The Truth About Hair Loss and Baldness-and How to Help Stop It
It's normal to lose a few strands of hair when you comb your hair. But does it come as a shock when you start noticing hair all over your home? We totally understand your concerns about hair loss. Hair loss is common in middle-aged men and many women, and it can have a profound emotional and psychological impact on a person. So can those baldness treatments that are promoted as miracle cures.
"There was a man who was a regular on my radio show whose head was deformed by a botched hair transplant," says Spencer Kobren, founder and president of the American Hair Loss Association and author of The Bald Truth: The Complete Guide to Preventing and Treating Hair Loss. "He purposely became a New York City police officer so he could wear a hat." And he turned down a promotion so he could continue to work as a patrol officer and wear a hat.
Forty percent of those suffering from hair loss are women, and the phenomenon can be particularly devastating for them. "For men, hair loss in middle age is expected, and they can still be seen as attractive," says Kobren. "But for women, it's the end."
This makes women particularly vulnerable to various hair loss "cures" and the potential for spending a lot of money, time and emotional investment on ineffective treatments.
"A lot of men are suicidal," says David Kingsley, author of The Hair Loss Cure. "It's very traumatic for women. It affects their social lives and their lives with their spouses or partners."
Hair loss treatments are a $3.5 billion industry-as big as the over-the-counter cold and flu market. "But about 99% of treatments are completely ineffective," says Kobren.
So what triggers midlife hair loss, what really helps, and what's just a gimmick?
Causes of Hair Loss
The most effective treatment for hair loss depends on what caused the hair to fall out in the first place. According to Kingsley, there are many reasons why men and women lose their hair, including:
1. Genetics
Hair loss due to inherited genes is a natural condition. It's called androgenic alopecia [2] and it's very common in men. It's also known as male pattern hair loss or hereditary pattern hair loss.
2. Hormonal changes
Women experience hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or when switching birth control. Hormonal changes can affect the hair growth cycle, leading to increased hair loss.
Childbirth is extremely stressful on the body, and may cause many hair follicles to enter a resting or catagen phase. Telogen effluvium [3] is the term that describes this type of scalp hair loss. But don't worry, the condition is completely reversible.
3. Medication and radiation therapy
Medications such as chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, and arthritis and high blood pressure medications can cause hair loss. Radiation therapy, used to treat cancer, can cause hair loss.
4. Stress
Whether you're stressed out by work or personal issues, or because of your hair loss itself, stop it! Stress deprives your hair of necessary nutrients, weakening it. Studies show that some people develop hair loss after prolonged periods of stress or emotional trauma. The solution? Do yoga, meditation, or exercise to maintain a healthy mind and body.
5. Excessive hair styling
No one likes to have the same hairstyle over and over again, right? In order to look stylish and trendy, we put our hair through heat styling and other harmful styling techniques. Procedures like bleaching, curling, straightening, etc. can cause hair breakage.
6. Hair Products
Harsh chemicals in hair products like shampoo can cause hair loss. It is important to choose a mild shampoo that is right for you. Know your hair before you decide on a shampoo and conditioner.
7. Infections
Fungal and bacterial skin infections [5] can reduce the amount of hair on your scalp, leading to baldness or thinning hair. Treating conditions like syphilis can restore your hair growth.
8. Vitamin Deficiency
Hair is made up of proteins [6], amino acids, and peptide bonds. To nourish these structures, it is important to consume a balanced diet. A diet lacking protein (animal or plant source), iron, zinc, and vitamins C and B can lead to hair loss.
9. Pollution
A study found that dust and fuel particles in the air can affect the scalp and interfere with hair proteins. Air pollution is one of the causes of premature hair loss and graying of hair. Check out SkinKraft's personalized hair care to save your hair from environmental damage.
10. Lifestyle Habits
Bad lifestyle habits, such as lack of sleep, working outdoors in the sun, and smoking, can contribute to hair loss. These disrupt the body's mechanisms for making healthy hair.
How to Stop and Control Hair Loss?
1. Medication
If you've been trying medications for hair growth, you're familiar with minoxidil. Minoxidil [7] is an over-the-counter medication that is believed to help hair grow. Be careful with concentration when using it; high doses can cause scalp irritation and acne.
Phenylephrine is another medication that helps hair follicles shrink, thereby preventing hair from breaking when pulled.
Clascoterone powder, also known as CB-O3-01, is a topical and peripheral selective androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor commonly used to treat hair loss. However, this new chemical entity is also being developed to treat acne. Yes, CB-03-01 is a steroidal antiandrogen. CB-03-01 acts as an androgen receptor antagonist and has been approved for topical treatment of acne. It is considered a "first in class" drug based on the results of the US FDA review of its 1% concentration for the treatment of acne and the subsequent development of a higher concentration solution for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.
CB-03-01 (1% concentration) is known to target androgen receptors at the site of application, inhibiting the local effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a key driver of acne lesion development. While the specific mechanism of action of CB-03-01 is unknown, laboratory studies have shown that the compound competes with androgens (specifically DHT) for binding to androgen receptors in sebaceous glands and hair follicles. It inhibits lipid production in cultured sebocytes and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines affected by androgens.