Hair Loss Advice

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What You Should Know About the Causes of Thinning Hair

If you have noticed that your hair is thinning then you probably want to know the cause of your hair loss. To better understand the causes of thinning hair it is important that you understand the hair growth cycle and what can happen to interrupt this cycle. Keep reading for a quick lesson in hair growth.

Did you know that the normal hair growth cycle last for two to six years? This is because each hair grows less than half an inch per month during it's growth phase. Your hair will alternate between the growth phase and the resting phase. Only about ten percent of the hair on your scalp is in a resting phase at one time. After about two to three months, this resting hair will fall out and new hair will start to grow in it's place.

However, if you notice that your hair is thinning in spots then something is happening to interrupt the normal growth and resting phases of your hair. There are a number of things that cause this hair loss. Two to three months after major surgery or an illness you may find that your hair is falling out in clumps because of the stress from the illness.

Hormones can be one of the major causes of thinning hair. If your thyroid gland is underactive or overactive then you can start to lose your hair. If you correct the function of the thyroid gland it can stop the hair loss. A hormone imbalance between male and female hormones can cause thinning hair. By correcting the hormone imbalance you can correct the thinning hair problem.

Certain medications will cause thinning hair in some people. If you notice that your hair is thinning after starting a new medication then you should let your doctor know. The hair loss may be corrected by stopping the medication. Medications that have been known to cause thinning hair are blood thinners, gout medications, chemotherapy drugs, birth control pills and certain anti depressants.

Other causes of thinning hair can include fungal infections and underlying diseases. Children are especially vulnerable to fungal infections of the scalp. This can be easily treated with anti-fungal medications. Lupus and diabetes can cause thinning hair. These underlying diseases are not so easily treated, and if you have either of these diseases you may find yourself battling thinning hair for the rest of your life.

Finally, one more cause of thinning hair is excessive hair styling. If you have cornrows or pigtails the pull on your hair can cause traction alopecia. As long as pulling on the hair has not caused scarring the hair will grow back if you stop the excessive hair styling.

As you can see, there are many causes of thinning hair. The trick is to find out what exactly is the cause of your hair loss, and then you can correct it.