Hair loss: why does it happen and how to deal with it? Together with trichologist Anna Bezyk, we discussed the 5 most popular questions about hair loss to explain in more detail how to react and what to do about this problem.
- Does seasonal hair loss exist? Is it possible to prepare for or prevent hair loss?
- How much hair loss is considered normal? How many hairs fall out per day?
- When can hair loss be considered baldness?
- How many years does it take for hair to be completely renewed?
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How to stimulate hair growth?
MOLODO: Is there seasonal hair loss? Is it possible to prepare or prevent hair loss?
Anna Bezyk: Seasonal hair loss does not exist - it's a myth. Hair loss has its own causes. Hair loss is a signal of a lack of resources in the body to keep hair on the head and create new hair. There are many reasons, you need to take anamnesis and look for the problem. Everyone will have their own (and more than one).
The most common among them:
- The first and most common cause of this problem is the work of the gastrointestinal tract. This results in the failure to absorb nutrients, which leads to disruption of the entire body.
- Dietary restrictions (strict diets, vegetarianism at an early age).
- Impaired protein absorption.
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Stress, distress syndrome (chronic stress).
- Hormonal disorders.
- Problems with the musculoskeletal system - circulatory disorders (reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients around the hair follicle).
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Low progesterone (estrogen dominance).
- Inflammation of the scalp (seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis).
- Viral infections, antibiotics, anesthesia.
- Inflammation in the body.
- Toxic loads on the body.
- Insulin resistance of PCOS.
- Tight hairstyles that cause inflammation of the follicles.
As a rule, there is no single problem, everything is interconnected. Most often, these are problems with the gastrointestinal tract, which trigger subsequent disorders in the body. Therefore, work with hair loss should begin with diagnostics, tests and an integrated approach, and not with “applying a band-aid”.
MOLODO Talks & Anna Bezyk in a joint episode on hair health.
Preventing or preventing hair loss is not only possible, but necessary.
Basic steps for the health of your hair:
- correction of deficiencies.
- additional work with the body, taking into account individual needs.
- Taking care of the gastrointestinal tract.
- microcirculation of the scalp.
- support for the body after an illness or anesthesia.
- safe cosmeceuticals for care.
- hair procedures that will not harm.
- minimization of hair heat treatment.
- work with stress (balancing the internal state).
- work with a toxic load on the body.
- clean and balanced nutrition.
- high-quality hair washing technique.
- filtering the use of pharmaceuticals.
And then only mesotherapy and auxiliary products used to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth.
If there is no base, there will be no result. It is necessary to choose a preventive approach to the treatment of any trichological problems.
MOLODO: How long is hair loss considered normal? How many hairs can fall out per day?
Anna Bezyk: There is no normal hair loss rate. Losing 100 hairs per day can be a very critical condition for someone. Everyone has their own norm, as everyone has different hair density.
Normally, hair should not fall out. If we do have hair loss, then with proper treatment of the body, it should last no more than 2-4 months, and every month it should become less in number. Important! During the period of hair loss, hair growth should also be active. But this is all subject to proper therapy (external and internal), starting with the cause that led to the loss.
Types of Hair Density. Source: HeraBeauty.
MOLODO: When can hair loss be considered baldness?
Anna Bezyk: Hair thinning is an autoimmune process in the body. It is difficult to recognize it on your own. Over time, we begin to see a significant widening of the central parting and/or thinning of the frontal area compared to the temporal and occipital areas.
A trichoscopy and a detailed history are required. On the trichoscopy, we will look for yellow dots around the follicle, skin tightness, differences in hair diameters (a lot of thinning hair alongside normal hair), and lower hair density.
Hair thinning is a condition of the body that has been ignored for many years and, as a rule, during diagnosis, a number of causes will be identified that led to it. Some will be already in a chronic form.
Hair thinning is a consequence of hair loss, which was very often ignored and corrected only with ampoules and mesotherapy, and never “delved into the cause”. The causes of thinning hair are the same as those of hair loss, only multiplied by two and in a chronic form.
MOLODO: How many years does it take for your hair to completely renew?
Anna Bezyk: With proper therapy, hair can regenerate in 4-6 months, depending on the initial condition. Sometimes it takes 8-12 months, everything is very individual and difficult to predict.
MOLODO: How to stimulate hair growth?
Anna Bezyk: Hair growth should be stimulated according to indications and when there is no hair loss. If you had hair loss, you stopped it, and you see that the hair grows back perfectly on its own, you don't need to stimulate it.
However, if a person sees that hair regrowth is slow, complex therapy should be added:
- Lotion to stimulate hair growth (I recommend a lotion with a herbal composition).
- Mesotherapy, plasma therapy (provided that the person has no contraindications and there are no deficiencies).
- Continuation of the course of vitamins and minerals.
Causes of oily scalp. Detailed explanations by trichologist Anna Bezyk.
Oily scalp.
