Moderate hair loss during brushing and shampooing is common. Using hot combs and tying up hair tightly all the time can also contribute to substantial hair loss. But, there are several other reasons that can lead to drastic weakening of the strands. Hence it is important to consult a hair expert to understand the root cause of your particular issue. Following are some causes of hair loss and treatments that can help reduce the same.

Causes of hair loss
Chronic hair loss is also referred to as alopecia, and there are many types of it. Here are some of the factors that trigger it.

1. Aging
Hair loss due to old age is referred to as involutional alopecia. Old age causes depletion in hormone levels. Consequently, this leads to weaker hair follicles and hair thinning. Hair also loses the protective covering called keratin with age, which also leads to hair loss.

2. Genetics
Hair loss due to genetics is known as androgenic alopecia, which affects both genders. While men can experience balding in their teens or 20s, women experience hair thinning around the age of 40. This type of hair loss can show signs of a receding hairline, hair thinning, bald patches on the crown or frontal scalp.

3. Autoimmune diseases
Baldness in the form of patches anywhere on the head is termed as alopecia areata. Experts suggest that alopecia areata is probably caused due to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

4. Hair life cycle
Hair loss due to the completion of hair life cycle is called telogen effluvium. In this case, the person may have hair thinning across the scalp. Many follicles enter the resting phase at the same time, causing temporary hair thinning. It usually takes three to six months before hair starts growing again.

5. Inflammatory skin conditions
Also referred to as scarring alopecia, this type of hair loss occurs when one suffers from inflammatory skin conditions like cellulitis, folliculitis, acne, lupus, and lichen planus. Some of these conditions cause scarring, which eventually leads to balding.

Hair loss treatments

1. Minoxidil
This is a topical medicine, which can be applied directly to the scalp. The medicine is available in many forms – foam, liquid, and even shampoo. Although, it is said to be most effective in the foam form. This medicine is commonly combined with other hair-growth procedures like micro-needling.

2. Finasteride
This medicine is only prescribed to men, and it is to be consumed orally. It helps curb the pace of hair loss and induces new hair growth.

3. Hair transplants
This surgical technique involves removing hair follicles from a patch with healthy hair growth and restoring it to the head’s balding areas. It is an option only if the above treatments do not work and if one experiences permanent hair loss.

4. Laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy is usually recommended to patients if their gradual hair loss is a side effect of chemotherapy. It is also prescribed to patients post a hair transplant procedure. Additionally, it is a solution for people with alopecia areata.