Sudden Hair Loss - What Can Cause It?
Hair loss is a concern to many people, both men and women. For many of us it's a gradual process that progresses over several years. We just take it on the chin as an inevitable part of growing older. But what if you suffer from sudden hair loss. This can be truly frightening. Here we look at some of the possible causes and what can be done about it.
Stress
The amount of stress that we are under can have a huge impact on many of the organs in our body. Usually the effects are not immediately noticeable. For instance we may be more likely to get a cold because out immune system is depressed. But sometimes stress can lead to more obvious symptoms such as losing the hair. This could be as a result of a sudden event such as a bereavement or sudden change in circumstances.
Cancer treatment
Treatment for cancer using chemotherapy can lead to the hair falling out. It is different for each patient but most will have hair loss about a week after starting treatment. Some patients end up being totally bald whilst others have fine, thin hair. After treatment has been completed many people will find that their hair grows back, although it may be a slightly different color or texture to before.
Drug Side effects
There are a number of drugs that are known to have the side effects of causing hair loss. Some that are in common use include thyroid control drugs and the oral contraceptive pill. Even if a drug has been in widespread use for many years there maybe a small percentage of the population that have unusual side effects with it, such as hair loss. If you have recently started taking a new type of medication it is worth checking with your doctor whether this could be the cause. Don't just stop taking any prescription medicine without seeking advice first.
Medical conditions
There are a number of medical conditions that can result in sudden hair loss. These are often related to changes in the hormone levels in the body. Hair loss is a common side effect of a thyroid problem. Both an underactive and overactive thyroid can be the cause. On reaching the menopause, many women are dismayed to find their hair getting thinner or falling out. This is related to the changes in hormone levels at this time. This reason can also explain post-partum hair loss, which occurs in the first few months after giving birth.
In most cases of sudden hair loss, once the cause is identified and removed the hair will regrow.