Common Causes of Bothersome Hair Loss

Hair loss is common as you age, but it isn’t something anyone wants to see in the mirror. Thinning hair is typical in men but can happen to women as well.

If you're self-conscious about hair loss, you don't have to live with it. At Advanced Integrated Medical, Dr. Dee S. Stevens and his team offer various treatment options for thinning hair.

Dr. Stevens is a functional and regenerative medicine specialist, providing his patients personalized care and cutting-edge treatments for problems like hair loss.

Signs and symptoms of hair loss

For many reasons, hair loss is an embarrassing problem for both men and women. Unfortunately, one aspect of hair loss is genetic, meaning if your parents suffered thinning hair, you're likely to as well.

The cause of hair loss often dictates the signs and symptoms. Some of the more common signs of thinning hair or hair loss include the following:

• Seeing hair break off
• Visible scalp through the hair
• Patches of missing hair
• Less hair to style or pull up
• Noticing more hair in your brush
• Clumps of hair in the shower or sink

Hair loss comes on gradually in most cases, especially as you get older. However, some conditions and circumstances cause hair to fall out quickly, leading to noticeable patches of missing hair.

What causes hair loss?

Genetics plays a significant role in your risk of developing hair loss, but that isn’t the only cause. There are various reasons you may end up losing your hair, some of which include the following:

Age

Hair growth begins to slow as you age, which is a normal part of aging. It isn’t uncommon to see your hair become thinner or have bald spots pop up on your scalp.

Alopecia

Alopecia is another cause of hair loss that happens when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair to fall out. People with alopecia suffer hair loss all over their bodies, including their heads, eyelashes, and nose.

Medications

Hair loss can be a side effect of taking certain medications. If you're taking certain blood thinners, antidepressants, or cholesterol medications, you're at risk for developing hair loss.

If you notice you're losing hair after starting a medication, talk to your doctor immediately about switching to a different treatment.

Hair care

Although a perm may seem like a good idea, it may lead to hair loss in the long run. How you care for your hair puts you at risk for hair loss. Coloring or relaxing your hair regularly increases your chances of thinning hair over time.

Stress

Stress does crazy things to your body, including sometimes promoting hair loss. Temporary hair loss may be caused by a traumatic event or a highly stressful situation.

Hormone imbalance

In women especially, hormones may be the culprit behind hair loss. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, are more likely to suffer from hair loss than those with normal hormone levels.

Are there treatments available?

The good news is you don't have to continue to watch your hair fall out helplessly. If you're noticing signs of hair thinning or loss, we offer various treatments to stop the condition from progressing and promote hair growth.

Dr. Stevens bases the treatment you need on the cause of hair loss. He may recommend one of the following treatments for hair loss:

• Lifestyle changes
• Platelet-rich plasma
• Vitamin injections
• Hormone replacement therapy

Lifestyle changes include changing how you care for your hair, eating a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients, and reducing unnecessary stress. Caring for your body and scalp can slow hair loss and even promote new hair growth.

For hair loss treatment options, don't hesitate to call one of our conveniently located offices in Utah today, or request an appointment on this website.