Have you been noticing more hair falling out lately? Dr. Omar, a hair loss expert, explains five common causes of hair loss and a solution that actually works.
For many of us, our hair is a big part of our character, confidence, and personality. Yet, around 8 million women in the UK experience some type of hair loss or thinning at any time. If you’re dealing with hair thinning or loss and haven’t talked about it, you’re not alone. About 46% of women with hair loss suffer in silence due to insecurity and embarrassment.
It’s normal to lose between 100 to 150 strands of hair a day as part of everyday life. Dr. Omar points out that hair follicles go through three stages in the Hair Growth Cycle, one of which involves shedding hair.
Many people assume hair loss can’t be treated and often spend money on supplements and vitamins that don’t help. But, there are proven solutions if you’re losing more hair than usual. The key is to understand the hair growth cycle and the causes of hair loss.
The Hair Growth Cycle has three stages:
1. The Growth (Anagen) phase, where 85-90% of our hair is actively growing, lasting three to five years.
2. The Transition (Catagen) phase, where hair stops growing and disconnects from the follicle, lasting one to two weeks.
3. The Resting (Telogen) phase, where 10-15% of our hair is inactive in the follicle for three to four months before shedding.
Hair loss happens when this cycle is disrupted, often leading to a shorter growth phase and extended resting phase. This could result in more shedding and weaker regrowth.
Hair loss can be caused by various triggers, making it hard to pinpoint the exact reason and solution. Dr. Omar highlights five main causes:
1. Hereditary Hair Loss: This is the most common cause, linked to a genetic predisposition. It often results in male-pattern or female-pattern hair loss where men see receding hairlines and bald spots, and women experience thinning hair.
2. Hormonal Imbalance: Hormones like testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which affects hair follicles and causes hair loss, known as androgenic alopecia.
3. Stress: High stress causes inflammation in the body, leading to hair loss. Managing stress is key to maintaining healthy hair growth.
4. Medical Conditions & Medications: Conditions like diabetes and thyroid issues, or medications for cancer, high blood pressure, and other ailments, can disrupt the hair growth cycle.
5. Pregnancy: Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy can lead to hair thinning and excessive hair shedding, known as postpartum hair loss.
One effective treatment mentioned by Dr. Omar is Proteoglycan Replacement Therapy (PRT), which promotes hair growth by rebalancing proteoglycans in the body. Nourkrin, a supplement using Marilex (a fish extract), has shown positive results in clinical trials, with participants noticing significant improvements in hair growth and quality after six months.
If you’re experiencing excessive hair loss, consult your doctor or explore treatments like Nourkrin to help manage and potentially reverse the condition.
