Sudden Hair Loss Can be Due to Trauma

Sudden hair loss is typically caused by infection, trauma, or radical reactions to certain drugs. Especially using the drugs used in chemotherapy. It is easily differentiated from other forms of hair loss as it is usually radical. There is a condition known as alopecia that has several forms of sudden hair loss. Alopecia areata, is a condition that results in patches of sudden hair loss. Alopecia totalis results in total hair loss of the scalp, and Alopecia universalis, results in total hair loss all over the body. Alopecia is not treatable.

Hair loss is normal. At any one point ten percent of your hair is not-growing. Shedding of the dormant hair is normal, both in humans and animals. What characterizes sudden hair loss is when shampooing or combing results in large clumps of hair obviously being removed, and the scalp beginning to take on a bald appearance. This should be a concern both to the human or pet owner and you should look for the cause.

Infection

Most modern men and women wash their hair frequently and are not typically subject to hair infections. However, fungal infections are quite common in younger children who are more resistant to washing their hair and are exposed to more sources of infection. Fungal infections are treatable and usually result in minimal yet sudden hair loss, however, these infections are often devastating in the mind of the children impacted.

Another form of infection that is not typical in the western hemisphere, is that caused by tropical disease or infection. Most result in permanent weakening of the hair follicle and often there is sudden hair loss involved. In some cases the head is actually shaved to reduce the likelihood of passing the disease onto others. Shaving the head can actually be considered an extreme form of sudden hair loss in this situation, as many times the hair does not return.

Chemotherapy

Today, unfortunately, the most common form of observed sudden hair loss is that resulting from chemotherapy. In most cases a healthy head of hair will return. This form of sudden hair loss is caused by the general reaction of a human body to the toxicity of the chemicals being used to treat the cancer or lupus. Other forms of sudden hair loss have been documented and can result from reaction of the thyroid to certain chemicals causing change in the level of thyroid activity. There is even a form of reaction to anti-depressants that can be associated with sudden hair loss.