Vitamin deficiencies and a poor diet are the leading causes of hair thinning and loss. Your hair follicles are very metabolically demanding. This means that any kind of malnutrition in your diet will cause their functionality to decline. In particular, undereating in terms of calories and protein can lead to thinning hair. In women, thinning hair is commonly caused by anemia (low iron levels). Vitamins B12 and D deficiencies have also been linked to hair loss.
Stress of any kind has massive physical implications on your body. This could be as a result of burnout, accidents, medications, or just day-to-day life. Hair loss as a result of stress is known as acute telogen effluvium. This is seen in both men and women. It is often rectified by reducing and managing your stress levels.
Thyroid problems can also have an impact on your hair. Both overactive and underactive thyroids can lead to your hair thinning. This is because your thyroid gland regulates your hormone levels and a disruption in their production affects the hair follicle development. This may also mean that if your hair falls out, your follicles cannot produce new hairs.
Aging and genetics also play a large role in hair thinning. In men, male pattern baldness is a common cause of hair loss. This is a genetic condition but can also be as a result of a DHT (dihydrotestosterone) over-sensitivity. Female pattern hair loss is most commonly seen post-menopause. This is because the estrogen levels in their bodies have dropped, meaning that there is more free testosterone. In younger women, hair loss is indicative of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
Alopecia is a medical condition that causes your hair to thin and eventually causes complete hair loss. In post-menopausal women, the most common type is frontal fibrosing alopecia. This can be slowed and even halted with the use of correct medication.
If you have long hair, the way you are caring for it could be causing damage. If you regularly tie it up when wet this can really destroy individual strands. When hair fibers are wet, they can stretch a lot further than normal. Tying your hair in a tight ponytail when wet puts too much strain on the fibers which can cause them to snap or pull out of your scalp.
We also recommend not washing your hair every day. This can cause the strands to become weaker and much more fragile. The hairs will dry out much faster than is healthy, and the strands will become brittle, eventually leading to hair loss.