Hair Loss: Causes, Prevention, and Treatments
The adult scalp has approximately 100,000 hair follicles. 100 hairs are shed daily from the scalp, which will grow back in 5 to 6 weeks. Men’s levels of testosterone’s byproduct, prolactin, rise after age 40, stimulating the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone into dihydro-testosterones, or DHT, which causes our hair to grow back thinner or not at all. DHT shrinks the follicles, resulting in thin hair on the forehead, crown, and temple for men and thin hair all over the scalp for women, causing an androgenic alopecia hair loss problem. why hair falls out.
1. The Roots of Hair Loss a) Aging Human aging is a biological process that cannot be stopped, but it can be slowed down with a healthy diet rich in complex carbohydrates, vegetables, garlic, onions, water, and juices. Additionally, it helps to reduce the body’s production of DHT, which delays scalp hair loss.
b) A lack of minerals Healthy hair growth requires minerals like calcium, iron, copper, chromium, iodine, zinc, and magnesium gummies Canada . A lack of minerals will make it harder to regulate blood circulation, which is essential for healthy hair growth. Thyroid hormones, on the other hand, prevent dry hair, hair loss, and color defects. Iron intake is toxic to the body. Before taking any mineral supplement, consult your physician.
c) A lack of oxygen A lack of oxygen in your blood weakens the hair follicles, resulting in scalp dryness and hair loss. Cholesterol builds up in your arteries as a result of an uncontrolled diet high in saturated fat, which reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood. Additionally, smoking a cigarette or inhaling secondhand smoke increases cell blood clotting activity and decreases blood flow, which can clog arteries and lead to oxygen deficiency and weaken hair follicles.
d) Side effects of taking a medication Lithium, warfarin, heparin, and amphetamines are examples of medications that can cause hair loss. When a medication causes hair loss as a side effect, hair growth typically returns to normal once the medication is stopped.
e) Hair loss is passed down through genes. It is handed down through the generations. Genetic hair loss is more common in men but can also affect a small number of women.
2. Foods to avoid Consuming foods that can slow hair growth and cause hair loss.
a) Saturated and trans fat Meat, poultry, and fried foods are rich sources of saturated fat. Butter, margarine, and other dairy products are loaded with trans fat. Cholesterol builds up in your arteries and small veins in your scalp as a result of these foods, reducing oxygen delivery to body cells, including follicle cells.
b) Foods with Aspartame and Monosodium Glutamate Monosodium Glutamate contain chemicals that make people gain weight, have a bigger appetite, and have other health issues like hair loss.
Aspartame contains harmful synthetic compounds that make you put on weight, expands craving and causes clinical issues like headaches and unfortunate blood courses.
c) Smoking, as we mentioned in the previous article, can limit blood flow to the scalp, cause arteries to harden, worsen hair loss, and make it harder to grow hair.
d) Artificial Color Color that is made up of chemicals harms the body’s natural balance.
Colored drinks, candy coated in color, gummy and chewy candy, and numerous colored cereals are all foods to avoid.
e) Preservatives: As we discussed in the article “Hair loss part IV–regrow hair with Chinese herbs,” these substances can be harmful to the liver and kidneys and prevent hair growth.
f) Food Packaging Plastic food wrap often contains polyvinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. It is harmful in large quantities, causing kidney and liver damage and hair loss.
g) Consuming an excessive amount of salt can cause fluid retention and elevated blood pressure, both of which reduce the amount of oxygen delivered to the body’s cells, including the cells in your scalp, resulting in hair loss.
3. Treatment and Prevention of Hair Loss I. The following important minerals may aid in hair loss prevention and regrowth:
a) Iron The oxygenation of your body’s red blood cells is mediated by iron. It is necessary for normal hair growth and healthy hair maintenance. Iron deficiency will result in hair loss due to oxygen deficiency if the amount of iron consumed cannot be replaced by food.
b) Zinc prevents dandruff, which can lead to hair loss, and helps the scalp secrete the essential oil it needs.
c) The Copper Study demonstrates that these tripeptide complexes may actually be able to regrow hair, even in alopecia totalis patients. Copper concentrations in healthy tissues range from 1 to 1. 7 and 3. five milligrams Hair loss will be caused by everything else.
d) B vitamins A diet deficient in B vitamins—particularly B6, B3, B5, and folic acid—can cause hair loss.
e) Biotin Biotin has anti-aging properties and contributes to the production of keratin, thereby preventing hair loss and graying.
