Healthy Hair – Through Thick & Thin

We all have a bad hair day from time to time. Whether it’s flat, frizzy, oily, dry or just doesn’t want to stay where you want it. This can leave you feeling pretty drab, and losing hair is even worse, as you have less and less hair to have a bad hair day with!

- Daleen Totten

Hair loss is common, and can be caused by anything from illness to pregnancy. In men it generally occurs in a specific pattern from the front through to the crown, while women have thinning of the hair over the whole scalp. Some men are predestined for male-pattern baldness simply because of their genetics, while women can lose hair due to a number of factors such as stress or changes in hormone levels.

CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS

The major culprit in men is the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is directly related to and affected by the level of testosterone in the bloodstream. It blocks the growth of hair and is the cause of most male baldness. Hair loss related to hormones (androgens) and genetics is known as androgenetic alopecia. It is extremely common, and about half of all people experience inherited hair loss by about 50 years of age.

Poor blood circulation, poor nutrition, chemotherapy and stress are important overall causes of hair loss. It is common after pregnancy, and can be caused by side effects of medicines such as those for reducing cholesterol, acne and depression. Or if dental amalgam fillings have been removed without a rubber dam being used to prevent the mercury-containing fillings from falling on the tongue. If you have sudden unexplained hair loss, have your thyroid function checked.