Many patients come to me with concerns about hair loss, called alopecia. They ask why is it happening, how can I stop it, and can it be reversed.
Believe it or not, it is normal to shed about 80 to 100 strands of hair a day. Myths about washing your hair too much does not make shedding worse. In fact, washing hair every day may prevent too much hair shedding. Many things clog up hair follicles, such as pollution from the air, debris from skin flaking, skin oils, and a substance called dihydrotestosterone or DHT.
DHT is a sex hormone created when certain enzymes convert testosterone in men’s testes and prostate, and women’s ovaries. DHT is a more powerful hormone than testosterone and is essential for most hair growth — except on the head.
DHT is thought to attach to androgen receptors on hair follicles.
Through an unknown mechanism, it then appears to trigger the receptors to begin miniaturizing the hair. DHT is a vasoconstrictor that, if genetically sensitive to it when it accumulates in the scalp on the top and sides of the head, causes a lack of blood flow to the hair follicle under the scalp and hair starts to shed and not grow back. This condition is called androgenic alopecia.
DHT is a co-mediator of tissue dermal sheath thickening, perifollicular fibrosis, and calcification — three chronic, progressive conditions that can occur along with androgenic alopecia progression. These conditions remodel androgenic alopecia-prone tissues — restricting follicle growth space, oxygen, and nutrient supply, leading to the slow, persistent hair follicle miniaturization characterized in androgenic alopecia.
Men have one pathway: the testis. Women have three pathways: the adrenal glands, fat, and ovaries. Women have a Christmas tree pattern of hair loss that starts at the midline part. It widens and widens. Men have what’s called male pattern baldness, where they can start losing their hair in the back of the head, top, and sides. These are the only areas on the scalp that are sensitive to DHT.
So, what can be done to stop and maybe even reverse hair loss? A full examination with a handheld microscope will help diagnose what type of hair loss is occurring. There are other causes of alopecia, such as autoimmune reactions causing patches of hair loss, chronic stress, medications (chemotherapy), hair extensions, and illnesses such as COVID-19.
After a full medical history is done and a microscopic examination of the scalp, many things can be prescribed. Men’s DHT can be blocked with medication, women’s cannot. Laser cap therapy can help improve circulation to the scalp and reduce DHT accumulation. It then can stop hair loss along with topical treatments, such as minoxidil, that may help restore hair growth.
Micro needling helps increase blood flow to the scalp by infusing it with stimulating growth factors. Most of all, proper nutrition and food sensitivities will be discussed, because what happens inside the body can also create hair loss.
If you or a loved one are experiencing hair loss, you can book a free consultation to determine what is causing the hair loss and the course of treatment to help stop and maybe even restore your hair.
Please call us, Mesa Naturopathic, at (480) 306-8111 and come see us today. Visit our website: mesadr.com.