Hair loss is a concern for many men and women today. This is more so because it is happening in their younger years. The main reason for concern is the fear that loss of hair will make someone unattractive. One way to know how to deal with hair loss is to know what causes it. Here are some of the causes that science has discovered.
A leading cause of hair loss especially in men is genetics. Everyone inherits some genes from their parents. In some families, the gene responsible for hair loss can be inherited. It was initially believed that this gene is inherited from the mother’s side of the family. However, studies indicate that you can also inherit the gene from your father. Therefore, if your family has some members who have lost their hair over time, it is likely that you might lose some of your hair as well.
Another cause of hair loss is the buildup of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is a byproduct of the breakdown of the male hormone testosterone in the body. This type of hair loss is more common in men and is a leading cause of premature hair loss. The effects of DHT are most observed in the temple area.
DHT causes the weakening and gradual death of hair follicles. These are the places where hair strands emerge from. Eventually, the hairs that grow from the affected follicles die out.
Another reason why hair loss occurs is bad health. Sickness can greatly affect your body’s, normal functioning such as the process of growing hair. This can be seen in diseases such as cancer and AIDS where the patient experiences some hair loss.
Finally, hair loss has also been found to be caused by chemicals and toxins found in the environment. A good example is chlorine found in water. When water treated with chlorine is used for bathing, this chemical might end up blocking the hair follicles causing the gradual loss of hair.
