While it might be a bit worrying, seeing an abundance of hair strands clinging to your brush or spread across your pillowcase in the morning is completely normal.

In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person naturally loses anywhere from 50-100 strands of hair each day! And though that may sound like a lot coming off your head on a daily basis, it’s important to know hair loss is incredibly common.

That said, if you’ve started to notice a shocking amount of hair falling out, it might be due to a couple of reasons — many of which are easily treated, addressed, or preventable.

Whether you’re male or female experiencing this issue, take a look at these 5 common reasons why your hair is falling out or thinning at an unusual rate.

 

5 Common Reasons for Hair Loss

 

Genetics

In many cases, balding or hair thinning runs in the family. So, unfortunately, genetics could be to blame for your hair loss.

Also known as androgenic alopecia, this baldness pattern in both men and women can be seen as receding hairlines, bald spots, and hair thinning out in the scalp. If you spot it early enough, there are a few steps you can follow to help stop or reduce hair loss!

 

Hormonal Changes

Our hormones play an essential role in the way our body functions from the inside out. And when imbalanced, they could be a major cause of hair loss.

Here are a couple factors that might cause a hormonal imbalance:

Age

As we grow older, our body’s ability to keep hormones in check naturally weakens. Especially true for women, menopause causes major hormonal imbalances. When women age, there’s a decline in the production of estrogen and progesterone, which might cause hair to thin or fall out.

Stress

Ever heard someone say they want to “pull their hair out” when under a massive amount of stress? Well, it might fall out anyway! Stress is a strong factor when it comes to hair loss.

While a little stress is a good thing, experiencing a debilitating level of stress seriously throws your hormones out of whack, furthering any balding or hair thinning.

 

Medical Conditions

If you’ve been diagnosed with any type of medical condition, such as an illness or disease, hair loss could be one of many symptoms and side effects. Common conditions such as cancer, thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, and even pregnancy can cause excessive hair loss.

In addition to hair loss caused by a medical condition, medication – such as supplements or prescriptions – and medical treatments could also be contributing factors.

Medication or Supplements

As with any medical condition or illness, there are typically medications, prescriptions, or supplements the person must add to their daily regimen.

Hair loss may be an unwanted side effect of prescriptions, such as blood thinners, antidepressants, hypertension medication, and other drugs. Additionally, over-supplementation of certain vitamins – like vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium – can also cause hair to fall out.

Radiation or Surgery

Receiving medical treatments or undergoing a surgical procedure takes a toll on the body in more ways than one.

From elevated stress levels and dietary changes to anesthesia or even changes in blood circulation, invasive surgeries and intense medical treatments, like chemotherapy, could spur undesirable hair loss and thinning.

 

Lifestyle Changes and Nutrition

Have you thought about whether or not your overall health is affecting hair loss? Including what you eat, your sleep quality, hydration levels, and physical activity, it’s key to maintain a balanced diet and lifestyle.

Focusing on diet, filling your plate with lean protein, leafy greens, and antioxidants does more than just make you feel good – it actually keeps your hair strong and healthy, preventing future hair loss or slowing down the rate of hair thinning!

Furthermore, keep in mind strict diets and intense caloric restrictions can certainly play a role in major hair loss.

 

Hair Styles and Treatments

Be kind to your hair and scalp to prevent or slow down hair loss.

Tight hairstyles – like braids, ponytails, buns, and hair extensions – can cause excessive shedding by pulling on the hair follicle, breaking the hair shaft, and damaging strands.

Additionally, if you regularly use strong hair treatments like bleach, hair dye, and chemical relaxers, as well as high-heat hair tools such as curlers and straighteners, these could play a major role in your hair loss. These products and tools physically pull your hair out and damage the cuticle, which can make your hair break off or fall out.

 

Battling Hair Loss?

Does it feel as though you’re in a constant battle to keep your hair from falling out? While others may say it’s “just genetics” or a part of “getting older,” our hair loss experts are here to help you diagnose the cause so you can find the best possible solution to improve the health of your hair.

If you have concerns about your hair health, visit the healthy hair specialists at Brentwood Dermatology today. Give us a call at (615) 455-0046 to schedule an appointment.