Causes of Hair Loss

Alopecia refers to a group of hair loss conditions that can affect women of all ages. These conditions are often characterized by the body’s immune system attacking hair follicles, leading to inflammation and subsequent hair loss.

In conditions like alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles, resulting in sudden, patchy hair loss on the scalp or other parts of the body. More severe forms, such as alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis, can lead to complete hair loss on the scalp or the entire body, respectively.

Other types of alopecia, such as frontal fibrosing alopecia and androgenic alopecia (female pattern hair loss), may involve different underlying mechanisms, such as hormonal imbalances or genetic predisposition. These conditions can cause gradual thinning of the hair, typically starting at the crown or along the hairline.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are commonly used to target rapidly dividing cancer cells. Unfortunately, these treatments can also affect healthy cells in the body, including hair follicles. Chemotherapy drugs, for example, interfere with the cell division process, leading to damage to hair follicles and resulting in hair loss.

Similarly, radiation therapy, while targeting cancer cells, can also damage nearby healthy cells, including those in the scalp. This damage disrupts the normal hair growth cycle, leading to hair loss in the treated area.

Hair loss due to cancer treatments typically occurs within a few weeks of starting chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The extent of hair loss can vary depending on the type and dosage of treatment, as well as individual factors such as genetics and overall health.

During chemotherapy, cold caps and scalp cooling devices work by reducing blood flow to the scalp, which in turn limits the amount of chemotherapy drugs reaching the hair follicles. While this can help preserve hair by reducing the impact of the drugs on the follicles, it may also inadvertently decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment on cancer cells in the scalp area. Consequently, cancer cells in the scalp region may not be adequately targeted, potentially leading to hair loss due to the underlying disease progression.

Additionally, the scalp cooling process itself can cause hair loss due to factors such as insufficient cooling temperature or improper fitting of the cap, leading to uneven cooling and inconsistent protection of hair follicles. Furthermore, scalp cooling may not be effective for all chemotherapy drugs or treatment protocols, and individual response to the process can vary widely.

Hair loss can be a potential side effect of COVID-19 infection, though it’s not directly caused by the virus itself. Instead, several factors associated with COVID-19 may contribute to hair loss in some individuals.

First, the physical and emotional stress experienced during COVID-19 illness can trigger a condition called telogen effluvium, where a large number of hair follicles enter the resting (telogen) phase of the hair growth cycle simultaneously. This can lead to excessive shedding of hair several weeks to months after the illness has resolved.

Second, COVID-19 can lead to significant disruptions in the body’s immune system and inflammatory responses. In some cases, this dysregulation of the immune system may result in autoimmune reactions targeting hair follicles, leading to conditions such as alopecia areata, where the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing sudden hair loss in patches.

Furthermore, COVID-19 can also lead to nutritional deficiencies due to decreased appetite, altered taste and smell, or gastrointestinal symptoms, all of which can impact hair health and contribute to hair loss.

Female pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is a common form of hair loss in women characterized by a progressive thinning of hair on the scalp. This condition is typically hereditary and is influenced by genetic factors and hormonal imbalances.

In women with female pattern baldness, hair follicles become increasingly sensitive to androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. This sensitivity causes the hair follicles to shrink over time, leading to shorter, finer hairs in affected areas.

As the hair follicles miniaturize, the growth phase of the hair cycle becomes shorter, while the resting phase lengthens. This results in a gradual reduction in hair density and coverage on the scalp, eventually leading to visible thinning and, in some cases, hair loss or balding patterns similar to male pattern baldness.

Female pattern baldness typically affects the crown and top of the scalp, but it can also involve the frontal hairline or temples. While the condition is not usually associated with complete baldness in women, it can still have a significant impact on self-esteem and quality of life.

Genetics can play a significant role in hair loss in women, just as it does in men. The most common form of hereditary hair loss in women is known as female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. This condition is influenced by genetic factors and hormonal imbalances, particularly the presence of androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can shrink hair follicles and shorten the hair growth cycle.

