HAIR LOSS CAUSES TIPS AND PREVENTION

Hair loss can have a dramatic effect on both a woman's self esteem and social life. It is normal for women to lose between 50 to 150 hair strands in a day, which are normally replaced by new hair.  Female hair loss or thinning usually occurs when shorter thinner hairs replace these hairs, It’s very difficult to notice at first, but over time it can become very apparent.

Hair loss in women can be caused by different factors. One of the most common causes behind hair loss in African American Women is trauma or injury to the scalp, due to the techniques used in some natural curly hairstyles, where constant pulling of the hair is performed.

Some conditions can cause permanent and severe hair loss;

Alopecia areata-Inflammatory condition that causes hair to come out in clumps or patches.  The correct diagnosis is essential, seek help from a doctor, and make certain to check for possible medical conditions.

Traction or traumatic alopecia, Hair Thinning -Often caused by weaves, braids, tight pony tails, tight rollers, constant relaxers, hot combs, flat irons and excessive use of hair grease. Hair loss or thinning  can also be caused by; Pollutants, medications, Certain ailments, anemia - iron deficiency, Pregnancy, Crash dieting 'in which a woman loses a large amount of weight rapidly, Also lack of certain  nutrients due to poor nutrition, Poor diet, lack of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12.

Lack of nutrients and vitamins can really impact on the health and vitality of our hair. In fact, a healthy head of hair is a good indicator of our inner health, the condition of your hair can tell a lot about our eating habits and the state of our health. However, there are many hair loss treatments and vitamins to help stop hair loss.

Temporary hair shedding -Telogen effluvium; a change in the natural hair growth system that often follows childbirth, crash dieting, surgery or a traumatic emotional event.   Emotional trauma and medications are known factors for temporary hair loss. Also hormonal changes or imbalance, menopause, birth control, aging, genetics diseases, hypothyroidism (Thyroid) Medicines or Therapies Side effects.

Excess of sebum and cholesterol in the scalp -can cause build-up and clog the hair follicles, leading to a high production of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). 'Sebum produced abundantly in Caucasian hair'. This is a reason why Caucasians, are 10 times more likely to experience baldness than African Americans.

DHT is responsible for about 90% of hair loss, due to its tendency to stop proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing the nourishment to the follicles to sustain life in the hair. DHT prolong the resting time of our hair, cause the hair follicles to reproduce at a slower rate and shortens the growing phase of the hair follicles.  

To prevent hair loss and trauma, we need to learn about our hair care needs. Keep in mind that, African American or curly hair cortex is layered twice as much as other types of hair, Therefore it is difficult for the natural oils of our scalp to get to our hair strands. We need to provide our hair with the proper vitamins in order to grow to a desirable length. Include products rich in natural ingredients moisturizers and protein in our hair care routine.

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