Why Am I Losing My Hair?

Why am I losing my hair? – Have you been noticing more hair than usual in your hairbrush or the drain after shampooing?

We all shed 50-100 strands per day, but when the natural balance of hair growth and loss is interrupted, you may experience thinning hair or hair loss.

The growth (and loss) cycle of your hair has three stages:

1. Anagen Stage – This stage lasts 2 to 8 years when a strand of hair is actively growing.

2. Catagen Stage – A phase that lasts up to 3 weeks when the hair has stopped growing and is preparing to shed.

3. Telogen Stage – This is the last stage when the hair is expelled from the follicle. The follicle remains dormant for about three months before a new hair starts to grow.

Reasons for hair loss:

Alopecia – an autoimmune skin disease that causes thinning, patchy, or total hair loss. There are five types of alopecia:

Alopecia Areata – patchy hair loss and bald spots.
Alopecia Areata Totalis – total hair loss on the head.
Alopecia Areata Universalis – loss of hair over the entire body.
Diffuse Alopecia Areata – sudden thinning of hair.
Ophiasis Alopecia Areata – hair loss band around back and sides of the head,

Trichotillomania – compulsive hair-pulling disorder, mostly from the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Telogen Effluvium – a disturbance in the hair cycle characterized by hair thinning or an increase in hair shedding where large amounts of hair fall out — generally brought on by stress, shock, or trauma such as illness, surgery, and giving birth, but it typically grows back.
Age – Changes in hormone levels, worsening after menopause when estrogen is lost.
Medical – Chemotherapy, radiation, thyroid problem, inflammatory condition, or medications. If hair follicles are damaged, the hair loss can be permanent.
Hair Style – Over-chemically treated hair or stress on roots such as tight ponytails.
Family History – FPHL (female pattern hair loss) on top of the head, many times widening along the part line
Poor nutrition – not getting enough iron, folic acid, or other minerals in your diet

If there is no apparent reason for thinning or loss of hair – such as chemotherapy – schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to check for underlying medical issues. At that time, you can discuss recommended treatment for your condition and in many cases, hair loss can be stabilized or, in some cases, reversed.

Wigful Thinking is Here for You

Wigful Thinking is here to help you through the most challenging time of hair loss by fitting you with a wig or hairpiece. During your consultation, we take into consideration your face shape, skin tone, natural hair color, texture, and lifestyle.

All visits to our wig salon are by appointment only. To ensure the safety and well-being of our clients, we sanitize the studio between each appointment. Contact Wigful Thinking today to schedule a consultation at 609-249-4811.

Why Am I Losing My Hair?