HAIR LOSS: CAUSES AND TREATMENT
A hair that has fallen out in the sink, two on the pillow – we've all been there. But are these really considered hair loss? We can reassure you: Each hair only has a limited lifespan, and it's perfectly normal to lose a few every day. Nevertheless, we all naturally want to avoid losing our hair.
We've gotten to the bottom of hair loss for you and, in this article, we'll explain the different forms of hair loss and how you can prevent it, especially with various nutrients.
What is hair loss?
At what point does one actually speak of hair loss? Medicine has an answer to this question: More than 100 hairs lost per day (50 to 80 in children) is an indication of hair loss, known as alopecia.
Forms of hair loss
Hereditary hair loss
In hereditary hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia, the hair follicles of those affected are sensitive to male hormones (androgens) due to a genetic predisposition, which is the main reason for hair loss. The hair becomes thinner and the hair follicles shrink. In women, other triggers can include certain tumors or hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune reaction: In this case, the immune system fights against the body's own structures by attacking the hair follicles. This stops hair growth and causes the hair to fall out. Science has not yet found a definitive explanation for alopecia areata.
Scarring hair loss
A rare form of hair loss is pseudopelade Broq, or scarring hair loss. It primarily affects women between the ages of 30 and 55. The scalp appears reddish and shiny in the affected areas.
Diffuse hair loss
Diffuse hair loss manifests itself in a uniform thinning of the hair. There are many causes for this, such as
- Diseases (thyroid disorders, infections, diabetes)
- Incorrect diet (protein deficiency)
- Iron deficiency
- hormonal changes (pregnancy, childbirth)
- Medications
- stress
How does hair grow?
To get to the root cause of hair loss, it's important to first understand how hair grows. There are three phases of hair growth, which we'll discuss below.
The 3 growth phases of hair
Anagen
The anagen phase, also called the growth phase, describes a period of 2 to 10 (usually 3 to 6) years during which hair grows. Normally, 80 percent of hairs are in the anagen phase. As soon as a damaging influence occurs, the hair transitions into catagen and then telogen.
Catagen
In catagen, the transitional phase, the hair follicles cease their activity. The hair no longer grows because it no longer receives any nutrients. The catagen phase lasts about two weeks.
Telogen
The resting phase lasts approximately two to four months, and at the end of this phase, the hair falls out. In a healthy person, no more than 20 percent of the hair should be in telogen.
What causes hair loss?
Eating disorders
Various nutrient deficiencies or excesses can cause hair loss. These include:
- Vitamin A excess
- Iron deficiency
- Zinc deficiency
Physical causes
Severe physical stress such as high fever, serious illness, pregnancy, or surgery can cause more hair to enter the resting phase. Hair then typically falls out a few months after the stress.
Psychological causes
It takes a very long time for hair to fall out due to psychological stress. A stressful day at work won't cause you to lose your hair. However, chronic stress that lasts over a longer period of time can.
What to do about hair loss?
As with many physical ailments, the best way to combat hair loss is through your diet. As mentioned above, hair loss can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. So make sure you consume the following nutrients regularly.
Nutrients against hair loss
zinc
Zinc – a powerful trace element. It contributes to the maintenance of hair, nails, and skin by supporting protein synthesis and collagen formation. A 2013 study examined 312 people with hair loss (circular, hereditary, and diffuse hair loss) and found that all had lower zinc levels than the control group without hair loss. (1)
Biotin
Biotin not only forms the basic substance of hair and thus counteracts hair loss, but it also makes us glow from within by strengthening not only our hair but also our skin and fingernails. It can also counteract muscle pain and even depression.
iron
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of diffuse hair loss, especially in women. Therefore, it's worth supplementing with iron through a high-quality dietary supplement.
Probiotics
If your intestinal health is impaired, this can also affect your hair growth. Hair loss is often associated with inflammatory processes in the hair follicles, which can be the result of an imbalance in the intestinal flora (dysbiosis). Several studies with mice have already shown that probiotics can help with hair loss. The animals fed probiotics, i.e., beneficial intestinal bacteria, showed good hair growth and shiny fur, while this was not the case with the mice in the control group. (2) (3)
Medicinal mushrooms
At YLUMI, we are convinced of the power of medicinal mushrooms. Cordyceps and Reishi, in particular, can provide relief from hair loss. They contain valuable ingredients that help with hormonal imbalances and can thus prevent or counteract hair loss.
YLUMI against hair loss
With HAIRLICIOUS CAPSULES, we've created a unique hair formula to support hair growth, shine, and volume. HAIRLICIOUS contains the high-quality complex with the patented natural active ingredient Keranat™ combined with essential vitamins and minerals such as biotin, vitamin E, vitamin B12, and selenium, as well as valuable omega fatty acids from linseed oil. Clinical studies¹ confirm the effectiveness of Keranat™ in reducing hair loss, promoting hair growth, and strengthening the hair roots after just twelve weeks. Hair becomes shinier, fuller, softer, and smoother.
You can find iron and zinc in our BEAUTIFUL AGE CAPSULES , among others , and in our FEM LOVE CAPSULES , which also contain biotin—all real boosters for your hair. To ensure even better absorption of iron and zinc, we recommend taking high-quality vitamin C, for example, from our BIO IMMUN CAPSULES .
Our ultimate formula for radiant beauty from within, BEAUTY X HYALURON , contains not only the hair growth-promoting nutrients zinc and biotin, but also the vital mushrooms Cordyceps and Reishi, which, as described above, are also used to combat hair loss.
Our COCO BEAUTY SPARKLE , which contains adaptogenic herbs and medicinal mushrooms , is also a real beauty booster . When stress levels are too high, all of the body's functions shut down until the stressor disappears. This is where our SPARKLE comes in: The ashwagandha it contains, for example, helps reduce stress levels in the body and signals that functions like hair growth can resume.
As described above, taking probiotics can also help with hair loss, especially if you frequently experience digestive problems and suspect that your intestinal flora may be imbalanced. For this, we recommend our popular BELLY BEAUTY CAPSULES , which contain a highly effective bacterial blend of 15 tested viable lactic acid bacteria (probiotics) and inulin from chicory (prebiotics).
The right hair care for hair loss
In addition to the right nutrients, there are also a few things you can consider in your hair care to counteract hair loss:
- Use a mild shampoo, preferably as natural as possible.
- Wash your hair as infrequently as possible.
- After washing, dry your hair by gently squeezing it.
- Avoid rubbing your hair dry and avoid using a hairdryer whenever possible.
- Also protect your hair and scalp from UV radiation.
- Avoid frequent styling such as bleaching, straightening or perming, as this puts strain on your hair and scalp.
- Use a brush with rounded bristles or a comb with widely spaced teeth.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3870206/
