Don't worry

Some people worry about their hair loss from the moment they wake up to the moment they fall asleep. Their day revolves around the amount of hair they lose in the morning. If they only lose a few hairs, then it means that the day is wonderful (even if it's raining); if the hair loss is high, the day is terrible (even if it's sunny).

It's difficult not to worry, but as long as you are treating the problem and have friends, family members, and/or doctors who are supportive, you're in good hands. Try to remain positive and optimistic - who knows what advances are around the corner?

Comparing your hair loss with others

A lot of people continually look at everyone else's hair, especially when traveling by bus or train. When they see someone with more hair than them, they get jealous; when they see someone with less hair than them, they get frightened.

Just because someone else has very thin hair, even in their family, it doesn't mean that their hair will continue thinning. There may be other factors contributing to that person's hair loss that have no bearing on his or her condition.

In addition, there will always be other people who we perceive as better looking or more intelligent than ourselves. Concerning yourself about a person's "better" hair takes away from the fact that you are doing everything possible to help your condition and so, hopefully, to improve your hair quantity.

Try not to worry - it's YOUR hair loss that matters to you, no one else's!

That sense of being stared at

Many people with hair loss feel that others are always looking at their thin spots or staring at their hair. This can make them feel very self-conscious and, in extreme cases, stop them from socializing at all.

This is almost certainly not happening as much as you think it is, people are probably not looking at your hair. Think back before you had hair loss. Were you looking at everyone else's hair to see whether it was thinning? Probably not. If you don't have a particular problem, then it wouldn't occur to you to look for it in another person. The person you think is looking at your hair may just be looking at you because you are conversing or because he or she likes the way you look.

When you socialize you are usually about three or four feet apart from the person to whom you are talking. Remember, they are not combing through your hair or looking at it when it's wet (which is usually when everyone's hair looks thinner). They probably can't see any obvious thinning because you've styled your hair to make it look its best. So try and enjoy yourself!

Spending money on hair loss treatments

Other people spend money at the hairdresser or barber and on makeup or aftershave - why should it be such a crime to spend money on hair loss treatments?

Obviously, you don't want to waste money on a magical hair cure, so it's up to you to make sure that you thoroughly research the treatment regimen that you are being advised to follow. Don't feel that you must make a decision immediately. Give yourself time to go home, and either discuss it with someone who is supportive or think about it yourself. Moreover, if you do follow a particular program, make sure that you give it at least three months to work.

Friends and family don't take my hair loss seriously!

It can be frustrating for a person with hair loss to hear "It doesn't look too bad" or "I don't know what you're talking about" or "There are worse things in life than losing your hair." Hair loss is relative to how you feel about it. Just because you're not bald doesn't mean you don't have hair loss. Just because you hide the condition well doesn't mean a problem doesn't exist. Don't feel guilty. If you're worried that your hair is thinning and your friends or family don't seem to be supportive, don't let that stop you from finding out how to address the problem.

Some people feel that talking to friends in an Internet chat room that deals with hair loss can help them feel more supported than talking to their families. The Internet also has the advantage of anonymity, so people in the chat room cannot physically see your condition (unless you send a photo). I have found this to be very helpful for some people and a great way to find out what other hair-loss sufferers are going through.

Running your hands through your hair

Many people continually run their hands through their hair to see whether it is still falling out and, if it is, by how much. This action can become obsessive, with some looking for how much hair is coming out literally hundreds of times a day.

Hair-loss amounts don't change that rapidly, so continuous pulling on the hair will not accurately indicate whether hair loss is improving or worsening. Also, I find that if a person pulls on his or her hair and does not see any hair the first time, he or she will often repeat the action four or five times until hair DOES comes out. It's almost as if some people want continuous proof that their hair is falling out.

If you find yourself doing this, try to become more aware of the action. It can be habitual and you may find that you don't realize you're doing it. Try to find something else to keep your hands active, like blogging!

Collecting hair in the shower!

It's fine in the short term to monitor daily fluctuations in hair fall. However, there are people who have collected their hair for many months or years and have kept them all!

They don't really need past visual reminders that their hair was falling out excessively; they can see by today's wash whether it is still falling out. If you're a counter, make sure to do it only infrequently (every two weeks or monthly), as the hair loss amounts will not change rapidly on a daily basis. Also, only count the wash hairs. Do not try to count every hair that you lose, as it's impractical to collect all the hairs from your pillow, clothing, and so on!

Talking about hair loss

A lot of people cringe if anyone mentions their hair loss to them. The last thing they would want is to be told that their hair has become thin enough for someone else to see. Also, some of them have said that they notice other people in their workplace with thinning hair. They want to talk to them about it but hesitate because they aren't sure what their reaction will be.

