It’s normal to lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day—it’s part of the natural hair growth cycle. It only becomes a problem when new hair doesn’t replace the strands that have fallen out.

And as it turns out, it’s more common than you think. In the U.S. alone, it affects nearly 7 million people.

As far as causes go, it can be due to a number of conditions including thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Not only that, but it can be inherited.

Worried that you might be losing your hair? Want to know how you can prevent alopecia? If so, be sure to read the rest of the post!

About Alopecia

Anyone can lose their hair. With that said, the condition is more common in males. Why? They’re more prone to androgenetic alopecia aka male-pattern baldness.

Other common types of alopecia include alopecia areata, alopecia areata totalis, and alopecia universalis. While it depends on the cause, the hair will usually fall out in small clumps.

4 Things That You Can Do to Prevent Hair Loss

Preventing hair loss is possible. Here are a few things that you can do.

1. Avoid Hot Showers

Hot showers might feel good but they’re not exactly the best for your hair. That is, they can strip the scalp of its oils, causing inflammation and dryness.
Over time, this can have an effect on hair loss. More specifically, it can cause the hair to thin out. Given that, it’s best to avoid overly hot showers.

2. Take Multivitamins

Studies have shown that vitamins and minerals can help prevent hair loss. In fact, vitamin deficiencies may be a risk factor for alopecia.
Some vitamins and minerals that may help include vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B, zinc, selenium, and iron.

3. Be Wary of Chemical Processing

Chemically straightening or bleaching your hair can cause damage to the hair shaft. In other words, it’ll weaken the hair, making you more susceptible to hair loss.
Considering that, you want to avoid chemical processing treatments as much as possible.

4. Eat a Protein-Rich Diet

Hair follicles are mostly made out of keratin, a protein that’s also found in your skin and nails. Given that, it’s not surprising to know that eating a diet rich in protein can help prevent hair loss.

For example, it’s a good idea to incorporate foods such as beans, nuts, eggs, low-fat dairy products, and fish into your diet. Not only that, but there are supplements that you can take that are marketed for hair growth.

Understanding Alopecia

And there you have it—four ways to prevent alopecia. As you can see, it is possible to stop it from happening. When in doubt, consult with your doctor!

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