For some years now many powerful companies have turned hair loss misery into marketing cash-cows. Almost always they hype some over the counter treatment, suggesting that people “visit their pharmacist” for a cure to their problem. That “cure” is invariably whatever product is being currently touted.
We’ve yet to witness a single pharmacist examine a customers scalp over the counter – or use his or her professional training to help differentiate between various hair loss patterns and scalp disorders.
Let’s begin with this: Your GP/MD almost always knows best. Even if you’re only seeking an opinion, their medical advice can prevent you from wasting valuable time and making poor treatment decisions.
Speed at tackling thinning hair is critical. Hair loss almost never “spontaneously reverses.” If you’re hoping that the problem will just go away – rest assured it will. It’ll be solved when there’s no more left to thin or fall out
You can begin keeping your hair healthy by trying natural hair care products. Start reading labels; begin to understand the product’s contents you use for your hair every week. Most commercial products are loaded with chemicals. Less of this chemical minefield abuse will help mitigate the negative effects they have on thinning hair.
Excessive bleaching, Ultraviolet light - from the sun or tanning salons. Excessive heat from hair dryers, curlers, curling irons and the like. Mechanical damage such as over-enthusiastic brushing or combing. The accumulation of years of hair spray. Incompetent hairdressers. All take their toll on your hair.
For any treatment or product to succeed, they must first penetrate the scalp. If not - they simply won’t treat the problem. Whatever you use must get to the hair roots and follicles. If not, then they’ll do nothing for reversing the problem you have
The Birth Control Pill
Medical research has established that taking "the pill" causes thinning hair in some women. Even stopping the pill can cause symptoms of diffuse thinning hair. (Talk about being caught between a rock and hard place!)
The Postnatal Period
The months following childbirth are also very common times for some women to experience hair loss. During pregnancy, high estrogen levels maintain a hair follicle growth phase. After pregnancy, a greater proportion of these follicles go into their resting phase, causing unusual and unwanted hair “shedding."
Hormonal Imbalances
Changes in hormone levels, especially those imbalances of the thyroid and sex hormones, have a great influence and affect on hair follicles.
Nutrition and Diet
Crash dieting or chronic nutritional deprivation can result in diffuse hair loss. Iron and Zinc and B complex deficiencies are also seen as potential causes of what’s known as Telogen Effluvium. This sudden increase in hair loss is usually experienced as hair coming out in handfuls. This is a different problem than genetic hair loss.
Fever
Thinning hair often occurs 2-4 months after a severe fever related illness.
Medications
A large number of prescription medications have been reported to cause or possibly cause diffuse hair loss. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about possible hair related side effects. And always read the labels and informational inserts for any medicine you take.
You can discover and possibly eliminate some causes of hair loss by asking your doctor for some simple blood tests. These tests will show the levels of various hormones and minerals in your body. Too much or too little – and it could effect how your hair grows.
Hormone levels
DHEAS, Testosterone, Androstenedione, Prolactin, Follicular Stimulating Hormone, and Leutinizing Hormone
Serum Iron, Serum Ferritin, TIBC
The amount of ferritin in your blood is directly proportional to the amount of iron stored in your body. Normal female levels: 12-150 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Determines whether the thyroid gland is functioning properly.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A complete blood count (CBC) provides important information about the kinds and numbers of cells in the blood, especially red and white blood cells and platelets.
A large number of prescription medications have been reported to cause or possibly cause diffuse hair loss. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about possible hair related side effects. And always read the labels and informational inserts for any medicine you take.
