Concerned about Hair Loss?
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Concerned about Hair Loss?
Have you noticed an increas- self-esteem. This seems espe- health. Sudden or excessive hair
ing number of hairs in your sink cially true for women. In The loss can indicate an underlying
or hairbrush? Are you begin- Hormone Solution: Stay Younger problem, such as a vitamin or
ning to see more of your scalp Longer, Dr. Thierry Hertoghe mineral deficiency, a hormone
when you look in the mirror? If notes that a hormone imbalance imbalance, a toxicity brought on
so, you are not alone! Millions is just as likely to feed fear and by something in your environ-
of men and women experience erode self-confidence as it is to ment, or too much stress in your
hair loss as they age, sometimes contribute to hair loss. He says, life.
starting as early as their 20s or “Addressing any imbalance will
Sometimes the cause for the hair
30s. Depending on the reason not only improve the situation
loss can be treated or eliminat-
for your hair loss, you may be on top of your head, but within
ed, resulting in new hair growth
able to reverse it or at least slow it as well.”
and healthier hair. Those in-
it down.
dividuals who have a genetic
First, let’s recognize that some
Possible Causes predisposition for early or ex-
hair loss is normal. Hair experts Because hair cells are re- cessive hair loss may not be able
estimate that a loss of approxi- plenished more quickly and to fight it, but they can at least
mately 50 to 150 strands of visibly than most other cells, try to slow it down by being
hair per day represents normal the condition of your hair is aware of factors that affect hair
shedding for the human hair like a barometer of your overall health.
growth cycle. So, some hair in
the sink or shower is nothing to
be alarmed about. Sudden hair
loss, or thinning hair over your
entire head (and possibly other
parts of your body), or clumps
of hair falling out are consid-
ered unusual, and should be
discussed with your healthcare
practitioner. Depending on the
severity of your symptoms, he
or she may recommend seeing a
dermatologist or a hair special- Healthy Hair Thinning Hair Patchy Hair Loss
ist, known as a trichologist.
The fear of losing more hair is
usually what prompts people Hair loss can take a variety of forms, including thinning hair as a result
to seek medical attention. Al- of excessive hair loss, or circular bald patches that appear where clumps
though some people may be of hair have fallen out. Any excessive hair loss should be mentioned to
driven by vanity, for others your healthcare practitioner, as it may be a sign of a medical condition
hair loss is devastating to their or nutritional deficiency.
Continued on Page 2
1Hair Conditions and Possible Factors
The follwoing conditions may precede or occur in conjunction with hair loss. Paying attention to
your hair condition and treating early symptoms may allow you to prevent or slow down hair loss.
Dry, brittle hair n Protein deficiency, possibly due to poor protein digestion
n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin A, sulfur, silicon, or zinc
n Imbalance involving thyroid hormones
Oily hair n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in zinc, vitamin B6, riboflavin, or folic acid
Coarse hair n Vitamin A deficiency and possible hypothyroidism (vitamin A
metabolism requires adequate levels of thyroid hormones)
n Protein deficiency
Split ends or untamed hair n Iron deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc
Loss of texture or shine n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium, or zinc
n Imbalance involving growth hormone
Premature graying n Usually related to stress
n Hormone imbalance (probably related to stress)
n Deficiencies in B vitamins, sulfur, copper, or folic acid
n Imbalance involving testosterone, growth hormone, or ACTH
(a pituitary hormone)
Scalp disorders n Fungal infection, accelerated by a high carbohydrate diet
(dandruff, seborrhea, psoriasis) n Disruption of local and systemic immunity
n Aggravated by stress
n Essential fatty acid deficiency
n Deficiencies in B vitamins, zinc, biotin, selenium, or copper
(especially if sensitive to the sun)
Excessive hair loss n Poor blood flow or poor circulation to the scalp
n Deficiencies in protein, essential fatty acids, B vitamins,
silicon, and zinc
n Imbalance involving thyroid, growth hormone
(especially if hair loss is all over), or ACTH
Patchy hair loss n Metal poisoning
n Deficiencies in folic acid and zinc
n Imbalance involving ACTH or cortisol
Pubic or armpit hair loss n Imbalance involving DHEA
Hair loss on top of head n Imbalance involving cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, or testosterone
Balding all over the head n Imbalance involving thyroid hormones, DHEA, or estrogens
Continued on Page 3
2Different hair conditions such therapy, and others. Limiting preventing the proper absorp-
as dandruff or breakage— prior or eliminating your exposure to tion of proteins, vitamins, and
to or in conjunction with hair these toxins and harsh products minerals necessary for healthy
loss—can be early warning sig- should be one of the first things hair. Recognizing and treating
nals for a variety of different to try if you have excessive hair an infection, especially a scalp
problems or deficiencies (see loss. infection, is critical to prevent-
chart on page 2). For example, ing total hair loss.
