Hair Loss Advice and Hair Loss Information

The research indicates that irrespective of how stressful a woman’s life is, there are greater forces at play which are more likely to cause her hair to grey

Dec 2009

A woman’s genes are much more likely than lifestyle factors such as stress or diet to cause greying hair, a study suggests.

Unilever scientists studied more than 200 identical and non-identical Danish twin sisters aged between 59 and 81.

The scientists found little difference between the greyness of the identical twins - who share the same genes.

But there was more difference between non-identical twins, whose genes differ, the study found.

The study, published in the journal PLoS One, also suggests receding hair is linked to mainly genetic factors.

But it indicates hair-thinning on the top of the head is connected to environmental and lifestyle factors.

On the issue of greying hair, lead researcher Dr David Gunn said although many theories had been put forward to explain different rates of greying, there was little hard scientific evidence to back them up.

He said: “This study offers us a fascinating insight into the reason why women go grey and it certainly suggests that environmental factors are not as important as we once thought.

“The research indicates that irrespective of how stressful a woman’s life is, there are greater forces at play which are more likely to cause her hair to grey.”

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said previous work had also found few identifiable environmental factors among people who went grey much earlier than their relatives.

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Hair restoration procedures are up 26 percent worldwide and up 35 percent for Austin practice, McGrath Medical.

Despite a downturn economy in 2008, treatments for hair loss increased 26 percent worldwide from 2006 figures, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), a non-profit medical association dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of hair restoration. The number of patients treated in 2008 was approximately 811,363.

In Austin, McGrath Medical did even better than the world average and experienced a 35 percent increase in hair restoration treatments.

“Advancements in treatments for hair loss and more natural looking results are increasing the demand for hair restoration,” said Daniel McGrath, D.O. of McGrath Medical in Austin, TX. “Many are finding hair restoration gives them a competitive edge in the workplace by giving them a younger appearance, which helps to instill more confidence.”

According to the recent survey, the average age of patients undergoing hair restoration surgery for the first time in 2008 was 38 years old.

This statistic shows a gradual decline in age over the years – a trend that people are seeking treatment for hair loss earlier instead of waiting until they are older and hair loss becomes more noticeable.

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However it isn’t just men who suffer from the affliction, The Hospital Group have seen treatments for women rise by 300 per cent over the five year period.

October 2009

Having your scalp licked by a cow or rubbing curry powder into your head might not seem the most logical way to stop a receding hairline, but for centuries these are just two of the more bizarre methods people have used.

But fear not, balding Brits need suffer in silence no longer. Figures released by leading hair transplant provider, The Hospital Group, show a massive 444 per cent growth in treatment between 2004 – 2009.

Recent years have seen celebrities help raise the profile of hair loss, and in particular how to cure it. Cold Feet star, James Nesbitt, Fawlty Towers actor, John Cleese, former rugby star Austin Healey and even HRH Prince William have all been the victims of increased sensitivity to male sex hormones (androgens), which induces premature hair loss.

Nesbitt and Cleese have tackled the problem head on though, both undergoing cosmetic surgery to cure their ailments.

However it isn’t just men who suffer from the affliction, The Hospital Group have seen treatments for women rise by 300 per cent over the five year period.

An epidemic of alopecia is said to be sweeping across the country, damaging hair follicles so that hair falls out and cannot grow back, with the key contributor said to be stress.

The condition known as Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA) can cause women to lose up to five inches from their hairline. If FFA goes undiagnosed, women can even lose hair at the sides and back of their head.

Scientists believe that FFA is a result of the immune system attacking hair follicles, which causes inflammation at the root. This can damage stem cells in the follicles and prevents hair from growing back entirely.

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Scientists say they have pinned down a DNA mechanism that gives rise to a rare but distressing form of baldness that strikes before adulthood.

Jan 2009

A team from Peking Union Medical College led by Xue Zhang have uncovered a DNA mechanism which results in Maria Unna hereditary hypotrichosis (MUHH), a baldness that strikes before adulthood.

