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It’s normal to lose hair from your head every single day. In fact, it’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day. Think of how your hairbrush looks after brushing your hair. But, if you seem to lose a significant amount of hair each day, this is known as excessive hair shedding and could be caused for a number of reasons.
Stress: Stress has a lot to answer for. Both physical and psychological stress can cause hair loss. According to Healthline, surgery, blood loss and childbirth can all result in the loss of hair, while periods of mental stress or anxiety can also do the same.
Hair loss caused by these are often temporary and it usually slows down as the body heals. Healthline recommends combating mental stress with daily exercise, proper nutrition and stress management strategies like meditation.
Nutritional deficiencies: Deficiencies in zinc and iron can often be related to hair loss. When you’re deficient in a mineral like iron, your body can’t produce the hemoglobin in your blood. According to Healthline, hemoglobin carries oxygen for the growth and repair of cells in your body, including those cells that stimulate hair growth.
To help prevent iron deficiency-related hair loss, look at your diet and make sure you’re filling your plate with iron-rich foods like spinach, peas and lean proteins like salmon and pork. Adding vitamin C-rich foods to your diet is also handy, as vitamin C allows your body to absorb iron in a more efficient manner.
Medications: Some medications can play havoc with your hair, with a common side effect hair loss. These can include thyroid medications, some oral contraceptives, some antidepressants and beta-blockers. If you’re losing an abnormal amount of hair, make an appointment with your GP to discuss why this might be happening and how you can stop it.
