Causes of hair loss and effective ways to treat it

Did you know that humans can experience hair loss from 50 to 100 hairs per day? As scary as it may sound, hair loss in general will not lead to thinning hair (or even baldness). The reason is, you have approximately 100 thousand hairs on your head and new hairs grow at the same time replacing the hair that has fallen out. Check out the various causes of hair loss from trivial to serious in this article.

What are the causes of hair loss?

It is true that men are more likely to lose hair than women, mostly due to baldness. However, hair thinning and loss are also common in women. The causes of hair loss vary widely, from the simplest, such as vitamin deficiency, to more complex problems, namely the signs and symptoms of a disease.

1. Stress

Physical trauma of all kinds, from severe stress, accidents, after childbirth, drastic weight loss, and serious illnesses, can cause large, even temporary, hair loss.

In fact, emotional changes due to divorce, mourning, and work problems can also cause these conditions. In medicine, this problem is known as telogen effluvium.

Women who experience telogen effluvium generally notice hair loss six weeks to three months after experiencing severe stress.

The hair life cycle has three important phases, namely the growth period, the rest period, and the loss period. Severe stress can disrupt the hair cycle, thus speeding up hair loss.

The sign can be from strands falling out of the roots (having oval 'pockets' like a bulb at the end). This "pocket" means the hair has gone through the entire growth phase, indicating the cycle has been sped up due to the effects of stress.

How to handle it?

Hair loss caused by telogen effluvium only takes time. Hair growth will return to normal as the body recovers from stress.

Therefore, make sure you avoid everything that can stress you out. Try to always think positive by doing yoga and meditation. The calming effect created by yoga and meditation will help you think clearly.

In addition, make sure you get enough sleep (approximately 7 hours), drink lots of mineral water, and eat foods rich in protein. Nutrition is essential for hair growth.

The relationship between food and hair is very close. Hair is made of a protein called keratin. So, you should increase your protein intake.

2. Hair loss due to derivatives

Genetic hair loss is the most common cause of hair loss. Genes can be passed on from either parent, but you are at a greater risk of hair loss if both parents have experienced hair loss.

Women who have genetic thinning of hair (androgenetic alopecia) tend to experience thinning in the hairline. Although this condition generally appears around the age of 50-60 years, it is possible that symptoms will begin to appear and develop in your 20s.

In general, every time your hair falls out, it will be replaced with new hair of the same size. However, in this case, each new hair will have a smoother and thinner texture, as the hair follicles shrink and gradually stop growing altogether.

How to handle it?

Baldness can be prevented by taking hair growth drugs, although in women, the dose should be reduced. There are two types of drugs that can be used to fix hair loss, namely minoxidil and finasteride.

Minoxidil is safe for use by men and women, but reported from the MD Web page, minoxidil seems to be more effective for use by women who suffer from severe hair loss than men. If minoxidil is more effective for women, finasteride is a hair loss drug that is widely approved to work for men.

But before using it, it is important for you to still ask your doctor first in order to get the best hair loss medication according to your condition.

3. Excess vitamin A

Reporting from health.com referring to the American Academy of Dermatology, consuming too much vitamin A supplements or certain drugs can trigger hair loss.

How to handle it?

If the cause of your hair loss is due to excess vitamin A, then one effective way to overcome it is to limit and reduce your intake of vitamin A until it returns to normal.

Before taking vitamin and mineral supplements, you should always pay attention to their content. Do not choose supplements that contain 5000 IU of vitamin A or 1500 micrograms, because these supplements exceed the daily vitamin A adequacy.

Better to choose a supplement that contains 20% of the need for vitamin A per day in the form of beta carotene or carotene mixture.

Also read the nutritional value information on food packages fortified with vitamin A. Limit foods that contain 50% or more vitamin A in the form of retinol per serving, you can take 1-2 times per week. Most importantly, you should first consult a doctor or nutritionist if you want to take vitamin A supplements.

4. Vitamin B deficiency

Vitamin B deficiency is rare, but hair loss due to vitamin B deficiency can also occur. Even so, the cause of this one hair loss is easy to handle.

How to handle it?

Regularly take B vitamin supplements, and change your diet and diet with food rich in B vitamins (meat, fish, corn, potatoes, pumpkin, peas, sweet potatoes), and non-citrus fruits that contain good fats, such as avocado and nuts.

5. Protein deficiency

Another cause of hair loss could be because you are on a low protein diet. Protein is the body's main building blocks, including hair cells. Too low protein intake can weaken hair structure and slow hair growth.

Causes of hair loss due to protein deficiency can begin to appear 2-3 months after decreasing protein intake.

How to handle it?

Based on the AKG of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the standard protein adequacy rate for Indonesians is around 56-59 grams per day for women and 62-66 grams per day for men. Protein intake is quite easy to obtain, including from fish, meat and eggs.

If you are vegan or vegetarian, meet your protein needs from legumes such as almonds, tofu and tempeh, to several high-protein fruits and vegetables (avocado, dates, guava, jackfruit, chips, broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes, sweet corn, etc. and asparagus)

6. Anemia

Nearly 1 in 10 women aged 20-49 years have iron deficiency anemia. Women who have heavy menstrual bleeding or have insufficient iron needs are more likely to experience anemia.

Anemia due to iron deficiency causes extreme fatigue, weakness in the body, and pale skin. You may also experience recurring headaches, difficulty concentrating, cold palms and feet, and hair loss.

