How to Recognize Signs of Baldness

Look closely at your head in the mirror. Just because you see hair falling out on your pillow or in the shower doesn’t mean you’re bald. You need to look closely at the hair on your head. A receding hairline can be a sign that you are “going bald”. Irregular hair loss is associated with many other causes, and it is important that you evaluate all possible causes as hair loss can be a sign of health problems.

Understand that people are always losing their hair. Most people lose about 50-100 hairs per day. If you are worried because you recently discovered your hair loss, this information can reassure you. You should understand there are many reasons for hair loss.

• Assess your condition. Hair loss can be caused by one or more factors, the most common being age and genetics. If you have reached puberty and your hair is falling out steadily, this is completely normal.
• The most common reason for hair loss is genetics. The baldness of a family member is a reliable indicator of whether you are going bald or not. ^[1]
• 95% of hair loss cases in men are baldness. ^[2]
• 40% of men experience significant hair loss by the age of 35. ^[3]
• Most cases of female pattern baldness occur after menopause. ^[4]
• Half of all men over the age of 50 have some form of hair loss. ^[5]

Assess stress levels. Stress can cause hair loss directly and indirectly, through a variety of biological mechanisms. Managing your stress levels will help you reduce hair loss associated with this problem. If left unchecked, stress is also a health hazard. This has nothing to do with the small stressors in your life, but rather the things that keep you awake or cause major changes in appetite. ^[6] Try engaging in activities like meditation, jogging, team sports, or yoga to manage stress.

• A common cause of baldness is testosterone levels in the body, which is controlled by genetics and stress. ^[7] Participate in stress-relieving activities or spend time with family. De-stressing has been shown to reduce the rate of baldness.
• Shock is another factor that also leads to hair loss. Your body is not a series of independent parts attached together. If you’ve experienced a recent traumatic event, such as a sudden lifestyle change, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a good job, it’s normal to experience hair loss over the next few months. ^[8]
• Oxidative imbalance due to free radicals in the body is also the cause of hair loss. ^[9] Antioxidants found in many foods such as blueberries, acai and green tea can reduce this type of stress.

Stop self-hair loss. Don’t torture your hair. Some causes of hair loss are self-inflicted. Many hairstyles and hair products can cause serious damage to the hair and scalp. When pursuing fashion styles, you should be more careful to reduce baldness.

• Hair that is tied too tightly will gradually be pulled away from the roots. If you like to keep your hair in a ponytail or tight braid, you should loosen up when braiding to reduce tension at the roots. This is the type of hair loss caused by tying too tightly. ^[10]
• Excessive use of hair products, dyes and permanent dyes can make hair brittle, break easily, and eventually fall out.

Look for changes in your body that indicate hormonal changes. Hair loss may not be related to male pattern baldness, but is more likely to be caused by hormonal factors. Your doctor will help you assess hormone levels.

• The typical pattern of male or female pattern baldness is caused by sex hormones, and this hair loss is permanent.
• Other hormonal factors that can cause temporary hair loss stem from pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or stopping birth control pills. ^[11]

Find other factors. Several medical factors can cause hair loss, some temporary, some permanent, depending on what the problem is and how severe it is.

• Problems with the thyroid gland can lead to hormone imbalances and hair loss.
• Alopecia areata is an immune system disorder that causes the body to attack hair follicles. If you see hair falling out in circular patches, this could be a sign of an immune system disorder. ^[12]
• Malnutrition
• Scalp infections such as ringworm can cause hair to fall out, but if the disease is treated, hair will grow back.
• If you suspect these problems are the cause of your hair loss, see your doctor.

Look for drug-related factors. If you are being treated for a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, arthritis, or cancer, the prescription medication you are taking could be the cause of your hair loss. If you suspect this is the cause, talk to your doctor about alternative medicine – many alternative medicines have other side effects.

Check your diet. Diets low in iron and protein can cause hair to grow sparse. Inadequate nutrition also inhibits the body’s function and is a direct cause of hair loss. Diet can be linked to hair loss and one can deal with it through diet. ^[13]

• Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia also lead to hair loss. ^[14]
• Eating too little is also a factor in hair loss, as your body is not only undernourished but also in shock. Your body simply misunderstands it as being starved.