Stressful situations in life might make you want to rip out your hair, but this is not the way to deal with the stress of hair loss! Remarkably, stress is one of the main causes of hair loss. A person’s diet, hormone fluctuations, lifestyle, and genetic makeup are other factors that might cause hair loss. Contrary to popular belief, hair loss affects women as well as men.
Biological Factors and Genetic Hair Loss
The majority of hair loss in both men and women is caused by androgenetic alopecia, sometimes referred to as male-gender- and female-pattern hair loss. The disorder arises from a genetic mutation that causes your hair follicles to be excessively sensitive to the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone.
Male hormone DHT has a significant influence on the sexual growth of those allocated to the masculine gender from birth. But if you have a condition known as androgenetic alopecia, it also damages the follicles that produce hair.
The follicles first shrink and produce shorter, thinner new hair. They eventually cease growing new hair, which results in hair loss. Hair loss on top of the head and a receding hairline are symptoms of male-pattern baldness. One or both areas may experience diminished volume and hair loss, which will eventually spread until the highest point of your head is completely hairless. In contrast, hair loss in the female pattern causes the scalp to shrink overall and seldom results in noticeable bald patches.
The Hormones that Cause Hair Loss
Thyroid hormones, insulin, cortisol, estrogen, androgens (apart from DHT) can all cause hair loss; some of these effects are specific to women, while others can affect both men and women.
Estrogen
Estrogen production in women dramatically decreases throughout menopause and following childbirth. You can experience something similar if you stop using birth control tablets or hormone therapy. The abrupt decrease in estrogen compels the follicles in your hair to enter a resting period. This causes a large portion of your hair to fall out all at once.
Ten to fifteen percent of the scalp’s hair cells are in a state of repose at any given point throughout a typical hair growth cycle. As a result, a tiny amount of hair falls off each day. However, you suffer noticeable hair loss when estrogen levels abruptly decrease, and numerous follicles enter a resting phase at a single time.
Unbalanced Androgen Production
Another androgen, testosterone, is also produced in modest amounts by women naturally. For the health of their heart, muscles, bones, and reproductive system, they require a certain amount of testosterone.
On the other hand, women with disorders such as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) have greater than normal testosterone levels. Some women experience thinning across their scalps as well as hair thinning at the temples due to excessive testosterone levels.
Hormones of the Thyroid
Thyroid hormones play a variety of vital functions, one of which is promoting and maintaining the health of hair follicles. Too much or too little thyroid hormone causes the hair roots to enter a state of relaxation too soon. Both men and women can get telogen effluvium, a disorder that can cause up to 70% of their head hair to fall out in two months.
Cortisol
Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise; when you decompress, they return to normal. When stress starts to bother you frequently or continuously, your cortisol stays elevated above normal. Hair loss is one of the many negative effects of high cortisol on your health. Excessive amounts of cortisol cause your hair follicles to enter an extended resting period, which stops them from growing back and repairing.
How to Treat Hair Loss?
Hair loss can result from both heredity and aging. The most effective therapy for hair loss depends on its underlying cause. Supplements, prescription ointments, and lifestyle modifications are among the options.
Steers Clear of Crash Diets
Extremely low-calorie diets have the potential to deprive the body of vital nutrients, such as zinc, fatty acids, and protein, which are all important for good hair. Usually, fad diets do not provide long-term weight loss. A 2019 assessment of the literature states that those who reduce body cell mass due to weight reduction following a low-calorie diet may experience hair loss. Hair loss may occur temporarily as a result.
Using Medicine for Hair Loss
There are several drugs available to stop hair loss. Applying topical minoxidil is the recommended treatment for alopecia caused by testosterone that affects men and women, per a 2019 analysis of data. The active component of Rogaine, an over the counter (OTC) medication, is minoxidil.
According to the analysis, minoxidil may also be used by physicians to treat hair loss resulting from other conditions, including chemotherapy. According to the review’s authors, further studies on minoxidil may be helpful. Another prescription treatment for scalp hair loss is finasteride, also known as Propecia. It can be used topically or consumed internally.
Employing Essential Oils
Certain essential oils used topically on the scalp may promote hair growth. A brief 2021 study says patients with female pattern baldness who used topically administered pumpkin seed oil to their scalps for three months had a substantial boost in hair development.
A 2015 randomization-controlled trial suggested that using rosemary oil topically might be just as beneficial as using minoxidil. The following essential oils showed potential for promoting hair development in a 2020 study of individuals with central circular cicatricial dermatitis (CA), a kind of scar hair loss felt by women of African descent. They are also famous because of their anti-aging properties.
- Tea tree
- Jojoba
- Lavender
- Peppermint oils
The Bottom Line!
Stress, diet, hormones, and genetics all play a role in this hair-raising situation. It’s not just a guy thing; women can experience it too. Genetic factors can make your hair follicles extra sensitive to a hormone called DHT, leading to male and female pattern hair loss. Treatments range from supplements and prescription ointments to lifestyle changes. Essential oils, like pumpkin seed oil and rosemary oil, could also lend a hand in the hair-growing business. So, if you’re dealing with hair loss, it’s not the end of the world; there are ways to tackle it and keep those strands shining.
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