British Report Gives the Latest Hair Loss Details

by Angela Santoriello

Knowledge is power.

And that is definitely the case when it comes to alopecia. Diagnosing the common hair loss condition in the earliest stages is proven to help keep hair on the head and out of the shower drain. That is why it is so important to know facts before freaking out over a few extra hairs on the ground with the average person losing up to 100 strands of a hair day.

Helping hair loss sufferers gain back the power they feel is a priceless commodity in a society that reveres hair as important as Sampson and Delilah. Representing strength and beauty, a full head of hair seemingly boasts self-esteem, making what seemed impossible probable again.

So when the natural hair cycle or healthy scalp begins to suffer is when one can become concerned. A recent Daily Mail report educates Europeans on everything from the expected hair growth and loss to supplementation when that cycle is thwarted. The article explains how hair grows in three phases of developing, resting and shedding.

“However, certain factors can cut short the growth cycle and prematurely shift the hair into the shedding phase,” says the Daily Mail. More common in women than men, whole head shedding is linked to vitamin paucity. Directly related to diet or exercise and sickness or surgery, Royal London Hospital Dermatologist Vicky Jolliffe explained how “a deficiency in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, vitamin B12 or iron, can lead to this type of hair loss.”

London Skin and Hair Clinic Dr. Martin Wade added that along with vitamin deficiency, stress unnaturally strips the scalp of hair. “The growth phase can be shifted into the shedding phase by a trigger event,” said Wade. “Three months later, the hair begins to shed. Three months after that, it normally recovers.”

While one has control over stress-related hair loss, they have no power over medically-related thinning caused by specific prescriptions, including those for acne and depression. Ovary and thyroid conditions can also cause hair loss and is why Jolliffe said “while it’s tempting to just try a ‘hair-boosting’ supplement, see your GP first to rule out anything serious.”

Patchy and pattern loss is also explained, with spotty hair loss often related to genetics or autoimmune disease. Also known as alopecia areata, patchy hair loss can be treated with steroids or having the scalp treated chemically, “kick-starting the follicles into working again.”

Pattern hair loss, more common in men than women is just as it sounds. “In men, the hair starts to diminish in volume on the crown and temples and recedes around the temples, leaving hair on the back and sides of the head,” reports the Daily Mail. “In women, the hair thins on the top of the crown and usually starts widening through the parting.”

Reported to be hormone related, both men and women suffer from pattern loss. Jolliffe suggested either drug Finasteride [Propecia] or Minoxidil, explaining how the first halts hair loss and the later “optimizes what you have left.”

However, Minoxidil can be bought at any local pharmacy over the counter. According to Messenger, the drug “seems to work by widening the hair follicle, leading to a thicker strand of hair, and by prolonging the growth stage of the hair cycle, resulting in longer hairs and more of them.”

And when hair is falling out and has nothing to do with any of the aforementioned reasons, Daily Mail reports that either ringworm disease or specific styling could be the culprit. Wearing hair too tight or wearing hair extensions can also lead to hair loss. So before getting in a tizzy over hair loss, know when to worry or relax by knowing the facts.

If you or someone you know would like more information about hair loss and how to treat it, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!