Straightening your hair does not directly lead to hair loss, however the heat from such processes can cause damage and weaken the hair. With frequent use, heat from these products can dry out hair and cause breakage. A cuticle layer covers each hair on your head, protecting two inner layers. The cuticles of healthy hairs tightly overlap, thus protecting the inner layers from the damaging elements of nature. Damage from heat-emitting products separate this protective layer and invite damage and dryness to the hair. This dryness in turn may cause the hair to break and lose its shine. Continue reading “Straightening, can it cause hair fall?”
Eating disorders and your hair
More than half the population in the developed world struggles with excess weight, but another, smaller segment is afflicted with eating disorders of a different kind, anorexia nervosa and bulimia. These diseases are characterized by severe and often dangerous weight loss: anorexia by simple undernourishment, bulimia by alternating bouts of compulsive overeating and purging (through self-induced vomiting or the use of diuretics, laxatives and enemas).
In some cases with either disease, the individuals will engage in excessive exercise. Indeed, proprietors of health clubs are told to look out for members who use cardiovascular equipment for extended periods of time in correlation with related behaviors and appearance. Both are considered medical-psychological disorders, and in extreme cases the individual can die of her or his disease. Anorexia and bulimia occur most frequently in young females, as young as 9 years old and up through the mid-40s, although one out of eight victims are males of similar ages. An estimated 8 million in the Middle East suffer from one form or the other. Continue reading “Eating disorders and your hair”
Blondes, do they have more fun or just more hair?
The color of your hair does not determine if you will experience hair loss or not. Blondes characteristically have more hairs per head than do red heads but these hairs are generally finer in texture. Blondes and brunettes both have the same chance of balding. It all comes down to genetics. Blondes who got their hair color through a process of bleaching their hair however, may experience hair loss due to a reason other than genetics. The chemicals and dyes in hair coloring can affect the health of your hair. Some chemicals dry out your hair so extremely that it may actually break off. If your hair is badly damaged, it can lead to visible thinning and even bald patches.
If you believe have experienced hair loss due to genetics or chemicals, you should see your Trichologist as soon as possible to correctly diagnose you. If they determine it is not due to a medical issue, you may want to begin looking for hair loss treatments
Zinc, does it help?
Zinc actually does play an important role in the health of one’s hair. The average adult body contains anywhere from two to three grams of Zinc. 63% of the body’s Zinc resides in the bone and muscle, while another 20% is in your skin tissue. When zinc levels are low, testosterone levels may also drop. DHT levels have also been known to rise when zinc levels are low. DHT can inhibit the growth of hair by blocking hair follicles from receiving the required nutrients and blood flow they need to live. This, in turn, can lead to hair loss.
If you think you are experiencing hair loss due to a zinc deficiency, DHD recommends you see your Trichologist as soon as possible to best diagnose your case of hair loss
Biotin the Myth
There are a number of herbal supplements available that claim to work as a hair loss treatment. Biotin has not had any clinical studies on human beings showing that it combats hair loss or regrows hair. Biotin is a nutritional supplement that has been around for years and is taken orally. There is some preliminary evidence that hair loss can be reduced when biotin is taken by mouth in combination with zinc while a cream containing the chemical compound clobetasol propionate is applied to the skin. But the finding is not conclusive.
Currently there are only 3 hair loss medications on the market: finasteride (marketed as Propecia), which you take orally, Revivogen and Tricomax, which are applied topically