Hair fall is often caused because of environmental pollutants or poor hair care routine. In some cases, it might be because of an underlying illness. Whatever is the explanation for the hair fall, knowing about it is important for getting the proper treatment.

But before knowing about the common hair fall reasons, it’s important to know the hair growth cycle and whether your hair loss is temporary or permanent.

Hair growth cycle

As explained by Dr. Ankur Singhal, who is one of the best hair transplant surgeon in India, each follicle goes through three phases:

Anagen phase is basically the active phase of hair growth that sometimes lasts for about 2 to 6 years. Around 85-90{edf7b0769c82f306dc840e1a60d274b7b438e7c28dd2e05944584194bfc22658} hair on the scalp is in this stage at any given point in time.

Catagen phase is the transitional phase that lasts few weeks (2-3 weeks).

just one percent hair is in this stage at any given point in time.

Telogen phase is the end phase of hair growth, which is the resting phase. Around 13{edf7b0769c82f306dc840e1a60d274b7b438e7c28dd2e05944584194bfc22658} of our hair is in this stage at any given point in time.

At the end of the telogen phase, hair follicles shed, which is replaced by new hair and therefore the cycle continues. However, according to the specialists the hair growth cycle is often influenced by several reasons including an individual’s age, diseases, hair care routine, and diet.

Common reasons for hair fall and hair loss in men and ladies 

1. Age: With age, there’s a gradual decline in hair growth and a rise in hair fall. this might flow from to the changes within the hormones and therefore the weakened body immunity. Moreover, as you age the hair follicles die and thus, there’s more permanent hair loss.
2. Heredity (Genetic): Genes do play a key role in hair loss. Hereditary hair loss, commonly referred to as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness, is one among the common reasons for hair fall in both men and ladies. It mostly occurs with age and therefore the hair loss pattern is sort of predictable. For instance, hereditary hair loss causes bald spots and receding hairline in men whereas in women it causes hair thinning beginning from the parting.
3. Hairstyles: One among the common but preventable causes of hair loss in women is sporting tight hairstyles like ponytails, bun or braids. Once you pull the hair too tight it exerts pressure on the hair follicles which will damage the hair and cause permanent hair loss. Moreover, use of hair styling products and tools like straighteners and hair dyes can remove moisture and oil from the hair and make it dry, frizzy, which ultimately causes hair fall.

• Shampoos: It’s important to regularly wash your hair to take care of hair but choosing the proper shampoo is really important. Use of shampoos made up of chemicals on a daily basis can remove the protective layer of sebum (oil) from the hair strands. This causes the hair shaft to dry out and be more susceptible to friction resulting in hair damage and hair fall.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Nutritional deficiency also can cause hair loss because it can impact the structure of the hair follicles and also hair growth. Studies have shown the link between nutritional deficiency and telogen effluvium, alopecia, androgenetic alopecia and female pattern baldness. A number of the common nutritional deficiencies which will cause hair loss include:

 -Protein deficiency

 -Iron deficiency

 -ZInc deficiency

 -Niacin deficiency

 -Omega 3 fatty acids deficiency

 -Selenium deficiency

 -Vitamin E deficiency  -Vitamin A deficiency

 -Vitamin D deficiency

 -Folic acid deficiency

 -Biotin deficiency

– Antioxidants deficiency

To know if your hair loss is caused because of lack of nutrients and whether supplements can help restore hair growth and stop hair loss, you must consult your dermatologist.

• Weight loss: Sudden weight loss also can cause hair loss. Hair loss can happen after 3-4 months of losing more than 15 pounds (approx 7 kg) of weight. Several health conditions also can cause weight loss, which successively can trigger hair loss. Telogen effluvium and alopecia areata are the common sorts of hair loss caused because of weight loss.
• Crash diets: For many people crash diets are an easy and straightforward alternative to regulate diet and reduce. However, what they’re unaware of is the incontrovertible fact that crash diets fail to supply sufficient nutrition to the body, which successively can affect the right functioning of the body including the hair follicles. For instance, lack of proteins and antioxidants in diets like cash diets can cause telogen effluvium, which may be prevented by ensuring a healthy and diet.
• Medications: Hair loss is one among the common side-effects of medicines like blood thinners and anti-hypertensive medications. Chemotherapy drugs wont to treat cancer also can cause hair loss. Medications like contraception pills and hormonal pills to treat symptoms of menopause also can cause temporary hair loss in women.

• Illness: You would possibly have heard that post an illness, there’s drastic hair fall. This includes conditions like flu, high fever, anemia or maybe a serious post-surgery stress which successively impairs the traditional functioning of the hair growth cycle, resulting in hair loss. However, hair loss because of illness is temporary and may be treated by treating the root cause for the disease.