The 5 reasons your hair is falling out – and what you can do to stop it

WE typically lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day, but we don’t tend to notice as those strands are usually replaced with new hair.

Hair loss, on the other hand, is a completely different kettle of fish, and can be very distressing.

Losing your hair is not usually anything to be worried about, but it can be upsetting

This is when new hair doesn’t replace the hair falling out, which can lead to noticeably thinner locks, bald patches and clumps of hair falling out in one go.

TV doctor Amir Khan, said there are many reasons for hair loss, some of which are very treatable.

1. Genetics

GettyMale and female pattern baldness usually runs in the family[/caption]

Is your dad bald? Or did your mum’s hair get drastically thinner after her 35th birthday?

Sadly, your family history is your biggest determinant for whether you’re going to lose your hair as you get older, Dr Amir explains.

“It accounts for both male and female patterned baldness and tends to happen gradually, and it has predictable patterns,” he said in a video shared on Instagram.

The typical pattern of baldness begins at the hairline in the front of the head.

The hairline gradually moves backwards (recedes) and forms an ‘M’ shape.

A circular area on the back of the head often thins and expands in size over time.

2. Hormonal changes

GettyHormonal imbalances can cause hair to thin or fall out[/caption]

Changes in hormone levels in both men and women can lead to temporary and permanent hair loss.

“This is especially the case for those going through menopause,” the expert said.

This type of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia and can often resemble male-patterned baldness, which begins at the crown of the head.

Menopause, with its drastic decline in oestrogen and progesterone, inadvertently gives more ‘playground’ to androgens.

Oestrogen and progesterone are predominantly female hormones, while androgens are male.

Excess androgens are associated with hair loss.

See your doctor, if you’re concerned, who might recommend hormonal therapy and implement the above strategies, which may also help.

3. Alopecia

GettyAlopecia areata is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss[/caption]

For people with alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles and causes hair loss – this can occur anywhere on the body.

According to the charity Alopecia UK, around 400,000 people in the UK either have the condition or have had it in the past. 

The cause is unknown, but iron deficiency and stress could trigger the condition, although many experts dispute this.

In some cases, alopecia areata can turn into alopecia totalis, when hair loss can spread across the entire head, or alopecia universalis when it affects the entire body.

There is currently no cure for the condition, however, there are a several of treatments available, but none are guaranteed to work.

Usually, in patchy alopecia areata, hair will regrow over a few months or years, but regrowth is not guaranteed. 

However, once the condition has developed to alopecia totalis or universalis, the chances of full regrowth become smaller. 

4. Medications

GettyDrug-induced hair loss, like any other type of hair loss, can have a real effect on your self-esteem[/caption]

Drugs used to treat cancer, arthritis, heart problems and depression can all lead to hair loss.

But never stop taking a prescribed medicine without speaking to a clinician first.

5. Nutrional deficiencies

GettyIf you’re not getting certain nutrients from food, you might see the effects in your hair[/caption]

Not getting enough of the right nutrients could be to blame for sudden hair loss.

Diets that are too low in protein and iron, the NHS says.

It might be a good idea to see a doctor to ask for a blood test to check and see if they have a nutritional deficiency and then look at increasing certain vitamin levels with the help of a supplement.