Although I think it is often helpful for people to talk about their condition with others, I also think it's best not to approach another person with hair loss unless he or she approaches you first. Many people don't want to be reminded of their problem or are reluctant to talk about it. In these situations, if you are confident enough, perhaps the best thing to do is talk in a group about your hair loss and what you're doing to combat it within earshot of the other person, then see whether he or she approaches you at a later time.

I'm frightened that my hair isn't growing back

Often, people with hair loss feel that their hair is not growing back and that they will be bald in a matter of weeks. For most hair-loss conditions, such as genetic hair loss and telogen effluvium, this is not true. The hair does regrow, although it may go through a longer resting phase. The first things to look for with regrowth are the presence of roots (if you color your hair) or the need for a haircut. Under both these circumstances, you know that the hair that is not falling out is growing.

To see whether there is any new hair, dry your hair after a hair wash and look along the parting. You will see some shorter hairs, which indicate that new hairs are growing. This means that although you are losing lots of hair, some of it is regrowing.

Overcoming the Psychological Effects of Hair Loss

How can you overcome your fears and get back to living a normal life?

The first thing I want to stress is that if your hair loss worries are truly changing the way you live your life, consider seeking professional help from a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist who understands the issues you are experiencing.

For many people, hair-wash days are the worst days of the week; this is when they see lots of hair falling out. People dread having to wash their hair but know it is necessary because their hair is starting to look dirty and their scalp is itchy.

Most hair that you see lost during the wash stopped growing approximately six to sixteen weeks before. The less the hair is washed, the more hair loss accumulates. So don't be afraid to wash your hair. In fact, wash it as frequently as you are able and you'll actually see less hair fall out. In addition, your hair looks best when it is freshly washed and dried. It tends to have more body and shine and will allow you to look your best as you start your day. Don't be afraid to use styling products, colors, or perms, as these will give your hair more body and boost the way you feel about it. Washing hair does not cause more hair to fall out.

More Psychological Effects

Social Problems

Frequently, people with hair loss tend to socialize or date less. They feel that because they are less attractive, there is little point dating. They turn down advances of others because if they get too close, the other person will notice their hair thinning and be turned off. Even married people, or ones in long-term relationships, with hair loss are afraid that their husband, wife, or partner will notice that they are losing hair and stop loving them as a result.

In addition, some people with thinning hair take much longer to get ready to go out because they are trying to hide their scalp. Some may decide that it's not worth taking the time in the first place.


Lack of Support

People without hair loss often cannot see what all the fuss is about, so when a friend or spouse begins to lose his or her hair, they appear aloof and uncaring. As a result, the people who are losing hair feel that their friends and families are failing to be supportive. This usually happens when hair first begins to fall out and thinning is not yet noticeable.

Sometimes, they are not taken seriously when they see a physician about their hair loss, thus adding to the problem. Many physicians don't realize the psychological impact caused by hair loss and so take the concerns of a patient losing his or her hair less seriously than they should.


Loss of Control

As there is no treatment that can stop hair loss instantly, people losing their hair occasionally feel that they are unable to control their condition. Over time, this feeling worsens and begins to affect the way they feel about their lives overall.

The Psychological Effects of Hair Loss

Hair, though mildly useful for protecting our heads, has an important social and decorative role. Since Samson and Delilah were dating in biblical times, hair has symbolized strength, masculinity, and virility for men and beauty and fertility for women. This is borne out by the fact that every year people spend billions of dollars on shampoos, conditioners, styling agents, and treatments that claim to regrow hair. Hair is often the first thing you notice when meeting someone and it is usually the last thing you fuss with before a social event or business meeting. By changing its shape with a setting gel, its color with highlights, or its style with a new haircut, you are able to considerably alter your features and your appearance. No wonder why losing hair can cause stress and anxiety and affect a person's body image and self-esteem.

Even for people without hair loss the prospect of losing hair can be worrisome. A recent US survey conducted by Nourkrin (Lifes2good) looked at how any potential future thinning hair or hair loss would affect a woman's self-confidence - 50 percent of women said they would be more self-aware, 36 percent said they would be embarrassed, 24 percent said they would have a lack of confidence, and 19 percent said they would be totally devastated.


So, what are some of the potential psychological effects of hair loss?


Anxiety/Depression

Many people with hair loss become very anxious and depressed. Sometimes people experience feelings of despair (exasperation that their hair will not stop falling out), sadness, worry, apprehension, anger at their condition, and fear of going bald. In addition to becoming very stressed, some hair-loss sufferers develop panic attacks.


Lack of Self-Esteem

People with hair loss often become dissatisfied with their body image and view themselves differently than how they did before. Many feel embarrassed about losing their hair and looking unattractive to others - even their spouses and friends - because their hair is thinning. They also feel that other people are always looking at their thinning hair, making them feel even more uncomfortable about their appearance.

