Assuming you don't pull it out, each hair on your body lives a few years before it falls out. Scalp and body hair differ in length and in the time it takes to grow to that length. Most of us seldom mind losing body hair, often going to great lengths to rid ourselves of it. The opposite is true of our attitude towards scalp hair. Loss of head hair due to some medical treatments or age, especially in males, is normal, but unusual hair loss can indicate a health problem.
Normal Hair Growth
According to the Ohio State University Medical Center, approximately 90 percent of the hair on your head is growing at any given time. The remainder is in a two to three-month resting phase, at the end of which the hair falls out and is replaced by a new hair grown from the same follicle. Normal scalp hair loss ranges from 50 to 100 hairs a day.
Infections, Hormones and Disease
Fungal infections of the scalp, such as ringworm, can result in abnormal hair loss. This often occurs in children. Another type of hair loss that often appears first in children is an autoimmune disorder called alopecia alreata in which the body mistakenly sees the hair follicles as invaders and attacks them. Some skin disorders of the scalp cause infection of the hair follicles, leading to scarring and bald spots.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, excessive hair loss can occur with hormonal problems involving an overactive or underactive thyroid, or an imbalance of male or female hormones. During pregnancy, the body has higher levels than usual of certain hormones which prevent hair from falling out. When hormones return to normal, the body sheds that hair resulting in a temporary increase in the amount lost.
Excessive hair loss can be indicative of diseases, such as lupus or diabetes, or a sign of poor nutrition. Follicle.com reports hair loss resulting in bald patches can be secondary to syphilis or scleroderma, a disease of excess collagen production resulting in hardening of the skin. When the scalp hardens, it affects the hair follicles and interferes with hair growth.
Medical Treatments
Hair loss often occurs when a person undergoes chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer. After treatment ends, the hair grows back. It may grow back different from the way it was before the treatment. For example, it may be curlier or coarser, or even a different color. Stress from having surgery can also result in increased hair loss within a few months after surgery.
The American Academy of Family Physicians advises that certain medications can cause excessive hair loss. These include anticoagulants, birth control pills, antidepressants, and medications used to treat gout, high blood pressure and heart problems.
If you seem to be losing more hair than is normal, contact your doctor. Only a medical practitioner can determine if your hair loss is normal or a symptom of something more serious.
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