What Causes Hair Loss?
There are many different types of hair loss with a variety of potential underlying causes. Several medical conditions are associated with hair loss. Common causes include thyroid problems and hormone imbalances. When these are adequately diagnosed and treated, hair loss may stop, and hair may grow back. Stress, nutritional factors, and genetics may may also play a role in hair loss. Severe physical stress such as going through childbirth, surgery, or suffering a serious illness may precipitate a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This is a condition in which stress forces large numbers of follicles to enter the resting phase, and after a few months, hair will fall out. Sometimes doctors are not able to determine what is causing hair loss. Other potential causes of hair loss include radiation therapy, cancer, kidney failure, liver failure, medication side effects, and autoimmune disease. If you are experiencing new or increasing hair loss, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