Laughing at Hair Loss

So what is it about hair that causes such concern when it falls out and such joy when it is styled just right? What makes it so easy to use as the butt of a joke? I recall seeing a film when I was a teenager where two women were fighting over some money and one pulled the other's hair, which came off in her hand. After a split second in which it took the audience to realize it was a wig, everyone in the theater broke out in hysterical laughter. Would you have laughed? If your friend or spouse laughed, does it mean that he or she is insensitive to your hair loss?

I remember a young man in his early twenties with thinning hair being the butt of jokes from friends and family. Is this an example of playfulness or insensitivity? The giving and taking of mild teasing is something most of us do with our friends and relatives. It's part of the fabric of friendship and camaraderie.

Is your hair loss fair game for gentle teasing? Would you tease your friend's acne or the scar your sister got from a fall or the birthmark on your brother's face? Are these even fair comparisons? Some people who are losing their hair would say, categorically, yes. Others would disagree. What do you think?

Hair loss & the scalp

Some hair loss conditions may be accompanied with an oilier or flakier scalp. This does not mean that you will necessarily see more hair coming out or that the scalp condition is causing the loss. The change in the scalp comes about because genetic hair loss is often the result of increased sensitivity to male hormones in the follicle; this can also lead to the sebaceous or oil glands becoming larger and more active, resulting in a greasier scalp. Some flaky scalp conditions are aggravated by increased scalp oil, so it is quite common for the scalp to flake or look oilier with this hair-loss condition. However, mild flaking does not usually cause the hair to fall out nor does the hair loss make the scalp flaky. They are just the result of the same trigger mechanism.

Occasionally, the scalp can have acne-looking lesions or red patches. It may appear smooth or, if you gently pinch the skin, look like the skin of an onion. Some of these scalp conditions may be relevant in assessing the cause of your hair loss, as they could indicate a scarring type of hair loss (cicatricial alopecia) or alopecia areata.

If you have a scalp problem or are unsure if your scalp condition is causing hair loss, see a specialist.

How Can I Tell Whether My Hair Is Thinning?

There are two ways your hair can look thinner. The obvious one is that your partings look wider due to two causes: more space between each hair fiber because the strand is becoming finer, or fewer hairs in number on your head.

The usual places for the hair to look thinner are on the crown of your scalp, the frontal hairline, and in the middle of your scalp (the area between the frontal hairline and the crown of your head). When you part your hair, more space than there used to be may indicate that your hair is thinning.

Thinning may also occur at your temples (also called recession), or it may occur in a diffuse manner, which means that it is evenly spread over the entire scalp. In addition, there can be circular areas that are devoid of hair and feel smooth or stubbly.

A slightly different version of hair thinning is one where the ponytail is thinner; that is, you can wrap a band around the hair of your ponytail more times than you could previously. Often, your partings are similar in density to what they were previously. This could mean that your hair is breaking more, or it could mean that more long hair is falling out than is being replaced by regrowing shorter hair.

Different types of hair thinning or thinning in different areas of your scalp can indicate that a different factor is causing your hair loss. Thus, it is important to have an expert examine your condition to identify which type of hair loss you have.

Two causes of thinning hair

Most people's hair becomes thinner as they get older. Just as your skin changes, often leading to wrinkles, so your hair follicles become smaller, producing a slightly shorter, finer hair. If enough finer hairs are produced then more space between them develops, causing a thinner look. In this case you can have the same number of hairs as before, but because they are finer in texture, your hair will look thinner. An analogy is with a forest. In the summer, the trees are in full bloom and it is difficult to see through them. In the winter, the fallen leaves give an appearance of "thinner" trees and allow you to see through the forest more easily. The number of trees are the same, but the forest has a totally different look.

Of course, another way that your hair can look thinner is if you've lost excessive amounts of hair that do not grow back or take a long time to grow back...

Hair Length - An Important Factor When Assessing Hair Loss

Length of hair can be very important in assessing excessive loss. The longer your hair, the more you will see when it falls out because there is more of it in bulk. For instance, if your hair is six inches long and twenty hairs fall out, the quantity lost will seem greater than fifty hairs that are only one inch long. That doesn't mean that you are losing more hair.

It is important, therefore, to look at the number of hairs that have fallen out, not the bulk quantity in your hand. The only time that the bulk quantity is relevant is if your hair length has more or less stayed the same and you are seeing more in your hand.

Is My Hair Loss Just Breakage?

