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Illnesses That Can Cause Hair Loss

We all lose hair regularly, as many as 50 to 100 hairs a day. This is normal. However, if your hair is falling out in clumps, there is nothing normal about this. This indicates that something is going on in your system and needs to be addressed by a physician.

  1. Alopecia Areata

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, a condition called alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disease, is caused by unknown factors. A person who is in good health can suddenly be afflicted with this disease. It may be that it is triggered by something in the environment or a virus. It is also thought to have a genetic basis. If you have alopecia areata, all of your hair may fall out. Fortunately, the hair usually grows back in but not always.

    Lupus and Diabetes

    • Lupus and diabetes can cause hair loss as can medical treatment for cancer. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, the drugs that are being used can cause alopecia. The hair typically grows back after treatment is ended.

    Cicatricial Scarring

    • When an individual has a skin condition such as lichen planus or lupus erthematrosus, this can cause scarring (cicatricial) alopecia, which results in permanent hair loss. Inflammation can scar and damage the hair follicle, making it impossible for new hair to grow. Doctors do not know what causes the inflammation in the first place.

    Fungal Infection

    • Ringworm, which can invade the skin of your scalp as well as the hair, can lead to loss of hair. Ringworm is a fungal infection.

    Thyroid Imbalance

    • Thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can mess up your hormonal balance and result in hair loss. A hormonal imbalance can also result in too much production of testosterone, which is the male hormone. This can cause hair to thin and even fall out.

    Eating Disorder

    • If an individual is in the throes of anorexia, the eating disorder, this can cause hair to fall out because she will have a grave nutritional deficiency pursuant to starving herself.

    Folliculitis

    • There is a condition called folliculitis that manifests as small pimples around the hair follicles. If it worsens, pus-filled blisters will occur, break open and then scab over. Red bumps may also be apparent. Your hair will itch and your scalp will be tender. Folliculitis can be caused by an injury to your skin, dermatitis, acne, excessive sweating or exposure to creosote or coal tar. When the hair follicle is damaged, hair will fall out, and it may be impossible to regrow it.
      Hair loss can be congenital, which means that the disease that is causing it was present from birth. Genetically acquired hair loss develops later in life as an outcome of genes that you have inherited. Acquired diseases result in hair loss that is caused by the impact that the environment has on our hair, according to Hairdiseases.com.

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