Did you know that the average human has about 100,000 to 150,000 hair follicles on their scalp? You should also lose about 100 strands of hair a day, so seeing some hair in your brush is normal. 

The American Hair Loss Association estimates that about 85% of men will have some sort of hair loss by 50. However, 40% of those who struggle with hair loss are women.  

If you have suffered hair loss and are looking for information about reasons for losing hair, this guide can help you. Keep reading for 10 of them. 

1. It Runs in the Family

Unfortunately, if members of your family suffer from hair loss, then it's likely you will too. This is especially true if your parents struggled with hair loss. 

Male and female pattern baldness are heredity forms of hair loss. These occur slowly and appear as a receding hairline in men, with some bald spots.

Women will see more thinning hair. Most will see more thinning along the top of their head first. 

2. A Hormone Imbalance

If you're having issues with your hormones, hair thinning or bald spots might be symptoms that occur. Women who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that alters hormone levels, have experienced hair loss. 

Since your hormones are in charge of regulating how your hair grows, it's not surprising that an imbalance can lead to the loss of your hair. 

A consultation with your doctor and a prescribed treatment plan can help correct your hormonal imbalance and reverse some of the symptoms, including hair loss. If you notice that your hair isn't growing back as it used to, you can also look into getting a hair restoration treatment. 

3. An Autoimmune Condition 

There are many autoimmune conditions with different symptoms and effects on the body. The general definition of an autoimmune disease is when your immune system attacks your own body because it mistakenly confuses it with a foreign invader. 

Many autoimmune conditions cause hair loss. Alopecia areata is one type of autoimmune condition where the immune system specifically attacks the hair follicles and creates hair loss. This leads to bald spots around the scalp and skin irritation too.

While treatment can make hair grow back, it often grows back thinner. 

4. Stress Is a Common Cause 

Although stress is associated with your mental health, it can cause havoc on your body too. Stress has been known to affect your physical health in several ways. 

Stress is one of the causes of hair loss. Mental stress will put stress on your body and halt hair growth. This will lead to a gradual thinning of hair you might take some time to notice. 

5. Anemia Can Cause Hair Loss 

Anemia is a medical condition where your body doesn't produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues and organs. Iron deficiency anemia is most common in women because it's related to blood loss. 

Since iron is vital for healthy hair, a lack of it can lead to thinning, weak hair. Speaking to your doctor is important to help you find the right treatment for this issue. Eating more iron-rich foods can help with this cause of hair loss as well. 

6. Not Getting Enough Vitamin D

Other vitamin or mineral deficiencies can cause hair growth to halt if not addressed. Vitamin D, which you can get naturally from certain foods or spending time in the sun, supports a healthy immune system and can help stimulate hair growth. 

When you aren't getting enough vitamin D, you can suffer from hair loss. Your doctor might recommend adding a vitamin D supplement if you're struggling with a deficiency. 

7. Certain Medications 

If you suffer from certain medical conditions, you might be taking medications to help. While medications do help you cope with your medical conditions, they can come with a long list of side effects. 

Medications for conditions like high blood pressure, arthritis, and depression are known to have a lot of side effects, including hair loss.

While your medications are vital to helping you live with your condition, you can ask your doctor about ways to combat the side effects you're experiencing. 

8. Heat Can Harm Your Hair 

Frizzy hair is hard to deal with. You might be using a straightening iron or blow dryer to calm your frizz each day, especially if you work in a corporate setting. Presentation is part of the job. 

Using heat in your hair so often can damage it over time. Your hair will become dry and weak, and can start to fall out. Using heat protectants and cutting back on the heat styling products can help. 

9. Radiation and Chemotherapy 

Radiation and chemotherapy are treatments used to fight against cancer. These work aggressively to kill cancer cells, but they can also kill healthy cells. This means that they can kill healthy hair cells, which is why cancer patients often lose their hair. 

Many cancer patients prefer to shave their heads before the hair starts to fall out or cover it with hats or scarves. Once treatment is completed and the cancer is eradicated, your hair will start to grow back.

10. Aging Can Lead to Hair Loss

While hair loss can start young in a lot of people, aging is a common cause that leads to hair loss. Menopause brings a lot of changes to your body and one of those can include hair thinning. 

The texture of your hair may change with age, but this is a natural part of life. You may opt for treatments to get some of your hair back or you can keep things as they are. 

The Reasons for Losing Hair Explained

There are many reasons for losing hair, and some common ones are listed above. Age, hormonal imbalance, or some medical conditions can lead to hair loss, but there are many treatments available to help you with this issue. 

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