Hair loss is a common challenge that almost everyone experiences at a point in their lives. Sometimes it can be permanent, in which case, you may need to be prescribed medication from a medical professional. However, there are several causes of temporary hair loss, below are some of the main ones.
1.Stress
Physical and mental stress can make hair fall out. Excessive shedding can also occur as a result of high fevers, surgery, and blood loss. Extreme mental stress and anxiety also cause hair shedding. However, the loss of hair usually subsides when the body begins to heal, especially for physical stress. You can combat stress by exercising daily, having a healthy diet, meditating, and avoiding stressors.
2.Pregnancy
Pregnancy is associated with a lot of hormonal changes that could cause the hair to fall out. However, this kind of hair loss is more common after the birth of a baby than during pregnancy. After birth, the body is pretty traumatized, and the hormones are all over the place. A condition known as telogen effluvium that occurs temporarily after pregnancy is the cause of hair shedding. The good news is that the loss of hair is entirely reversible. You will, however, have to wait a couple of months for your hair to start growing back normally.
3.Excess Vitamin A or Vitamin B Deficiency
Too much vitamin A in the body can trigger the loss of hair. This is especially the case in people who take vitamin A supplements in excessive amounts. If you have to take the supplements, make sure that you do not exceed 5000 IU vitamin A value per day. Anything more than that can cause thinning of the hair. Note that this kind of hair loss is reversible. Once the excess vitamin A is halted, the hair tends to start growing back normally.
Vitamin B deficiency can also lead to hair loss. The nutrient strengthens the follicles of the hair hence preventing its loss. The same thing will happen with zinc and iron deficiency as they are the most common nutritional links to hair loss.
4.Birth Control
Switching or going off birth control can also make your hair fall out. During this process, a lot of hormonal changes occur in the body, causing the follicles of your hair to miniaturize and leading to hair loss. It is notably worse when switching from a hormone-based method of contraception to another or from a non-hormonal to a hormonal way. The same thing happens when you get off the birth control, and your body has to take time to revert to its original hormonal levels. It is also more likely if you have a family history of loss of hair.
5.Anemia
Anemia, especially the iron deficiency kind, causes loss of hair in women. Women who experience heavy periods lose a lot of iron, especially if they do not eat plenty of iron-rich foods. When the body is experiencing iron-deficiency, it does not create enough hemoglobin for the transportation of oxygen around the body. This results in a low red blood cell count and can result in symptoms like fatigue, pale skin, and hair thinning. Eating food that is rich in iron can help reverse the effects.
6.Hypothyroidism
This medical condition, also referred to as inadequate thyroid function, is more common in women than in men. However, the effects on both men and women are significant. In men, the disease causes fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression as well as hair loss. Hypothyroidism causes hair, nails, and skin to become weaker and hence break more easily. The symptoms and side effects of the condition can be reversed if you visit a doctor. Some thyroid medications also cause thinning of the hair.
Conclusion
The above causes are all temporary. However, the hair cannot go back to normal unless action is taken. For instance, hair thinning caused by a vitamin deficiency cannot be reversed unless you start eating well. So be sure to act early to combat these causes of hair loss.