Resources

Do you have questions about what causes hair loss and about the many ways we can help you manage this experience? Below you’ll find information that can help. *Please note - these do not act as an official medical diagnoses; consult your physician or medical professional for more guidance.*

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS?

Are you experiencing hair loss? You’re not alone. Millions of men, women, and children experience some form of hair loss. No matter the reason for your hair loss or thinning, we have practical solutions for you. If you’re looking for a hair salon that specializes in hair loss, you’ve come to the right place. At Hair Enhancements, we offer customized hair replacement solutions and support that will help you look and feel good so you can live confidently. 

If hair loss is a newer experience for you and you’d like to learn about some of the medical causes, this information may be helpful:

ALOPECIA AREATA: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out in patches because the immune system is attacking the hair follicles. While it’s common for sudden hair loss to occur on the scalp, someone suffering from alopecia areata can also lose hair from their eyebrows, eyelashes, face, and other parts of the body. There is currently no cure for the condition, but there are treatments for hair growth and hair loss prevention. Alopecia universalis and alopecia totalis are other common conditions that are similar but cause more advanced hair loss on the head and body.

CHEMOTHERAPY: Although chemotherapy is designed to treat cancer cells, it unfortunately often impacts parts of your body not directly affected by the cancer itself. Hair loss—or alopecia medicamentosa—is one of the potential side effects of chemotherapy treatments. Hair typically grows back shortly after treatments have ended. 

RADIATION: If you have hair in the area being treated, you may lose some or all of it during or just after radiation therapy. The hair will usually grow back a few months after treatment has finished, but it may be thinner or have a different texture. Hair loss may be permanent with higher doses of radiation therapy.

PRE or POST-MENOPAUSE: All women, at some point in their lives, experience the effects of menopause. Hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, hair thinning and hair loss are all symptoms. The American Academy of Dermatology has found that 40% of women notice hair loss by age 40, and as many as 80% of women discover noticeable hair loss by the age 60.

STRESS & TRAUMA: People deal with stress differently. For some, stress and trauma cause hair thinning and hair loss. Shedding hair is normal: Most people shed 50 to 100 hairs each day, and with over 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this isn’t noticeable. But stress or trauma can cause the body to shed more than 80-100 hairs daily. When stress causes the rate of shedding to exceed the rate of regrowth, or when new hair is thinner than hair that’s been shed or hair comes out in patches, hair loss can eventually lead to baldness.

THYROID DISORDER: Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair thinning and hair loss on the entire scalp rather than in discrete areas. But most cases of scalp and eyebrow hair loss caused by thyroid disorders are temporary. 

POST-PARTUM: Hair loss after pregnancy is quite common; in fact, as many as 90 percent of women have some form of it. It is usually caused by the increase in stress on the body from pregnancy, childbirth and even breastfeeding. But it varies: Not all women experience postpartum hair loss, and some experience it with one pregnancy and not others.

DIABETES: If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, doesn’t use it effectively, or both. This can cause a sugar build up in your blood, which can damage your blood vessels. Hair loss can occur when damaged blood vessels cannot deliver enough oxygen to nourish your hair follicles, which can affect normal hair growth. 

TRICHOTILLOMANIA: Trichotillomania, also known as hair-pulling disorder, can be an extremely emotionally distressing and upsetting condition as it can cause noticeable bald patches on the scalp, eyelashes and/or eyebrows.

ANDORGENETIC ALOPECIA: Often referred to as male or female-pattern baldness, androgenetic alopecia is a form of hair loss known to be polygenic— a trait controlled by two or more genes in the body making it entirely genetic in structure. It can affect any gender and start from the age of 12 to 40 years old. Men’s hair loss will involve a receding hairline and vertex balding; while women, on the other hand, will notice diffuse hair thinning across the entire scalp.

FRONTAL FIBROSING ALOPECIA: Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a form of lichen planopilaris that is characterized primarily by slowly progressive hair loss (alopecia) and scarring on the scalp near the forehead. In some cases, the eyebrows, eye lashes and/or other parts of the body may be involved, as well. 

TRACTION ALOPECIA: Traction alopecia is hair loss that's caused by repeatedly pulling on your hair. You can develop this condition if you often wear your hair in a tight ponytail, bun, or braids, especially if you use chemicals or heat on your hair. Traction alopecia can be reversed if caught and treated early.