Seeing more hair coming out can often be due to breakage from changing your styling technique, being careless when brushing or combing, or the result of a bad chemical process. Also, if your hair is thinning, those finer, thinner hairs can be more susceptible to breakage. One way to tell whether the hair is breaking or falling from the root is to look at the root end of the fiber. If you see a "bulb," then it has probably come from the root; if not, then it may well be breakage. If the hair has already fallen and you are unsure which is the root end, gently move your fingers down the strand of hair. One way will feel smooth, the other will feel rough. The root should be toward the rougher end.

You can also sometimes tell whether the hair is breaking by looking at your scalp. If you see lots of stubble, then it may be breakage. Although breakage is not hair loss per se, it can still cause thinning and be very worrisome.

Is Washing the Only Time to Look for Excessive Hair Loss?

You can also see excessive hair loss during different styling processes, such as in the comb or brush, or even on the pillow in the morning. Some people see hair everywhere — on their shoulders, on the kitchen or bathroom floor, even on their spouses' clothes. Although you may see one hundred hairs when you wash, you probably lose about 20 percent more (one hundred twenty total) during the day. This is due to hair styling or just the result of gravity.

Could My Hair Loss Just Be Seasonal?

Unlike most animals with hair, humans do not have seasonal molting, although some people do seem to experience more hair loss at certain times of the year. We don't molt because most of our hair follicles have independent cycles from their neighboring follicles. One hair on your head could be in its growing phase, while the hair next door could be in its resting phase. Therefore, if you see more hair fall in the autumn, you need to ask yourself, "Do I have extra hair loss at this time most years?" If the answer is yes, then you may have seasonal hair loss; if the answer is no, you should perhaps consider seeing a specialist.

Is Your Hair Loss Excessive?

How Many Hairs Do I Have on My Head?

We are born with all of our hair follicles; none are produced after birth. The follicles are usually found in groups of two to four hairs that are spaced at intervals. The average person has approximately 80,000 to 150,000 hairs on his or her head, depending on hair type and natural hair color (overall, the average is 100,000). If you have blonde hair, you tend naturally to have a higher number of hairs on your head because the hair fibers are very fine and more strands per square inch are able to "fit." If you have red hair, you tend naturally to have a lower number of hairs because your individual hair fibers are coarser and allow for fewer hairs per square inch on your scalp.

Fine hairs are usually straight and limp, with little natural body; coarser hairs are usually curlier, with a lot of natural body. Under a microscope, the cross section (looking at the cut end of a hair fiber, straight on) of a fine, straight hair strand is round in shape. The cross section of a medium-textured, wavy hair strand is oval. The cross section of a coarse, curly hair strand is an elliptical shape.

· People with coarse, curly hair usually average about 80,000 hairs.
· People with medium, wavy hair usually average about 100,000 hairs.
· People with fine, straight hair often have 120,000 to 150,000 hairs.


So, What is Average Daily Hair Fall?

The average number of hair that most people should expect to lose each day is between forty and one hundred and twenty hairs. Why the discrepancy? It's mainly because of the difference in the amount of hair people have on their heads, as well as the difference in the length of time the hair remains in its growing phase.

Can Hair Loss Amounts in the Average Range Be Too Much?

Can Hair Loss Amounts in the Average Range Be Too Much?

Hair-loss amounts in the "average" range can sometimes still be excessive. If you count your hair over a few weeks and notice that about an average of ninety hairs fall out, you might decide that this is okay because it fits nicely in the "normal" range. However, if you were only losing, say, forty-five hairs per day when you were washing before, ninety is twice as many hairs as your normal average. This could mean that you have excessive hair loss. Therefore, it is important that you only compare your hair fall with your own history, not with another person's hair history.

Can Hair-Loss Amounts that Are More than the Average Range Be Okay?

Hair-loss amounts higher than the "average" can be normal. If you count ninety hairs as an average and you're only used to seeing forty-five, you would probably become concerned. However, you need to ask yourself, "When did I previously wash my hair?" If you used to wash your hair every day and noticed about forty-five hairs falling out but recently skipped a day or two between washes, then seeing ninety hairs could be normal. The reason for this is that hair loss accumulates; the less often you wash your hair, the more hair fall you see when you do wash it. Therefore, the forty-five hairs that you lost on a daily wash basis will accumulate to ninety if you wash every two days, one hundred thirty-five if you wash every three days, and so on.

Clearly the old wives' tale that says washing your hair makes it fall out more is incorrect! Wash your hair as often as you want. Any hair that comes out has already been released by the follicle and so is ready to fall. By not washing your hair, you allow this normal hair amount to build up. Therefore, when you do wash it, it looks like more is falling out, making you needlessly worried about losing hair.

For How Long Does My Hair Grow?

