Hair LOSS

  

Hair is the crowning glory of men and women all over the world and thus is worrying to see globs of hair in the shower drain or a clump of your tresses on the hairbrush.


It is normal to lose about 100 strands of hairs daily based on the growth cycle of hair. However, losing up to 200 strands per day requires close scrutiny on the underlying cause before balding problem appears. The average scalp contains about 100,000 hair follicles.

Male hair loss follows a pattern of receding hairline when it shifts backward from the forehead and ultimately leads to baldness. In women, this frustrating problem begins with gradual thinning at the part line, followed by increasing diffuse hair loss radiating from the head top.

Hair structure

Our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair’s color pigment, or melanin, is produced.

Lifespan of a hair

Approximately 90% of the average human hair survives for an average of 4.5 years, during which time it grows about 1/2 inch a month. Usually in its 5th year, the hair falls out and is replaced within 6 months by a new one. The other 10% are in a resting phase that last 2-3 months and shedded thereafter.

Cause of hair loss

Note that genetic baldness is caused by the body’s failure to produce new hairs and not by excessive hair loss. Hair loss due to an interference of the scalp’s growth cycle like improper hair care, medication, stress, crash dieting or infections is reversible if attended to quickly.

+ The incidence of pattern baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background. Each follicle is genetically pre-programmed to go through a number of growth cycles before it finally dies. Onset of hair loss can start at a tender age. Not only humans, some other primates, such as chimpanzees, stump-tailed macaques, and South American uakari show progressive thinning of the hair on the scalp after adolescence too.

+ Male pattern hair loss is caused by a male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that shrinks hair follicles until no visible hairs are in sight. Typically men inherit this problem and start experiencing it in their 20s and 30s, and exacerbates into the 50s with half fully bald.  In the advanced stage, no shampoos, vitamin and precautions can work anymore.

+ Note that environmental factors do not seem to affect baldness greatly.

+ Normal hair growth with healthy hairs occurs only when the body is healthy and absorbs sufficient nutrition to feed the hair and scalp. When there are inadequate supply of nutrients, the body shuts down production of hair first as it devotes all its energies towards conserving vital body organs. Hence, those who are suffering from any major health problems or nutritional deficiencies tend to have hairs that are damaged, brittle or stop growing. An example is people with under-active thyroid function are likely to have frizzy or brittle hair whilst those with overactive thyroid condition usually have greasy limp hair.

+ Although baldness is not as common in women as in men, the psychological effects of hair loss tend to be much greater. Typically the frontal hairline is preserved but the density of hair is decreased on all areas of the scalp. The past belief that male baldness is caused by testosterone is not valid on women as those who lose hair have normal testosterone levels.

+ For most people hair loss occurs when the body is under stress and illness. The sudden effects can be dramatic but reversible. A sudden physical or emotional stress may cause one-half to three-quarters of the hair throughout your scalp to shed. Putting adequate rest, reduce stress level and good nutrition are what needed to aid hair recovery. Other causes like traumas from chemotherapy and radiotherapy is temporary and condition reverses when the treatment is completed.

+ In most instances women experience hair loss upon hitting menopause but no longer with problems arising from childbirth, chronic illness, crash diets (lacking protein), and stress among others, women as young as 15 or 16 are experiencing this trauma.

+ Other possible causes of hair loss, especially if it is in an unusual pattern, include:

- Autoimmune conditions such as lupus
- Burns
- Certain infectious diseases such as syphilis
- Excessive shampooing and blow-drying
- Thyroid diseases
- Nervous habits such as continual hair pulling or scalp rubbing
- Ringworm of the scalp
- Tumor of the ovary or adrenal glands

Prevention and reversal of hair loss

+ Arresting the situation early in life is of paramount importance if you recognize the genetic factor. Using an effective topical lotion and good nutrients can increase blood supply to the scalp and enhance circulation, thereby reducing hair loss and stimulating hair rejuvenation. Choosing the right shampoo, conditioner and hair tonic can help to make hair more manageable and minimize damage from washing.


+ Taking right foods with accompanying correct mix of vitamins and minerals can help to keep the hair in good shape. Some examples are:
**  Nuts - Nuts such as almonds and walnuts are rich in biotin, a mineral known for its health maintenance properties
**  Eggs - The yolk helps to keep hair strong and beautiful with its good mix of iron, zinc and protein
**  Avocados - This fruit contains vitamin B and E that strengthen the hair follicles
**  Spinach - Its high iron content boosts the strength of hair follicles and, vitamin A and C allow the scalp to produce more sebum
**  Meat - Its protein is needed to make keratin and thus keep the follicles strong and elastic, otherwise dry, brittle and weak

+ Some drugs that can effectively block the conversion of testosterone to DHT help to reverse the shrinking of hair follicles but have accompanying side effects. Administering female hormone to reduce testosterone effect can turn a guy more feminine over the course of treatment. Persistent problem may need the help of a consultant dermatologist.

+ Maintain a healthy body or you see your hair and scalp likely to be in lesser than good condition, a warning sign to balding.

+ Experiments carried out on mice genetically engineered, produced excessive levels of Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) resulting in hair loss from their backs. The high amounts of such hormone created a chronic stress condition in them. Hence, reduce stress level can help to reduce hair loss.

+ A study controlled for age and family history found statistically significant positive associations between moderate or severe hair loss and smoking status. So quit smoking for more than health reason, saving life and hair.

Sources: ST Mind your Body dated 16-6-2011

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003246.htm

VIVA corner

Poor blood circulation, prolonged stress, digestive disorders, medications and unhealthy diets contribute to blood acidity, making detoxification an important issue to reverse the problem.

VIVA Green Barley is packed with fibers, antioxidants and enzymes to neutralise free radicals and converts the blood alkaline.

Lack of nutrients retards hair growth development and VIVA Dailyguard can provide the comprehensive range required for reversing the trend. When cells are deprived of oxygen, they may perish gradually.

VIVA Liquick Gingko aids in delivering oxygen to the scalp for improved blood circulation.

VIVA Ageguard is packed with amino acids for rebuilding keratin (protein on hair) and acts as a natural hormone releaser in expediting cell rejuvenation. For those who are too stressed up,

Viva B-easy helps to reduce stress and provide energy. A deficiency of Vitamin B7 can result in more hair loss.