| • |
Male pattern
balding: This is the commonest cause of
balding. It is inherited. Aging and testosterone
(a sex hormone found in men and which is also present
in small amounts in women) also play a part in the
development of male pattern balding. It occurs much
more commonly in men than in women. There is typically
a receding hairline and thinning of hair around
the crown. |
| • |
Telogen Effluvium:
This refers to hair thinning which is caused by
interruption to the normal cycle of hair growth.
This is the cause of hair loss that many women experience
a few months after childbirth. It can also be caused
by extreme dieting, stress, high fever and severe
illness. |
| • |
Certain chronic medical
conditions: These can also cause hair loss.
Examples are dietary deficiencies (e.g. iron deficiency
anaemia) and thyroid problems. |
| • |
Infections of the scalp:
For example, fungal infections can result in
hair loss. |
| • |
Some medications:
Everyone knows that the strong drugs used in cancer
chemotherapy cause hair loss. But did you know that
in some cases, certain medications for gout, depression
and arthritis may cause hair loss? |
| • |
Improper hair care:
Ladies, don’t pull too hard when you tie your hair
in pigtails or use tight hair rollers as these can
cause hair loss from excessive pulling. When used
wrongly or overused, chemicals for hair treatments
such as dying, perming and straightening can also
damage hair and cause excessive hair loss. |
| • |
Unknown cause:
Some cases of balding simply have no known cause.
You may have heard of “alopecia areata”, which is
a condition that causes patchy loss, the cause of
which is unknown. |
| • |
Use a wide-toothed comb rather than
brushes. |
| • |
Avoid anything that can cause excessive
pulling on the hair. |
| • |
Do not blow dry your hair excessively. |
| • |
Avoid frequent hair treatments involving
strong chemicals. |
| • |
Make sure you have a well-balanced diet
and adequate sleep and rest. |