The hair cycle consists of many phases. The growing phase (called anagen) is the most relevant time to ascertain hair length. This phase of the hair cycle lasts for about one thousand days (three years). The hair grows at an average speed of a half inch per month (or six inches per year); therefore, the average length an individual hair strand grows is approximately eighteen inches. Some people's growing phases are much longer (more than five years), and some are much shorter (less than two years). This means that some people can grow their hair down to their feet, while others cannot grow it beyond their shoulders.

Why Is There Such a Large Difference between the Amounts of Hair a Person Should Lose Every Day?

Although the average amount of hair on a person's head is approximately 100,000 strands, not everyone has exactly this amount. Moreover, not everyone's hair cycle is three years. For instance, the small percentage of people who can grow their hair down to their feet may have a five- to ten-year hair cycle! Some people only have a two-year cycle, so they are unable to grow their hair beyond their shoulders. This explains that different people can and will have vastly different normal hair fall amounts. Also, remember that forty to one hundred twenty hairs are only an average. Some people will naturally see more than one hundred twenty hairs fall out, while others will see fewer than forty. In addition, if your average is one hundred, you will not lose one hundred hairs every day. Some days you may find very few hairs; other days you may find lots more hair. So don't panic if you see more hairs coming out, as long as you see less on other days.

Hair Thinning & Hair Shedding

Thinning hair is often, but not always, the result of excessive hair shedding. For example, Barbara, a thirty-three-year-old music store manager, was astonished to see the back of her head in a mirror at a local restaurant. "I first noticed my hair loss when I was sitting in a restaurant. It was raining, so I got drenched on the way; and I saw my scalp in one of the mirrors. It was very upsetting for me."

While waiting for her friends to arrive, she noticed that she could see through her hair, right down to the crown of her scalp. Usually her hair was carefully blow-dried and styled, but due to the rain, her wet hair hung limp and exposed the thinning area.

It was a shock for Barbara because she hadn't noticed any of the common warning signs, such as excessive hair shedding, before she saw that her hair had thinned. Although her hair had likely been thinning for some time before she noticed, the lack of excessive hair in the brush kept it from her attention. How many of us have had similar experiences?

Hair loss - should you worry?

"When I started to lose my hair, I took a few of my best friends into my confidence. They just brushed it off and said 'It doesn't look like you're losing hair, so don't worry.'" — Nigel, twenty-eight-year-old registered nurse.

"My husband looks at my hair and can't understand why I'm so worried. He says that it looks the same to him and that he wishes he had half of what I have!" — Monica, thirty-five-year-old housewife.

Is Nigel really losing his hair, or are his friends correct? Is Monica's husband right to not take her concerns seriously? How do you know whether your hair is falling out excessively or whether it's normal and nothing to worry about?

Most people at some time in their lives notice more hair in the sink, on the pillow, or in the comb. If this happens to you, should you worry? Is this the first sign of hair loss? Does it mean that you are going bald?

Usually, most people quickly become aware of their own hair loss; they see more hair shedding or they see more of their scalp or both. Hair shedding is the amount of hair that falls out during your normal daily lifestyle, such as by combing, brushing, or washing your hair. Hair thinning is less hair density in a particular area of the scalp, such as a wider parting or a receding hairline. Although hair thinning can occur without any obvious excessive hair shedding, it most often occurs if your hair sheds excessively for a long period of time. For instance, Mike, a twenty-three-year-old construction worker, first noticed hair on his pillow. His shower didn't have a "catch" so he never saw loss while washing his hair. At first he thought nothing of it, but then he started seeing hair all over the place—on the bathroom floor and even in his food! Within a few weeks he noticed that his hair had thinned in the front and had receded a little at his temples.

So, back to the original question - should you worry? Over the next month or so I'm going to be exploring various aspects of hair loss and will let you make up your own mind. Stay tuned!

Laser treatment for hair loss

While researching various treatments for hair loss one of the suggestions which comes up now and again is laser treatment. Having little experience of lasers - beyond what I've seen in science fiction films - I decided to look into things further. Can you really use a laser to stop hair loss or encourage new hair to grow? The first thing I discovered is that the laser technology used here isn't the kind of thing you see in Star Wars, instead it's called "Low-Level Laser Therapy" (LLLT) and is even designed for use by the general public - in other words, it's fairly harmless. Anyone wanting to try this technology at home can buy a "laser comb", with the recommend schedule being around 5-15 minutes per session for 2 or 3 days every week. Alternatively, laser therapy is offered at various clinics where the client needs to make repeat appointments (how many? I saw figures of between 25 and 50 being quoted).

The basic idea behind laser therapy seems to be that the light can stimulate cellular growth, although there also other factors allegedly at play such as an increase in blood supply. As a result it is claimed that the hair you have (assuming you still have any!) will become thicker and stronger and hair you're in danger of losing may in fact decide to stick around.

