There are a wide range of conditions that can bring on hair loss, with some of the most common being pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and anemia. Others include autoimmune diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, Rogers says.
Symptom of a medical illness — Hair loss can be one of the symptoms of a medical illness, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), syphilis, a thyroid disorder (such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), a sex-hormone imbalance or a serious nutritional problem, especially a deficiency of protein, iron, zinc or ...
This is also called androgenetic alopecia. MedlinePlus identifies a number of additional medical conditions that may cause this type of hair loss. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, prostate cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Some autoimmune disorders can be particularly associated with hair loss such as, alopecia, lupus, Hashimoto's, psoriasis, and Crohn's Disease/ulcerative colitis. Some medications to treat the autoimmune disease can lead to hair loss.
When you don't have enough iron, your body can't produce the hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin carries oxygen for the growth and repair of cells in your body, including the cells that stimulate hair growth. With treatment, you can help reverse both the iron deficiency and the hair loss.
Sudden hair loss is typically a sign of two conditions: telogen effluvium or alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is commonly caused by stress, which increases the natural rate of hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes your body to attack its hair follicles, resulting in hair loss.
Unfortunately, yes. Lupus causes widespread inflammation that usually involves your skin — particularly on your face and scalp. Lupus can cause the hair on your scalp to gradually thin out, although a few people lose clumps of hair. Loss of eyebrow, eyelash, beard and body hair also is possible.
Hair loss is also relatively commonly observed in patients with MS who receive immunosuppressive agents,3,4 which is thought to be a consequence of toxicity to the hair follicle.
The three most common triggers for hair loss in young women are stress, dieting, and hormonal changes. Less commonly, hair loss can be caused by certain autoimmune diseases. Here's more on these four triggers for hair loss in young women.
If more than two or three hairs are left in your hand after each tug, you may be experiencing telogen or anagen effluvium. No more than 10 hairs per 100 strands being tugged should be coming out. You'll need a doctor to determine the cause.
Fatigue associated with an iron deficiency (or a lack of iron in the blood, with or without anemia) can cause chronic hair loss, scientifically referred to as “chronic telogen effluvium”.
Peripheral hair loss, Xerosis, and Plantar fissures were the commonest initial manifestations of peripheral neuropathy in our patients.
Hair loss and thyroid disease
Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.
Yes, a blood test can diagnose alopecia. Your doctor may order several blood works to determine the cause of the hair loss along with a scalp biopsy. In most cases, the particular lab tests your doctor could depend on accompanying symptoms or recent life changes you have.
If your dermatologist suspects that the cause of your hair loss could be a disease, vitamin deficiency, hormone imbalance, or infection, you may need a blood test or scalp biopsy. These tests can be done in your dermatologist's office.
Your dermatologist will prescribe medication to help with hair loss. Topical minoxidil, commonly called Rogaine, can help with hair growth and thickness. In some cases, your doctor will prescribe Finasteride in oral form.
Some people become anxious about hair loss. Since hair thinning, loss, and balding are common symptoms of stress, including anxiety-caused stress, being anxious about hair loss symptoms can keep the body stressed, causing hair loss symptoms to persist.
Physical or emotional stress may cause one half to three quarters of scalp hair to shed. This kind of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. Hair tends to come out in handfuls when you shampoo, comb, or run your hands through your hair. You may not notice this for weeks to months after the episode of stress.
When this happens, your brain can't send electrical messages to your body as well as it should. That changes the way your body moves and operates. Most people start to get MS symptoms between 20 and 40 years old. But sometimes, you won't have any MS symptoms until you're 50 or older.