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By Dr. Brazos Minshew, Chief Scientific Officer, Trivita Inc.
"It's so frustrating I just want to pull my hair out!"
Stress, including frustration, anxiety, depression, anger and any other end-point of emotional or psychological distress can literally cause hair loss. Are there other causes of hair loss? What are the different types of hair loss? Most important: What can someone do for hair loss?
Types of hair loss
Alopecia is the medical name for any type of hair loss. This condition can be divided into three subtypes:
Genetic (pattern baldness)
- Scarring
- Non-scarring.
With pattern baldness and scarring types of alopecia the hair follicle is lost. With non-scarring alopecia the hair follicle remains intact; the hair simply falls out. In scarring and pattern baldness the hair will not return. In non-scarring alopecia there is a chance for hair regrowth.
Scarring alopecia
Certain diseases cause scarring alopecia. These can be related to severe infections (especially fungal infections) or life-threatening autoimmune disorders. An autoimmune disorder is an illness where your body loses the ability to tell healthy cells from sick cells; so, it attacks all cells of a certain type.
In the condition lupus erythematosus, the immune system attacks collagen and connective tissue. This causes scars where the immune system killed the cells. When lupus affects the scalp, the immune system kills the hair follicle. Only a scar remains where the follicle used to live. That is why this type of hair loss is called "scarring" alopecia.
Non-scarring alopecia
By far the most common type of hair loss or thinning is non-scarring alopecia. With this type of hair loss, hair typically "sheds" and thins rather evenly when you brush or wash it. Hair may also fall out in certain spots, but not others. Because the hair follicle is still alive it is possible for the hair to return and regrow with time. It is vitally important to find the reason why hair begins to fall out and address this cause. Otherwise, hair will not return or, if it does, it will quickly fall out again.
Non-scarring alopecia is often an autoimmune reaction as well. A major difference between scarring and non-scarring alopecia is that scarring hair loss is associated with an autoimmune disease; non-scarring is often associated with an autoimmune reaction, not a disease. For instance, hair loss is often experienced during pregnancy or following childbirth. The stress of birth temporarily overtaxes the immune system. The overwhelmed immune system "loses its way" for a while and attacks both healthy and unhealthy tissues alike.
This type of hair loss occurs with any significant strain:
- Trauma - such as from an accident or surgery
- Toxins -“ infection, allergy or environmental toxins
- Deficiency - nutrients, water, oxygen, sleep, hormones or other deficiencies
- Emotional stress.
Often, people with alopecia suffer from stresses in one or more of these categories.
What to do...
With non-scarring alopecia we must, first and foremost, determine the stresses triggering hair loss. Then, we need to take steps to insulate and isolate ourselves from these stresses.
Physical exam
A good first step in discovering why we may have hair loss would be to have a thorough physical examination. Certain blood tests can demonstrate if we have inflammation; if our immune system is overactive; if our hormones are imbalanced; and if our organs can properly handle the toxins we face.
Look at your schedule
Another step to take is to examine our schedules. Are the expectations we have for ourselves reasonable? Are we eating a balanced diet? Are we getting enough sleep? These are important factors in building up our health reserves against whatever type of stress may be causing our hair loss.
Nutrients
Nutrients play an important role, too. Certainly, any good program for building nutrient reserves would include taking a multiple vitamin/mineral supplement every day. Many doctors also recommend taking Omega essential fatty supplements (such as OmegaPrime) and antioxidant supplements like Vitamin C.
A sour stomach can indicate poor protein digestion – a common cause of thinning hair. Vitamin B-12 along with prebiotics and probiotics can balance protein digestion. Thinning hair in the front of the head that is not associated with pattern baldness may indicate low thyroid function. This will probably be tested in your physical examination. The amino acid tyrosine (as found in Energy Now!) may nourish the thyroid and help protect it from stress.
I recommend Adaptogen 10 Plus as the cornerstone for building a nutrient bulwark against stress. Many people in the TriVita family who suffer from autoimmune disorders have written us to extol the benefits of Adaptogen 10 Plus. We often hear how addressing the stress component of autoimmune disorders with adaptogens brings them relief from their symptoms.
Your hair is more than a crown of beauty; it is a window on how well your body deals with stress. Learn to listen to this subtle sign of health: beautiful hair!
Take Control of Your Health
- Get a physical exam; look specifically at your immune system
- Support healthy metabolism by reducing stress
- Bolster nutrient reserves with the Healthy Aging Pack
- Use Vitamin B-12 and Digestive Complex for sour stomach
- Use Energy Now! to support healthy thyroid function
- Use Adaptogen 10 Plus to create a bulwark against stress
- Don't overcommit yourself; learn to live a life of balance
- Get plenty of sleep
- Eat a healthful diet: Include colorful fruits and vegetables and lean proteins
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