So, how successful is laser therapy for baldness? It's difficult to say, most sites I visited seemed intentionally vague. However, I think it's safe to say that laser therapy certainly isn't a cure for baldness and any effect it does have is small at best, and even then not something everyone is going to experience. In addition, the costs over time seemed huge for anyone booking multiple sessions at a clinic.

Laser hair treatment might be worthwhile for some, but for most I think it's probably a waste of time and money.

Dealing with a receding hairline

The receding hairline. The first step on the slippery slope to ridicule, social isolation and absence of self-esteem.

Don't panic...I'M JOKING!

Sure, the receding hairline can be the first sign that the battle to keep your curly locks is being lost on the frontline but the war is far from over. Think of the slow retreat of the forward follicles as a call to arms, an opportunity to marshal your forces and send reinforcements.

OK, enough of the military analogies. Firstly, what exactly is a receding hairline? Usually seen in men from their mid-twenties onwards a receding hairline is that most often seen when hair starts to be lost from the sides of the forehead. However, hair is not always lost from the sides first, it can also recede primarily from the centre and more slowly from the sides or indeed the rate of hair loss can be fairly uniform at both the centre and the sides.

What to do when you first notice that your hairline is receding? Well, don't panic. You're not going to go bald overnight. Once you've recovered from the initial shock of discovering that your hair is happier without you, you might want to consider the following options:

1. It's often overlooked, but ask yourself if your hair loss might be a sign of poor health. It's far more likely to be the onset of male pattern baldness (assuming you're a bloke) but if you have any concerns about your health seek professional advice.

2. Assuming that there's nothing wrong health-wise and your receding hairline is the first sign of a natural balding process, speak to a good barber/hairdresser about covering it up. In skilled hands a receding hairline can at the very least be made less conspicuous.

3. If the thought of mentioning your little problem is something you'd rather not do (even though it's probably fairly obvious to your barber) consider some of the following options the next time you go to get your hair cut: grow your hair a little longer on top and have it cut to fall forward, have your hair cut fairly short and sweep it back from the forehead (this won't hide the hairline but will make it look as though you've fully embraced nature's little gift), dye your hair darker to give the impression of more thickness, and finally, the shaven head - it takes some courage to begin with but makes a powerful statement if you have the confidence to carry it off.

4. Start looking into the various treatments available to halt or at least slow down the rate of hair loss, e.g. Minoxidil or one of the Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibitors. Find out as much information as you can about these kind of solutions, especially with regard to their rates of effectiveness and the longer term costs involved.

Finally, try to keep your spirits up. Losing your hair isn't the end of the world and above all remember this - the way you react to your hair loss is very often a huge factor in the way others respond to it too.

Onion juice - a cure for patchy hair loss?

Yep, you heard right, onion juice.

According to Dr. Mike Sladden of the University of Tasmania one small, unpublished study found hair regrew in almost half of 60 subjects with mild cases [of alopecia areata] who applied onion juice.

Now, I know I set up Hair Loss Heaven because I don't like being bald and wanted to look further into possible treatments for hair loss but, my friends, it'll be a cold day in hell before I rub onion juice over any part of my body, bald or otherwise!

Have a great weekend, everyone, see you next week.

How does hair grow?

To the question "How does hair grow?" you're probably thinking, "It doesn't!" and believe me, I share your point of view. However, an understanding of how hair is formed and how it grows is crucial to understanding why we lose our hair and how - potentially - we might one day be able to start growing it again.

The first thing to know is that hair, which we've already seen is made from a protein called keratin, grows from a "follicle". A follicle is sometimes described as a pouch or sac and is comprised of various parts - the pear shaped "papilla" at the base, the "hair matrix" which surrounds the papilla and is where cell division takes place (a process which is mainly responsible for creating the hair itself), the "root sheath" and the "hair fiber". A sebaceous gland which produces sebum and tiny muscle fibers called "arrector pili" are attached to the follicle.

So, those are the basic building blocks, how do they work together to produce a growing hair? The crucial thing to realise here is that hair doesn't just grow, it grows in phases, the main phases being anagen, catagen and telogen. Here's a quick rundown of what happens in each of these phases:

Anagen - In this stage the cell division in the follicle mentioned above is taking place rapidly and this causes the hair to grow (about 10cm per year). Hair on the head (and let's face it, that's the area most of us are interested in) remains in this phase for around 2-3 years, occasionally longer - even as much as 6 years. Around 85% of hair is in this phase at any one time.

Catagen - This phase is known as a transitional phase and lasts for around 2 to 3 weeks directly after the anagen phase. The hair follicle shrinks and the lower part is destroyed.

