Medical Causes Of Hairfall

By Tara Hari

Saturday, August 31, 2013, 15:36 [IST]

It is a well-known fact that everybody loses around 50 to 100 hair strands each day. But as there are around 100,000 hairs on an average person's scalp, this hair loss is not visible. People usually take a very long time to notice thinning of scalp hair because of this reason.

Hair loss can be due to a number of reasons like improper nutrition, pollution, overexposure to cosmetic products or an improper hair care regime. But sometimes hair loss can be the sign of a more serious medical condition.

Hair loss can take place due to pregnancy, anaemia or thyroid disorders. Others diseases that might be a reason for hair loss can include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Hair loss can also be caused by extreme stress; physical trauma which can be caused by surgery or intense illness; dramatic weight loss over a short period of time which may result from improper nutrition; and taking too much Vitamin A supplements. In this article, we shall look at all the medical reasons for hair loss.

Thyroid Malfunctions

The function of thyroid gland is to regulate the hormone levels in your body. If the gland isn't working properly, hair loss may result. Thyroid malfunction is one of the most common medical causes for hair loss.

Alopecia Areata

This is a disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles. This results in causing smooth, roundish patches of hair loss on the scalp and other parts of the body. People with alopecia areata are often in tremendous health. Consult a dermatologist to remedy this ailment.

Telogen Effluvium

This is a type of hair loss that occurs after a major surgery, pregnancy or any stressful events. The symptoms are extreme hair loss, where even handful of hair might come out. This can be dermatologically treated.

Scalp Infections

Infections, for example ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp. This invasion by ringworm or any scalp infection will lead to hair loss. But on the good side hair generally grows back after these infections are medically treated and gotten rid of.

Skin Disorders

There are some skin diseases that can cause scarring. Examples of such diseases are lichen planus and some types of lupus. These skin disorders can result in permanent hair loss where the scars occur.

Cicatricial Alopecia

This rare disease develops in people who are otherwise at the peak of their health. The disease destroys a person's hair follicles. Scar tissue forms where the follicles once were, so the hair is unable to grow back. Treatment can be undertaken which tries to stop the inflammation, which destroys the hair follicles.

Cancer Treatments

Cancer treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause hair loss. This hair loss is often temporary, but it will be very severe in nature.

Trichotillomania

This is a medical disorder which causes people to continually pull out their own hair. They often feel a constant compulsion to pull out the hair on the scalp. Some of the people suffering from this disease say they feel the urge to pull out their eyelashes, nose hairs, eyebrows, and other hairs on their bodies.

These are some of the most common medical conditions that causes hair loss. Most of them can be treated by a simple visit to the dermatologist.