increased cortisol (stress hormone) has been shown to shut down follicles prematurely and exacerbate/accelerate AGA (Androgenetic alopecia). Prolonged or severe psychological or physiological stress can lead to hair problems such as sudden excessive shedding and accelerated hair thinning, as well as trigger or exacerbate inflammatory problems like dryness, flaking, and types of dermatitis of the scalp--especially if there are underlying scalp and hair loss conditions. There’s no miracle for stress reduction, but the relaxing Scalp Makeover is a do-good, feel-good, stress-relieving treatment and breakthrough anti-shedding product called INTACT helps follicles hold on to hairs that would otherwise be shed.
4) Your Workout Regimen -- Your high-intensity resistance training regimen is getting your muscles jacked, but it may be taking a toll on your hair. Increased endogenous testosterone from weightlifting converts to DHT, which can be harmful to your follicles. It is also important to keep in mind that while replacing testosterone makes your workouts more productive, increases energy, lean muscle mass, brain function, libido, and mood, it is also converting to DHT ((Dihydrotestosterone). Fighting the conversion of testosterone to DHT requires 5-AR (5-alpha-Reductase) inhibition with finasteride, dutasteride and herbs like serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto).
5) Poor Nutrition -- Strict diets (e.g., incorrect vegan/vegetarian diets) can be deficient in nutrients like protein, iron, B12, folate, food sourced in iron, etc., which literally starve the follicles and impairs hair production. Those who lack these key vitamins are more at risk for thinning and unhealthy hair – e.g., protein, biotin and other B complex vitamins, zinc and other minerals, antioxidants. Steep drops in these essential nutrients can force the hair follicles to shed their hair strands and go into a prolonged resting phase during which time no new hairs are grown. To ensure your hair stays healthy, or to give unhealthy hair a boost, make you’re your diet is packed full of hair “superfoods,” which include: lean red meat, fish, berries, pomegranate juice, beans, artichokes, sulfur foods and nuts. Organic liver, with its abundance of natural iron, is one of the best foods for your hair.
6) Smoking -– Smoking restricts blood flow (think vital oxygen/nutrients/etc) to the skin and follicles, accelerating age-related changes. Researchers have recently shown that the more a man or woman smokes, the worse his/her baldness is likely to be–-so add that to your list of reasons to quit!
7) Poor Sleep -- Poor sleeping habits and even jet lag can alter the brain’s central or circadian rhythm and many scientists believe this can cause hair follicle cycle interruptions, including shedding, and even long term hair loss.
8) Medications -- There are many prescription medications that are known to be associated with hair loss. Some of the commonly prescribed categories of drugs that can exacerbate hair loss include antihypertensives (blood pressure), cholesterol/statins, hormone replacement like thyroid, birth control, testosterone, etc., certain mood modulators/antidepressants, antibiotics, anti-acne, antifungals, and of course chemotherapy agents so ask your Hair Restoration Physician what you can do for your hair if you need to use them. You should never stop taking a prescribed medication without talking to your physician.
9) Auto-immune - Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, resulting in the sudden loss of hair.
Most often, hair loss occurs in patches, with the hair itself coming out in clumps, leaving smooth, bald patches of varying sizes on the scalp, beard, or elsewhere on the body.
It can resolve on its own or require treatment. In some cases hair loss progresses to total baldness on the scalp, called Alopecia Totalis, or loss of hair over the whole body, known as Alopecia Universalis.