The body needs adequate iron intake to be able to carry oxygen to body cells through the blood, including to hair follicles. That is why, if you are anemic due to iron deficiency, your hair will be prone to loss.

Women generally need 18 milligrams of iron per day, while at menopause the need is 8 milligrams per day.

How to handle it?

Iron supplements can help you treat anemia (look for supplements that also contain biotin, silica, and L-cysteine). In addition, get enough iron from your daily diet.

Iron is found in green leafy vegetables, leeks, cashews, dried fruits, meat, poultry, fortified cereals and pastas.

For those of you who are vegetarian, fulfill your iron intake from spinach. It is recommended to meet iron needs coupled with vitamin C, which can help facilitate iron absorption.

You can also take iron supplements if you are really deficient, but after consulting your doctor.

7. Thyroid gland disorders

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not work optimally to produce hormones related to metabolism, growth and development of the body.

Meanwhile, hyperthyroidism is a medical condition in which the production of metabolic hormones is actually excessive, causing heart palpitations, diarrhea, irritability, nervousness, moist skin, muscle weakness, and eye expressions that always look shocked.

Hypothyroidism may cause several symptoms, including weight gain without cause, fatigue, constipation, depression, and difficulty concentrating. Hair, skin, and nails brittle and break easily. Thyroid disorders are more common in women, especially in their 50s.

Both types of thyroid disorders can cause you to experience hair loss.

How to handle it?

Consult with your doctor about medication that is suitable for your health condition. Your doctor may prescribe thyroid hormone medication to bring hormone levels back to normal.

You may have a routine TSH test to ensure the correct dose is dosed. Once your thyroid hormone levels return to normal, your hair loss will also come back strong.

8. Autoimmune disease

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system perceives hair as a harmful foreign particle and attacks hair follicles back. The cause is not certain, but alopecia areata can affect both women and men. Scientists estimate that important factors for this disorder include stress.

This condition occurs in three forms. Typically, alopecia areata causes small bald areas of the scalp, more commonly known as pitting, or partial hair loss on the eyebrows, or leg hair. Full baldness on the head is called alopecia totalis, while if baldness occurs on the whole body it is called alopecia universalis.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. This condition affects approximately 1.5 million people worldwide and tends to attack women during pregnancy.

Lupus causes extreme fatigue, headaches, mouth sores, and swollen and painful joints. Many people show a red, butterfly-like red rash on the face and are sensitive to sunlight. Many people with lupus also experience hair loss, which may be followed by flushing and irritation of the scalp.

How to handle it?

If you notice any changes in your hair loss, it's best to consult your doctor for more information on the exact cause of your problem. Autoimmune diseases can be treated with special therapy and medication under the supervision of a doctor.

9.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is an imbalance disorder between female and male sex hormones. Excess androgen hormones can cause cysts in the uterus, weight gain, diabetes risk, changes in menstrual cycles, and infertility.

Even PCOS can cause hair loss. Not only that, PCOS in women can also cause improper hair growth in a number of parts of the body, such as mustaches and beards.

How to handle it?

PCOS can be treated by taking prescription contraceptive pills that contain testosterone-blocking anti-androgens. Alternatively, the doctor will prescribe spironolactone which also blocks male sex hormones, surgical procedures to remove cysts, or with changes to a healthy lifestyle and pattern.

10. Unhealthy scalp

An unhealthy scalp can cause inflammation, making it difficult for hair to grow properly. Skin conditions that can cause hair loss including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and fungal infections (dandruff)

How to handle it?

Depending on the condition you are experiencing, treatment will certainly vary. For example medicated shampoos for seborrheic dermatitis and topical or oral medications for psoriasis.

Meanwhile, if the cause of your hair loss is due to a fungal infection (dandruff), then use an anti-dandruff shampoo containing zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, and coal tar.

If you have tried the various methods above for more than a month and your symptoms have not improved, then you should consult your doctor.

11. Too often use a hair heater

Too often use hair styling hairdryer and flat iron can actually destroy the natural properties of the hair. Especially if the temperature used is too hot. The reason is, this tool removes the hair's natural moisture by reducing its water content.

Finally, the hair is damaged, dry, and split ends. Not infrequently usehairdryeror frequent, hot straightening of hair can also make it difficult for the hair to grow back.

How to handle it?

To alleviate the side effects of hair styling products, always use conditioner in the shower and protect your hair before styling it using hot equipment with conditioner. heat-protectant.

Also, you should leave your hair dry and try to limit the amount of time you straighten or curl your hair with a straightener (which contains high heat) at least once a week.

12. Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania can also be a cause of hair loss. Trichotillomania is an impulse control disorder that causes a person to continuously and involuntarily (impulsively) pull out their hair.

The hair that is plucked is not just hair on the scalp. The reason is, people who experience trichotillomania can also pluck their eyebrows, eyelashes and other hair.

If left untreated, this condition will irritate the scalp and lose the hair's natural protection, resulting in baldness in the area of ​​hair that is pulled out. Trichotillomania is common in women and men.

How to handle it?

Antidepressants are quite effective in treating this condition, but behavioral control therapy is an alternative treatment that is just as effective.

Please note that trichotillomania is not a disorder that can be stopped just like that. So, if you feel you have this habit, immediately consult a doctor so you can get further treatment.