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Hair loss is a problem that is not just limited to men
Because male pattern baldness is so common- occurring in over 50% of all men by the age of 50- many people mistakenly believe that hair loss is a problem exclusive to men. And for the 70% of women who maintain their childhood full head of hair, it is something taken for granted. But the reality is that as many as 30% of all women will experience significant hair loss at some point in their life, and in most cases, this hair loss is quite upsetting- often much more so than for men- for hair plays a larger role in helping to define a woman’s self image.
In nearly every society throughout history, hair has been considered for both men and women a characteristic and enhancer of sexuality, but for women especially, the presence of hair is a more consistent marker of beauty and youthfulness. The search for cures to hair loss started long before Goliath had his locks sheared off by Delilah. The ancient Egyptians over 3,500 years ago created an elixir consisting of, among other components, honey, hedgehog prickles, and fat from crocodiles and hippos. Hippocrates, in around 400 B.C., applied sheep urine to his bald scalp in an attempt to regrow his hair. What started as a cottage industry has evolved into a billion dollar industry of hair care products, with a moderate percentage of this spent on products designed to combat hair loss.
Unfortunately, no single weapon in the fight against hair loss has emerged. To learn more about the various options in treatment, please CLICK HERE.
The average individual with a full head of hair has approximately 1 million hairs on the scalp. Hair grows on a cyclic basis, but unlike most other animals, humans do not go through cycles of shedding and regrowth. Rather, each hair follicle goes through a life cycle which is not coordinated with other hairs. It is normal for an individual to lose 100 hairs a day, but also to regrow this same number of hairs every day. When this cycle is kept in balance, we maintain our hair density. However, when we either lose more than 100 hairs a day without a corresponding increase in hair regrowth, or when we regrow less than 100 new hairs a day while continuing to lose 100 hairs a day, the result is hair thinning. For example, after delivering a baby, or suffering from a very high fever, or undergoing chemotherapy, there is an increased rate of shedding, characterized by the first situation of losing more than 100 hairs a day- sometimes losing 1000 or more hairs a day. An example of the second situation, where less than 100 new hairs regrow every day, occurs with most cases of female pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss in women. In addition to the concentration of hairs on the scalp, another factor in the appearance of density is the actual thickness (or caliber) of each hair. In many cases of female hair loss, there is a reduction in both the number and thickness of each hair, combining to make the hair appear even thinner.
Continue here to read a summary of hair loss causes
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