Help, I am losing my hair

Vitamins & minerals
Eléonore de Maurissens
Reading time: 3 minutes
Help, ik verlies mijn haar

Although hair loss is a natural phenomenon for men and women, it can seriously affect the self-confidence and quality of life of those who struggle with it.1 Fortunately, there are various remedies.


Hair originates in the hair follicles, grows, falls out, and is replaced by other hairs.2 This is a normal process with more hair loss in autumn and a second peak in spring.3

 

Normal hair loss or alopecia?

If you lose more than 100 hairs per day over a long period, this is generally referred to as alopecia. It can be a temporary or a permanent form. Alopecia usually affects men. It is the result of heredity, hormonal fluctuations, medical conditions, or aging.4

Hair loss, a normal and seasonal phenomenon!

Alopecia affects men, but also women

Androgenetic alopecia is the most frequent form of hair loss. It affects 30%, 40%, and 50% of white men aged 30, 40, and 50, respectively.5 In women, alopecia occurs later: 12% of women experience hair loss at the forehead and temples before the age of 29, 25% before 49, 41% before 69, and 50% before 79.6

In both men and women, hair loss is accompanied by smaller follicles. Genetic factors and certain hormones (androgens) play an important role in the development of the disease. However, recent studies show that the causes are not necessarily the same in men and women. In women – unlike in men – complete baldness is very rare.6

 

Impact of stress, hair styling, chemotherapy… on the hair

In addition to androgenetic alopecia, there are other forms of hair loss, namely:

  • Telogen effluvium: relatively sudden hair loss due to physiological or emotional stress. Once the cause is eliminated, the hair generally grows back.5
  • Trichorrhexis nodosa: breakage of the hair due to trauma, often from hair styling or excessive use of hair products.5
  • Anagen effluvium: abnormal and diffuse hair loss during the growth phase, caused by an event that affects the cell division of hair follicles (usually due to chemotherapy). The hair generally grows back after the treatment is stopped.5

When should you be concerned about hair loss?7

  • In case of significant and prolonged (more than 6 months) hair loss.
  • In case of patchy hair loss.

 

What treatments are available for hair loss?5,6,8,9,10

There are simple things you can do to keep your hair healthy. Try to prevent your hair from being damaged. Therefore, do not bleach your hair and do not use a hairdryer. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and use a soft brush with natural bristles.

If there is an abnormal amount of hair loss, it may be useful to visit a dermatologist. To tackle this problem, it is important to know the cause, and there can be many. The doctor may suggest adjusting your lifestyle to reduce hair loss:

  • exercise, get enough sleep, and take good care of yourself to reduce stress;
  • massage your scalp every day for 5 minutes;
  • eat a healthy and balanced diet and drink enough water for proper hydration;
  • quit smoking;
  • take nutritional supplements; brewer's yeast, for example, promotes cell regeneration and prevents hair loss;
  • in some cases, the doctor will prescribe medication that can lead to partial regrowth (early administration yields better results);
  • injections with platelet-rich plasma can be suggested to patients who do not respond to medical treatments;
  • finally, a hair transplant can also be considered.

 

Are you suffering from hair loss? Have you already tried brewer's yeast? Share your experiences on our Facebook and Instagram!

Scientific references

  1. Gupta S. et al., Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia. Int J Trichology. 2019;11(4):147-152 - https://dx.doi.org/10.4103%2Fijt.ijt_6_19
  2. Bernard B. A., The revealed life of the human hair follicle. Med Sci 2006 ; 22 (2) : 138 – 143
  3. Kunz M. et al., Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology 2009; 219(2): 105-110 - https://doi.org/10.1159/000216832
  4. Cheng AS, Bayliss SJ, “The genetics of hair shaft disorders.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;59(1):1-22.
  5. Phillips T.G. et al., Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017; 96(6): 371-378
  6. Fabbrocini G. et al., Female pattern hair loss: A clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic review. International Journal of Women's Dermatology 2018; 4: 203-211
  7. Rebora A., Proposing a Simpler Classification of Telogen Effluvium. Skin Appendage Disord 2016;2:35–38. DOI: 10.1159/000446118
  8. York K. et al., A review of the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy2020; 21 (5): 603-612
  9. Manning M., 4 Hair Loss Prevention Tips From Experts Who Know. https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/hair-loss/hair-loss-prevention-tips-from-experts.
  10. Watson K., 10 Strategies to Prevent Hair Loss: In Men and Women, After Pregnancy, and During Chemo. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-prevent-hair-loss

Product mentioned in this article

Trappist brewer's yeast tablets

Do you want to support your skin, hair, and nails from within? TRAP Brewer's Yeast combines natural brewer's yeast with B vitamins and selenium for daily support of skin, hair, and nails.
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