ALOPECIA – RISK FACTORS

Several risk factors that may cause alopecia include:

• Genetic factors : Alopecia tends to run in families.
• Stress : It is an important precipitating factor in hair loss. A long term chronic stress or a sudden stress (e.g. emotional trauma of a family death or involvement in an accident) may act as trigger for alopecia.
• Local injury like cuts, scrapes.
• Infections : Viral and bacterial.
• Autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Addison’s disease, leucoderma.
• Allergy : People suffering from allergic problems like asthma, dermatitis.
• Nutritional deficiency : Lack of zinc, iron, vitamin B complex in the diet.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Hormonal changes as seen in pregnancy, menopause, or in thyroid disorders.
• Excessive shampooing and blow drying.
• Prolonged illness like typhoid, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis.
• Skin diseases like ringworm infection, lichen planus, syphilis.
• Medications like oral contraceptives, methotrexate, colchicine.
• Trichotillomania : It is a type of compulsive behavior characterized by pulling and twisting of the hair until it breaks.