Hair Loss and Hair Thinning – What are the causes and how do you prevent it?

Have you ever wondered why your hair has become so much thinner compared to when you were younger? The dilemma of thinning hair and hair loss isn’t quite new to both men and women. It’s quite a common worry for people 40 onward.

As a matter of fact, approximately 40% of women and 85% of men goes through this condition as their age progresses. Finding the sole reason of hair thinning and hair loss is definitely a challenge. It involves a lot of complexities as it goes over too many possibilities on why it occurs on a certain person.

However, as much as it sounds too difficult to point out, it is still possible to know. In this article, we would like to tackle some of the most common causes of hair loss and hair thinning as well as the effective ways to prevent it.

What are the Causes of Hair Thinning and Hair Loss?

From genetics to medical conditions, the type of hair loss or hair thinning that one experiences may greatly vary. Some may only experience thinner hair strands that are more susceptible to breakage while others experience a more severe type of hair loss which is called Alopecia in medical terms. To narrow your list down a bit, here are some common causes on why you are experiencing hair thinning or hair loss.

1. Genes – if you can spot members of your family having very thin hair or probably almost bald, we can’t rule out the chance that you’ll probably experience the same at some point in your life. Just like in many medical conditions, genes play a huge role in terms of hair thinning and hair loss. It’s quite difficult and almost impossible to win a battle against hereditary conditions. However, according to a dermatologist based in NYC, Dr. Glashofer, MD, “Men and women may benefit from minoxidil (Rogaine) to help grow hair, or at least, maintain the hair you have”. It’s available in many drugstores but then again, it’s always best to consult a professional to ensure safety and compatibility of it with you.
2. Stress and Exhaustion – a lot of different kinds of health conditions can be hugely associated with stress. Either physical and mental stress or exhaustion can greatly contribute to hair thinning and hair loss. Being stressed mentally or physically can result to hormonal changes. These hormonal changes can disrupt your hair’s natural life cycle resulting to prolonged hair shedding phase.
3. Too much Vitamin A Intake – the body needs vitamins for it to stay healthy. However, too much of everything isn’t always good – just like Vitamin A. The American Academy of Dermatology states that the daily value for Vitamin A should be 5,000 international units per day, both for adults and kinds over 4 years old. Getting more than what the body needs per day can also result to hair thinning and hair loss.
4. Poor Diet – improper diet is one major cause of hair loss and hair thinning. True enough, your hair is also all about how healthy your body is. Vitamin B deficiency and lack of protein lead to hair loss and hair thinning in a way that your hair and scalp aren’t getting the right nutrients they need in order to regenerate. Watch your diet, always keep yourself hydrated and east healthy.
5. Over styling using Hair Products with Harsh Ingredients – our hair does through stress every single day. It gets exposed to harmful sun rays, pollution and environmental elements that cause damage to the hair and scalp. In addition to this, if you like styling your hair drastically from time to time, your also opening doors to eventual hair loss and hair thinning. We’re not saying that it’s bad to style your hair. Hair styling is definitely a lifestyle and a way of expressing oneself. However, when you are not very careful of your product choices, this may lead to hair damage. For instance, sulfate-based shampoos are known to strip the hair’s natural moisture which results to damage and breakage. Continuous usage will eventually make your hair brittle and your scalp will be greatly affected. This is another reason of hair loss and hair thinning.

Can Hair loss and hair Thinning be prevented? How?

Now, are there any ways to prevent hair thinning and hair loss? Of course there are. Here are some tips you can start doing as early as right now to prevent eventual hair loss and hair thinning.

1. Opt for all-natural mild hair products – go for natural hair products that are richly infused with nutrients beneficial to the hair. Natural ingredients like Argan oil and Aloe Vera feature exceptional properties that promote hair growth.
2. Try to avoid bleaching your hair – it’s not always bad to go for dramatic hair colors when you want to flaunt something different. However, if your hair is already thin and brittle, it’s always safe to stay away from bleaching. Bleach is very strong and harmful for the hair which is why you feel pain on your scalp whenever you do it. If you really want to color your hair, search for natural alternatives.
3. Drink lots of water regularly – keeping yourself hydrated is good for your body in general. Moisture plays a huge role in hair growth so drinking lots of water helps in building healthy moisture for your hair and scalp.
4. Balanced Diet – nothing beats a balanced diet when it comes to hair loss prevention. Consume foods rich in iron, protein and Vitamin C for these will greatly help your hair and scalp strong and healthy.

If you feel like you’re experiencing dramatic hair loss, you should never hesitate on consulting your doctor. It’s always best to seek professional help to know the best ways in treating hair thinning and hair loss.

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