What’s The Real Cause Of Your Hair Loss?

Mullet. Crew cut. Mid-length. Whatever style you rock, thick and windswept hair is often coveted. Or maybe you love your bald look – after all, there’s research to show it’s considered not only highly attractive but also very powerful.¹

Either way, it’s always good to have all the facts. So if, like us, you’ve recently gone from full head to forehead – or perhaps you’re noticing that bald patch get ever larger – it’s good to swot up on the why.

Here’s our guide to the real causes of hair loss.

The most common cause of hair loss in men is pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, with 80% of cases thought to be hereditary.² Around 50% of men above the age of 50 experience male pattern baldness³ and there’s evidence to show it’s on the rise too for younger men.⁴

Blame your parents: genes are thought to be the prime cause. That thing about wearing a hat will cause you to lose your hair? Just an urban myth. Phew.

Time to take a chill pill. And maybe get your hormones checked out. According to stats, hormones are a major factor in male pattern baldness. Blame those abnormal levels of androgens (male hormones for most of us).

Stress is a major culprit. So time to factor in some relaxation, whether that’s hitting the gym or chilling with Netflix. According to webmd.com stress or trauma can cause the scalp to lose hair. Plus, of course, there’s trichotillomania, a psychological condition which involves the repetitive pulling and breaking of your own hair.⁵

No need to freak out. But do check with your doctor. Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom or side effect of something more serious. Diseases which can cause hair loss include: thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, ringworm caused by fungal infections, lupus, diabetes, eating disorders, anemia and some cancer treatments like radiation therapy or chemotherapy can cause hair loss.⁶

Recreational drugs, it goes without saying, are not health boosters. But medication can also cause hair loss. These include beta-adrenergic blockers used to control blood pressure, blood thinners and chemotherapy drugs used in cancer treatment.⁷

Pass us the protein. Research shows that a low-protein diet or severely calorie-restricted one can cause temporary hair loss. So to boost your thatch chow plenty of lean meat, eggs, beans and pulses. Iron deficiency has also been linked to hair loss. Make sure you eat lean red meat and plenty of leafy greens, such as spinach.⁸

Nothing you can help or avoid. But if you recently had an injury or burn, or x-rays done at the hospital, then you may experience some hair loss. Normal hair growth usually returns once the injury or burn heals unless a scar is created. Then hair will unfortunately never re-grow.⁹

A bit of an oxymoron, right? But according to Webmd.com the wrong type of hair care can cause hair to become weak and brittle. Common culprits include shampooing too often, perms, bleaching and dying your hair. Tight braiding and using heat on your hair, such as straighteners or curling tongs, can also damage hair. These procedures don’t actually cause baldness, but they do contribute to hair damage that can make hair appear thinner and finer.¹⁰