Good Lifestyle

Whether you are a man or a woman, lose your hair Can be painful, especially when the cause is unknown. And while experts say that hair loss is often the result of genetics and aging, there are some more surprising explanations for loss of your hair or thinning. The good news? Some of these causes are reversible with the right interventions - you just need to know what to do. Read more to find out what sneaky things can cause hair loss and how to reverse the course.

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If you have noticed an unexplained hair loss, you may have to turn your attention to your diet, because vitamin deficiencies are surprising - but somewhat common - caused by hair loss or hair thinning.

"A balanced diet is crucial for healthy hair growth," said the dermatologist Zein Obagi , Md . "Certain nutritional gaps, such as inadequate iron, zinc, biotin or protein intake, can have an impact on the capacity of hair follicles to produce new strands of hair."

Although most people should be able to obtain the necessary vitamins and minerals through a balanced diet, "an extreme diet or accident Yoram Harth , MD, a certified dermatologist from the board of directors and medical director of Mdhair .

On the other hand, sometimes getting too much vitamin can turn around. As Best life recently reported , taking much more than the recommended quantity of vitamin A in its retinol form (900 micrograms for men and 700 mcg for women) can cause hair loss.

"Take too many supplements of the type of retinol over an extended period leads to an overdrive of your hair follicles", " Michael May , FRCS, medical director and principal surgeon at London Wimpole clinic, explain. "This means that your hair will reach the end of its development phase too quickly and start to fall."

However, when taken appropriately, vitamin A can really stimulate hair growth.

Add hair loss to the list of reasons that soda and other sugary drinks are bad for you.

A 2023 Study I found that the men who drink A sugary drink per day , or a total of one to three liters per week, is 30% more likely to feel the hair loss of male motif (MPHL) compared to those who have not drunk. This included soda, energy drinks, juice and sweet coffee drinks.

As Best life At the time, researchers "hypothesized that sugary drinks could cause higher blood sugar, which turned out to trigger hair loss".

And now, a Review published last month I found that the two sugary drinks And Alcohol can cause hair loss. To achieve this observation, the researchers analyzed 17 studies involving 61,332 participants, 97% of whom were women.

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Dermal filling injections, used to treat wrinkles and create a younger appearance, can also cause hair loss, according to Kelly Johnson-Arbor , MD, doctor in medical toxicology and acting executive director at National Capital Poison Center .

"When the loads are injected into the subcutaneous tissues, the small volume of injected fluid can cause pressure on the blood vessels, blocking the blood flow to the hair follicles nearby," she explains. "This is most often noted after the filling injection in the front area. This type of hair loss is frequently resolved over a period of several months."

The injections of hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin (Botox) are two popular types that can cause hair loss in rare cases. However, Johnson-Arbor notes that Botox is also sometimes used to treat Hair loss, "as it relaxes the scalp muscles and leads to a potentially improved blood flow towards the scalp."

It is not a myth that stress can bring down your hair. Obagi notes that emotional And Physical stress can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle, causing hair loss or hair lightening.

"When a person undergoes an important life event, undergoes emotional distress or undergoes physical trauma, their body can divert energy from hair growth, causing temporary hair loss or telogen effluvium," he explains.

However, the dermatologist notes that this type of hair loss is often reversible once the stress is managed effectively.

"Hair loss can be an involuntary side effect of certain drugs, such as chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, beta-blockers or hormonal treatments," explains Obagi. "These drugs can disrupt the hair growth cycle or induce telogen effluvium."

Cleveland clinic Explains: "Telogen effluvium is a type of temporary hair loss caused by stress or change in your body." It accelerates the natural cycle of the growth of the natural growth of your hair so that more hair follicles enter both this final phase.

More specifically, beta-blockers "change your body's response to stress hormones, such as adrenaline, to reduce your heart rate and reduce blood pressure", "," Brandi Cole , Pharmd, pharmacist and nutritionist at Persona nutrition , previously explained to Best life . "We think these changes Impact hair growth to the follicle and can prevent new hairs from growing. »»

In addition, many people taking Ozempic and similar weight loss drugs reported hair loss. Dermatologists claim that this is probably due to rapid weight loss stretching the telogen effluvium.

If you suspect drugs as a cause of hair loss, Obagi recommends consulting a healthcare professional to explore other options or mitigate the effects.

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The way you styling your hair can also determine if you can keep it.

"Some hairstyles that exert excessive tension on hair follicles, such as tight horse tails, braids or extensions, can cause traction alopecia," explains Obagi. This type of hair loss occurs when prolonged or excessive on the hair follicles, the strands of hair weaken, then separate or fall.

By opting for darker hairstyles and avoiding excessive heat, you can help prevent this form of hair loss.

If you use dry shampoo as indicated and wash regularly with soap and water, you shouldn't have a problem. "However, overpopping too much can cause problems such as the scalp accumulation, obstructed follicles and even increased loss if you are subject", " trichologist Hannah Gaboardi recently told Harper bazaar .

"The overuse of dry shampoo can affect the hair follicle and obstruct pores.

Chemical treatments, including chemical hair smokers, have also proven to cause hair loss. In fact, a 2022 study found that in addition to their association with hair loss and inflammation of the scalp, these types of treatments were also linked to an increased incidence of eczema, pain, burns, changes in hair color, etc.

In rare cases, hair loss may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as poisoning heavy metals or exposure to toxic heavy metals. Johnson-Arbor tells Best life That thallium and arsenic poisoning are the two types most likely to cause hair loss.

"In the human body, these heavy metals interfere with normal metabolism and cellular function, disturbing hair growth and other organs functions," she explains. "Hair loss associated with the poisoning of heavy metals is often diffuse by nature and is generally accompanied by other signs and symptoms, including confusion, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, and gastrointestinal disturbances."

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Many people bring back a greater hair loss in autumn and winter - and if that happens, it is probably not to fear.

"In summer, we tend to hang on more hair to provide increased protection against the sun, and during the coldest months, more hairs than normal fall to make room for thicker hair growth for the winter", " Gökhan Vayni , A hair specialist at the Vera clinic, Said previously Best life .

"Excessive hair loss in winter is largely due to dry air outside which dries the humidity of your scalp", Vayni Added. "A dry scalp leads to dry hair, which in turn causes hair damage, rupture and hair loss."

If you notice an unexplained hair loss, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. They may want to filter you for certain autoimmune conditions, among others.

"Autoimmune conditions, like alopecia areata, can cause hair loss by mistakenly attacking the hair follicles," explains Obagi. “This results in the interruption of the cycle of hair growth and subsequent hair loss. Treatment of the underlying autoimmune state and the search for appropriate medical intervention can help manage hair loss in such cases. ”

Finally, hormonal fluctuations can play an important role in hair loss.

"Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (SOPK) can cause hormonal imbalances that have an impact on the hair growth cycle," notes Harth. "These changes can cause temporary hair loss or even permanent slimming of the hair."

Contact a health care provider specializing in hormonal health can help approach underlying causes and manage any associated hair change.