Hair Loss - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can my hair loss be treated?
A. This depends on several factors. f your hair loss is as a result of medication, hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems or some underlying cause such as diabetes then your doctor will in all likelihood be able to help. Medicines such as Regaine and Propecia may now help to slow or prevent the development of common hair loss. Of these, only Regaine is available without a prescription and is suitable for both men and women. It is very dangerous for women to use or even come into contact with Propecia, and medical advice should be sought by the partners of those men using this drug. As far as visible results are concerned, it may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

Q: What are the primary causes of hair loss?
A. Hair loss may be caused for a number of reasons.
Many people experience dramatic levels of hair loss some weeks after major surgery or after illness. Whilst the level of hair loss may appear excessive it is really no more than a reaction to a specific event and hair will return to normal after a period of time. Medications can also cause hair loss. Some anticoagulants and chemotherapy regimes used in cancer treatments are well known for this. Following the cessation of such treatment hair growth usually returns to normal. A few anti-depressants are also sometimes known for causing in hair loss and even too much vitamin A can have the same effect. Other reasons can include hormonal imbalances, an under- or over-performing thyroid and certain fungal infections, such as ringworm can all result in hair loss. Hair loss may also signal some underlying problem like diabetes or lupus. It is in all cases always worth seeking competent professional medical advice to diagnose the problem, as it is not always possible to assess the cause of rapid or excessive hair loss oneself.

Q: It seems as though my hair loss comes with feeling fatigued and weak physically, is this possible?
A: It is indeed possible that you have some deficiency such as zinc or iron. Sometimes tiredness can be associated with stress, which can cause hair loss; or you may be experiencing the first signs of a deficient thyroid, also associated with hair loss. A visit to you doctor should clear up these possibilities.

Q: What is Minoxidil (Regaine ® ) and how does it work?
A: Minoxidil is an anti-hair loss drug that is applied topically (directly to the scalp). Minoxidil is not always a cure for hair loss, but it has been shown to prevent recent hair loss and to stimulate new hair growth, particularly in the crown of the scalp in men and women.
Results with Minoxidil can take time (up to a year to notice improvement) and it is important to use the correct dosage for your hair loss type as well as ensuring that you apply Minoxidil as directed twice a day.
Men who are already "shiny bald" are less likely to benefit from Regaine®, because the hair follicles may not be salvageable. Men who have early thinning in the back and top have a better chance to see some benefit, but as mentioned above, only for as long as they continue using the medication.

Q: What is Finasteride (Propecia ®) and how does it work?
A: Finasteride is the first approved pill to treat male pattern hair loss. Propecia® is a tablet taken once a day, available via a doctor's prescription only.
According to Merck the manufacturer, an estimated 1 million men in the United States take Propecia® daily. Most men taking Propecia ® experience an increase in hair count, a decrease in hair loss, and an improvement in appearance.
It has been discovered that the hormone known as DHT is one of the principal factors in male pattern hair loss. Propecia® inhibits the formation of DHT, and in this way appears to interrupt this key factor in the development of inherited male pattern hair loss in men. Most men who take Propecia® experience a slowing or cessation of hair loss over the back and top of the scalp.
Again, results can take time. If you are not willing to commit yourself to taking Propecia® for at least twelve months, it is probably not worth starting. Like Regaine ® Propecia® must be taken on an ongoing basis to maintain the benefit. Merck states that any hair grown or maintained by Propecia® will be lost within twelve months if the patient stops taking the medication. Further, men who are already "shiny bald" are less likely to benefit from Propecia®, because the hair follicles may not be salvageable. Men who have early thinning in the back and top have a better chance to see some benefit, but as noted above, only for as long as they continue taking the medication.
Q: Recently I have noticed small, red patchy areas on my scalp where the hair has fallen out and appears to have stopped growing. What could this be?
A. This type of hair loss sounds like it could be caused by seborrhoea, lichen planus or ringworm. It should be treatable as a result of a visit to your doctor or dermatologist.

Q: How much hair loss is “normal”?
A : The average adult loses up to around 100 hairs a day although too much brushing, hair rubbing or excessive washing can increase this amount. Hair loss may increase with age but male-pattern baldness is not abnormal, or a sign of abnormality, it simply suggests that your pattern of hair loss is, like 95% of hair loss, genetically pre-determined.

Q: Why is it that hair goes grey?
A. Usually grey hair is associated with the ageing process. The colour of our hair comes from cells which are located in the root if each hair, and as we age the process of this pigmentation begins to slow down – along with everything else! The greying process is genetically predetermined and this stops at grey for some people but moves on to white for others. White hair occurs when there is no pigment left in these pigmentation cells to colour the hair. In spite of various stories there has never been any evidence of stress or shock causing grey hair.

Q: What is hair?
A: Essentially hair is a form of skin. It is made up of a protein called keratin and grows to varying degrees everywhere on the body with the exception of the lips and eyelids and the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Each shaft of hair is made of two or three inter-twined layers of keratin which grow from a follicle beneath the skin. In the summertime your hair grows more quickly and at night it grows more slowly.

Q: If my father lost his hair, will I lose my hair too?
A. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. The most common type is known as androgenetic alopecia or male pattern hair loss. It is by no means inevitable that you will lose your hair but it is worth remembering that around 95% of all hair loss is due to your inheritance. So in many cases it is like father, like son.

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