Are you dealing with hair loss? Do you feel embarrassed when you step out of the house? Is everyone noticing the hair loss patches?

Well, we totally understand what you are going through. Hair loss not only poses a cosmetic problem but adds a psychological burden too.

Hair loss can affect your scalp or even the entire body. There are many causes of hair loss. It can be genetic i.e., if your father or grandfather had that issue, then it is likely that you are also at risk. It can be due to some infections of the scalp like fungal infections. These infections cause scalp itching and redness. So when the patient scratches repeatedly, there is damage to the hair follicles, and hence it causes scarring and subsequent hair loss.

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It can also be due to dandruff; dandruff is a prevalent problem which many of the people are suffering from. It occurs when there isn’t enough sebum production ,and the scalp ends up being dry, and hence the itch-scratch cycle continues.

Another very important reason for hair loss can be a dietary deficiency. You may have heard about hair loss due to deficiency of certain nutritional elements. Well, there are many vitamins and micro nutrients whose deficiency may lead to hair loss. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Women may experience iron deficiency due to heavy menstrual bleeding. Few people have certain malabsorption syndromes in which their intestines cannot absorb the essential nutritional elements in the right quantities, so they end up having deficiencies. Few of the patients have gastric issues, so they consume a lot of antacids to counterbalance the acidity, or some have reduced acid formation in their stomach, syndrome Remember, Iron needs an acidic pH for its absorption. So in such cases, iron is not absorbed in the body.

Iron acts as a cofactor for many reactions in the body and is helpful in DNA synthesis also and hence the hair follicular growth.

Zinc deficiency also causes hair loss, according to some research studies. It has been found that people who have zinc deficiency tend to experience alopecia. Zinc is essential for the enzymatic reactions in the body.

Vitamin-D deficiency has emerged as a critical health issue in recent times. Its deficiency is linked to many diseases, and hair loss is one of the common ailments. According to a few research studies, people who were experiencing hair loss were found to have low levels of vitamin D in their bodies.

Biotin, also called vitamin H or vitamin B7, had been linked to hair health for ages, and you might have heard about people taking biotin supplements for hair growth promotion. Research studies have concluded that biotin’s deficiency leads to hair loss, and biotin supplementation helps only in cases where there is a deficiency in the body. People who do not have biotin deficiency should not take biotin supplements inadvertently.

There are many other causes of hair loss as well. It can happen if you are allergic to something that you eat or apply on your scalp. The best example of it is the black hair dye. It contains a chemical to which many people are allergic to. Hair loss can also occur if you have recently changed your hair products like shampoo, conditioner, or hair wax or gel.

There is a particular type of hair loss, which is called telogen effluvium. It happens in people who are having high levels of stress. It also occurs in people who have protein deficiency.

There is also a particular type of hair loss that occurs when you tie your hair too tightly, which is called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is very common in those who make tight ponytails or tight buns. When you tie your hair tightly, the hair follicle gets stretched and gets damaged so that the relative blood supply to it is reduced, and hence the hair falls.

So if you are experiencing hair loss, it’s essential to know the root cause of it because the treatment protocols will depend on the cause of hair loss. It’s always better to consult a dermatologist if you are suffering from such an issue.

Medically reviewed by Rishabh Verma, RP

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