Hair loss is rarely something to worry about from a medical standpoint. Losing hair to some degree is
normal for everybody. We tend to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day without noticing.[1]
But for many people, the onset of balding can be emotionally distressing. High levels of hair loss can
take its toll on your confidence and overall wellbeing, and you may be left feeling powerless and
confused.
Understanding what’s behind your hair loss is the first step to overcoming these feelings. We’re going to
take a closer look at this condition, including many of the myths that surround it and the possible
treatments available.
What is hair loss?
Hair loss can often be a distressing experience, and in many instances it has a significant detrimental
effect on the sufferer’s quality of life[2] with people suggesting that it contributes to low self-esteem.
The most common form of hair loss is male pattern baldness, or male pattern hair loss.
In the case of male pattern hair loss, high levels of androgens, including DHT, can shrink your hair
follicles and shorten the growth cycle, which can cause hair to appear thinner and more brittle.[3] DHT
(dihydrotestosterone) is a by-product of testosterone.
What causes hair loss?
Hair loss can be the result of many different factors, from stress and family history to nutrition and
diet.[4] In certain situations, hair loss can be the sign of a larger health concern, such as iron
deficiency, extreme weight loss or cancer treatment.[5]
But with so many factors involved in hair loss, a great deal of misinformation gets spread about the
condition. This makes it even more confusing to work out exactly what is behind your symptoms. Let’s
explore some of the widely regarded facts and myths surrounding hair loss.
Swimming?
For a long time, people have held the belief that continuously exposing your hair to pool-water can lead
to baldness. This is largely based on the course, dry feeling of your hair after using a pool treated with
chlorine.
However, evidence suggests that in order for swimming to be the sole cause of hair loss, the swimmer would
have to be allergic to the pool’s chemicals, or the chlorine levels would need to be dangerously high.[6]
Hats?
Another common untruth surrounding hair loss is that wearing a hat can make it more likely. However, while
it is true that frequent hat wearing can lead to the loss of hairs, these hairs would have to be
vulnerable to shedding already in order to be affected. In other words, you need to already be at risk of
hair loss in order to lose your hair as a result of wearing a hat, meaning your hat isn’t to be held
responsible.[7]
Hair dryers?
Similarly, drying your hair with a hair dryer is unlikely to be the sole cause of significant hair loss.
However, hair loss can occur as a result of overtreating your hair.
This form of hair loss, known as traumatic alopecia, is caused by potentially damaging hairdressing
techniques. These include pulling the hair into tight braids, twisting the hair, exposing the hair to
extreme heat or bleaching the hair with strong chemicals.[8]
Stress?
Anxiety can lead to hair loss. This connection may present itself in several different ways. For example,
stress may cause you to pull at your hair as a nervous habit, or your diet may suffer meaning your hair
becomes weaker and more susceptible to falling out.
Telogen effluvium is a specific form of hair loss which occurs following a major body stress, such as
major surgery, serious infection or a prolonged illness. It can also happen after a significant change in
hormones, such as for women after giving birth.[9]
Hormones?
It is thought that, overall, hormones do have a role to play in hair loss. In the past, the level of
testosterone itself has been thought to have an impact on male baldness. However, more recent studies
appear to contradict this theory. One German study found that total testosterone was not significantly
associated with general hair loss in male participants.[10]
In fact, as outlined earlier, it is a particular by-product of testosterone – DHT – which is at the root
of much male pattern baldness.
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) can occur at any age, although it is most common during the menopause.
This does not necessarily mean that hormones are solely responsible, but oestrogen may have a protective
role. Genetics are thought to be an important factor in FPHL.[11]
Genes?
A family history of hair loss can increase your risk of suffering from hair loss, particularly male
pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness or male pattern hair loss (MPHL) is the most common type of hair
loss among men, affecting as many as half of men over the age of 50.[12] It is also known as androgenetic
alopecia. It is thought that men are more susceptible to the symptoms of MPHL if they have a family
history of the condition.
How to prevent or reverse hair loss
There are many different factors which have been suggested as ways to avoid hair loss, from changing your
hair products to investing in technology like a laser comb.[13] Sometimes, studies occur which seem to
offer hope to sufferers of hair loss. For example, a 2016 Japanese study found that scalp massages
increased hair thickness in 24 weeks.[14] While encouraging, results like these do not necessarily mean
that such treatments will work in all cases of hair loss.
Some of the more extreme treatments for hair loss include hair transplantation, scalp expansion or
reduction, flap surgery and skin lifts and grafts.[15]
Medications like Propecia and its generic equivalent, Finasteride, have been proven to effectively slow
and even reverse the symptoms of male pattern baldness. After two years of treatment, 99% of men had
visible results – 66% had hair growth and 33% had no further hair loss.[16]
As such, many men suffering from hair loss find medication to be the safest and most effective way to
treat their symptoms.
Discover effective hair loss
treatment at Express Pharmacy. If you have any queries about your health, don’t hesitate to get in
touch. Contact our NHS-approved pharmacists today by calling 0208 123 07 03 or leave your enquiry by using
our discreet online Live Chat service.
[1] NHS UK. Hair Loss. 2018.
[2] Phillips, TG., Slomiany, WP., Allison, R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatments. American Family
Physician. 2017.
[3] Healthline. What You Need to Know About DHT and Hair Loss. 2019.
[4] MedicinePlus. Hair Loss. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2019.
[5] NHS UK. Hair Loss. 2018.
[6] Belgravia Centre. Can Swimming Pools Cause Hair Loss? 2013.
[7] LiveStrong. How Do Hats Cause Thinning Hair? 2017.
[8] Harvard Health Publishing. Hair Loss: What is it? 2018.
[9] Harvard Health Publishing. Hair Loss: What is it? 2018.
[10] Kische, H. Arnold, A., Gross, S., Wallaschofski, H., Volzke, H., Matthias, N., Haring, R. Sex
Hormones and Hair Loss in Men from the General Population of North-Eastern Germany. JAMA Dermatology.
2017.
[11] Women’s Health Concern. Menopausal Hair Loss. 2018.
[12] British Association of Dermatologists. Male Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia). 2012 [Reviewed
2019]
[13] The Guardian. Seven ways… to avoid hair loss. 2018.
[14] Koyama, T., Kobayashi, K., Hama, T., Murakami, K., Ogawa, R. Standardized Scalp Massage Results in
Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue.
Eplasty. 2016.
[15] UCLA Health. Hair Loss. UCLA Dermatology. 2018.
[16] Kaufman, K. et al. Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride Male
Pattern Hair Loss Study Group. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1998.
Comments
Hair loss is a serious issue for both men and women. Coping with the problem is bit traumatic
ReplyThanks for the informative and helpful article. I hope people around us make this event successful and donate as much as they can. I will definitely share this post for awareness and also generate fund so we all can help those people who are suffering.
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