Why is my hair coming out so easily?

Hair loss or thinning hair can be worrying and upsetting. But it’s common and usually treatable. Understanding the possible causes and options for managing it can help.

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Quick answers to key questions

Here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions about hair loss:

What causes hair loss? Common causes include hereditary hair loss, hormonal changes, medical conditions, medications, stress, aging, and damage from styles and treatments.

What are the signs? Increased shedding, thinning hair, receding hairline, bald patches.
Who experiences it? Both men and women. Hereditary hair loss affects about 80% of white men and 40% of women.
When does it start? Any age, but hereditary hair loss often starts in 20s and 30s.

Is it preventable? Sometimes. Avoid damage from chemical processing and tight hairstyles that pull on hair.
Is it reversible? Medications can help regrow hair. But hair loss is not fully reversible if the follicle is damaged.
What treatments work? Minoxidil, finasteride, laser devices, transplants, micropigmentation, wigs, and hairpieces.

Does stress cause hair loss? Temporary shedding can occur with shock or trauma. Chronic stress may accelerate hereditary hair loss.
Does menopause cause hair loss? Falling estrogen can thin hair and trigger hereditary hair loss.
Does dyeing hair cause hair loss? Usually not. But bleach and dye chemicals damage hair and make it prone to breaking.

What causes excessive hair shedding and thinning?

There are many possible causes for hair loss and shedding including:

Hereditary hair loss

Hereditary hair loss is the most common cause of hair thinning and baldness. It’s linked to the levels of male or female hormones (androgens) in the body influencing the hair growth cycle:

Male pattern baldness – This affects about 80% of white men by age 80. It’s associated with the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Hair recedes at the temples and crown. Eventually only a horseshoe fringe remains.

Female pattern hair loss – About 40% of women experience some hereditary hair loss often with thinning over the crown. It increases with menopause as estrogen levels fall which allows testosterone to have more impact.

Medical conditions

Some illnesses and surgeries can cause sudden hair loss. Examples include:

Thyroid disease – Both overactive and underactive thyroid can cause hair loss.

Lupus – Autoimmune condition that attacks healthy cells.
Diabetes – Can trigger hair loss particularly with poor blood sugar control.
Skin conditions – Ringworm, lichen planus, psoriasis.

Syphilis, HIV, hepatitis.
Chemotherapy – Powerful medication kills rapidly dividing cancer cells but also hair cells.
Severe infection or surgery – The stress to the body from illness or operation shocks hair follicles into shedding hair.

Medications and supplements

Some drugs and supplements have hair loss as a possible side effect. For examples:

Acne medication – Retinoids like isotretinoin.
Anticoagulants – Blood thinners like heparin or warfarin.

Antidepressants – Lithium, Prozac, Zoloft.
Birth control pills – Estrogen based contraceptives.
Cholesterol lowering drugs – Statins like atorvastatin or simvastatin.

Mood stabilizers – Lithium, valproic acid.
Weight loss supplements – High vitamin A levels.

When the medication is stopped, hair regrowth usually occurs within 6 to 12 months.

Stress

Physical or emotional stress pushes hair follicles into the shedding (telogen) phase. This can trigger effluvium or diffuse hair shedding:

Acute stress – Sudden shock of severe illness, surgery, childbirth, trauma, or weight loss.
Chronic stress – Ongoing anxiety, depression, grief, or general overwhelm. This may worsen hereditary hair loss.

Stress related shedding is usually temporary. Hair typically regrows a few months later once stress hormones return to normal.

Aging and menopause

Some hair thinning and loss occurs naturally as people age. Estrogen levels dropping during menopause also thin hair in many women:

Production of hair proteins decreases leading to finer, thinner hair strands.

Hair growth slows and hair spends more time in the resting phase before shedding.
Hair follicles shrink producing shorter, thinner hair.

Hairstyles and hair treatments

Certain hair styles and treatments can damage hair follicles leading to hair breakage and loss if done excessively:

Tight ponytails, buns, cornrows, and braids put tension on hair.
Hair extensions stress hair by their weight and adhesive pulling.
Straightening, curling, and blow drying can burn and dehydrate hair.

Chemical processing – Perms, relaxers, bleaching, and dyeing damage the hair shaft.

What are the signs and symptoms of hair loss?

Signals that may indicate hair loss or thinning include:

Excessive shedding – More than 100-150 hairs lost per day.

General thinning – Overall reduction in hair volume on the scalp.
Widening part – More scalp becomes visible along the hair part line.
Receding hairline – Hair moves back from temples and forehead.

Less ponytail fullness – Ponytails feel thinner with less grip.
Bald patches – Circular smooth areas where hair is gone.
Smaller ponytail circumference – Ponytails are thinner.

Who experiences hair loss?

Hair loss can affect both men and women although patterns often differ:

Around 80% of Caucasian men have some hair loss by age 80, often with a receding hairline.
About 40% of women have visible hair loss by age 40, typically thinning hair over the crown.

