Expert Advice on How to Prevent Every Type of Hair Loss

It's likely that we or someone we know may have hair loss at some point in our life. Furthermore, there is no denying the stress that might result from noticing a change in hair thickness or density.

Additionally, there are numerous variables that can result in hair loss, but fortunately, there are also a variety of alternatives available for both treating and preventing each type of condition. We're here to arm you with the knowledge you need to take charge of your hair loss experience. To explain everything you need to know about hair loss and what to do about it, we consulted with three specialists. Find out everything they have to say upfront!

If you're losing way too much hair at the moment, follow these instructions:

Hair Loss: What Is It?

Everybody experiences frequent hair loss. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, it's common for people to lose between 50 and 100 hair strands per day. Even up to 150 strands can be normal, says Dr. William Rassman, a physician who serves as Happy Head's medical advisor.

So what exactly is hair loss?

According to René Furterer's National Educator and Brand Ambassador Chuck Hezekiah, it is classified as a disease brought on by a disruption in the body's cycle of hair growth. He says, "The scalp has 100,000 hairs on average, which cycle through anagen (growth), catagen (rest), and telogen (loss). "Hair may start to come out more quickly if this cycle is disturbed or if a hair follicle is damaged, which can cause signs like a receding hairline, patchy hair loss, or general thinning."

Hair loss can manifest itself in a few different ways. To begin with, Dr. Rassman warns that styling your hair may cause more hair to fall out in the shower or on your comb. He adds that you might also detect a new balding place or a noteworthy decrease in hair volume compared to before.

But because there are many types of hair loss, it's crucial to distinguish between them in order to understand why you might be losing more hair than usual and what to do about it.

What Kinds of Hair Loss Are There?

According to William Gaunitz, FWTS, a trained trichologist and the owner of Advanced Trichology, there are three main types of hair loss:

• Hair loss brought on by hormones

It's a genetic susceptibility to dihydrotestosterone and is also referred to as androgenetic alopecia or pattern hair loss. According to Hezekiah, this form of hair loss in men begins above the temples, wraps around the top of the head, frequently leaves a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp, and eventually results in baldness. He claims that while hair thinning occurs in women, baldness is uncommon and the hairline rarely recedes. Gaunitz claims that once this sensitivity is activated, it cannot be turned off. However, according to Dr. Rassman, it can be treated with drugs like minoxidil and procedures like micro-needling.

• Food-related hair loss

The general thinning of the scalp, also known as nutritional alopecia, can also affect the eyebrows and facial hair due to a decrease in the overall bioavailability of nutrients like vitamin D3, ferritin, iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folate, which are essential for healthy hair growth. According to Gaunitz, this is the most typical reason for hair loss and the most typical cause of additional therapies failing.

• Irritation-related hair loss

It comprises alopecia areata, telogen effluvium (stress-related hair loss), and a large range of scarring alopecia brought on by inflammation from an autoimmune condition, according to Gaunitz, who claims that this is the most diverse group of hair loss kinds. It can also be brought on by pulling your hair out (which happens when you have trichotillomania), wearing your hair in tight hairstyles all the time, chemicals that come into touch with your scalp, such as bleach, and medications like chemotherapy.

What are the most effective methods for preventing each type of hair loss?

The truth is that managing hair loss prevention can be challenging. Hezekiah adds, "It's not always simple because we can't always forecast if we will face hair loss in the future." "The body reacts to something, whether it's inherited, hormonal, or reactionary, by losing hair. It has reached that stage once it has been detected." Some types of hair loss, meanwhile, are more easily avoided than others.

The easiest way to stop nutritional hair loss, according to Gaunitz, is to keep the blood levels of important nutrients within the ideal limits. By undergoing blood testing and making up for any deficiencies, he continues, "you can simply achieve this." Hezekiah suggests René Furterer's Vitalfan Supplements for Reactional Thinning (Telogen Effluvium and Anagen Effluvium) and Progressive Thinning as a fantastic alternative for this, along with FoliGROWTH (Androgenetic Alopecia). Now, Gaunitz advises having blood tests done to rule out iron or ferritin concerns if you menstruate, have PCOS, or are either vegan or vegetarian.

Hormonal hair loss can't be prevented because it's genetic or a side effect of some medications, like birth control. Dr. Rassman claims that because "the multiple causes of hair loss are occasionally identified after the fact," a person who has one of these disorders frequently has to wait until it is too late to get a diagnosis and start taking the appropriate medicine. Treatment is more important than prevention.

Gaunitz claims that the most difficult type of hair loss to stop is inflammatory hair loss, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. Given the variety of inflammatory hair loss, it's critical to first identify the source of the inflammation. For instance, if you frequently bleach your hair, stopping would be therapy and a preventative strategy. Use a scalp exfoliator to give your scalp a deep clean if your hair follicles are frequently clogged, which subsequently causes inflammation. We all know how unrealistic it is to completely avoid stress, which is the only way to prevent stress-related hair loss.

The majority of hair loss conditions can't be prevented and need to be treated. Consult your doctor to find out what's causing your hair loss, or if it runs in your family, express concern about impending hair loss, for the greatest results. A treatment strategy can be created after the fundamental problem has been found.