Biotin is obtained from: liver, rice, whole grains, egg yolks, and milk
f) Vitamin A Vitamin A is essential to overall wellness. Because it keeps the hair root lubricated, it is also beneficial to hair follicles. Taking too much vitamin A could cause hair loss.
g) Vitamin E Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps the blood supply the scalp with more oxygen, which in turn improves blood circulation and aids in hair growth and prevention.
h) CQ-10 Coenzyme Q10, also known as CQ-10, is a vital vitamin that gives our body the nutrients it needs to grow strong hair. Additionally, they contribute to healthy nails and beautiful skin as well as overall vitality.
II. The following are some common foods that may aid in hair regrowth and prevention of hair loss: Soy and yogurt Both contain a significant amount of the protein that is necessary for hair growth to continue. Soy protein strengthens hair and encourages its growth, according to a study.
2. Vegetables with dark green leaves Vegetables with dark green leaves contain a lot of iron, which is needed to nourish the cells in the body and restore oxygen levels in the blood.
3. Products made of whole grains contain zinc, which is necessary for maintaining healthy hair. A zinc deficiency can cause oily skin and dry hair.
4. Fish that are caught in cold water contain a lot of essential fatty acids. As a result of increasing blood flow throughout our bodies, it contributes to the maintenance of healthy cholesterol and the reduction of triglyceride levels.
6. Nuts and seeds are fatty foods that are typically the best sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system and protects nerves. Disorders of the skin, dry hair, and hair loss can all result from vitamin E deficiency.
7. Carrots are high in vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps the scalp produce healthy sebum. Too much vitamin A can make your hair fall out.
Fruits, eggs, spinach, and broccoli are just a few of the many other foods that aid in hair growth and prevent hair loss.
Before consuming a lot of the aforementioned foods, consult your doctor. There may be side effects, such as hair loss if carrot vitamin A is taken in excess.
III. Herbs have been used to treat or prevent disease for a long time before western medicine was discovered, and their traditional use dates back thousands of years. The following are some herbs that have been shown to help grow hair and treat hair loss:
a) Shikakai Acacia Concinna is a small tree that looks like a shrub and is found in India. After being collected, the pod-like fruit is dried, and then ground into a fine powder. It is used to clean hair and is known to get rid of dandruff and encourage new hair growth. This powder was given the name “shikakai,” which means “fruit for the hair,” because of these advantages.
b) Grape seed extract Some people use grape seed extract as a supplement or treatment for a variety of conditions. It is a powerful antioxidant. It has a lot of magnesium gummies and essential fatty acids, which are needed to keep hair growing and keep hair from falling out.
c) A new discovery made by Kirin Brewery Shiseido, a Japanese cosmetics company, and Kirin Brewery worked together to find a unique property in a hops extract that can help activate the melanocyte cells that make hair pigment.
d) Saw palmetto, as we mentioned in a previous article, is the most popular option for men. Saw palmetto aids in the inhibition of the formation of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that is responsible for the transformation of testosterone into DHT, which results in hair loss.
e) Basil extract The natural flowers of the basil plant are extracted into a substance that quickly calms and soothes the scalp’s skin.
f) Pumpkin Seeds The DHT that causes genetic hair loss is blocked by pumpkin seeds. Zinc and magnesium gummies Canada in abundance in this common seed can prevent enzymes that produce DHT, which damages hair follicles and causes hair loss.
g) Buddleja Davidii Extract The extract of Buddleja Davidii contains active ingredients that shield the skin from harmful free radicals. It can also help slow down the aging process and protect the skin from stress and toxins.
h) Green Tea The chemical globulin in green tea helps to lower free testosterone levels, which prevents it from being converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the hair follicle.
