What Are the Causes of Significant Hair Loss?

Hair loss can affect both men and women. While some forms of hair loss are gradual, other forms are rapid and cause significant amounts of hair to be lost in a short amount of time. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.

Scarring alopecia

• Scarring alopecia occurs when the hair follicles become inflamed. The inflamed hair follicles cause hair to fall out rapidly, and new hair is prevented from growing. Scarring alopecia is brought on by conditions such as lupus.

Alopecia areata

• Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease, and its exact cause is unknown. This condition causes significant hair loss, but in patches. Hair generally grows back after an episode with alopecia areata, but the condition can reoccur in patients.

Telogen effluvium

• Telogen effluvium is a condition that causes rapid and significant loss of hair, but the loss is temporary. Handfuls of hair can fall out from simply shampooing or combing. This condition usually occurs after a physical or emotional shock, such as a death in the family or sudden weight loss, which causes the hair to prematurely go into a resting state. Telogen effluvium can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, high fever or surgery.

Disease and medical treatments

• Diseases such as lupus and diabetes can cause significant loss of hair. Chemotherapy, which is used to treat cancer, can cause the hair to fall out rapidly.

Hormonal changes

• Hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, discontinued birth control, menopause or the thyroid gland can cause significant and sudden hair loss.