Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common problem, affecting millions of men and women. It can significantly impact patients’ confidence.

Common causes include hormonal imbalances, diet, and medical illnesses. Especially in men, problems with the hormone testosterone are a major cause of hair loss. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which is present in the hair follicles, converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the most potent androgen which promotes androgenetic alopecia, the common pattern of male baldness or premature hair loss.

Hair loss in women is often difficult to diagnose and can be caused by many factors, including alopecia areata, hormone imbalances, menopause, dietary protein and amino acid deficiency, intestinal parasites, damage from other hair loss treatments, and stress.

Hormonal issues often undergird hair loss. For instance, thyroid dysfunction is a common cause of sudden hair loss in women. When the thyroid gland is over- or underactive, the hair may fall out because the follicles are particularly sensitive to concentrations of hormones derived from the thyroid gland. These hormones have a large influence on the cellular metabolism of scalp proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and minerals. Hair loss due to hormonal imbalance is also seen often in pregnant women. During pregnancy, there is a high level of estrogen hormones, but after childbirth there is a rapid fall in the estrogen level, and large numbers of hair follicles may fall out. Long-term hair loss after pregnancy may indicate hormonal imbalance.

Nutrition also has an impact on hair follicles and takes on many forms of over or under absorbed nutrients.  Americans’ high-fat, high-animal protein and high-salt diet can damage the kidneys and create acidic blood, thereby leading to hair loss. Also, the typical American diet is low in vitamins and the individual can either under or over absorb these nutrients.  Suboptimal appetite, digestion, and absorption are also experienced by adults with zinc deficiency or those who take excessive amounts of vitamins such as vitamin A over long periods, which can be toxic to the body. Some people who take up crash diets to achieve rapid weight loss can experience malnutrition from eating meals which are low in protein, vitamins, and minerals. When the body does not consume or absorb adequate nutrients, it will naturally try to economize by shifting growing hairs into resting phase. Since hair is made up of keratin, a form of protein, and it requires several minerals and proteins to make the hair, during protein scarcity periods the hair fibers are forcibly sent into a resting phase, and hair shedding occurs after a period of time. The condition can be reversed and prevented by eating a nutritious diet.

Illnesses can also cause hair loss.  High fever, severe infection, and flu are some of the illnesses which may cause hair follicles to enter a resting phase. Some cancer treatments also prevent the dividing of hair follicle cells and consequently halt hair growth; hair becomes thin and breaks off, gradually leading to hair loss. This hair loss starts within one to three weeks after the beginning of the chemotherapy treatment, and patients can lose upwards of ninety percent of their hair. Other medical conditions that cause hair loss include fungus, gastrointestinal problems, and dermatological disorders.

There are also natural reasons for the condition, such as improper hair care, which can cause severe hair loss. For example, traction alopecia is a condition in which the hair fibers are pulled out from the hair follicle by a hairstyle that pulls on the roots of the hair fibers. Sometimes the strong chemicals that are used in hair treatments are kept on the hair for a longer period than they should be, and these can damage hair as well.

It is important to take swift action on hair loss before the hair follicles are too damaged to regrow. Taking a patient’s medical history and lifestyle into account, Dr. Roberts uses a multifaceted approach. Her services include customized medical nutrition, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments with microneedling (learn more here), light treatments, topical prescriptions, high-quality topicals, prescription serums, hormone and thyroid optimization, and more. These solutions are intended to be used in tandem to optimize the chance of success.

Disclaimer: These testimonials do not represent a guarantee of medical improvement, and results may vary depending on the patient.