Hair loss is a disturbing condition that affects 25 percent of women and 50 percent of men over 50 globally. This condition can result from different factors, not just age.
Genetics, emotional trauma, hormonal changes, strict dieting, medications, lifestyle choices, and even menopause can cause your hair to fall off.
Additionally, one of the leading causes of hair loss is autoimmune diseases. In these cases, the body’s immune systems mistakenly attack the tissues and organs, causing a truckload of side effects, including hair loss.
Here are some of the most common autoimmune diseases that cause hair loss;
Alopecia
Alopecia is a relatively common autoimmune disorder that causes people affected to lose hair unpredictably. Sometimes it appears in small circular bald patches on the head or the temples. It can be extreme and cause total loss of hair on the scalp. This health condition can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or race.
Read more on alopecia here.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks its tissues and organs. This condition causes inflammation that affects the joints, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, lungs, and hair follicles. The antibodies created by the body attack the hair follicles, causing the body to reject the hair and finally fall off. Lupus can cause permanent hair loss if scarring occurs in the hair follicles.
Hashimoto’s Disease
Hashimoto’s disease affects the thyroid (a butterfly-shaped gland found at the base of the neck) causing it not to produce enough thyroid hormone to regulate metabolism correctly. This autoimmune condition makes antibodies that attack the cells in the thyroid.
Some people experience severe hair loss when their thyroid gland is inflamed. Their hair texture might change and become dry, brittle, or easily tangled. Hair loss will continue until the thyroid hormone production levels is balanced.
Graves’ Disease
This is yet another condition that affects the thyroid. Grave’s disease causes hyperthyroidism resulting in the over-production of thyroid hormones. It can also interrupt the production of new hair follicles.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a condition that causes the skin cells to multiply 10 times faster than usual, causing redness, itchiness, and white scales to appear on the skin. While this condition typically affects the elbows, knees, knuckles, and back, it can also occur on the scalp. When it affects the scalp, it results in redness, itching, and scales, which might cause hair fall.
See a doctor on Doctall if you’re experiencing worrisome hair loss.