MUHH is a rare inherited condition characterized by hair loss that starts during childhood and it affects both men and women - children born with the condition have very little or no hair at birth and have wiry or coarse hair in childhood which they progressively lose at puberty.

Victims often have no eyebrows or eyelashes, very little armpit and pubic hair and poor nails and women often have normal thickness hair which does not grow very long and loss of hair on other parts of the body.

The culprit in MUHH are flaws in the gene U2HR located on Chromosome 8, which acts as a key switch in the process as it controls a small peptide that in turn affects a protein called the human hairless monolog, or HR, which is crucial for the regeneration of hair follicles.

The discovery was made by trawling through the genome of 19 Chinese families with a history of MUHH, which is how the team found that mutations of U2HR led to increased levels of HR.

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Whether you’re starting to see strands of your hair at the bottom of your shower or are just worried that your thick head of hair won’t last forever, there are helpful foods that prevent hair loss.

If you dread trips to the barbershop and cringe every time you pass a mirror, there’s a pretty good chance you’re concerned about hair loss.

Whether you’re starting to see strands of your hair at the bottom of your shower or are just worried that your thick head of hair won’t last forever, there are helpful foods that prevent hair loss.

You may be, however, genetically predisposed to hair loss, and if that’s the case, there’s not much you can do but keep your fingers crossed.

Making sure certain foods are in your diet will help keep your scalp healthy, happy and, hopefully, hairy. Here are some foods that prevent hair loss, which means you need to stock up.

Fish, eggs and beans
Hair is primarily made of protein and, therefore, it makes sense to eat a protein-rich diet if you’re trying to maintain your healthy hair. However, eating a steak every day isn’t going to help you.

High-fat diets will result in increased testosterone levels, which has been linked to hair loss — so steaks are not among the foods that prevent hair loss. Stick to leaner proteins such as fish (which has a myriad of health benefits beyond just maintaining your hair), chicken, calf’s liver, brewer’s yeast, low-fat cheese, eggs, almonds, beans, and yogurt.

Soy milk and tofu are also smart to add to your diet because they are high in protein and low in bad fats.

Raisins
Iron plays a key role in manufacturing hemoglobin, the part of the blood that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues. When your hemoglobin is at a healthy level, oxygen is properly dispersed.

This means your scalp is getting a good flow of blood, which will stimulate and promote hair growth.Adding more iron to your diet doesn’t mean you have to feast on liver day in, day out, but when you’re craving something sweet, remember that dried fruits (like raisins) and cherry juice are packed with iron.

Eggs; dates; raisins; dark green, leafy vegetables such as kale; and whole-grain cereals are all high in iron.

Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, so fruits such as oranges, strawberries and lemons should be on your grocery list of foods that prevent hair loss.

Bean sprouts
Silica may not be a word you commonly hear associated with diet (or foods that prevent hair loss, for that matter). If you’re looking to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss, however, silica will need to be on your menu.

The body uses silica to help it absorb vitamins and minerals; if you’re not consuming silica, eating your vitamins might not be helping much. Silica can be found in bean sprouts and the skin of cucumbers, red and green peppers, and potatoes.

Remember, when you eat these foods raw, as opposed to cooked, you’re getting more nutritional value out of them.

Seafood

Many men who suffer from hair loss are found to have zinc deficiencies. Zinc plays a key role in many of the body’s functions, from cell reproduction to hormonal balance, and all these functions affect hair growth. Perhaps most importantly, zinc manages the glands that attach to your hair follicles.

When you’re low on zinc, these follicles become weak, causing strands to break off or fall out. To combat this problem, eat zinc-heavy foods such as red meats, poultry, mussels, shrimp, nuts, and oysters.

Excessive amounts of zinc can eventually lead to hair loss, so it’s best to stick to a zinc-heavy diet rather than eat these foods and take a zinc supplement.

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