Many of the ingredients listed
coarse or brittle hair may indi-
in shampoos, conditioners, and People often lose some hair
cate low thyroid function. Scalp
other hair treatments are known about 2 to 4 months after the
disorders such as dandruff,
allergenics. These ingredients start of a severe or prolonged
seborrhea, or psoriasis may in-
can cause dermatitis in some illness, or major surgery. This
dicate a fungal infection that has
people, and may even be toxic. type of hair loss is most likely
been accelerated by nutritional
due to the stress of the illness or
deficiencies.
Medical Conditions surgery and is also temporary,
In addition, environmental con- Various diseases and medi- with hair returning as the body
ditions and harsh hair products cal conditions can also lead to heals and regains its balance.
can damage healthy hair and thinning hair or bald patches. Hair loss due to chemotherapy
accelerate hair loss brought on Thyroid disease (discussed is also usually temporary, with
by other factors. For example, below) is one of the most com- new hair beginning to grow
heavy metals and toxic chemi- mon explanations for hair loss. once the treatment is stopped.
cals can build up in your system It may also occur with diabetes
and interfere with your body’s and autoimmune diseases such Women typically lose some of
absorption of nutrients or pro- as lupus and HIV. Sudden, se- their hair shortly after pregnan-
duction of hormones. (In fact, vere hair loss may indicate a cy and during menopause, most
hair testing is one of the EPA’s liver dysfunction or other seri- likely as a result of changing
means of testing for toxins.) ous illness, so it is wise to bring hormone levels. Most healthcare
Many people also participate it to the attention of your health- practitioners will first explore
in hobbies or have occupations care practitioner. hormone imbalance as a pos-
that expose them to toxins, in- sible cause for hair loss, if there
cluding painting, arts and crafts, Parasites, such as ringworm, is no other obvious explanation.
landscaping or gardening (un- and fungal or yeast infections Fortunately, when this proves to
less you are careful to use only can also cause hair loss. If left be true, hormone treatments can
organic products), electri- untreated, these conditions can usually reverse the trend.
cal work, soldering, radiation rob the body of nutrients by
Prescription Drugs
Many different prescription
drugs identify hair loss as a po-
Depending on the reason
tential side-effect. If it is listed,
some people may be affect-
ed, while others are not, due
for your hair loss, you may to subtle differences in body
chemistry.
be able to reverse it or at
Medications known to pro-
mote hair loss include many
commonly prescribed drugs, in-
least slow it down. cluding birth control pills, blood
thinners, those that lower cho-
lesterol, antidepressants,
Continued on Page 4
3anticonvulsants, and drugs
for high blood pressure, to
name just a few. Healthy hair requires good
Nutrition and Digestion
Healthy hair requires good nutrition, involving a wide
nutrition, involving a wide
variety of vitamins, trace
minerals, amino acids, and
variety of vitamins, trace
essential fatty acids (see chart
on page 2). As a result, poor
nutrition will have a fairly
minerals, amino acids, and
essential fatty acids.
immediate and obvious effect
on hair health. Starvation di-
eting, rapid weight loss, and
eating disorders often trigger
some hair breakage or hair
loss.