Telogen - The resting phase. The hair does not grow during this period and for head hair this phase lasts about 100 days. 10-15% of hair is in this phase at any one time. When this phase is complete the anagen phase is entered once more and a new hair begins to grow, pushing out the old hair if it has not already been shed. It is normal to lose around 50-100 hairs for this reason each day.

That's it, basically. Simple, isn't it?!

What is hair?

If you're anything like me, most of your thinking about hair is probably directed towards either keeping it or regrowing it, very little is spent wondering about what hair actually is!

Perhaps this isn't too surprising - after all, very few of us want to keep our hair for any reason other than our looks - put simply, we think we look better with it than without. Before we start to look in any detail at the various treatments and regimes out there, though, it pays to take a closer look at hair itself. Only then do we stand a chance of separating those treatments which might be worth paying for from those which are just going to empty our bank accounts.

OK, here's the science bit. Hair is mainly made out of a substance called Keratin, a protein (proteins are linear chains of amino acids). Hair is found only on mammals, and in non-human mammals it is called "fur". In humans there are three distinct types of hair (and remember, we're not just talking about head hair):

Lanugo - a fine hair which covers fetuses

Vellus - body hair often described as "peach fuzz"

Terminal - hair that is longer and thicker than vellus hair

So far, so simple. However things get more complex when we look at hair texture, which is is determined by the diameter of individual hairs and of which there are four main categories: fine, medium, coarse and wiry. Within these textures hair can be categorised yet further according to its density and whether it is straight, curly or wavy - straightness or curliness being determined by follicle shape and the direction the hair strand grows from the follicle.

We've looked at what hair is made of (a protein called Keratin) and how we describe it once it's grown, tomorrow we'll look at how hair grows.

Hair - What is it good for?

In the words of Edwin Starr (before he foolishly changed it to something more political): "Hair - what is it good for?"

This is a question which most of us baldies, or indeed hairies, give little thought to. We know it makes us look better in wedding photos and gives loved ones something to run their fingers through - as opposed to just slapping us playfully on the head - but WHY exactly do we have hair?

It's obvious why animals have hair - they'd look stupid without it. But why do humans...oh, wait, hang on, I suppose you could say the same thing about us. Seriously though, just what is the deal with this troublesome thing called hair?

Well, there are a number of possible reasons for having hair but the first thing to remember is that scientists believe primitive humans were a lot hairier than we are now. Perhaps in the past hair served a similar purpose to that served by fur (the name for hair on non-human mammals). In fact, hair is thought to serve a number of functions. Most obviously it's an insulator, keeping us warm - or in some cases actually protecting against excessive heat. Less obviously, hair colour is thought to be a means of either camouflaging a species or signalling to other members of that species. Hair can also act as a defence mechanism, either by protecting the skin or by stopping small foreign bodies from entering the eyes, nose and ears. Finally, and this is probably the least obvious reason, hair can be used to sense the environment around us.

With all those advantages to hand, the question has to be asked, "Why do we have less hair now than primitive humans did in the past?" The fact is, nobody knows for sure, although one theory is that less hairy people were considered more attractive and hence reproduced more... (oh, would that that were true from the ears up these days!)

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, that's all very well but hold on, what about the hair on our heads (if you're lucky) and the hair elsewhere, like the hair under our arms? The answer to that, at least partly, is that in conjunction with phoremones released by the body this kind of hair aids olfactory communication. Yep, like it or not, it helps people to smell you.

Finally, what about pubic hair? What's the deal with that? Again, there are no definitive answers but it's probably a combination of things we talked about above: health, warmth, pheromones, perhaps even signalling to others. Personally, I'm glad it's there, the seventies wouldn't have been the same without it.

Hair Loss is Big Business

One of the most amazing things about hair loss - apart from the fact we can grow a human ear on a mouse but still can't regrow hair on our own heads - is just how much money is spent by those of us looking to regain our crowning glory.

It has been estimated that spending on hair loss treatments in the US runs at somewhere around $1.5 billion every year. Yes, that's right - one and a half BILLION dollars in America alone. Expand that to cover the rest of the globe and you're talking a truly staggering figure.

Why so much money? Well, the obvious answer from a consumer perspective is, "Because everything's so bloody expensive!" Although somewhat facetious, there's a lot of truth in that statement. Products like Minoxidil (brand name Regaine or Rogaine) or Finasteride are expensive - and on top of that you have to keep taking them for the rest of your life if you want to maintain their benefits (assuming, that is, you're one of the few who actually see any significant benefits). In fact, it's even worse than that, not only are you locked in for the long term but there's also a delay before you even find out if they work for you.

The other main solution to hair loss is, of course, the hair transplant, and we all know how prohibitively expensive those can be - especially micro-grafts.

Want a cheaper option? Fine, get a wig. Want a good wig, professionally made and professionally fitted? Sorry, that's expensive too.

