Both men and women can lose their hair for a variety of reasons, at any age. What for? What are the solutions to remedy this?

Why am I losing my hair?

How much hair do you lose per day?

According to the American Society of Dermatology, we lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day. Beyond that, we can talk about alopecia.

Alopecia, baldness, alopecia areata: what are the differences?

Alopecia is the scientific term for excessive hair loss. It comes from the Greek word for "fox", alopex, in reference to the significant loss of hair of this animal in spring.

Rather, baldness describes the symptom observed on the skull: the total or partial absence of hair.

Alopecia areata is a dermatological disease, probably of autoimmune origin, which results in localized hair loss, in patches, leaving the scalp bare in places.

What can cause hair loss?

Androgenetic alopecia and baldness

Androgenetic alopecia is the main cause of baldness. It has a hereditary (genetic) component and a hormonal component: it is linked to androgens, male hormones.

According to dermatologist Wendy Levingbook, "Androgenetic alopecia is an inherited androgen-dependent condition in which dihydrotestosterone plays a major role. The prevalence of this form of alopecia increases with age and affects more than 70% of men and 57% of women over the age of 80."

Alopecia: environmental reasons

Hair loss is subject to genetic factors but is also influenced by many environmental factors such as lifestyle or diet. Indeed, these factors have an impact on inflammation, immunity, gene expression and oxidative stress. Thus, hair loss, in both men and women, can be seen as a warning sign of dietary imbalances or micronutrient deficiencies. Moreover, in situations that lead to micronutrient or protein deficits, for example after bariatric surgery, patients suffer hair loss that can be reduced by taking food supplements.

Excessive hair loss can also be caused by:

• severe stress;

• certain drugs (e.g. chemotherapy)

• weight loss of more than 10 kg;

• illness with high fever, infections;

• certain autoimmune diseases.

Hair loss in women

In women, certain periods of life are more conducive to hair loss, namely:

• Pregnancy: during the first part of pregnancy. But the pregnant woman is protected from hair loss during the second part of pregnancy;

• after childbirth;

• menopause.

Hair loss varies according to the seasons. They are usually more prominent in the spring and fall.

How to stop hair loss?

Hair loss treatments

Treatments in the form of medication can be prescribed for hair loss:

• Minoxidil, which is found in various medications, stimulates hair regrowth. It is also a vasodilator used against high blood pressure;

• Finasteride, an anti-androgen that blocks hair loss in men.

There are also laser treatments to reduce hair loss, such as LLLT (low level laser therapy). The analysis of about twenty studies on the use of LLLT for alopecia showed that these devices are safe and effective in men and women who are losing their hair and do not respond or tolerate standard treatments.

Finally, another solution is to transplant hair implants.

Anti-hair loss diet: what to do about hair loss?

A "varied and balanced" diet should cover the needs of vitamins and minerals and therefore provide those that are important for the health of the hair. Nutritional deficits, an unbalanced diet, can lead to hair loss. Some of the most essential nutrients for hair are: vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, carotenoids, and omega-3s.

Vitamin D intake is mainly through sun exposure between March and October in our latitudes. All you have to do is expose as much skin as possible to the sun for a few minutes a day (without the skin turning red). Diet is also a source of vitamin D, but to a much lesser extent.

Magnesium is mainly found in mineral waters (Rozana, hepar, etc.), legumes (lentils, dried beans), nuts, dry oilseeds, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, and seafood.

Regarding vitamin B6, it is important to consume whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables at each meal, as well as fish and poultry several times a week to ensure good intake. If you take magnesium supplements, note that there is a good chance that it is already combined with vitamin B6 (or even other B vitamins).

For omega-3s, turn to oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, etc.), walnuts, flax or chia seeds, or supplements.

Read: Hair Nutrition (subscribers)

The Best Dietary Supplements to Avoid Hair Loss

Here are some of the most interesting molecules for hair nutrition.

Omega-3

Omega-3s are found in the cells that line the scalp and are also involved in moisturizing the scalp and hair. Omega-3s have an anti-inflammatory action, and inflammation is known to have a detrimental effect on hair health. They also promote blood circulation, which improves the supply of blood, nutrients and oxygen to the hair.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties and also has an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is present in the cells of the hair follicle. Women who lose their hair have lower levels of vitamin D.

Zinc

The role of zinc is essential because it is necessary for the incorporation of an amino acid, cysteine, into keratin. Zinc deficiency could be a cause of alopecia, as zinc inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the main factor in androgenetic alopecia. Serum zinc concentrations are significantly lower in women with hair loss than in women without the same problem. Zinc supplementation in people with deficiencies can reduce hair loss.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays a role in the intracellular transport of glucose, which is essential in the metabolism of the hair follicle, and in the synthesis of keratin, preventing the breakdown of cysteine by free radicals. Magnesium deficiencies also increase susceptibility to stress, which is an aggravating factor in hair loss.

B vitamins

B vitamins are essential for the health and strength of the hair, they act on several levels such as the synthesis of keratin or the supply of blood and oxygen to the hair, which is subject to the presence of vitamins B6, B12, B9. Vitamin B6 promotes the incorporation of cysteine into keratin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect hair from oxidative stress. People with alopecia areata have less vitamin E in their blood than people without hair problems. In people with hair loss, supplementation with a mixture of tocotrienols (100 mg per day) for 8 months resulted in a 34.5% increase in hair count, while no hair growth was observed in the control group. It is likely that tocotrienols reduce oxidative stress, which is associated with alopecia.

Vitamin C

Insufficient vitamin C intake has an influence on the creation of the hair shaft. In addition, vitamin C increases the absorption of non-heme iron (from plant products) which prevents hair loss. It is also essential for preventing hair aging, which is accelerated by exposure to pollutants and the sun, thanks in particular to its role as an antioxidant and chelator of toxic metals.