Everyone wishes for lustrous and healthy hair. However, many people have experienced the sudden onset or exacerbation of graying hair symptoms during periods of high psychological stress, disrupted daily routines, physical weakness, or illness. This is a warning sign that the body might have underlying issues. In this article, we will delve into the reasons behind premature graying and methods for its treatment and prevention.
Understanding Hair Physiology and Anatomy
Each strand of hair grows from a hair follicle, and the dermal papilla and hair matrix form the hair bulb at the follicle’s base. The dermal papilla regulates the number of matrix cells, determining the length of the hair; it also contains capillaries to supply nutrients to the hair. The hair matrix contains melanocytes responsible for hair pigmentation. In the middle part of the follicle, sebaceous glands secrete oils to nourish both the hair and scalp.When the blood supply from the capillaries at the base of the hair follicle is inadequate or when the sebaceous glands secrete excessively, it can lead to blocked pores and inflammation. This, in turn, causes the hair bulb to shrink, resulting in hair loss. On the other hand, insufficient melanocytes in the hair matrix can lead to the development of gray hair.
8 Major Causes of Hair Loss
The leading causes of hair loss are often associated with factors such as genetics, stress, illness, hormones, nutrition, and dietary habits.- Genetics: Primarily affecting males, male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is a hereditary condition caused by male hormones and is the most common form of baldness. This type of hair loss typically starts around 20 to 30, shows a familial tendency, and progresses most rapidly around 30.
- Excessive stress and immune imbalance: Hair loss resulting from these factors often manifests as alopecia areata, also known as the “ghost shaved head” in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It also includes conditions such as seborrheic hair loss. Patients may observe a sudden patch of hair loss. This is characterized by non-inflammatory, nonscarring alopecia in round or oval shapes on the scalp, with clear boundaries and smooth skin in the affected area.
- Medication: Many medications can cause hair loss as a side effect. These include drugs used to treat conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Additionally, contraceptives, hormonal replacement therapy for both females and males, steroids, medications for adolescent acne, anti-thyroid drugs, anti-seizure medications, and chemotherapy drugs are also known to have this side effect.
- Hormonal changes: Women may experience significant hair loss during periods of hormonal fluctuations, such as postpartum and menopause. Generally, the situation improves once hormonal levels stabilize.
- Hypothyroidism: The thyroid releases various hormones to regulate the body’s metabolism, and an underactive thyroid may lead to hair loss.
- Iron deficiency anemia: Anemia can cause insufficient microvascular blood supply to the hair, leading to diffuse hair loss.
- Deficiency in essential nutrients: Apart from iron deficiency, inadequate intake of essential nutrients such as protein or vitamins C and B group and the mineral zinc can also lead to hair loss.
- Unhealthy dietary habits: Excessive consumption of fried, spicy, or charred foods can contribute to hair loss. The primary reason is that such foods tend to induce chronic inflammation in the body, leading to abnormal secretion of sebaceous glands. This, in turn, results in excessive scalp oiliness, clogging pores and causing hair loss.