Inside the follicle is a sebaceous gland. It produces sebum. Sebum is made up of lipids, fats, and fat-like substances, including wax esters and triglycerides. Once the sebaceous glands have made sebum, it leaves the follicle and wraps around the hair fibers to form an oily coating.
Facts You Didn't Know:
- Men have larger sebaceous gland ducts and glands themselves than women.
- The largest sebaceous glands are located on the scalp.
- The skin of the scalp produces 50% of all sebum. The other 50% is distributed throughout the body.
The average rate of sebum production in adults is 1 mg per 10 cm² every three hours. If this rate decreases to less than 0.5 mg per 10 cm², a person begins to suffer from severe dry skin. Conversely, when the rate of sebaceous glands increases to 15 mg per 10 cm², it can lead to discomfort and seborrhea.
Why is it better for the scalp to be oily than dry?
It's all about the lipid barrier. The lipid barrier is a defense of our skin. It protects against moisture loss and helps maintain a healthy microflora on the skin. The lipid barrier is also the fuel (food) for hair follicle cells.
The lipid barrier consists of fats and fatty acids. 40% of them are ceramides, which contain linoleic acid (a fatty acid that is considered “essential”).
Hair Structure in Cross-Section and Its Lipid Composition. Source: MDPI.
A very important component of the lipid barrier is cholesterol. When a person “goes on” a low-fat or fat-free diet, it leads to dry skin (reduced cholesterol intake and deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins). Similarly, impaired bile flow can lead to the same consequences.
A lipid barrier is necessary not only for the skin, but also for the hair. Covering the hair cuticle, it provides reliable protection. If the lipid barrier breaks down, it cannot do its job properly. This means that the skin becomes more vulnerable to harmful substances, more susceptible to dehydration, attack by unfriendly microorganisms, as well as inflammatory and even allergic processes. Therefore, it is better for the skin to be more oily than dry.
6 causes of oily scalp
1. Infrequent washing. If your scalp is oily or prone to oily, and you wash it once every 3-4 days, this will lead to oily seborrhea (sebum accumulation, pathogenic flora, oxidation). The scalp should be washed as it gets dirty!
2. Applying gels, foams, dry shampoos to the scalp. All these products contain alcohols, so if used frequently, they can dry out the skin, which can lead to dry seborrhea or hyperhidrosis (excessive sebum production).
3. Stress. During stress, the synthesis of the hormones cortisol, prolactin, and androgens increases. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands. Stress also negatively affects the immune system and increases oxidation processes in the skin. Therefore, sebum will not only be actively secreted, but will also change its composition (the pH will be more acidic, which can lead to inflammation of the skin and the growth of unwanted microflora).
Keep this for yourself.
- If you have poor quality sleep, you need to have the following tests: insulin, cortisol, prolactin, thyroid hormones. Sexual hormones: androgens, estrogens, progesterone.
- If you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, gallbladder disorders, low acidity, lack of enzymes, dysbiosis, inflammatory diseases), you need to take the following tests: Coprogram + dysbiosis, cholesterol + lipidogram, extended urinalysis + bacterial culture, Liver Tests package. Noma index, ECB, ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract. Nasal and pharyngeal bacterial cultures.
4. Nutrition. You should forget about junk food and add more fiber to your diet. Reduce fast carbohydrates and cut out industrial fats. Reduce the consumption of Omega 6. It is better to eat fruit with the main meal. Drink hot water on an empty stomach and throughout the day. Reduce the consumption of gluten, simple sugars and dairy products.
5. Improperly selected shampoo. Volume shampoos or shampoos from the mass market - all these products contain aggressive surfactants, films and alcohols, which eventually lead to disruption of the sebaceous gland.
6. Taking certain medications can lead to oily scalp (e.g. oral contraceptives).
Oily scalp. Effective work with the consequences.
In order to work with the cause, you need to diagnose it. To do this, you need to return to the paragraph in the previous part: “Causes of oily scalp” and analyze it all.
After passing the tests, you need a competent interpretation and prescription if there are problems. As a rule, the onset of all health problems begins with a gastrointestinal disease, so you should start solving the problem in a team with a preventive gastroenterologist and nutritionist.
What is consequence management?
- Analyze your home care and change it if necessary.
- Change your scalp washing tactics, i.e. wash your scalp as it gets dirty.
- Take a course of dermatological peelings. Sometimes after peeling, you feel like there is more sebum. This is because the peeling softens and removes the “wax caps” at the mouth of the hair follicles (frozen sebum mixed with dead keratinocytes). As a result, sebum flows out of the sebaceous gland better and more freely. However, if this is the case, it is not a problem, but a natural process.
- Use of Darsonval (a device for physiotherapeutic procedures that affects the skin and tissues of the body with the help of a high-frequency pulsed alternating current. It is used to improve blood circulation and stimulate metabolic processes). This procedure dries the scalp.
