Illnesses That Cause Hair Loss: What You Need to Know

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease associated with patchy or total hair loss and balding affecting only the scalp or all of the body. It occurs when the body’s immune system affects your hair follicles, resulting in thinning hair, patches of hair loss, some balding, or total baldness. You may also notice hair from the scalp, as well as eyebrows and eyelashes, falling out in small patches. However, alopecia hair loss can be treated.

Lupus

Lupus is one of the other autoimmune diseases that can lead to hair loss. In Lupus, the hair tends to become brittle and fall out in patches. Short, broken hairs, also called lupus hairs, commonly appear on the front area of our scalp.. Lupus can cause widespread inflammation of the skin, and apart from the hair on your head, you can also lose hair from any part of your body, including eyelashes, eyebrows, beard, etc. Certain medications may ease the recovery process, but this condition can be permanent too. Make sure to speak with your hair doctor about this.

Lichen Planus

It is a skin condition which can affect hair follicles, causing scarring and a permanent type of hair loss. This leads to hair loss affecting the scalp

Nutritional deficiencies may be a significant cause of hair loss. Research has suggested that a lack of certain nutrients can lead to hair loss, which is why many hair experts recommend a varied and well-balanced diet to restore your hair growth and strength. Iron, zinc, proteins, fatty acids and various vitamins are all important nutrients you must add to your diet so as to prevent the risk of hair loss. While a lack of iron in the body can hinder the flow of oxygen to the body, zinc plays a key role in immune function and protein synthesis, which is crucial for hair growth. Fatty acids help reduce inflammation, and Vitamin B3 ensures lustrous hair growth.

A number of infections and illnesses can also result in hair loss. Infections of the scalp, including fungal infections like ringworm and dandruff or bacterial infections like syphilis and folliculitis, can all be responsible for the loss of hair from the scalp.

Any infection which causes high fever, like dengue, malaria, or COVID, all lead to hair loss.

Treating the underlying infection can restore hair growth and prevent further hair loss or patching. So you should seek medical attention for the primary health problem first.

Sudden loss of weight, crash dieting, chronic diseases requiring long-term hospitalisation, psychological conditions including stress, depression, anxiety etc., and certain medications lead to excessive hair loss.

Another type of baldness that goes with hair styling is wearing your hair in a style that pulls too tightly, causing something called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can permanently damage the hair follicles.

While it isn’t possible to completely avoid hair fall, there are minor lifestyle changes that can eventually help in hair fall control. Hormonal problems, certain medications and other reasons often make it difficult for one to avoid hair fall. Following a balanced diet, doing regular exercises and meditation, and, most importantly, using the right product can highly benefit when it comes to taking control of hair fall. Watch out for signs that suggest your hair loss could be more serious.

There are many treatments for hair loss; some can even help reverse it. The right treatment for you depends on the cause of your hair loss, which is why it’s important to see a doctor and get diagnosed. The sooner you address hair loss symptoms, the more likely you are to prevent irreversible damage.

Speak to an expert dermatologist at HairMD Clinics, Pune today to begin your journey to a fuller head of hair.

The blog discusses how illnesses like cancer and its treatments, particularly chemotherapy drugs like irinotecan, can cause hair loss. Hair loss usually begins a few weeks into treatment and is often temporary, with regrowth typically happening after the treatment ends. Consulting a trichologist can help manage hair health during and after chemotherapy by offering personalized care, such as dietary adjustments and suitable treatments to encourage hair regrowth.