Although elderly hair loss is not something one can prevent completely, there are preventable factors that accelerate hair loss in seniors.
By Dawn Flemming
Hair loss is a normal part of aging. To a certain extent, not much can be done about it. However, there are some controllable factors that contribute to accelerating hair loss that are preventable.
A lot of hair loss is due to androgenic alopecia or simply known as balding which is a hereditary form of balding that becomes apparent after 40. As a person grows older, the growth of hair is reduced. This means that there is less hair that grows, it is thinner and it takes longer for it to grow. By the time a man hits his 60s, most men have signs of balding. For women, hair growth slows down significantly after menopause. Women are not immune to balding either at later ages.
There are also preventable reasons for why hair is lost. Below are three major reasons you may be losing hair:
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency has been known to be associated with hair loss. Make sure to check your iron levels and see if they are at adequate levels.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid hormone is not well regulated in the body. The good news is that hypothyroidism can be controlled through medication. When it is controlled, hair loss stops most of the time.
Bad Diet
Aside iron, there are other nutritional deficiencies that may lead to hair loss. These include deficiencies in zinc, copper, biotin, and vitamins A, B and C. A diet that is full of greens, fruits and grains can help slow down hair loss.
Dawn Flemming is Director of Business Services at Geriatric In-Home Care in Fresno, California.
