There is nothing as scary as noticing that your hair is falling off your scalp. Imagine losing a chunk of hair until you go bald! Right! This is unimaginable! Hair loss is as traumatizing as it is gradual or abrupt. 

It is often characterized by hair falling out over a long period of time, or rather quickly, in some cases where the hair does not fall out, thinning occurs until a bald spot appears, and most importantly, the hair will need immediate care to grow. 

If you were wondering why you are going bald, here are the 10 most common reasons for hair loss: 

  • Hereditary hair loss

This type of hair loss affects both men and women. In fact, it is the most common cause of hair loss worldwide. It is referred to as female pattern hair loss for women and male pattern hair loss for men. 

Medically, this form of hair loss is referred to as androgenic alopecia. Regardless of the term that you use, hereditary hair loss occurs because genes that cause hair to fall out are inherited. 

  • Age

The reality is that our body functions slow down as we continue to get old. At one point or another, hair follicles will stop growing due to old age, generally causing the hair on the scalp starts to thin. For both men and women, hair will naturally start to lose its color. 

  • Medication and treatment procedures

There are different types of medication that come with hair loss as a side effect. While they may cause hair to fall out, the hair will grow back when the medication is no longer used. 

Treatment procedures like chemotherapy are also known to cause hair loss. Hair also starts growing back months after completing the treatment. 

  • Alopecia Areata

This is a medical condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, ultimately causing hair loss because the follicles can no longer afford to hold the hair in place. 

With this condition, hair loss is not only subjected to the hair on your head, but you can also lose hair in any part of the body, including inside the nose and the ears. There are even those who lose their eyebrows and eyelashes. 

  • Poor hair care

If you continuously relax or color your hair, then it is easy to damage your hairline. Over time, this damage will lead to hair loss. 

However, the solution to this is changing your hair maintenance routine to prevent hair loss. Otherwise, poor hair care may completely damage hair follicles and create permanent bald spots. 

  • Pull-up hairstyles

If you often wear your hair tightly pulled up, then continuous pulling can lead to permanent hair loss. Medically, this is referred to as traction alopecia. 

When balding occurs due to this, then hair regrowth may not be possible. To prevent this kind of hair loss, it is advisable to make changes to styling your hair. 

  • Hormonal imbalance

Hormonal hair loss can be caused by a variety of conditions including Polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperthyroidism, and many others. 

Along with the symptoms that accompany the condition is hair loss. Usually, treatment is possible and can make the hair grow back in due time. 

  • Scalp infection

Scalp infections lead to scaly and inflamed areas on your scalp. This may look like small dots on your scalp. 

This infection may also be represented by stubs of hair that cause a bald spot. With treatment, the infection will clear and the hair tends to grow back. 

  • Scalp psoriasis

There are people who suffer from scalp psoriasis and are bound to lose hair at some point. When the psoriasis is treated and it clears, hair will grow back. 

Scalp psoriasis is a hair loss diagnosis that is done by a dermatologist. 

  • Missing nutrients in the body

If you are not leading a healthy lifestyle and your body is lacking in zinc, iron, or protein, then you will have some noticeable signs of hair loss. 

If you are not getting enough, or even of these, then clumps of your hair will fall out in stages. But when the nutrients are supplemented in the body, hair will grow back. 

Summary

There you go! Common reasons why you may be experiencing hair loss. Remember, hair loss can affect your scalp or your entire body. 

In the same token, it can be temporary or permanent. While many consider it a normal part of the aging process, it is always best to consult a dermatologist when you are losing large chunks of hair at an alarming rate.