Ever met someone not longing for healthy, luscious hair? The answer would be a big no! As much as we crave a healthy body, we yearn for supple skin and shiny manes. While some are lucky to be born with voluminous hair and its remains so for a very long life, some develop hair problems and different types of hair loss, leading to thinning around their scalp. In men, it is called male pattern hair loss and in women, the problem is termed female pattern hair loss. Regardless of whether it develops in a male or a female, the medical term for this ailment is androgenic alopecia.

Also Read: Ayurveda For Hair Loss: Amazing Herbs For A Silky, Strong And Voluminous Mane

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No matter which terminology you use for losing hair, the bottom line is that most likely you have inherited certain genes that cause your hair follicles to shrink and eventually stop growing hair. Hereditary hair loss in both men and women is one of the most common causes of hair fall worldwide. In women, the first noticeable sign of hereditary hair loss is usually overall thinning or a widening part. When a man has hereditary hair loss, the first sign is often a receding hairline or bald spot at the top of his head.  

Reasons For Thinning Of Tresses

Here are some of the top reasons why scalp thinning starts to happen:

Age: With age, most people notice mild to severe hair loss as the growth of the hair slows down. The hair follicles cease to grow thus causing the scalp to thin and the hairline to recede.

Scarring Alopecia: Due to scalp inflammation, the hair follicles get destroyed and once destroyed it is not possible for the hair follicle to grow the hair back.

Cancer Treatment: Radiations from chemotherapy causes the hair to go completely within a few weeks of the onset of treatment. Though hair usually starts to regrow within months of finishing chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Hair Treatment: Colouring or perming could damage your hair and can lead to mild or even severe hair loss.

Hormonal Imbalance: A common cause of hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS. These are cysts on a woman’s ovaries that can lead to hair loss. Certain birth control pills can also cause a temporary hormonal imbalance leading to thinning of hair.

Sexually Transmitted Infection

In some cases, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can lead to hair loss. Syphilis is one such STI.  If left untreated, syphilis can cause patchy hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows or beard. Other STIs can also cause hair loss. After treating the STI, hair often starts to regrow.

Also Read: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

In most cases, the right and timely treatment can help stop or slow hair loss. Dermatologists can offer medication to help hair grow back unless there is a grave underlying condition that may need extensive treatments or transplants. The earlier you see a trichologist, the better it works. Without treatment, you will continue to lose hair. Foray into this infographic to know some simple ways to control hair loss.