Sarah's Health Notes: Help for thinning hair
While 85% of men will be affected by hair thinning and loss, it’s widespread among women too, with Harvard Health Publishing estimating that as many as two thirds of women experience hair thinning and one third hair loss (alopecia) at some time in their lives. While it’s natural to lose about 100 hairs every day, it seems that more and more women are losing more and more hair.
The genes you inherit may predispose you to a more sparse mop, which can be encouraged to at least look thicker but probably won’t ever become luxuriant. But ill health and notably stress can cause excess shedding, which may or may not be permanent.
Chemotherapy is a common cause of usually temporary hair problems – cold caps have been found to help with this. Covid is emerging as another factor.
Two readers have just contacted me both very distressed about hair loss. One has alopecia areata – a bald patch on her hairline the size of a large coin following a traumatic divorce. The other with hair falling out almost in clumps due, it seems, to her father’s illness.
Changing levels of hormones can have a profound effect on hair. More than 50% of women see hair loss after menopause; hair can also become finer (that happened to me). Childbirth can have a similar effect. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may exert an adverse effect on some who take it, or sometimes the opposite…
Deficiency in important vitamins and minerals, and notably iron can lead to hair loss because they affect the growth cycle so hairs whiz into the shedding phase before they should. Physical stress can be a factor, as much as psychological, so over exercising, silly diets, and surgery can affect growth. Smoking is a key cause of hair loss – but we know you don’t, do you???
Before I go on to possible hair helpers, I have to emphasise that nothing happens quickly. One leading consultant always told me six to nine months. But, as one sufferer said, ‘we don’t want to wait that long’. So one thing we always recommend is a sympathetic and creative hairdresser and volumising haircare, such as the new Density range by Philip Kingsley.
A friend with thin hair (due to genes not illness) swears by Density Thickening Shampoo and the matching Conditioner, each £25.50.
The Density range includes several products to help reduce hair fall, which we don't have experience of (but this is an expert brand founded and led by trichologists). The other product that might help quickly is Density Thickening Protein Spray, which promises to volumise and strengthen fine fragile hair.
On a longer term basis, pharmacist Shabir Daya recommends two products:
• Superior Hair, a natural supplement to help counteract the underlying inflammation of the scalp and encourage new hair growth. Shabir has written an editorial on Menopausal Hair Loss here.
• Ionicell for Women to nourish the follicles; it contains a powerful combination of fulvic acid and minerals that help hair, skin and nails
Finally, I want to draw your attention to Natucain Hair Activator Growth Serum. This comes from the same natural brand as the Natucain Lash Serum, which has transformed my lashes. See my Editorial here.
Research chemist Professor Stefanie Seyda, who developed Natucain, says that hair loss (alopecia) is ‘a condition that can occur when a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, which causes hair to fall out. This is a common condition and stress is the number one cause.’ She says that the Hair Activator Growth Serum can help people bring their hair back, bringing the growth and shedding phases back into balance.
Many years ago a professor at Oxford recommended a multi-pronged approach to treating conditions like hair loss. I know this isn’t a cheap option but if people suffering hair loss can invest in these products, as well as aiming to reduce stress in every way possible, there is a good chance of seeing results.
NB Forgive me saying it again: please please give it time…
