Hair loss happens to both women and men and at any stage of life — the when, where and why will often answer the question as to whether it will be temporary or not.

Temporary hair loss can look like permanent hair loss at first, but we here at Cincinnati Hair Loss wanted to provide some signs to look for.

Hypothyroidism

Your thyroid produces a hormone which affects multiple bodily functions, not the least of which is metabolism. An underactive thyroid can slow down hair growth so that your hair isn’t replaced as quickly, while an overactive thyroid can cause faster than average shedding.

Both men and women experience hypothyroidism, and it is one of the most common causes of temporary hair loss. Fortunately, after it is successfully treated your hair should return to normal.

Extreme Stress

If you are feeling more stressed than usual, physically or emotionally, it can affect your hair. During extended times of great duress, your hair follicles can quickly switch from the growing phase to the resting, then shedding phase.

Hair goes through this process naturally but usually at a rate that can sustain a full head of hair. Stress can cause a spike in cortisol production in the body which causes hair to stop growing and shed faster than it can be replaced.

Common causes for temporary hair loss due to stress include:

  • Surgery
  • Sickness
  • Major life changes
  • Loss of a loved one

Generally, the stress of a busy lifestyle isn’t enough to cause hair loss, but if you have recently been through any of the above situations, once the stress has passed, your hair could recover in three to six months.

Chemotherapy or Changing Medications

Most people are familiar with the fact that chemotherapy can cause hairs loss. Chemo does its best to destroy cancer cells and stop them from spreading further but has the unfortunate side effect of stunting the growth of hair and increases shedding. After the drugs have cleared the body, the hair should grow back.

Taking a new medication or changing medications can also cause temporary hair loss by disrupting any number of normal body functions. It’s usually temporary but check with your doctor before resting on any conclusions.

Having a Baby

Pregnant women, especially those who take prenatal vitamins, can experience a healthy increase in hair and nail growth due to specific hormone increases. Once the baby arrives and the increase hormone production ceases, the reverse can occur.

Due to the significant hormonal fluctuations, a woman can experience it is common for mothers to experience greater than normal shedding after childbirth. This rate of hair loss should return to normal over the next year.

Treating your hair poorly

If you are trying to do too much with your hair, too often, it too can become stressed out.

Regularly using chemicals and heat (especially in combination) to curl, straighten, color, bleach, etc. can hurt the overall health of your hair.

These potentially harmful activities – (if overdone) include:

  • Color
  • Highlights
  • Flat ironing
  • Curling
  • Blow-drying
  • Extensions
  • Teasing
  • Tight pony-tails
  • Cornrows

Seek help from a professional stylist to restore the health of your hair and be sure to give it a break on occasion.

If you are losing your hair, but none of these apply to you, there are various other options for treatment to help slow down, stop or even reverse hair loss. Consider contacting one of Allusions consultants to determine which options would be best you.