Alopecia Causes

Hair loss, or alopecia, is something everyone faces for some reason or the other. However, patients usually tend to seek treatment for hair loss without ascertaining its cause. It is always better to seek treatment after finding out its cause as such treatment proves to be better, and more effective. The alopecia causes are something which you should watch out for and avoid them if possible.

Some people opt for wonder cures or legitimate treatments, which may not suit them. Then there are others who also risk their health by taking self-prescribed pharmaceutical drugs. Though losing money with this treatment is not a big point, it is the point that the treatment may worsen their health, and not prove to be beneficial in curing alopecia that proves it not reasonable to take wonder cures or legitimate treatments.

Basically, shedding of hair is quite normal. There is a cycle from the growth of the hair, to its hair shaft getting detached and then the hair detaching itself to lead to hair loss. Usually, when hair falls, new hair begins to grow, thus repeating the normal cycle or hair growth. It is when other factors that interfere with hair growth process that tends to lead to hair thinning and premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia accounts for most types of hair loss in men and women. This is usually associated with aging and develops in different stages over time. In case of hereditary baldness, some hair follicles are genetically coded to remain for a shorter period than other follicles. For such a case of alopecia, there should first be a predisposition of hair loss occurring and a presence of male hormones. Men and women produce the male hormone testosterone and DHT with men having higher levels of androgens. This is why men generally suffer more from hair loss than women. There are high levels of 5-alpha-reductase enzyme in hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

These enzymes tend to convert testosterone to DHT which causes the miniaturizing of terminal hairs. With this, you find short, soft and fluffy vellus hair that doesn't actually cover the scalp. This phase becomes shorter wherein the hair is lost for good over a passage of time. Another type of hair loss, alopecia areata is a condition where follicles stop producing hair in patches on the head. However, this condition usually improves over time.

Another cause of hair loss is childbirth, major surgery, psychological stress and chemotherapy and is called telogen effluvium. Too much of stress tends to lead to hair loss; this is the reason relaxation sometimes proves effective in controlling hair loss. Then there is hair loss that results from constant pulling of the hair, and this is called traction alopecia. Excessive styling, exposure to chemicals, exposure to the sun, severe illnesses and nutritional deficiencies are all the other alopecia causes. Recognizing alopecia in the initial stages helps a lot too. As alopecia is difficult to treat but easy to prevent, it is always better to prevent it beforehand rather than treat it later.