Why am i suddenly losing so much hair?

Possible causes of hair loss include stress, poor diet, and underlying medical conditions. Everyone experiences hair loss, and it happens to us every day. Most people lose 50 to 100 hairs a day as part of this natural cycle, plus the days when they wash their hair. Hair loss (alopecia) may affect only the scalp or the entire body, and may be temporary or permanent.

It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their heads, but it's more common in men. Perhaps one of the most common causes of hormone-related hair loss is a thyroid problem. Both too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and too little (hypothyroidism) can cause hair loss.

Treating a thyroid disorder can often reverse hair loss. In the type of patchy hair loss known as alopecia areata, hair loss occurs suddenly and usually begins with one or more circular bald spots that may overlap. In addition to genetic male pattern baldness, men can lose hair as their hormonal makeup changes with age. Many people experience sudden hair loss, which can be the result of thyroid problems, psoriasis, prescription drugs, and chemotherapy drugs.

Whatever the trigger event, it forces the hair to suddenly move from the growth phase to the resting phase, the phase in which hair normally falls out. They can help you determine the cause of sudden hair loss and correct any underlying problems that may be contributing. If you receive chemotherapy or receive radiation therapy to the head or neck, you may lose all (or most) of your hair within a few weeks of starting treatment. It's not the loss itself, but the hair that jumps quickly from one phase to another that causes the sudden fall.

This means that your hair may continue to fall out for six months, but the amount you lose tends to decrease over time (Mysore, 2011). Here's what you need to know about sudden hair loss, its causes, and the treatment options available for it. Also see your doctor if you notice sudden or patchy hair loss or more hair loss than usual when you style or wash your or your child's hair.