The first response to hair loss that many will encounter is genetics, and while there may be some merit to this response in many individuals, it is certainly not the only cause of hair loss nor the first that would be looked at during a clinical diagnosis.
The reality is that quite often hair loss is due to factors within the body that can be easily identified through an appropriate assessment and treated where necessary.
These are the internal causes of hair loss that don’t receive anywhere near as much attention as they deserve.
This article is an informative one on the matter. It does not constitute medical advice and should never replace an evaluation by a professional hair and scalp clinic.
Hair loss is very individual and requires assessment in order to fully understand it.
| Important Note: The present piece is of an educational nature only. There are many factors that can trigger hair loss; what works in one case might be irrelevant in another. In case of considerable hair loss, please consult a professional hair specialist or dermatologist for your own diagnosis and do not self-diagnose using any generalized data. |
What Is Non-Genetic Hair Loss?
The term “non-genetic hair loss” means that it is not related to the hair loss that is caused by androgenetic alopecia, a hormone-genetic process of hair loss typical of pattern baldness in both men and women.
Non-genetic hair loss is caused by physiological, nutritional, or medical reasons or environmental factors that force hair follicles to go through the shedding stage of their growth.
The most typical case of non-genetic hair loss is that of telogen effluvium, when more hairs than usual enter the shedding part of the growth cycle at once.
This leads to diffuse hair loss on the scalp as opposed to local hair loss associated with genetic causes of hair loss.
Internal Factors Commonly Associated with Non-Genetic Hair Loss
The following are body-related factors that, according to studies, are linked to hair shedding, which is not genetic in nature. These should be used only for educational purposes.
1. Nutritional Deficiencies
Hair follicles are one of the most metabolically active structures in the body. They require certain nutrients in adequate amounts, and a deficiency in them, even at low levels, may result in excessive shedding and slow growth.
Some of the nutrients commonly mentioned in hair loss research include:
- Iron: This is one of the most widely researched micronutrient deficiencies linked to hair loss, particularly among women of reproductive age. Iron is important for the synthesis of haemoglobin, which transfers oxygen to hair follicles. Deficiency of ferritin, which stores iron, is common in people suffering from diffuse hair loss.
- Vitamin D: There are Vitamin D receptors in hair follicles, and there could be a link between vitamin D deficiency and telogen effluvium. Vitamin D deficiency is common among urban Indians because of indoor living despite abundant sunshine around them.
- Zinc: It plays an important role in the growth and repair of hair tissues and has been found to be related to hair loss in some clinical trials. Vegetarian and Vegan diets popular in India are poor sources of zinc.
- Protein: Hair is primarily made up of a protein known as keratin. Long-term deficiency of protein due to starvation, crash diets, and even poor dietary intake can affect hair growth.
It is only through blood tests that we would be able to establish nutritional deficiencies causing hair loss.
2. Hormonal Imbalances
Various hormonal diseases can affect hair growth cycles in both males and females.
- Thyroid problems: Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can both lead to diffuse hair thinning. As the thyroid gland controls metabolism in the body, including hair follicles, any disturbance to the thyroid gland will affect the growth of hair. Hair loss due to thyroid issues is reversible.
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): It is common among young women in their reproductive years; it causes high androgen levels in the body, and it leads to androgenetic and non-genetic hair thinning. It presents itself as diffuse hair thinning in the crown area or central part.
- Hair thinning caused by fluctuation of hormones before and after birth of baby: Telogen effluvium is well known to occur in women who are about to give birth as a result of oestrogen reduction after birth of baby
- Peri-menopausal and Menopausal period: Reduction of oestrogen level can cause hair loss and thinning of hair along with other reasons.
3. Chronic Stress
Psychological and physiological stress are highly correlated factors that are responsible for hair loss in both research and clinical settings.
An experiment conducted in Chennai and in the Tamil Nadu areas around it found that emotional stress is mentioned by more than a third of subjects as being a cause of hair loss.
The effects of chronic stress manifest in several ways in the hair follicle, such as an increase in cortisol levels, which causes hair follicles to move from the anagen phase of growth to the telogen phase of shedding prematurely.
The distinguishing factor of stress-induced hair loss is that it usually manifests itself two to three months after the stressor occurs and not when it is happening – hence the difficulty in recognizing the cause of hair loss.
