What is hair loss?

Some degree of hair loss is normal for everyone, regardless of age. This is part of your hair's natural growth process. You lose most hair while brushing or washing. On average, you lose 100 hairs per day and since you have around 100,000 hair follicles on your head, this is hardly noticeable.

We speak of alopecia (hair loss) when you lose more hair than normal (about 100 per day) and little or no new hair grows back.

Do you suffer from hair loss? Then you're really not alone [2]:

• Around 25% of men with baldness start losing hair before they are 21 years old.
• By the age of 35, two-thirds of men experience some hair loss.
• from the age of 50, around 85% of men have to deal with significantly thinning hair.

Good news: hair loss is treatable.

Do you want to put an end to your hair loss and possibly even let hair grow back? Feel free to fill our short questionnaire in to find out which treatment can best help you.

In short: Everyone has to deal with hair loss. On average, we lose about 100 hairs per day. We speak of alopecia (hair loss) when you lose more hair than normal and little or no new hair grows back.

How to treat hair loss

Is there a hair loss treatment? Yes! There are various ways to slow down the hair loss process, stimulate growth or repair damaged hair [3,4]. Fortunately, because hair loss can make you feel quite insecure.

First of all, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional to find out the cause of your hair loss. You can then start a treatment.

Various treatments are possible, ranging from medication to laser therapy. Your healthcare provider will suggest treatment based on the cause and symptoms of your hair loss.

Examples of medication include:

• Minoxidil (Rogaine®)
  Over-the-counter and stimulates hair growth; results after 6-12 months.
• Finasteride (Propecia®)
  Prescription medication, effective for male hair loss.

Other hair loss treatments include:

• Hair transplant
  Movement of hair from a densely haired area to a bald spot.
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
  Plasma from your blood is injected into your scalp to slow hair loss and stimulate growth.
• Laser therapy
  Stimulates hair follicles with light therapy.

Can you prevent hair loss?

Not all forms of hair loss are preventable, but you can reduce the risk in the following ways:

• Reduce stress.
• Follow a healthy diet with sufficient calories, vitamins, protein, and iron.
• Avoid tight hairstyles, heat treatments, and styling products.
• Use mild shampoos and conditioners that don't stress your hair.
• Treat medical conditions, such as thyroid problems
• Use during chemotherapy

In short: Hair loss can be treated, for example with medication. Talk to your healthcare provider about which treatment is most suitable for you.

9 causes of hair loss: what's wrong with you?

Hair loss can occur due to various causes and has different symptoms. For example, it can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying factors. We help you recognize different forms of hair loss and associated symptoms.

1. Heredity (Androgenic Alopecia)

Heredity is the biggest culprit for hair loss. This type of hair loss, also known as pattern baldness, is common in both men and women and is genetic.

You can recognize it by:

• Receding hairline in men.
• Thinning hair on the crown in women.
• In some cases, the hairlines remain intact, but the hair on the crown is getting thinner.

2. Stress and Emotional Changes (Telogen Effluvium)

Stress can lead to temporary hair loss by disrupting the hair growth cycle. During a period of intense stress, many hairs can suddenly enter the resting phase (telogen) and fall out.

You can recognize it by:

• Accelerated hair loss, which you often notice when combing or washing your hair.
• Diffuse hair loss all over your scalp, reducing hair density.
• The dropout can begin weeks to months after the stressful event.

3. Autoimmune Disease (Alopecia Areata)

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to bald patches. This can happen on your scalp but also on other parts of the body, such as your beard.

You can recognize it by:

• Round or oval bald patches, usually without obvious hair growth in surrounding areas.
• Itching or pain prior to loss of hair in affected areas.

4. Medical treatments (Anagen Effluvium)

Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can cause hair to fall out quickly.

You can recognize it by:

• Rapid, almost immediate hair loss that is often visible all over your head.
• Complete hair loss with some treatments such as chemotherapy.

5. Wrong hair care (Traction Alopecia)

Tight hairstyles such as plaits, buns or ponytails can lead to hair loss. If the hair is under tension for a long time, the hair follicles can be damaged, which can result in permanent hair loss.

You can recognize it by:

• A tight or painful sensation on your scalp.
• Permanent bald spots in areas where the hair has been under the most tension, such as your temples or forehead.

6. Hormonal changes (Hormonal Alopecia)

Hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy, menopause or after childbirth, can cause temporary hair loss.

You can recognize it by:

• Gradual hair loss, often on the crown or the front part of your scalp.
• Hair loss after delivery (postpartum) or during menopause.

7. Fungal infections (ringworm)

Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the scalp and causes hair loss in infected areas.

You can recognize it by:

• Scaly patches on your scalp.
• Broken hair in the infected areas.
• Sometimes swelling or pus formation in the affected area.

8. Mental illness (Trichotillomania)

Trichotillomania is a condition where people compulsively and sometimes unconsciously pull their hair out, leading to bald patches.

You can recognize it by:

• Irregular bald patches on the scalp or other parts of the body.
• Mental stress or compulsive thoughts about pulling the hair out.

9. Nutritional deficiencies and lifestyle (Telogen Effluvium)

Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of iron, zinc, or protein, can cause hair loss. The same goes for unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor sleep habits and excessive alcohol consumption.

You can recognize it by:

• Scattered hair loss all over your head.
• Slow or decreased hair growth.

Note: More isn't always better. Too much vitamin A, E or selenium can actually cause hair loss instead of preventing it.

Hair loss treatment varies by type and cause. Find out which treatment is right for you here.

‍In short: Hair loss is a complex problem with a variety of causes and symptoms.

When to see a doctor

We recommend that you contact a healthcare provider at the first signs of thinning hair or hair loss. Because the sooner you start addressing the problem, the better the results often are.

Furthermore, in case of unusual forms of hair loss, such as bald spots, hairless areas or large areas of hair that fall out, it is advisable to consult a doctor or dermatologist.

Not sure what the best approach is for you? Complete our online questionnaire to gain insight into possible treatments and to speak to a healthcare professional without obligation. Don't wait too long, as timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent further hair loss and stimulate your hair growth.

In short: It is wise to consult a healthcare provider quickly at the first signs of hair loss, as early treatment often provides better results. Also contact a doctor if you experience unusual hair loss, such as bald patches or large patches that fall out.

Conclusion

On average, we lose about 100 hairs per day. If you lose more hair and little or no new hair grows back, we speak of hair loss. Many people suffer from this, but in many cases it is treatable.

It's important to see a healthcare provider to determine the cause and get the right treatment. Often, the hair recovers as soon as the cause is addressed.

Hair loss can significantly affect your daily life. Fill our short questionnaire in to discover which treatment is best for you to slow hair loss and stimulate new growth.