There are many causes of sudden hair loss. Evaluation by a physician is necessary to determine the specific cause. Here you can learn about a few of the possibilities and possibly rule out some of them before you visit your doctor. Fungal Infections Fungal infections, such as “black dot” occur most often in children, prior to the age of puberty. The infections are typically characterized by scaling and redness, itching, dandruff and bald patches. Over-processing and Certain Hair Styles This can occur at any age. Styles such as braids and ponytails that “pull” on the roots of the hair, as well as very long hair can cause the problem. Over-processing, such as straightening, the use of hot combs and curling irons can cause the problem, but it is usually gradual. Hypothyroidism A healthy thyroid gland is very important to the health and appearance of human hair. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the gland produces fewer hormones, necessary for growth. Other symptoms include fatigue, depression, joint pain and muscle cramps. Exposure to Toxins One of the causes of sudden hair loss that is often written about in medical journals is mercury consumption. Many people are still unaware of the presence of mercury in fish and doctors are not always able to put the symptoms together, quickly. If you eat the same species of fish four or more times per week, mercury could be the cause of the problem. Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs Testosterone boosters, hormones, steroids and many other drugs can cause thinning and eventually alopecia or baldness. Chemotherapy is the cause of the baldness that is seen in cancer patients. It is not a symptom of the cancer, itself. Doctors should advise their patients when the drugs prescribed could be the causes of sudden hair loss, but they don’t always do that. If you are taking any prescription medication, check with your pharmacist or read the package insert. If alopecia is a side effect, find out if changing the medication is possible. Nutritional Deficiencies Although iron deficiency is a common cause of alopecia, it does not usually occur suddenly. In fact, most cases of alopecia occur gradually. Perhaps, you didn’t notice that it was happening. Check your hair brush or comb. Ask your hairstylist is you see him or her on a regular basis. It might seem like there are many causes of sudden hair loss, but there are even more causes of the gradual kind. Luckily, it is possible to reverse the problem, regardless of the cause, if it is caught in the early stages. If the problem is exposure to a toxin or medication, once the exposure stops, re-growth should begin. Over-processing should be avoided in all cases. Fungal infections can be treated with medication, as can hypothyroidism. Nutritional deficiencies can be corrected. In other words, there is almost always a “cure”. Some over-the-counter solutions applied to the scalp will help in all of the causes of sudden hair loss. You might want to learn more about them. Gordon Hall is an ardent researcher of hair loss issues effecting both men and women. If you are interested in hair regrowth, and you want to watch a video on natural hair loss remedies. Visit the website: Hair Regrowth Revealed
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