A Few Reasons for Hair Loss

Although chemotherapy may be spotlighted as one of the main reasons people seek out a wig, there are probably a few other reasons for hair loss that you didn't know about.

Below are some more common conditions in which people, men and women, tend to experience hair loss and what you can do to reduce the side effects:

Emotional Stress

Emotional stress is less likely to cause hair loss than physical stress, but it can happen, for instance, in the case of divorce, after the death of a loved one, or while caring for an aging parent. More often, though, emotional stress won't actually precipitate hair loss.

What to do?

As with hair loss due to physical stress, the shedding will eventually subside. While it's not known if reducing stress can help your hair, it can't hurt either. Take steps to combat stress and anxiety, like getting more exercise, trying talk therapy, or getting more support when you need it.

Anemia

Almost one in 10 women aged 20 through 49 suffers from anemia due to an iron deficiency (the most common type of anemia). In addition to hair loss, other symptoms of anemia include fatigue, headache, dizziness, pale skin, and cold hands and feet. Luckily, an iron deficiency is an easy to fix cause of hair loss!

What to do?

If your doctor has diagnosed you with anemia due to iron deficiency, a simple iron supplement should correct the problem. Follow your doctor's recommendations and your hair will begin to return to its normal state.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the medical term for having an underactive thyroid gland. This little gland located in your neck produces hormones that are critical to metabolism as well as growth and development. When it's not pumping out enough hormones, you may start to lose your hair.

What to do?

Visit your doctor to determine if your hair loss is being caused by hypothyroidism. Synthetic thyroid medication will take care of the problem. Once your thyroid is producing enough hormone and your levels return to normal, so should your hair.