Hair loss - How is it created and what can you do about it?

What is hair loss and how does it develop?

There are different types of hair loss, with different reasons.

→ Androgenetic hair loss - is age-related, affecting 80% of men and 50% of women. It mainly has to do with the steroid dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which attacks the hair follicles.^[1]

→ Alopecia areata - is a localized, circular hair loss that is mostly due to autoimmune diseases. Here, the T lymphocytes attack the hair follicles.^[2]

→ Diffuse hair loss - refers to hair loss on the entire head, and usually has to do with hormonal fluctuations, metabolic, thyroid and scalp diseases, stress, mineral deficiencies of iron, selenium, zinc, copper, and silicon or drugs. Ionizing radiation and the metal thallium can also lead to hair loss.^[3]

What can you do about hair loss?

Hair loss should be treated in correspondence to their trigger. Thus, the thyroid and kidney function parameters, blood counts, as well as the enzyme level and a trichogram provide information on the cause of hair loss. If the trigger is confirmed, one can oppose this procedure. There may be mineral deficiencies, especially of silicon, but also serious diseases. If not a serious disease is the background of hair loss, basic, gentle shampoo or mineral tinctures can be used. Alopecia areata and Alopecia totalis are treated by targeted contact sensitization using squaric acid or dibutyl squarate; glucocorticoids are also used by oral administration. Androgenetic hair loss is e.g. treated by DHT inhibitor or by the minoxidil. The action of Minoxidil is attributed to its arterial widening properties, it should come for a better blood circulation to the scalp. The exact mechanism of action is not yet clear. One should only expect no miraculous healing, because the decline in hair loss is visible only after 4-6 months. Before that push the new hair, the old out of the skin, which has the appearance of a speedy recovery, this process is also known as "shedding."^[4]

Are there any side effects?

DHT inhibitors are prescription, and since they interfere with hormone levels, they can have serious side effects. In addition, squaric acid is contact sensitizing, which can cause itching and redness. Minoxidil is given as a medication for hypertension, if all other medications can not help. Side effects of topical administration include headache, itching, redness, hypertrichosis and hypertension. [5]

Are there any natural alternatives?

As a natural remedy tinctures of sage, nettles, juniper berries or nasturtium can be used. They supply the scalp and hair, with minerals and plant substances and stimulate the blood circulation. Consumption of minerals, whether topically or orally, especially silicon, selenium, copper, iron and zinc help with hair growth, as they are important roles in the body, not least in collagen synthesis. However, not every therapy will work for everyone. The cause of the hair loss should be fathomed, and the treatment of the origin of these focus on preventing the hair loss should be considered as a nice side effect.^[6]

Sources and information to read:

Wikipedia^[1][2][3][4]

Medical article on hair loss and antidotes^[5]

Medical article on zinc and copper for hair loss^[6]