Sudden Hair Loss: Causes and Treatment Options
If you're experiencing it, you may want to know what causes sudden hair loss, and how you can treat it and prevent further hair loss, if possible.
The first step in addressing your sudden hair loss problem is getting tested by your doctor to rule out any underlying medical problems that may be the cause of your sudden hair loss problem.
Top 5 Causes of Sudden Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common problem for both men and women.
It's usually caused by genetics, aging, or stress.
If you've noticed your hair thinning or disappearing quickly, it's important to see a doctor right away to get a proper diagnosis.
Early treatment can help keep your hair from falling out completely.
If you're wondering what could be causing your sudden hair loss, here are some of the most common causes:
1) Genetics: Some people are simply born with thinner hair than others.
This is due to genetics—the way certain genes express themselves in our bodies—and there’s not much we can do about it.
However, genetics doesn't have to be destiny! There are ways to treat genetic hair loss that can prevent further damage and promote regrowth.
2) Stress: Stress affects all parts of our body, including our hair follicles.
When we experience excessive amounts of stress over an extended period, it can lead to significant changes in how our body works—including hormonal imbalances that affect how well our hair grows.
3) Hormonal Imbalance: Several hormones play a role in maintaining healthy hair growth, including testosterone, estrogen, DHT (dihydrotestosterone), and cortisol (corticosteroids).
While these hormones naturally fluctuate during different stages of life (puberty being one example), they may also change due to other factors like diet or lifestyle choices.
A change in hormone levels can cause dramatic changes in hair growth patterns.
4) Poor Diet: A poor diet full of processed foods and lacking essential nutrients can wreak havoc on your health, including your hair health.
If you want to maintain strong, shiny locks, make sure you're eating a balanced diet full of protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, fish, beans, and legumes.
5) Medications: Certain medications—especially those used to treat cancer—can cause severe side effects that include rapid hair loss.
For example, chemotherapy drugs often target fast-growing cells throughout our body (like those found in our hair follicles), which means they also slow down how fast new hairs grow back after they fall out.
Telogen Effluvium
One of several types of hair loss, telogen effluvium is a reaction to an intense stressor, such as illness or pregnancy.
Normally about 10% of your hair falls out each day; in telogen effluvium, an excess amount of hairs enter into a resting phase at once.
It's normal for these hairs to fall out within two to four months after they start growing back—but if you've been shedding more than 100 strands per day, it's worth seeing your doctor.
To help prevent further hair loss, it may be helpful to supplement with biotin and iron.
Taking extra vitamin C may also promote new growth; talk with your physician first.
Some medications can help encourage the regrowth of lost hair.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is an inherited condition that causes hair loss.
It’s also known as male-pattern baldness because it tends to affect men more often than women.
Androgenetic alopecia can start at any age, but it usually starts in adulthood.
This type of hair loss is thought to be caused by a combination of genetics and hormones.
The good news is that there are ways to slow down or even stop hair loss from happening.
The bad news is that they don’t work for everyone—and may not work at all if you have severe hair loss.
Here are some treatment options for you to consider if you’re experiencing sudden or gradual hair loss
Minoxidil (Rogaine) Minoxidil was approved in 1985 to treat androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness).
Minoxidil comes in foam form or liquid form.
You rub Rogaine into your scalp twice a day — once in the morning and once at night — with gloved hands so you don't get it on your fingers.
Rogaine works by helping keep follicles open longer, allowing for normal growth cycles. For some people Rogaine works quickly; other people need several months before noticing results.
Traction Alopecia
The most common cause of hair loss in women is traction alopecia, a condition caused by repetitive pulling or tension on your hair.
Traction alopecia is usually only an issue if you have tightly coiled natural hair that’s constantly being pulled back into a tight ponytail or bun.
This kind of hairstyle puts continuous stress on your follicles—particularly at their roots—which can lead to significant hair loss.
Trichotillomania
A disorder in which people pull out their hair, either on purpose or unconsciously.
It affects more women than men, and although it can begin at any age, it most often starts during adolescence.
People with trichotillomania may be unable to resist an urge to pull out their hair.
They typically focus on specific areas of their body like their scalp or eyelashes, but they may also pull hairs from less noticeable places such as their underarms or pubic area.
The resulting holes in the skin cause inflammation, pain, infection and scars that may lead to social stigma and feelings of shame. (WebMD)
Anagen Effluvium
Also known as shock loss, anagen effluvium is caused by a shock or trauma to your body.
This can be anything from a serious illness, surgery, poisoning, physical trauma (such as a car accident), high fever, or radiation therapy.
Although anagen effluvium can cause hair loss all over your body, it most commonly causes flattening of your hair along your part lines.
As new hair follicles emerge in anagen phase of hair growth cycle, they are surrounded by protective cells called epithelial cells.
When you suffer from anagen effluvium, these cells die off due to shock or trauma, causing your hair to fall out.
It’s important to note that not everyone will experience anagen effluvium after suffering a trauma—only about 50 percent of people do.
If you experience sudden hair loss following any kind of stressful event, see your doctor immediately for treatment options.
The good news is that because anagen effluvium affects only newly emerging hairs, there should be no permanent damage if you receive treatment right away.
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