People of African descent have less baldness. Only 6% of African American men go bald.
Hair loss from medical conditions or medication can occur in anyone.
Hairstyle-related hair damage can happen to anyone but is more common in women.

While losing hair is more socially acceptable for older men, hair loss at a younger age can still cause distress.

When does hair loss start?

The timing of hair loss differs depending on the underlying cause:

Hereditary hair loss – Begins any time after puberty. Most commonly in the 20s and 30s.

Hormonal changes – Post-pregnancy shedding 3-6 months after delivery. Menopausal thinning from 40s.
Medical conditions – Any age, but often sudden hair loss.
Medications – Within 1-6 months of starting medication.

Stress – Shedding 2-3 months after a stressful event.
Aging – Gradual thinning begins from 40s and 50s.
Hair treatments – Damage builds up over repeated procedures.

Is hair loss preventable?

Preventing hair loss isn’t always possible. But steps can be taken to avoid damage to existing hair:

Reduce blow drying, curling, straightening and dyeing hair.
Avoid tightly pulled back styles like buns and ponytails.

Use gentle hair products and soft brushes.
Take hair supplements like biotin and Viviscal.
Manage stress through yoga, meditation or counseling.

Treat medical conditions promptly.

Being cautious with chemical processing and hair styling helps minimize hair breakage. Managing health conditions and stress can improve scalp environment.

Is hair loss reversible?

Whether hair loss is permanent depends on the cause:

Medications – Hair often regrows 6-12 months after stopping medication.
Illness – Usually reverses 1-6 months after recovery.
Childbirth – Shedding resolves by 1 year.

Stress – Telogen effluvium is temporary if stress is managed.
Aging – Thinning is progressive if from androgenetic alopecia.
Hair treatments – Reversibility depends on extent of permanent damage to follicles.

Permanent hair loss results if the hair follicle itself is damaged and unable to regenerate. Otherwise most causes eventually reverse.

What treatments are effective for hair loss?

Treatment options for thinning hair depend on the cause, pattern and extent of hair loss. They include:

Medications

Minoxidil – Topical solution helps regrow hair on the scalp. Brand name Rogaine.

Finasteride – Oral medication slows hair loss from male pattern baldness. Brand name Propecia.
Ketoconazole shampoo – Reduces scalp inflammation that contributes to hair loss.

Laser devices

Low level laser light devices approved by the FDA to regrow hair include:

Laser comb (HairMax Ultima 12 LaserComb)
Laser cap and helmet devices

Hair transplant

Hair follicles from the back of the scalp are extracted and implanted where needed on the head.

Micropigmentation

Tattooing that creates the look of tiny shaved hairs filling in bald areas on the scalp.

Cosmetic options

Wigs and hair extensions
Scalp micropigmentation

Headwear like hats, headscarves and turbans

Cosmetic options give the appearance of fuller hair either permanently or temporarily.

Does stress cause hair loss?

Stress definitely can cause hair shedding but is rarely the sole cause of permanent balding. How stress triggers hair loss:

Trauma pushes large numbers of hair follicles into the shedding phase so hair falls out suddenly.
Prolonged stress produces increased cortisol which prematurely stops hair growth cycle.
Stress hormones also disrupt hormonal balance needed for healthy hair.

Anxiety and tension may aggravate genetic hair loss like male pattern baldness.

Stress related hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. It’s temporary if stress can be managed and relieved in the long term.

Does menopause cause hair to thin?

Yes, hair often thins around menopause when estrogen declines. The effects:

Lower estrogen allows testosterone to have greater impact on scalp hair follicles.
Changing hormonal balance pushes more hair follicles into resting phase.
Growth cycle shortens and more hair sheds out.

New hair that appears is finer and lighter.

Perimenopause hair loss usually starts around age 40. It may continue thinning progressively like male pattern baldness if estrogen loss from menopause is permanent.

Does dyeing your hair cause hair loss?

Dyeing hair does not directly lead to baldness but harms hair strand health. Possible effects:

Chemical pigments damage and dry out the hair shaft leaving it brittle.
Bleach oxidizes scalp and weakens hair follicles making hair prone to breaking.
Ammonia swells up hair cuticle causing damage to cortex.

Repeated dyeing makes hair more elastic and prone to snap when brushed.

Over-processing with bleach and permanent dye disrupts hair structure. This can worsen hair loss from friction and standard shedding.

Conclusion

Hair loss is a common occurrence for many people, both men and women. The most frequent causes are hereditary male or female pattern baldness, medical conditions or medications, stress, aging and menopause, and damage from hair treatments. For men, hair tends to recede at the forehead or thin at the crown. Women typically experience thinning hair on the top of the head.

Excessive shedding, widening parts, thinner ponytails and bald patches indicate hair loss. While hereditary loss often can’t be prevented, reducing damage from styling and processing preserves existing hair. For many types of hair loss, treatments such as minoxidil, finasteride and low level laser can help regrow hair. Cosmetic solutions like wigs and hair extensions effectively camouflage thin areas. With diagnosis of the cause and appropriate treatment, hair loss does not have to be permanent in many cases.