One of the most common types of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary condition that affects many individuals in Singapore and worldwide. While genetic factors are not within our control, there are a few reasons for hair loss that can be managed – including lifestyle habits that are damaging to one’s hair. After all, it has been said that our lifestyle and general health is the second largest contributing factor to hair loss.
Biggest causes of hair loss
Some common types of hair loss include:
- Alopecia areata
- Androgenetic alopecia
- Female pattern hair loss
- Male pattern hair loss
- Telogen effluvium
- Anagen effluvium
Hair loss is classified as either scarring or nonscarring alopecia. According to HealthHub Singapore, female pattern and male pattern hair loss are nonscarring alopecia and the most frequent types of hair loss afflicting women and men in Singapore, respectively.
Lifestyle choices leading to hair loss
Besides the above factors, lifestyle decisions under your control may also well be the reason for your hair loss; either that or they might just be hastening an existing condition. It does not necessarily mean that genetics are to be blamed, although that may be the case for some. When this occurs, it would be best to seek the help of a trusted and well-experienced doctor, much like ours at The Clifford Surgery Clinic.
Consider making changes to these parts of your life in the battle against baldness after you have ruled out any underlying problems;
- Stress
It is a well-known fact that stress promotes hair loss. If you are always on the go without taking time to relax, your hectic lifestyle may be wreaking havoc on your hair. Additionally, having a baby, loss of work, death in the family, or divorce can all be traumatic experiences that lead to hair loss.
Stress raises cortisol levels and causes hormonal changes that result in hair loss. While it is typically impossible to avoid unpleasant events entirely, you can help yourself lessen the severity of the symptoms by learning and applying appropriate stress-management skills.
- Smoking
Smoking has been linked to baldness, and it is no surprise, given that it is one of the quickest ways to expedite the aging process. Living in a polluted environment is also suggested to play a small role in hair loss. According to research, different pollutants, chemicals, and carcinogens present in tobacco smoke and polluted air that find their way into the skin, bloodstream, and hair follicle can harm keratins – the fundamental protein molecules that create the hair structure. As a response, hair development slows, resulting in thinning hair and, if the underlying cause is not addressed, hair loss.
- Hormones
Hormonal imbalances can occur in both men and women, causing hair thinning or falling out. Though most individuals associate hormone imbalances with testosterone or estrogen, thyroid problems can also cause hair loss.
Unfortunately for all women, all of the above lifestyle factors, as well as your decisions regarding pregnancy and birth control medications, have an equal impact on your hair development. Typically, there is a month or two delay, yet childbirth almost always triggers temporary hair loss. So, if you are attempting to lose the baby weight, go slowly and gently, and try not to lose upwards of two pounds every week.
In addition, birth control pills can cause hormonal shifts, and while this is out of your hands, menopause is another major contributor to female hair loss.
- Medications
Speaking of birth control pills, hair loss is a recognized adverse effect of certain medications such as antidepressants and blood pressure medications. If you are suffering from thinning or hair loss and are taking one of these drugs, consider seeking medical advice about other options that you may take.
- Improper diet and lack of nutrition
An unbalanced diet is another crucial facet that influences hair development and can be seen not just through your scalp but also in your overall health. High-salt, high-sugar, high-fat, and high-animal protein diets harm the kidneys, produce acidic blood, deprive the body of nutrients, elevate hormone levels, and impair stress tolerance – all the things which should be avoided for your body.
Moreover, a nutritional deficiency in the body is a common culprit of thinning and hair loss. Low biotin, vitamin D, zinc, protein, and iron levels are some examples of this. These micronutrients all have a role in maintaining healthy hair and promoting rapid growth. The good news is that this form of hair loss is usually temporary and may be addressed.
Stick to the maxim ‘everything in moderation’ and increase your intake of these nutrients, and there is no reason you should not be able to receive all the nutrients your hair and body require while still enjoying some of the foods you love.
- Hairstyling
Modern beauty standards necessitate a great deal of hair manipulation. We frequently subject our luscious hair to maltreatment, from styling to dyeing, in order to get the look we desire. It would be good to reduce the number of heat tools you use on your hair and apply a heat protectant whenever these tools are required. Furthermore, avoid wearing tight hairstyles for extended periods of time, such as buns and high ponytails. These styles can cause breakage or bald patches by pulling on the hairline; causing a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia.
How can one treat hair loss?
The good news is that there are established medical therapies that provide hope to genetically susceptible individuals, and hair loss incurred by other lifestyle causes is often treatable.
At The Clifford Surgery Clinic, we treat hair loss by implementing the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplant for affected individuals.
- FUE hair transplant
FUE hair transplant is a less invasive surgical method used to treat hair loss. It includes the transplanting of strong and healthy hair follicles from donor locations on your own head to balding areas, as the term implies. Unlike Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), which harvests full strips of the donor scalp, FUE removes and harvests isolated hair follicles for the transplantation. As a result, FUE is a minimally invasive operation that, unlike FUT, does not leave visible scars after surgery.
You will observe increased density and thickness surrounding the transplant area immediately following the surgery. The wounds around the graft area will naturally heal and scab over the next two weeks, ultimately falling off. Over the following two to four months, your freshly transplanted hair will start to thicken and grow. It might take up to a year for the transplanted region to return to its normal state.
- Downtime
An FUE hair transplant surgery does not require any significant downtime. Within two to three days following discharge, you will be able to resume most of your regular activities. However, you are advised not to engage in strenuous exercise or aquatic sports for about two weeks post-surgery. Apart from that, there are also a few do’s and don’ts that you should ideally follow to ensure the best results.
Key takeaway: there are more to just lifestyle choices that affect hair loss
If you have managed to address the lifestyle issue impacting your hair development, there are two primary reasons why you have not been able to correct your hair loss condition. Either the damage to the hair follicle had been so profound that it requires more time to repair, or you have a genetic predisposition to loss of hair; the lifestyle element was the trigger rather than the cause.
Female pattern hair loss and male pattern baldness are prevalently inherited conditions that can be exacerbated by the lifestyles indicated above. But as scary as it may sound, hope is not lost even for those affected by a genetic predisposition to loss of hair. The key is to consult a doctor and begin treatment as early as possible!
Numerous proven hair loss treatments can stimulate hair regrowth, such as the FUE hair transplant at The Clifford Surgery Clinic. Equipped with doctors with over ten years of experience dealing in various surgeries from breast implants to ptosis repair in Singapore for droopy eyelids, rest assured that we are well equipped with the right tools and expertise dedicated to helping you receive the best results possible. Contact us today and get in touch with our hair loss specialist to find out how you can regain your hair and confidence to their natural state!