Still, if you think the consumer is paying too much for hair loss remedies consider for a moment the medical research companies desperately looking for a cure for baldness. Hair follicle multiplication (commonly referred to as hair cloning) may be the holy grail we're all searching for but if you thought it will come cheap, think again - the companies working in this field are investing astronomical funds. If or when a solution hits the market don't expect to afford a holiday that year.

Baldness is something which affects people from all walks of life. Unfortunately the fight against it is being won primarily by those with the deepest pockets - don't expect that to change any time soon.

Hair loss - when to say something...and when not

Here's a question recently posted to the Philadeplhia Inquirer:

Dear Amy: A 21-year-old friend is slowly but undeniably losing his hair. He seems unable to admit it to himself.

I'd like to suggest he start treatment, but I'm afraid he will get angry.

Is there any way to broach the topic without harming our friendship?

Amy comes up with what I thought was pretty fair advice:

Dear Worried: I find it hard to imagine your friend isn't aware of his hair loss. Men seem to have an extra-special connection to their follicles. Perhaps he's accepted his emerging scalp and just doesn't feel like discussing it with you.

If you have experience and have reversed the inevitable, share your treatment with your friend. If you want to point out the obvious and make suggestions based on infomercials, it would be best to keep your thoughts to yourself.

I particularly like the last line about infomercials (although I know people who swear by the ThighMaster!)

Even though I hate having lost my hair I've never had a problem with other people mentioning it. Perhaps I'm lucky in that any comments have always been good natured and most of the time if there's a joke being made I'm the one who's making it. Some people feel very differently about their hair loss, though, and for a minority their life is almost a living hell, one where they're just waiting for someone to say something with a feeling approaching dread. To anyone in that situation there is, perhaps, very little that can be said of any real use, other than to say you're not alone.

Hair loss is a difficult process, even traumatic at times, and we all need to be sensitive to those going through it.

The 'bald' business advantage

So...finally some good news for those of us who have already lost the follicle fight. According to this article baldness "encourages approachability". Whether this is out of sympathy or just a magpie-like attraction to shiny things the CEO in question doesn't say. Then again, anyone who runs a chain called "El Pollo Loco" has got to have a few crazy ideas I suppose!

Scientists find key to hair loss. Partly.

No doubt you've seen the headlines:

Gene linked to early baldness -

"A family with a rare form of inherited baldness has helped scientists find a gene which plays a crucial role in normal hair growth. Researchers believe it could lead to treatments to boost hair growth in a broad range of conditions causing hair loss..."


Scientists find genetic keys to inherited hair loss -

"News Researchers have found the genetic basis of two distinct forms of inherited hair loss, opening a broad path to treatments for thinning locks, according to a pair of studies released Sunday..."

So, what's going on? Is this the holy grail we've been waiting for someone to find?

Well, the first thing to note is that the condition investigated by the researchers - Hypotrichosis simplex - is rare, it's not the cause of most people's hair loss. Secondly, these are very early days. Any information which might be useful in forming a broad based hair loss solution for the consumer needs to be fed into the usual process of testing and development - a process which takes years.

However, there are grounds for optimism. Crucially, scientists now know something which they didn't before, and that something might be very important indeed, namely a receptor which plays a role in hair growth.

Needless to say, this is something I'll be following closely.

What is Progesterone? (Part one)

Progesterone has been shown to have DHT inhibiting effects and is thus used by both men and women, often in the form of topical applications, to combat hair loss. Progesterone creams provide a transdermal method by which levels of the progesterone hormone can be increased at a desired location of the body. Hair loss is not the primary reason for the use of progesterone creams. While applied topically, some of the progesterone absorbed in this way will find its way into the body in general, so there may be systemic implications to its use. Progesterone can also be taken in pill form to increase broader systemic efficacy.

Topical progesterone is available as capsules, vaginal creams and suppositories. The medication is applied by women to sensitive areas of the body such as the breast, abdomen, inner thighs and the palms of the hands. Men who use progesterone creams can apply it to areas such as inner forearm, chest, neck or scrotum. Because of possible side effects for the health of the thin areas of skin through which the progesterone is absorbed, it is recommended that the site of application is changed periodically. This has obvious implications for those intending to apply progesterone creams regularly to the same parts of their scalp.

Progesterone creams are not FDA approved for use against hair loss in men or women, and if you are considering using one for such purposes you should consult a well-informed doctor before commencing use. This is especially important for women of all ages, men or women already taking medication to address hormonal imbalances in their bodies, or women who are or think they may become pregnant.

More next time!

Happy New Year!

A very happy New Year to all readers and all the best for 2008!

I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle this month after the usual craziness of December. Hope everyone enjoyed themselves...see you soon in the forums!