In women with a genetic predisposition to androgenetic alopecia, hair follicles become increasingly sensitive to DHT over time. This sensitivity can lead to the gradual miniaturization of hair follicles, resulting in thinner, finer hair and eventually leading to hair loss or balding patterns similar to male pattern baldness.

Lichen Planopilaris (LPP) is a type of inflammatory condition that affects the hair follicles, leading to hair loss. In LPP, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, resulting in inflammation and damage. This inflammation disrupts the normal growth cycle of hair, leading to a gradual thinning of the scalp hair.

The exact cause of Lichen Planopilaris is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and immune system dysfunction. It’s also thought that certain environmental factors or triggers may play a role in initiating the immune response that leads to LPP.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. In lupus, the immune system mistakenly targets healthy cells, including those in the skin and hair follicles, leading to inflammation and damage.

The exact mechanism by which lupus causes hair loss is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of factors, including inflammation, immune system dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances.

One of the most common forms of hair loss associated with lupus is called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which causes round, coin-shaped lesions on the scalp that can result in scarring and permanent hair loss in affected areas. Additionally, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most severe form of lupus, can also cause hair thinning or diffuse hair loss throughout the scalp.

Medications can cause hair loss through various mechanisms, including disrupting the normal hair growth cycle, affecting hormone levels, and causing toxicity to hair follicles. Some medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, target rapidly dividing cells, including those in hair follicles, leading to hair loss as a side effect.

Other medications, particularly those that affect hormonal balance, can also contribute to hair loss. For example, certain birth control pills, hormone replacement therapies, and medications used to treat conditions like acne or prostate enlargement can alter hormone levels, leading to hair thinning or loss in susceptible individuals.

Additionally, medications like antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anticoagulants can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle or cause nutrient deficiencies, contributing to hair loss. Furthermore, some medications may have direct toxic effects on hair follicles, leading to inflammation, damage, and subsequent hair loss.

Poor nutrition can lead to hair loss because hair follicles require a variety of essential nutrients to grow and maintain healthy hair. When the body lacks sufficient vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients, it prioritizes vital functions over non-essential ones like hair growth. As a result, hair follicles may become weak, leading to thinning hair, hair breakage, or even hair loss.

Postpartum hair loss, also known as postpartum alopecia, is a common condition experienced by many women after giving birth. During pregnancy, elevated hormone levels, particularly estrogen, prolong the hair growth phase, resulting in thicker, fuller hair. However, after childbirth, hormone levels drop rapidly, causing more hair follicles to enter the resting phase and eventually shed.

This sudden shift in hormone levels disrupts the normal hair growth cycle, leading to increased shedding and noticeable hair loss, typically starting around three to six months postpartum. While postpartum hair loss can be concerning for new mothers, it is usually temporary and resolves on its own within six to twelve months as hormone levels stabilize and the hair growth cycle returns to normal.

Telogen effluvium is a common cause of temporary hair loss characterized by a significant shedding of hair due to a disruption in the hair growth cycle. This disruption can be triggered by various factors such as stress, illness, hormonal changes, or nutritional deficiencies. When the body experiences a stressful event or undergoes a physiological change, a larger-than-normal proportion of hair follicles enter the telogen or resting phase prematurely, leading to excessive shedding of hair a few months later.

Typically, telogen effluvium does not cause complete baldness but rather a noticeable thinning of the hair on the scalp. The condition is usually self-limiting, and hair growth typically resumes once the underlying trigger is addressed or resolved.

Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder characterized by the recurrent urge to pull out one’s own hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss. This compulsive behavior often stems from various factors such as stress, anxiety, or underlying emotional issues. The repetitive pulling action damages the hair follicles over time, leading to patchy hair loss or even bald spots, impacting both the scalp and other areas where hair can be pulled.