Hair Loss Doctor NYC 1

Common Causes of Hair Loss

Hair Loss Doctor

Hair loss affects both men and women and can hurt a person’s self-confidence. Before you can treat this problem, it is important to find out why it is happening in the first place. Here are some common causes of hair loss. 

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a medical condition that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. In most cases, the condition begins with sudden loss of oval patches of hair on the scalp. While some people with alopecia areata may grow their hair back in several months, others may not.

Genetics

Your genetics can determine many things, including whether or not you will lose your hair. In men, the first sign of hereditary hair loss is a receding hairline or bad stop at the top of his head. In women, the first sign of hereditary hair loss is overall thinning. Although this type of hair loss can begin in the teenage years, it often happens later in life.

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a disorder that causes an irresistible urge to pull out one’s hair. Those who have excessive stress, depression or obsessive compulsive disorder have a higher risk for developing this disorder. Constant hair pulling can lead to scarring and permanently affect hair growth.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most common methods for treating cancer and often results in hair loss. While many patients’ hair starts to regrow within months of finishing chemotherapy treatments, other patients may have permanent hair loss.

Hair Treatments

How you treat your hair can also dictate whether you will experience hair loss or not. Certain hair treatments, like bleaching and perming, can cause extensive damage to your hair over time. Stopping these treatments and using deep conditioning products may help reverse the damage and prevent hair loss. However, if these treatments permanently damage hair follicles, the hair can’t grow back from those follicles. 

Hormonal Issues

Hormones can also play a big part in hair loss. Women who develop hormonal problems, like polycystic ovarian syndrome, are more likely to experience hair loss. They may be able to grow their hair back with the right treatment.

If you are experiencing hair loss, you may want to schedule an appointment with a hair loss doctor, like Dr. Robin Unger, to discuss all of your treatment options. Restoring your hair can improve your physical appearance and self-esteem.