Before taking any herbal supplement, consult your doctor or dermatologist.
IV. Traditionally, Chinese herbs have been used to prevent and treat diseases for more than 4,000 years, long before western medicine was discovered. According to Chinese traditional medicine, kidney deficiency syndrome is directly associated with hair loss. A weak kidney may be the cause of hair loss problems, especially in younger people. The following are some Chinese herbs that have been shown to treat hair loss and encourage hair growth: a) Dong Quai Traditionally, Chinese women used Dong Quai after menstruation to replenish blood cells and increase oxygen circulation to cells. Dong Quai contains phytoestrogen, which aids in the blocking of the androgen receptor site by preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT, thereby lowering the risk of aging-related hair loss.
b) Ginseng It is said that ginseng has the ability to energize and revitalize the body. It also contributes to the stimulation of oxygen circulation in our bloodstream to the cells in our body and scalp.
c) Shou Wu (polygonum) is a plant that belongs to the polygonum multiflorum family. It is currently being used in conjunction with other herbals, both orally and as an active ingredient in shampoos, to aid in the growth of new hair, restore damaged roots, and prevent hair loss.
d) Psoralea seeds A study found that psoralea extract and exposure to ultraviolet light had a 33% success rate in restoring hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.
e) Mulberry According to Chinese herbalists, mulberry is an excellent blood and kidney tonic that increases blood oxygenation and strengthens the scalp’s small blood vessels.
f) Chinese Yam Numerous successful studies investigating the benefits of the Chinese yam have been conducted. Chinese yam can aid in hair growth and hair loss prevention by feeding the liver, kidneys, and blood.
g) Green tea The catechins in green tea stop the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase from turning testosterone into the bad for hair DHT. Therefore, treating male pattern baldness effectively involves drinking green tea on a daily basis.
h) Chinese foxglove root Chinese foxglove root contains cornus, a chemical that encourages hair growth and supports kidney, liver, and blood health.
i) In traditional Chinese cooking, wolf berry, one of the natural superfoods, has been utilized. Because it improves kidney, liver, and blood function, wolfberry aids in the elimination of toxins in the body and encourages hair growth.
According to Chinese medicine, blood tonic and kidney nourishment aid in healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss.
V. The following is a list of over-the-counter and prescription medications that may assist in promoting hair growth and preventing additional hair loss.
1. Minoxidil Minoxidil can be purchased over-the-counter as a spray or lotion that is applied directly to the scalp twice daily. It doesn’t require a prescription to buy. It is thought to work by affecting the hair follicle’s potassium-regulating mechanisms. With a success rate of over 60%, the study demonstrates that it aids in slowed and stopped hair loss as well as the regrow of new hair. Before taking minoxidil, consult your doctor or dermatologist. Some patients might get a rash from it.
2. Finasteride is a prescription drug that is taken orally. Finasteride is a synthetic hormone that stimulates new hair growth and stops hair loss. It is a drug that works by selectively inhibiting the activity of an enzyme that makes testosterone, also known as the “male hormone,” active in hair follicles.
3. Rogaine Rogaine is a clear alcohol-based solution that should be applied twice a day with the supplied dropper or spray to a person’s thinning area. About 25% of men and 20% of women benefit from gradually growing back moderate amounts of hair, mostly on the crown of their heads. To keep the new hair, they have to use Rogaine for the rest of their lives.
4. In the United States, retin-a can only be purchased with a prescription. It has the potential to stimulate hair growth when used appropriately and in conjunction with Minoxidil. Retin-A has been shown in studies to cause moderate hair growth in some patients.
5. Finasteride is the same active ingredient found in Proscar. The hormone DHT, which interacts with bald, vulnerable hair follicles and causes hair loss, is reduced by Proscar. Finasteride and Proscar were found to slow, stop, or even reverse hair loss in many men by lowering DHT levels in the body.
Make an appointment with your dermatologist or doctor before taking any over-the-counter medication for hair loss.