In many cases, patients in Mogappair, Mogappair West, and urban Chennai suffer from chronic stress caused by long commutes, pressure at work, and disturbed sleep cycles.
4. Acute or Chronic Illness:
An important illness that can cause telogen effluvium may include high fever, surgery, severe infection, or an ailment that has been present for a long time.
The reason is that the body needs to concentrate all the resources it has to recover; thus, hair growth takes a back seat.
Autoimmune diseases can be included in those illnesses that can negatively influence hair follicles.
5. Medications
Many different types of medicines may cause hair fall as a result of their side effects.
This list includes but is not limited to blood pressure medicines, cholesterol medicines, certain antidepressants, anticoagulant medicines, and some medicines prescribed for cancer patients.
If you have just started taking a new medicine and are experiencing increased hair fall, it is something that should be discussed with your doctor since hair fall caused by medicines can be reversed.
6. Scalp Health Conditions
Factors that directly affect the scalp, like seborrhoeic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, or fungal conditions such as tinea capitis, can interfere with follicular health and result in hair loss.
They are identifiable by visual inspection of the scalp and constitute a separate group from the internal factors mentioned earlier.
Why This Matters in Chennai and Mogappair
The environmental factors in Chennai include the hot climate of Chennai, humidity, pollution levels, and hard water in some sections of the city, including Mogappair and Mogappair West.
The high temperature, pollution, and UV rays cause oxidative stress on the follicle. Hard water has an effect on hair care products and may affect the condition of the scalp.
However, none of these environmental factors alone leads to hair loss; when combined with other causes such as lack of nutrition or stress and hormones, then the total stress on the follicle increases.
What to Do If You’re Experiencing Non-Genetic Hair Loss
The most crucial thing is to refrain from any self-diagnosis, because hair fall could be the result of a complex mixture of factors, which can only be identified by a hair specialist through a thorough scalp examination, trichoscopy, and blood tests.
Amppa Clinic’s Hair specialists in Mogappair, Chennai, conduct an assessment of your hair problem, starting with determining its root cause, and do not provide a treatment plan at once.
If you live in Mogappair, Mogappair West, Anna Nagar, Ambattur, or other nearby regions of North Chennai, and if you are facing hair loss problems, your priority should be to have a hair assessment soon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is non-genetic hair loss?
Non-genetic hair loss is hair fall/thinning due to internal or external factors and not hereditary androgenic alopecia. Some of the internal reasons are malnutrition (especially iron, Vitamin D, and zinc), hormones (thyroid problems, PCOS, post-partum changes), stress, sickness, and medications. They all have different presentations and require different interventions.
Q2: Can nutritional deficiency cause hair loss in India?
Yes – and it is more common than most people think. Iron deficiency (along with low ferritin levels) is the most common reason found among women with unexplained hair loss. Zinc and Vitamin D deficiencies are common among urban Indians. Protein intake is also significant. However, determining the cause requires blood tests because making guesses based on diet alone is wrong.
Q3: Can stress cause hair loss?
Yes. Psychological or physiological stress is known to be a cause of telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is hair loss in which there is shedding of a large number of hairs at once due to the fact that they move into the resting phase. It is believed that hair loss occurs about 2–3 months following the triggering incident. It may reverse itself if the cause and nutrition are handled properly, but it is still better to consult a specialist.
Q4: Does thyroid disease cause hair loss?
Both hypo- and hyperthyroidism are responsible for diffuse hair thinning. Hair loss caused by problems with the thyroid gland is generally self-limiting and may be reversed in case of proper treatment of the underlying condition.
Q5: When should I see a hair specialist in Chennai for hair loss?
You can consider a consultation with an expert if you have observed increased shedding compared to your normal baseline, any sign of thinning, widening part, or hair fall lasting longer than 2-3 months. Early diagnosis is recommended since some conditions tend to be easier to treat in their early stages. You can visit AMPPA Clinic at Mogappair in North Chennai.
| Hair Loss Worried You? Find Out The Exact Reason For Your Hair Fall First.AMPPA Clinic, Mogappair, Chennai – Hair Tests by Experts. We find out why you are losing your hair and then suggest solutions. Our services extend to Mogappair, Mogappair West, Anna Nagar, Ambattur, and North Chennai. Contact Us | WhatsApp Us | Book Hair Test Online |