Many women struggle with hair loss, a problem that causes widespread anxiety. What exactly causes hair loss? Today, we reveal the nine main reasons behind female hair loss. Only by identifying the root cause can hair loss be effectively addressed.
1. Tight Braids or Pulling Hair Back
This factor affects women more frequently, but men should also be aware that tight braids (like African cornrows) or pulling hair back (such as in a ponytail) can cause hair loss, medically termed traction alopecia.This occurs because prolonged tension on the hair gradually causes it to fall out, particularly along the hairline. 2. Vitamin/Mineral Deficiency Whether due to crash dieting, nutritional imbalance, or genetic/physiological deficiencies, insufficient intake of certain nutrients can trigger hair loss.Hair loss is often linked to iron deficiency. Severe iron deficiency can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, where the body lacks sufficient red blood cells. Red blood cells are vital for transporting oxygen to every cell in the body, enabling them to function normally. Other nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamins B (especially B12) and protein, are also common causes.
3. Stress
Severe physical stress (like surgery) or intense psychological stress (such as the death of a family member) can have peculiar effects on the body. Severe stress often puts the body into a state of shock, flooding it with various hormones and metabolic byproducts. This can trigger telogen effluvium, the rapid hair loss we mentioned earlier. While we understand how acute stress impacts hair, the mechanisms of chronic or long-term stress affecting hair loss remain less clear.
4. Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy body tissues, as seen in conditions like diabetes or arthritis.When the immune system targets hair follicles or other cells/tissues vital for hair growth and maintenance, it can cause various forms of hair loss, including scarring alopecia (a permanent form) and telogen effluvium (occurring when the hair growth cycle is disrupted).