Every year, thousands of us suffer from noticeable hair loss - it is said to affect 60% of men - and 40% of women by the age of 40.
So - why does it happen - and is there anything we can do about it? Normal growth Did you know? Each hair grows for around 3-5 years - if left alone to do so.
It grows at around 1.
2cms per month.
Up to 100 genes are involved in it's growth, though few have been identified - yet.
After the old hair has been shed, the follicle rests for about 3 months, before it starts to grow again from that follicle.
Typical hair loss patterns Both men and women suffer from this.
It's twice as common in men - and more noticeable, as in men the thinning from the crown has the additional feature of a receding hairline.
This makes the "male pattern of baldness".
Women tend to retain the hairline.
How can you tell if you are losing your hair? Apart from looking in the mirror and comments from the family.
Because natural cycle is so long, these three methods require time -a comparison between the first and second test is required of at least 6 months.
However, they are useful if you are comparing treatments, which one works and which is a waste of time and money.
1.
Count the number of hairs you shed each day.
This can be laborious, but you may at least get a good idea from the first combing of the day.
Combing over a tea cloth or pillow case may make this easier.
The fewer shed, the less rapid the loss - or the more effective the treatment.
2.
Notice the thickness of the shed hairs.
As one ages they do become thinner, in women as well as in men.
You will need to keep one for comparison with later samples.
An effective remedy may thicken the shaft within a few weeks.
Many shampoos and conditioners claim to make your hair thicker - now you can test it.
3.
Measure the length of the shed hairs.
In normal hair loss they are shed earlier - but not a lot.
If they are much shorter than before, consider the possibility that you may have some inflammation of the scalp - and you should see hour doctor rather that try out other remedies.
Three causes of hair loss you can control.
Apart from factors outwith your control - such as sex and age - there are some things you can do to look after your crowning glory and allow it to remain thick and healthy.
Stress: the phrase "pulling your hair out with worry" has some reality.
If you are really stressed you are less likely to have a true "Croqning Glory"! Generally looking after your general health benefits your hair.
Getting enough sleep, eating the right foods and exercise all have generally good effects,as well as how your feel and how you cope with its loss.
When Henry 8th imprisoned Sir Thomas Moore in the tower of London, it was said that Sir Thomas's hair turned white overnight.
This is possible! The likely explanation is that all the hair retaining it's natural colour, being older and therefore more fragile than the white hairs, simple fell out with the stress he was enduring.
Excessive hair-washing and shampooing.
This can dry our your hair, washing away the naturally protective oils.
For most of use twice a week is sufficient! If you go swimming a lot, then use a mild shampoo and a good conditioner.
Smoking: one of the things ex-smokers find is that their hair improves when they have given up.
Why this should be so I am not clear, maybe the toxins from smoking vanish from the system, maybe the oxygenation to the scalp simply improves.
Hair loss may be related to some diseases - diabetes and lupus are two of them.
Alopecia areata is a condition where bald patches may appear at any age, sometimes leading to complete baldness - and this may be hard to treat successfully.
It is possible to spend a great deal of time and money chasing miracles that never happen - it is better to know the truth.
For this reason - and because many of the hair loss treatments are phoney and have little or no benefit - I would encourage you to consult your doctor this is a problem which is bothering you - or if you have a sudden unexpected hair loss, especially if you are not at the expected age for this to happen.
In another article I will be looking at the treatments for this condition.
So - why does it happen - and is there anything we can do about it? Normal growth Did you know? Each hair grows for around 3-5 years - if left alone to do so.
It grows at around 1.
2cms per month.
Up to 100 genes are involved in it's growth, though few have been identified - yet.
After the old hair has been shed, the follicle rests for about 3 months, before it starts to grow again from that follicle.
Typical hair loss patterns Both men and women suffer from this.
It's twice as common in men - and more noticeable, as in men the thinning from the crown has the additional feature of a receding hairline.
This makes the "male pattern of baldness".
Women tend to retain the hairline.
How can you tell if you are losing your hair? Apart from looking in the mirror and comments from the family.
Because natural cycle is so long, these three methods require time -a comparison between the first and second test is required of at least 6 months.
However, they are useful if you are comparing treatments, which one works and which is a waste of time and money.
1.
Count the number of hairs you shed each day.
This can be laborious, but you may at least get a good idea from the first combing of the day.
Combing over a tea cloth or pillow case may make this easier.
The fewer shed, the less rapid the loss - or the more effective the treatment.
2.
Notice the thickness of the shed hairs.
As one ages they do become thinner, in women as well as in men.
You will need to keep one for comparison with later samples.
An effective remedy may thicken the shaft within a few weeks.
Many shampoos and conditioners claim to make your hair thicker - now you can test it.
3.
Measure the length of the shed hairs.
In normal hair loss they are shed earlier - but not a lot.
If they are much shorter than before, consider the possibility that you may have some inflammation of the scalp - and you should see hour doctor rather that try out other remedies.
Three causes of hair loss you can control.
Apart from factors outwith your control - such as sex and age - there are some things you can do to look after your crowning glory and allow it to remain thick and healthy.
Stress: the phrase "pulling your hair out with worry" has some reality.
If you are really stressed you are less likely to have a true "Croqning Glory"! Generally looking after your general health benefits your hair.
Getting enough sleep, eating the right foods and exercise all have generally good effects,as well as how your feel and how you cope with its loss.
When Henry 8th imprisoned Sir Thomas Moore in the tower of London, it was said that Sir Thomas's hair turned white overnight.
This is possible! The likely explanation is that all the hair retaining it's natural colour, being older and therefore more fragile than the white hairs, simple fell out with the stress he was enduring.
Excessive hair-washing and shampooing.
This can dry our your hair, washing away the naturally protective oils.
For most of use twice a week is sufficient! If you go swimming a lot, then use a mild shampoo and a good conditioner.
Smoking: one of the things ex-smokers find is that their hair improves when they have given up.
Why this should be so I am not clear, maybe the toxins from smoking vanish from the system, maybe the oxygenation to the scalp simply improves.
Hair loss may be related to some diseases - diabetes and lupus are two of them.
Alopecia areata is a condition where bald patches may appear at any age, sometimes leading to complete baldness - and this may be hard to treat successfully.
It is possible to spend a great deal of time and money chasing miracles that never happen - it is better to know the truth.
For this reason - and because many of the hair loss treatments are phoney and have little or no benefit - I would encourage you to consult your doctor this is a problem which is bothering you - or if you have a sudden unexpected hair loss, especially if you are not at the expected age for this to happen.
In another article I will be looking at the treatments for this condition.
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