Dr. Hertoghe provides more People who lose hair during
Sometimes just introducing specific information in his a period of hormonal im-
different foods into your diet, book regarding the vari- balance may be particularly
such as eating a lot of fried ous nutrients required and sensitive to changes in their
food over a period of days the recommended doses for hormone levels, even though
when you’re not used to it, maintaining healthy hair. their hormone test results
can change the appearance may fall within the “normal”
and health of your hair. Improper digestion is anoth-
range. This is especially true
er factor that can contribute
Dr. Cass Ingram explains that of thyroid hormones.
to hair loss. Dr. Wright ex-
the vegetable oils commonly plains that a lack of pepsin Hair loss is often associated
used to fry foods can block (an enzyme essential for pro- with a thyroid problem and
the absorption of compounds tein digestion) will interfere is typically one of the first
critical to hair health. Dr. Jon- with the absorption of key clues that your thyroid gland
athan Wright concurs, saying nutrients. According to Dr. may not be working prop-
that “margarine and hydro- Ingram, “To have healthy erly. Ironically, hair loss is
genated fats are detrimental hair, all eight essential ami- associated with both an ex-
to fatty acid metabolism and no acids are required. The cess (hyperthyroidism) and a
should be strictly avoided.” hair, being mostly protein, deficiency (hypothyroidism)
Healthy hair requires the will readily reflect poor pro- of thyroid hormones.
proper combination of vi- tein status.” Many elderly
tamins, minerals, and trace people have problems with One of the possible explana-
elements. For example, hair digestion, which can acceler- tions for hair loss associated
loss can result from too much ate age-related hair loss. with low thyroid function
vitamin A, not enough iron has to do with the drop in
(anemia), low levels of zinc, body temperature that is
Hormones
and a host of other deficien- typical of hypothyroidism.
cies or excesses. The difficulty Women often report hair Even a slightly lower body
in providing proper nutri- loss as a result of a change temperature can slow or stop
tional balance is hinted at by in hormone balance, such as body processes, including
the number of nutrients iden- occurs with pregnancy and the chemical reactions that
tified in the chart on page 2. menopause. stimulate hair growth.
Continued on Page 5
4balance to keep your hair
Hormone Imbalances Related to Hair Health healthy. See the chart on
(adapted from Hertoghe) page 5 for a summary of ad-
ditional hormones known
ACTH: Circular, patchy hair loss; balding, hair to have an impact on hair
turning gray or white growth and loss.
Cortisol: Patchy hair loss; in women, hair loss
on top of head; unwanted body hair Treatments
DHEA: Balding all over the head; in women, The hair loss treatment in-
hair loss in pubic area or armpits dustry is booming, along
Estrogens: Balding all over the head; in women, with the aging baby boom-
hair loss on top of head; unwanted ers. Unfortunately, many of
body hair the so-called treatments are
scams that simply do not
Growth Hormone: Thin, wispy hair; hair that has lost its work. There is no “quick fix”
wave, body, or shine; hair thinning on to natural hair recovery.
top of head; hair loss around the ears;
graying hair There are two FDA-
approved drugs for
Progesterone: Balding on top of the head; in women, treating hair loss. The first is
hair loss on top of head; unwanted Rogaine® (minoxidil), which
body hair appears to work by increas-
Testosterone: Balding on top of the head; gray- ing circulation to the scalp.
ing hair; in men, losing body hair on It is available without a pre-
abdomen, legs, chest, and having a scription and can be used
sparse beard by men and women. The
second is Propecia® (finaste-
Thyroid Hormones: Dry, brittle, slow-growing hair; balding ride), which is a smaller dose
all over the head of a drug called Proscar®,
which is used for treating an
enlarged prostate.