- You need to take care of superficial washing. Use two shampoos, one for the scalp and the other for the lengths. And indelible products should be applied at a distance from the root zone.
Silk turban for gentle hair care after washing. Use it instead of a regular towel.
Nutrition, gastrointestinal health, lifestyle, and emotional background play a very important role in the regulation of the sebaceous glands.
Dry, sensitive scalp. Detailed explanations by trichologist Anna Bezyk.
The skin performs several very important functions for the body and the skin itself. At the same time, the main protective function is provided by the epidermis. The epidermis is the highest layer of the skin, a barrier that protects it from aggressive attacks of many microorganisms and allergens, moisture loss, as well as external mechanical and chemical influences.
The epidermal barrier consists of:
- A hydrolipid mantle covering the skin surface.
- Lipid-epidermal barrier.
The skin has its own microbiome - an invisible ecosystem of living microorganisms that is an integral part of the skin. Microorganisms perform a protective function on our skin.
Hydrolipid or water-fatty mantle is an invisible film on the surface of the skin that is formed from a mixture of exfoliating horny scales, sweat, sebum, as well as organic acids and microflora. Its main task is to prevent various external aggressors from penetrating inside.
The health of the skin, its quality, color, tone, moisture, directly depends on the state of the epidermal barrier. Many dermatological problems arise precisely because of a violation of the protective barrier.
Epidermal barrier. Source: DermalogicaUK.
Why is the skin's protective barrier broken?
- The pH changes towards an alkaline environment, due to cleansing the skin with aggressive products that contain surfactants, alkalis, alcohols, acids and other ingredients that have a detrimental effect on the skin.
- Using a scrub on the skin. Abrasive products are prescribed only by a specialist, after an ocular examination of the face, body and scalp (abrasives should not be used on the scalp), as often the patient does not know his or her skin type and contraindications to it.
- Applying acids or peels at home that are not suitable for the skin type, without applying the necessary moisturizing.
- Use of incompatible products: acids with acids, acids without moisturizing.
- Lack of essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in the diet, which are necessary for the synthesis of “protective” lipids. Disorders of the gastrointestinal organs.
- The skin cannot have a healthy microbiome if it has an unhealthy gut microbiome!
Later in the article, you will read scientific evidence about hair loss. This information will help you to understand: is hair loss a modern problem or has it been a problem people have faced before? Read the article about the differences in opinions in the XX century and the XXI century: How Hair Loss Statistics Have Evolved Over the Last 100 Years, by Luke Worthington
Hair loss has been interpreted in different ways at different times:
- Early 20th century: limited data and stigma: In the early 1900s, data on hair loss were limited. Hair loss was often seen as a personal flaw rather than a disease. Men in particular were expected to accept hair loss as a natural part of aging.
- Mid-20th century: The active phase of sales and advertising of hair tonics and miracle hair loss remedies became unrestrained. Hair loss statistics were still not well documented, so many myths and misconceptions about the causes and treatment of hair loss persisted.
- Late 20th century: increased awareness and treatment options. Scientific research began to “shed light” on the biological mechanisms of conditions such as male pattern baldness.
- The 21st century: data-driven insights and diverse approaches. Today, thanks to advances in medical research and technology, the understanding of hair loss has become more detailed. Hair loss statistics are now more accurate. Scientists also observe changes in society's attitudes toward hair loss. More people are seeking treatment and “accepting” their natural hair.
Stages of hair growth. Source: HealthLine.
Unexpected facts about hair loss
Research shows that today's youth are experiencing hair loss earlier than previous generations. In China, 20-year-olds are balding faster than ever. San Francisco-based dermatologist Dr. Andrea Hui notes that both men and women start dealing with this problem as early as 18 years old. And hairdresser Angelo David from New York says that more and more young clients are complaining about thinning hair.
The main reasons are hormonal changes, autoimmune diseases, thyroid problems, and stress. But diet also plays a significant role. A study conducted by Dr. Emily L. Guo of Baylor College of Medicine found that protein, zinc, and vitamin D deficiencies negatively affect hair growth.
However, not all experts believe that the problem is becoming more serious. Dr. Ariel Levitan, author of the book “Vitamin Solution”, notes that hair loss is more of a concern for older generations. It's just that millennials are seeking help more often than before.
Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear: today's youth cannot ignore hair loss and are actively seeking solutions.
Conclusion
Over the past 100 years, our view of hair loss has changed significantly. From limited data to effective treatment options. We've come a long way.
Hair loss is always a signal from the body about a problem. It is usually related to gastrointestinal function, nutrition, stress, lifestyle, and deficiencies. To solve the problem or prevent hair loss, you need to study the characteristics and contraindications of your scalp and hair.
When you understand all these points, you will be able to choose a quality care product that will help you take care of your hair at home. You should also find a specialist to help you solve the problem of hair loss. Remember, self-treatment does not help, but only exacerbates all the disorders that exist in your body.
