Hair Loss : Causes and Symptoms of Hair Loss

Hair Loss : Causes and Symptoms of Hair Loss by Peter Sams

Introduction

Hair grows everywhere on the human body except on the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet, but many hairs are so fine they're virtually invisible. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin (the same protein in nails) produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of skin; as follicles produce new hair cells, old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of about six inches a year.

Causes of Hair Loss

Hereditary Hair Loss: Genetic hair loss isn't due to excessive amounts of hair falling out, as many believe, but to an insufficient amount of hairs growing back to replace the hairs that have been shed.

TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM (STRESS TRIGGER)-Whether it's a death in the family, pregnancy, illness, crash weight loss program, or worrying about a huge asteroid hitting the earth, body stressors can affect the hair follicle. What is believed that the stressor causes a major change in a large portion of the hair follicles, moving them from the anagen growth phase to the catagen then telogen rest phase. The follicle then lets go of the hair that's already there while refusing to provide a replacement. Known as telogen effluvium / deffluvium.

Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair.

Childbirth- After pregnancy many women experience a loss of hair, this is caused many hair simultaneously entering the resting (telogen) phase. Within two to three months after giving birth, some women will notice large amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and combs. This can last one to six months, but resolves completely in most cases. This condition is caused by the hormonal changes that take place after a woman's body recovers from her pregnancy.

Symptoms of Hair Loss

1) Hair comes out during brushing the hair
2) Dots in black color in the patches
3) Discoloration of toenails and fingernails with ridges
4) Itching
5) Receding hairline
6) Androgenetic alopecia
7) Alopecia areata

Read about Beauty and Makeup Tips and Natural Herbal Home Remedies. Also read about Vitamins and Minerals

About the Author
Peter Sams

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=788993