Hair loss causes – men and women

Each person has between 100 000 – 150 000 hair follicles spread in groups of 1-5 across the head. Out of each hair follicle an individual strand of hair grows.

Each hair follicle has its own life cycle which goes through three different phases; active growth, regressive and resting. 30 000 – 50 000 of our hair follicles are genetically programmed to produce hair for the rest of our life and are situated at the back of the neck and the side of the crown.

There are several reasons for why one looses ones hair, some less common then others. On this page you will learn more about the different causes of hair loss.

Androgenic Alopecia (male hereditarily hair loss) the most common cause

The hair follicles on the crown can be more or less sensitive to dihydrotestosteron (DHT). This hormone originates from the male sex hormone testosteron. DHT affects the hair follicles causing it not to grow as long, the strands become thinner and gradually fewer. This does not involve the hair in the back of the neck or on the sides which is immune to DHT and genetically programmed to produce hair for the rest of one’s life.

For male hair loss the majority depends on hereditary reasons, also known as male pattern baldness (androgenis alopecia). The hair loss can begin before the age of 20 and is noticeable by the hairline above the temples receding leaving characteristic points. Afterwards a bald patch on the crown appears which enlarges over time.

Even women can have hereditary hair loss even if it is not as common as in men. The hair will gradually thin within an oval area on the front part of the crown. However, women rarely develop a bald patch. As with men the hair by the temples and back of the neck remains. Hereditary hair loss mostly affects women in the menopause, but relatively young women can also get it, beginning even before the age of 30.

Common causes for hair loss in women

In addition to hereditary hair loss there is also a more diffuse kind of hair loss in women, when almost all hair on the head becomes thinned. The cause is often iron deficiency; even a moderate deficiency can affect the hair. Some birth control pills can also cause hair loss.

That women loose hair after giving birth is because of the hormonal adjustments that occur tending to be only temporary.

With eating disorders all tissue with high metabolism is affected, which is noticed in the hair.

Other causes for male and female hair loss

Some diseases of the scalp can affect hair growth. For instance, Alopecia Areata (completely bald, round sections of various sizes and quantities) originate as the body’s own immune system attacks the hair follicle cells and Alopecia Totalis (when the immunological process affects all hair on the head). This disease can heal spontaneously, but also return.

There are also inflammatory conditions of different types that specifically affect the hair follicles (folliculate). With dandruff eczema (seborrhoeic eczema) and psoriasis substantial hair loss can occur, but healing of the scalp often leads the hair returning.

Also diseases within completely different organs can affect the hair quality, for instance a low metabolism with thyroid gland diseases. Medication can also cause issues with ones hair; chemotherapy often does, as can some contraceptive pills in certain women.

Unsuitable lifestyles (smoking, poor eating habits, physical or mental stress), unsuitable hair care products and hair extensions are also identified as main reasons for loosing hair. So called “day wax” should also be avoided completely. There are instead a range of water-based waxes of good quality which do not harm the hair or scalp.

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