Hair loss (balding and hair thinning) can occur due to various factors. In some cases, it is caused by another health condition and may get cured with adequate treatment. Loss of hair can also occur as a side-effect of certain treatments like chemotherapy. In other instances, hair loss can be a hereditary condition or an indicator of hormonal imbalances. Listed below are some common conditions that can trigger severe hair loss.

Hormonal imbalance
Having an excess amount of androgens (male sex hormones) and hormonal imbalances are the most common cause of male and female pattern baldness. In women, high androgen production can weaken the hair follicle, causing excessive shedding. This may be compounded by Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, or by hormone-therapies such as birth control. Male pattern baldness is a result of the increase of the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This androgen stops hair growth and reduces the hair’s overall lifespan, causing a condition called androgenetic alopecia.

Thyroid problems
Having an underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can cause hormonal imbalances, leading to active hair loss. Thyroid hormones like thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are responsible for regulating most bodily functions. Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ Disease can also impact these hormone levels. To remedy hair loss caused by such diseases, it is important to bring one’s hormone levels under control.

Pregnancy
Hormone levels also tend to fluctuate during pregnancy, so much so that postpartum hair loss is common among 40 to 50 percent of women who have just given birth. During pregnancy, estrogen levels increase. This affects hair growth cycles temporarily, causing less hair loss. After the pregnancy, however, as estrogen levels subside, new mothers tend to notice more hair loss, in the form of thinning hair or bald patches. This may appear one to six months after childbirth, and last up to 18 months. It is most noticeable along the hairline, and among women with longer hair. Using prenatal vitamins and eating highly nutritious foods can help minimize hair loss.

Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, and leads to hair loss. It can affect people regardless of their gender, age, race, or ethnic group. The onset generally begins in one’s teens, twenties, or thirties. Although there is no identifiable cause for this disease, people with autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, thyroid disease, and vitiligo, or allergies like hay fever are at a higher risk of developing alopecia areata. People who experience extensive hair loss due to this condition may also witness the development of ridges or pits in their nails. Alopecia areata does not have a cure yet. But certain treatments can help suppress the immune system’s reaction and allow hair to regrow more quickly. Depending on hair loss patterns, alopecia areata may be categorized into five types:

• Alopecia areata (Patchy): A highly common form, it causes hair to fall out in one or more round-shaped patches on the scalp or other body parts.
• Alopecia totalis: This causes near-total or total loss of hair on one’s scalp.
• Alopecia universalis: This is a rare form of the condition, and causes a nearly complete loss of hair on the entire body.
• Diffuse Alopecia areata: This can cause sudden thinning of hair all over the scalp, and can be difficult to diagnose. The symptoms often resemble those of other hair loss conditions like telogen effluvium or male or female pattern baldness.
• Ophiasis Alopecia areata: This is a rare alopecia type that causes hair loss in a band (or a chunk) on the sides and back of the scalp.

Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania refers to hair-pulling disorder, which may be triggered by severe stress or anxiety, and is related to obsessive-compulsive disorders. It may often be associated with a feeling of relief or pleasure when hair is pulled out and can cause significant and noticeable changes in one’s hair growth. This condition most often develops between the ages of 10 and 13. Since it is a mental health condition, one can undergo cognitive behavioral therapy or habit reversal training to reduce one’s hair-pulling urges and allow the cycle of hair growth to continue.

Nutrient deficiencies
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can also cause significant hair loss. Having an inadequate intake of protein, biotin, zinc, and iron, particularly affects hair growth cycles. Developing severely restrictive eating habits can worsen these deficiencies. Instead of turning to supplements, one must try to enhance the intake of these nutrients from natural, organic sources like fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, fresh meats, and whole grains.

Stress and physical trauma
Hair loss can also be a result of undergoing an excessive amount of stress. Emotional trauma can cause a condition called acute telogen effluvium, which is defined as hair shedding for less than six months. This is especially triggered when dealing with life-altering situations like a divorce, breakup, bankruptcy, the death of a loved one, etc. This type of hair loss is generally temporary, and the normal hair growth cycle resumes once the stress is brought under control. Telogen effluvium may also be a result of physical trauma such as a prolonged illness, severe accident, surgery, burns, or serious illness that causes shock to the hair follicles. High fevers and severe infections such as syphilis have also been associated with temporary hair loss. To manage this condition, it is essential to treat the underlying problem.

Cancer
When undergoing treatment for cancer, one may experience anagen effluvium. This condition causes rapid loss of hair. Chemotherapy uses powerful radiation that attacks rapidly growing cells, including hair roots, in the body. Due to this impact, one may experience hair loss or thinning on the scalp and other parts of the body within two to four weeks of beginning treatment. Most times, this hair loss is temporary, and regrowth begins three to six months after treatment stops. To minimize hair loss from chemotherapy, wearing a cooling cap before, during, and after treatment may help.