Dr. Hertoghe reports that and the estrogens) that leads
Rogaine seems to work for
women who experience to hair loss, rather than an
some people, but must be
hair loss on the top of their excess or deficiency of one
used continuously to main-
heads (a pattern that is usu- specific hormone.
tain results.
ally more common in men),
Almost any hormone imbal-
tend to have deficiencies in Propecia also seems to pro-
ance can have an effect on
estrogen hormones and pro- mote hair growth for some
hair health because of the in-
gesterone. He also suggests men (it is not recommended
tricate relationships that exist
that low cortisol is another for women, and does not ap-
among the various hormones
factor to consider, because pear to work for women).
that regulate and control our
that deficiency can lead to However, serious and irre-
body functions.
an excess in DHEA and tes- versible side effects affecting
tosterone, which suppresses Hormones affect the absorp- sexual function, emotional
production of estrogens and tion of nutrients, the body’s well-being and memory loss
progesterone. He also notes growth processes, and near- are coming to light, result-
that it is often an imbalance ly all aspects of health, so it ing in class action lawsuits in
among the sex hormones is important to pursue and Israel and Canada, so it is a
(testosterone, progesterone, maintain optimum hormone dangerous tradeoff.
Continued on Page 6
5Topical hormone treatments show some prom- References
ise for treating hair loss. Some practitioners
are now requesting pharmacies to add pro- n The Hormone Solution: Stay Younger Lon-
gesterone to shampoos, and there is research ger by Thierry Hertoghe, MD; Harmony
suggesting that melatonin in shampoo may Books; New York, NY; 2002.
also help reduce hair loss and foster new hair n How to Eat Right and Live Longer by Cass
growth. A European study suggests that topical Ingram, MD; Knowledge House Publish-
application of estrogen could also be a possible ers; Buffalo Grove, IL; 2001.
treatment for pattern baldness in both men and n Dr. Wright’s Guide to Healing with Nutrition
women. by Jonathan V. Wright, MD; Keats Pub-
Most treatments that deal with hair loss, espe- lishing; New Canaan, CT; 1993.
cially hormone therapies, tend to work very n ”Adverse Side Effects of 5-alpha-Re-
slowly. Although you may feel other benefi- ductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent
cial effects from the treatment relatively soon, Diminished Libido and Erectile Dys-
new hair growth may take months. While you function and Depression in a Subset of
are undergoing treatment, Dr. Hertoghe rec- Patients” by A.M. Traish, PhD, et al; The
ommends against the temptation to wear a wig Journal of Sexual Medicine; Volume 8, Issue
because it “slows down the blood flow to the 3, March 2011.
scalp, preventing full effectiveness of the help-
ful hormones.”
Conclusion
Most hair loss can be corrected if the cause can
be identified—and the sooner, the better—but
proper testing is essential. Guessing based on
symptoms can make matters worse or lead to
a misdiagnosis because an excess of a nutrient
or hormone can sometimes generate the same
symptoms as a deficiency. Work with your
healthcare practitioner to determine the cause,
and you are more likely to find an effective
treatment.
Connections is a publication of Women’s International Pharmacy, which is dedicated to the education and manage-
ment of PMS, menopause, infertility, postpartum depression, and other hormone-related conditions and therapies.
This publication is distributed with the understanding that it does not constitute medical advice for individual problems.
Although material is intended to be accurate, please seek proper medical advice from a competent healthcare professional.
Publisher: Constance Kindschi Hegerfeld, Executive VP, Women’s International Pharmacy
Co-Editors: Julie Johnson and Carol Petersen, RPh, CNP; Women’s International Pharmacy
Writer: Kathleen McCormick, McCormick Communications Illustrator: Amelia Janes, Midwest Educational Graphics
Copyright © October 2013, Women’s International Pharmacy. This newsletter may not be reproduced or distributed
without the permission of Women’s International Pharmacy.
®
For more information, please visit www.womensinternational.com or call (800) 279-5708.
Women’s International Pharmacy | Madison, WI 53718 | Youngtown, AZ 85363
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