Help for Shedding Hair

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory, and losing it can be devastating.

Hair loss can be temporary – when the hair bulb isn’t damaged the hair follicle remains intact - or permanent - when the hair bulb is destroyed and the follicles are no longer active. This produces scar tissue and the hair will never grow there again. Permanent hair loss can result from scar tissue from inflammation of the scalp and hormonal imbalances.

If hair loss is gradual and becomes noticeable each year, you may have hereditary hair loss. Shedding that begins suddenly may be due to illness, diet, medications or pregnancy. See your doctor about sudden hair loss.

Also, remember that hair loss can often be the first sign of a health problem, so report significant changes to your doctor. Your hair conditions will constantly change according to lifestyle, environment and style choices. Let’s take a look at some of the contributing factors to hair loss:

Pregnancy and birth

During pregnancy, your hormones increase and your hair may grow excessively. After birth, these hormones taper off and can lead to excessive hair loss, at once.

Solution – Continue to take prenatal vitamins for 1 year after giving birth. The shedding will stop when your hormones balance out.

Poor digestive system

Your digestive system transports nutrients to the cells of your body, and you cannot function without it. With the proper enzymes from a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and supplements, your digestive system cannot break down food and absorb the nutrients and minerals you need.

Solution – Take antioxidants and probiotics to strengthen your digestive system.

Emotional Stress

Anxiety and stress can cause your body to produce a steroid hormone called cortisol. It is released into your blood stream and increases your glucose levels. When you live in chronic state of stress and anxiety your body functions in an insulin resistant mode. This prevent the cells from getting needed energy to promote healthy cellular growth. Results can be temporary hair loss, thyroid disorder, insomnia and other conditions.

Solution- Eliminate the causes of stress or learn to manage it better.

Crash dieting

Excessive dieting and depriving your body of nutrients and minerals disturbs the hair growth cycle. The result is sporadic and inconsistent hair growth. When you starve your body of necessary nutrients it must get the reserve from your vital organs.

Solution-Eat well balanced meals regular and watch your calories. Increase your exercise to get your heart rate up and allow more minerals and nutrients to circulate through your body.

Poor circulation

Blood circulatory challenges such as anemia, high blood pressure and heart disease are known to effect hair growth and in many cases, lead to hair loss. Hair is an adornment and the last of your body to receive nutrients and vitamins. These illnesses impact the way nutrients are carried through your body and poor flow produces weaker, more sensitive hair.

Solution: Get a yearly physical to detect and diagnosis underlying conditions. Drink plenty of water to flush out your system and refrain from salts.

Medication

Medication that treats illnesses often comes with severe side effects. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects of pills such as birth control, blood pressure, thyroid, anemia, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Solution – Try to manage your illness with diet and exercise to get off medicines. Drink plenty of water to flush your system.

Birth Control

Many methods of birth control interrupt the natural blood cycle and help regulate hormones. But when a woman’s natural estrogen and progesterone (female hormones) gets off balanced, testosterone can mix with an enzyme in the oil glands and it converts to DHT. It shrinks the hair follicle over time and causes thinness and eventually can lead to permanent baldness.

Solution – check with your doctor about the type of birth control best for you and consider non-androgenic pills that effect your testosterone levels.

Auto Immune Deficiency

Your immune system is your body’s defense mechanism and protects your from invasions of foreign substances. To do this, it must be able to detect good cells from bad cells. If not, your white blood cells will attack perfectly healthy cells in the hair follicle. It damages the follicle, effects the growth cycle and causes hair temporary or permanent hair loss. Some auto immune deficiencies include Auto Immune Disease (AIDs), Thyroid Disease, Graves’ Disease, Sarcoidosis, Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Solution – See your doctor regularly to maintain an immune system balance.