Causes of Sudden Hair Loss

Many of the causes of sudden hair loss are self-limiting, meaning that the re-growth will begin as soon as the underlying problem is resolved. In most cases, the cause is a shock to the system, but "hairs falling out by the handful" does not occur until a couple of months after the shock.

Since there is that time delay, people often wonder why they are suddenly seeing more hairs on their pillow than they see on their scalp. They don't connect the one thing to the other.

A doctor can confirm that the problem is temporary by examining shed hairs under a microscope. The root will have an obvious club shape. As an alternative, a small piece of skin from the scalp can be removed and studied to determine the health of the follicles. A dermatologist is the specialist to consult for this kind of condition.

The condition is referred to as Telogen effluvium. When an obvious shock can be identified, it is an "acute" form of the condition. If not, the condition is referred to as chronic.

The causes of sudden hair loss in chronic cases have yet to be identified. Only recently was it recognized as a common condition. It usually affects women between the ages of 30 and 60, who during their teens and twenties had very thick hair. Their appearance is perfectly normal during a casual examination. So, the women are sometimes frustrated when they seek treatment.

In chronic cases, the entire scalp is affected. The "shedding" starts suddenly and is most severe in the early stages. After that, it tends to fluctuate over a period of several years, with some re-growth followed by more shedding. Although it does not cause complete baldness, it can be very distressing to women concerned about their appearance.

When the causes of sudden hair loss can be determined, they can be treated, if it is not an isolated incident, such as childbirth or trauma, which requires no treatment; only time.

A problem with the thyroid gland is an example of a cause that can be treated. Testing can determine if the gland is under or overactive and treatment can begin. Once the condition is corrected, the health of the follicles will be restored and re-growth will begin, usually within six to eight months.

Nutritional deficiencies are among the common causes of sudden hair loss. Crash diets, which are typically low in protein, treatment for an infection causing decreased production of biotin and PABA or anemia, are examples of nutritional deficits that cause Telogen effluvium.

Biotin and PABA are recommended to improve the hair's strength and the function of the follicles, even when no outright deficiency is present. The body's needs for those nutrients are small. But, the body takes care of the internal organs, first. So, the hair's health might not be as good as it could be, if just the minimum daily requirements are being met.

Now that you know a little more about the causes of sudden hair loss, you might want to learn more about the treatments.