Combing Concerns – Brushing Up on Potential Causes of Hair Loss

Is the amount of hair that you notice clogged in your bathroom sink starting to worry you? Perhaps you’ve noticed strands of hair on the floor, or a build up of hair in your hairbrush. It is estimated that close to 30 million women and up to 50 million men worldwide suffer from hair loss. Whilst a vast majority of this statistic is due to genetics, there are indeed many other reasons for hair loss that you may not be aware of. In this article, doctors in South Melbourne have shared some of the common potential causes of hair loss. Read on to find out more!

1. Any Sort Of Physical Stress

If you have experienced physical stress in recent times and have noticed that your hair has been thinning ever since, you may be suffering from “telogen effluvium”, which is temporary hair loss caused by the onset of physical stress. Physical stress can include being involved in an accident, severe illness, or sometimes even the flu. Stress can cause your hair’s growth cycle, pushing more hair into the shedding phase. Fret not, however, as this is only temporary and your hair should start growing back as soon as your body recovers!

2. Overdosing On Those Vitamins!

Vitamins are good for you, right? Well, of course they are. However, too much of a good thing usually ends up becoming a bad thing. This is the case for Vitamin A, which may trigger hair loss when consumed in excessive amounts. The daily recommended limit for Vitamin A is 5000 IU, and depending on the supplements you are taking, some may contain up to 10000 IU per serve. It is always advised to read the label when purchasing medication or supplements, but even more so if you are noticing issues such as hair loss. Once again, Vitamin A induced hair loss is reversible, so don’t worry too much about it!

3. Are Your Eating A Healthy Balanced Diet?

We all know how important it is to ensure that your diet is one that is healthy and balanced. This is essential for a healthy functioning body, and also for the health of your hair. Your hair needs nutrients to grow and stay healthy, so ensuring that your diet includes a variety of nutrients from sources such as Legumes, Lentils and other foods that contain high levels of Zinc, Iron and Biotin. You should also ensure that you are getting adequate amounts of protein in your diet as insufficient protein levels can shut down hair growth.

4. Existing Skin Conditions

Sadly, a high number of people suffer from skin conditions on their scalp. From Psoriasis, Dandruff and fungal infections, skin issues may also potentially cause you to lose hair. If you notice flakey skin, dry patches or an excessively oily scalp as well as hair loss, it may be wise that you head to a dermatologist and have your scalp checked. Should you turn out to be affected from a skin condition, your doctor will then prescribe you with medicated shampoo, creams and other medications that will treat the condition and in turn reduce the amount of hair loss you are experiencing.

5. Fashion May Be The Culprit!

Sometimes, the most obvious answer may be the solution to all your problems. With the man bun trend and other hairstyles in fashion now, it is all too easy to get caught up in looking a certain way whilst ignoring the health implications it may have on your body. Tight braids, buns, tight ponytails, excessively bleached/dyed hair and using harsh products are factors that most definitely contribute to hair loss. The only solution to this is to avoid following hair damaging trends, and to give your hair a break! Take care of your scalp by using moisturising shampoo, and avoid dying your hair too often.

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We hope that this article has given you some insight into the potential causes of hair loss, and what you can do to avoid it and ensure that you are keeping your scalp and hair lush and healthy for a long time to come.