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The Truth About Hair Loss |
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Articles, How-To's and Interviews -
Spirit and Spa
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Written by Dr. Rita Louise
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It is normal to shed hair every day and the truth is we lose between
100-125 hairs on any given day. Hair that is shed falls out at the end
of growth cycle. At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called
a "resting phase" and after 2-3 months resting, hair falls out and new
hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair
loss than is normal.
As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It's a
normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it
accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in
families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often
referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. It is characterized by a receding
hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand,
don't go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair
loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp.
Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic
Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone.
Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid
of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the
membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood
flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a
hair does fall out, it is not replaced.
Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss.
While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals
experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such
as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss.
Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth
control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair
loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes,
chemotherapy and radiation.
Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall
out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful
event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth
because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase
and no new hair growth is experienced.
Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to
mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows
or tight rollers that end up pull on the hair can scar the scalp and
cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and
chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair
follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss.
Note: Hair loss may be the early warning sign of a more serious
disorder such as lupus or diabetes, so it is important to talk to your
doctor.
Recommendations For Wellness
If you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and
find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss.
Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out.
Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels.
If you are a woman, have your female hormones tested. If they are
imbalanced, talk to your health care provider about bio-identical
hormone replacements.
If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot
rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure
and stress on your hair and scalp.
If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are
causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the
number of times you are using them.
Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair.
In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the
formation of DHT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As
an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help
prevent prostate enlargement.
Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both
rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in
the scalp and promote hair growth.
Again, if you are experiencing hair loss, check with your doctor to ensure that a more serious disorder isn't the cause.
 © Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2005. All rights reserved.
Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. is the author of the books Avoiding the Cosmic 2x4 and The Power Within.
It is her unique gift as a medical intuitive and clairvoyant that
illuminates and enlivens her work. Let Dr. Louise help you bring health
healing and wholeness back into your life. Medical Intuition &
Energy Medicine Certification training classes are now forming. Visit http://www.soulhealer.com for more information.
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