thereby increase collagen production. It is also necessary to consume foods rich in vitamin B.

Other causes of hair loss

Many times, hair falls out for reasons that are not well known. For example, strict diets, which lead to losing a lot of weight in a short time, often result in hair loss . Drastic temperature changes can also have that effect. It is recommended to cover the head when we are exposed to the sun.