hair supply - hair loss prevention

Better Nutrition, Nov, 2000 by Karyn Siegel-Maier

A heads up on how to hold on to and beautify those wonderful tresses

Despite all the attention we give to the appearance of our hair over a lifetime, it's ironic to think that most of us come into this world as bald as a cue ball and that many, especially men, exit the same way. Genetics, diet and hormonal fluctuations all play a role in determining how much of our crowning glory we get to keep -- or lose -- as we age. But, understanding how hair responds to these factors can help us manage or prevent hair loss while our heads are still covered with locks. If you're beginning to find more strands of hair tangled in your hairbrush or lying in the bathroom sink, here's some important information for you.

The average person loses somewhere between 50 and 125 strands of hair each day as a normal part of "shedding." This may seem like a lot, but lost hairs (including eyebrows and eyelashes) are replaced very quickly so that we barely notice their departure. It's when you begin to lose more than this number on a regular basis that you may be headed for trouble. If you find you're clogging your drain during one shower, you're probably shedding too much hair. And, if new growth doesn't seem to take place as quickly as it once did, or worse, not at all, you may become one of the 40 million men and 20 million women destined for thinning hair or pattern hair loss.

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

"Androgenetic alopecia" is the term given to describe male or female pattern hair loss and accounts for 95 percent of all cases in the United States. This common problem can be blamed on androgens, or the hormones responsible for masculine characteristics. As a man gets older, he produces less testosterone, inviting the creation of a natural by-product called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In some genetically predisposed men, the drop-off of male androgens tells the hair follicles to release an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase (5 ar) Type II, a compound that precedes DHT. DHT is the enzyme responsible for the eventual shrinking of hair follicles and causes them to go into a permanent state of rest. Women are susceptible to this process but, estrogen offers some protection from the advances of DHT. In men, hair loss is typically experienced as a receding hairline and/or balding of the crown. In women, the thinning of hair often occurs around the top and sides of the head.

DODGE THE MAGIC BULLETS

Let's put it simply: There is no absolute cure for baldness although there are many things you can do to hold off hair loss and beautify the hair you have. Regardless, people have been trying to find an outright "cure" for centuries. Hippocrates sought relief from his baldness by rubbing pigeon dung all over his head. Cleopatra reputedly formulated a hair-restorer for Julius Caesar from ground horse teeth, deer marrow and charred mice mixed with bear grease. Since Caesar purposely grew his hair long in the back to comb forward over his bare dome, or frequently wore a crude version of a modern toupee in the form of a laurel wreath, it's unlikely that this remedy had any positive effect. In more recent times, roadside peddlers sold concoctions to cure hair loss that ranged from vitamin elixirs to lotions that were designed to work under a cap while the hopeful slept.

Today, there are at least 40 U.S. patents for hair-loss treatments and hundreds of foreign patents. For the sake of personal appearance, hair restoring is big business and modern treatments now encompass complex oral medications, topical ointments and even surgical applications, many of which may not be as colorful as Cleopatra's solution but just as questionable.

Surgical options, such as hair transplants (grafts, really) can actually benefit some people. There have been great strides made in the improvement of techniques to give a natural appearance compared to the patchwork-quilt effect of the early days that made people look like "Chia Heads." But, be aware that such a procedure can cost thousands of dollars and you are very much at the mercy of the hands that are doing the transplant.

Rogaine (manufactured by Pharmacia & Upjohn) is a topical over-the-counter treatment (containing minoxidil) that gained wide popularity several years ago, and is an FDA-approved hair-loss product. But, its unwanted side effects are still coming to light. For one thing, it works like a bank -- you won't see anything (new hair) for about 12 months and, if you withdraw the application of minoxidil, even after a period of several years, you'll likely lose all of the hair that matured during that time. Oral minoxidil is used to treat high blood pressure and while it's unlikely that the recommended topical dose would have the same effect, systemic absorption via a scalp abrasion or cut can increase this risk. Even sunburn on the scalp can produce this consequence. But, the bottom line is that it doesn't help everyone grow hair. Only 26 percent of male users aged 18-49 years experience significant hair regrowth and 41 percent of both male and female users don't benefit from any regrowth at all. In addition, extra-strength Rogaine (which contains 5 percent minoxidil), often used in combination with Retin-A to increase absorption, has been shown to cause heart enlargement and heart muscle damage in animal studies.