14 Surprising Reasons You Could Be Losing Your Hair

According to Cucinello, many women tend to overlook this as one of the most common sources of hair loss. “When you’re stressed, inflammation occurs, which causes the hair follicle to shift from the growing stage to the resting stage. This is referred to as Telogen Effluvium and it causes hair loss to occur. There are over 200,000 cases diagnosed per year,” he says. He adds that hair could fall out when participating in everyday acts such as washing or brushing your mane.

What you can do: While Cucinello acknowledges that this is a vicious cycle – after all, losing hair typically causes one to stress even more – he says the key is to relax. “Your body is giving you a very clear signal that you need to take the anxiety factors down a huge notch. Try meditation, yoga, or even spending a little time alone in some peace and quiet. Recovery is possible, often occurring within six months unless a more serious condition — such as alopecia — is present,” he explains.

According to Cucinello, this autoimmune skin disease, also referred to as spot baldness, is another increasingly common culprit when it comes to hair loss: “When the body’s immune system begins attacking the hair follicles, it results in the form of smooth, circular bald patches that, if left untreated, can start to connect and create a snake-like pattern.”

What you can do: If you notice the symptoms described, visit your doctor about a solution that’s right for you. “Treatment usually includes cortisone injections in conjunction with topical steroids and hair regrowth products like Rogaine on the affected area," Cucinello explains.

If you’re perplexed as to how you can manage to lose hair where you want it most and yet continue to grow hair in the least ideal of places, Cucinello says you can blame a huge increase of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a sex steroid and androgen hormone. “This can cause hair on the head to thin and hair to sprout in less desirable areas, such as the face and chin,” he explains.

What you can do: Cucinello suggests taking a supplement, such as Nutrafol, which features the key ingredient saw palmetto for stabilizing harmful levels of DHT. “Other hormonal imbalances such as thyroid problems, particularly hypothyroidism, can cause hair loss. Have your doctor do a blood test to make sure your thyroid levels are in balance to help keep your hair from excessive shedding," he adds.

Unfortunately, wrinkles aren't the only thing we have to worry about when it comes to getting older. "As we age, hair becomes less dense and the scalp may become visible. The rate of hair growth also slows and many hair follicles stop producing new strands. The scalp tends to tighten and can strangle new hairs before they reach their full growth potential,” Cucinello explains.

What you can do: Cucinello suggests using certain antiaging hair care products, specifically geared toward softening the scalp, to help lessen the appearance of age-related hair loss. “I recommend Milbon's Plarmia Hairserum products to my clients with this concern. They soften the scalp, allowing the hair to grow through a full growth cycle and evening out the diameter of each strand," he adds.

A severe emotional or physical stressor – examples include thyroid disease, celiac disease, and even childbirth – may lead to nutritional deficiencies and, consequently, to hair loss. Janie Zeitlin, RDN, CDN cautions: “Any fad diet, especially a restrictive one, may similarly take a tremendous toll on you and your hair."

What you can do: Seek professional help and strive to nourish your body with the proper fuel it deserves. “Eat a variety of brightly colored foods consisting of lean proteins, monounsaturated fats, and fibers to protect your hair and consume all the vitamins and minerals you need. Focus on consuming unprocessed forms of lean protein (such as chicken breast, turkey breast, and salmon), consume omega-3 fatty acids (such as walnuts and almonds), and make sure you’re getting enough iron, preferably from animal sources to enhance absorption,” Zeitlin advises.

While it's natural for people to shed (between 50 and 100 hairs every day), Cucinello says you might see an increase in the Fall when the weather begins to change. “Analysis of trichograms demonstrates annual periodicity in the growth and shedding of hair, manifested by a maximal proportion of telogen or resting hairs in Summer with a second peak in Spring, but not as significant. This leads to more hairs falling out in the late Fall, corresponding mostly to October and early November. It is unclear exactly why this is so, but it is speculated that the stress of heat and sun may play a role,” Dr. Russak further explains.

What you can do: Both Cucinello and Dr. Russak insist seasonal hair loss is nothing to be concerned about. “This is perfectly normal among almost all mammals – your dog or cat might be experiencing it at the same time you are! See a doctor if the shedding increases or ceases to stop after the change of season," Cucinello advises.

According to Cucinello, there may be a big difference between some drugstore and designer shampoos, after all. "There is a reason why some products are more expensive than others — the quality of the ingredients,” he notes. “Cheaper products tend to have larger molecules of waxes and oils that can build up on the scalp, clogging the hair follicle and causing excessive hair shedding."

What you can do: Cucinello says to look for ingredients that are refined or considered noncomedogenic (he’s personally a big fan of Briogeo products). “Some of the more inexpensive drug store products are now starting to boast that they contain natural ingredients like cocoa butter and coconut oil. This might sound wonderful, but these can be some of the worst offenders when it comes to clogging hair follicles. These oils, while natural, are unrefined and contain larger-size particles that are considered to be comedogenic, a term we usually only hear when referring to skin care products, meaning that, ultimately, that they will clog pores,” he explains. “You can also combat clogged hair follicles by using a product that works at removing product residue with carbonation. Try Plarmia Spa Cleansing Foam. This mousse-like formula deep cleanses the hair follicle without using harsh detergents or sulfates.”

Folliculitis, an inflammation due to an infection of the hair follicle, is another cause of hair loss. “If left untreated, folliculitis progresses and hair often falls out. In severe cases, it can cause extreme inflammation and permanently destroy hair follicles, leaving bald areas on the scalp,” Cucinello says.

What you can do: "Look for small spots with rings of inflammation around the hair follicle, accompanied by itching, irritation, or soreness,” Cucinello says. If the signs are there, you can see your doctor about the best solution – it could be as simple as taking one of several antibiotics that are available.

Last, but certainly not least, your hair may be falling out because you're literally pulling it out. "Trichotillomania is an obsessive compulsive disorder that urges people, as an outlet for handling stress, to pull out their own hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other areas of the body,” Cucinello says, adding the disorder affects approximately 200,000 people yearly.

What you can do: “If you’re affected by this disorder, a doctor can design a custom treatment – usually a combination of behavioral modification interventions and antidepressant medications – to help,” Dr. Russak advises.