What Causes Balding?

Many people experiencing hair loss may wonder what the most common cause is. Androgenetic Alopecia accounts for almost all cases of hair loss in men and women, approximately 95% to be exact. In men, this is more often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. It is known for causing a receding hair line and overall baldness on the top of the scalp. Women, however, usually don’t go bald from androgenetic alopecia. Their hair loss is characterized by thinning of the hair, spread evenly over the entire scalp.

What causes androgenetic alopecia in the first place? Unfortunately it is not something that can easily be prevented. Androgenetic alopecia is caused by hormones, or more specifically, testosterone. Men and women both produce testosterone, although men produce more than women. This is why balding is not as significant in women. Testosterone is sometimes converted to dihydrotestosterone (commonly abbreviated to DHT), which is a male sex hormone.  DHT shrinks hair follicles which can result in the follicle not receiving the necessary nutrients or blood flow. This can cause the hair follicle to die, and as a result, will stop the growth of any 

 I see many patients that have, or think they have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Hair loss can be an early indicator

Do you think you have  PCOS? Here are the signs to look out for.

Period problems: PCOS often comes to light during puberty, as 75 per cent of those with the disease will experience period problems where either their cycle is infrequent, irregular or absent and when it does arrive it may be particularly heavy.

Many teenagers use the contraceptive pill to control their periods and so this can often lead to a delay in the diagnoses of PCOS as it is not until they stop using the pill and find their periods cease or become irregular that they present the symptoms of PCOS.

Excess hairiness and acne: PCOS sufferers often have higher than normal levels of androgens, which are a group of male hormones, such as testosterone usually found in lower levels in women. These can lead to symptoms such as acne and excess body hair, which most often cause excess hairiness and acne.

Weight gain: Around 40 per cent of sufferers are overweight. The latest research has also shown that many women with PCOS are insulin resistant – a condition, which makes weight gain easy and weight loss hard. Not all women with PCOS have weight problems, but those who do are likely to put on weight centrally causing an apple shape opposed to a pear shape.

Infertility: A woman with PCOS doesn’t menstruate regularly because her ovaries don’t release an egg every month. This is caused by a problem with the hormones that trigger ovulation every month, which means some women will have more difficulty getting pregnant. And if you don’t ovulate, you don’t get a surge of progesterone in the second half of your cycle and instead your oestrogen levels stay the same. This may cause hot flushes and dizziness.

Treatment: This can sometimes be difficult and is centred around controlling the symptoms, as opposed to curing the condition. If the symptoms are not severe, treatment is not always necessary. Otherwise, drugs to reduce the amount of androgens (male hormone) are usually prescribed.

New evidence suggests that using medications that lower insulin levels in the blood may be effective in restoring menstruation and reducing some of the health risks associated with PCOS.

Many non-medical approaches can relieve or reduce specific symptoms including: a low-carbohydrate diet designed to lose or maintain weight, electrolysis to reduce unwanted hair or exploring natural, herbal methods of relief from the condition.

Some people wonder if the food they eat could be causing their hair loss. It is actually true, somewhat, that eating too much fast food can contribute to hair loss. Processed foods and fast food alike usually provide little to no nutrition required for healthy hair growth or the physique in general. Too much fast food can even inhibit your body’s ability to process nutrients from healthy food that is consumed. Foods that are high in sugar, salt, or fat can affect the health of your hair. When these foods are consumed in excess, especially when combined, they can lead to noticeable physical changes including hair loss. A diet that is full of these foods can lack the vitamins and minerals that are needed to stay healthy. If your hair is not getting the right nutrients, your hair health can noticeably degrade.

A healthy diet of diverse proteins, whole grains, and leafy vegetables is recommended to increase your natural sources of vitamins in your diet. Some foods that actually contribute to healthy hair are lean meats, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and fish oil.