Hair loss, otherwise known as alopecia, can affect not just a person’s scalp but also any part of the body. Although some can be temporary, there are cases where hair loss can be permanent.
There are several reasons a person loses their hair. For men, it can be because of their medical condition, genes, or can even by their age. To better understand how hair loss happens, here are a few potential causes of baldness and how it occurs.
Genetics
Male pattern baldness often gets triggered by the genes that you inherit from your parents. Although how it works isn’t clear yet, it manages to run in families. So, if any of your close relatives are balding, there’s a relatively massive chance that you’ll have it, too. Depending on your family’s clinical history, WebMD says that baldness can start as early as your adolescent years.
Medical conditions
Hair loss can also be an underlying condition for a few medical issues like anemia and thyroid problems. Hair loss can also occur as a side effect of particular medications to treat cancer, depression, and arthritis. Certain medications for high blood pressure and heart problems can cause hair loss, too. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can also cause a person to experience widespread hair loss.
Immune system
A genetic condition called alopecia areata can also cause a person to experience hair loss about a quarter’s size. These bald spots often happen in various areas on the head and usually start during childhood. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, assuming that it’s foreign. When it happens, it causes small patches of hair to fall from the scalp. It’s not painful, nor is it contagious. The hair can grow back, too. But there’s a chance that it may fall out again.
Hairstyles
Particular hairstyles can cause a person to lose their hair. Wearing cornrows, braids, and ponytails can create so much tension on their scalp. Thus, causing traction alopecia. Consequently, perms and hot oil treatments can also damage your hair follicles, especially if you’re doing it regularly. Once it starts to scar, Mayo Clinic says that hair loss can become permanent.
Stress
Stress can also cause a person to lose his hair. Severe emotional and physical shock can result in the general thinning of hair after several months of exposure. Although it can be problematic, any local aesthetic clinic might say that this hair loss will only be temporary.
Impulse disorder
Some people develop a chronic condition called trichotillomania. It’s an impulse control disorder that causes a person to feel the urge to pluck their hair from particular parts of their body. Although they are aware that they are damaging their hair, their impulses are uncontrollable. It usually happens when they are under stress.
These are only a few of the reasons why some men develop baldness. If you experience any sudden hair fall, then it’s best to ask your doctor about it. These experts will help you understand what’s going on with your body. Even more, they might even provide you with the right medication.
