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| Health & Wellness |
 Hair
Raising Facts - Understanding the Mystery of Hair LossBy Janet Rowe of Health & Natural Lifestyles To understand hair loss or hair gain for that matter, it is important to understand what hair is made of and where it comes from. While hair contains water, lipids, traces of mineral elements and melanin, it is keratin which is its main constituent. This strong structural protein is the same kind of protein that makes up the nails and the outer layer of skin. Each strand of hair consists of three layers: An innermost layer or medulla, is only present in large, thick hairs. The middle layer, known as the cortex, provides strength, colour, texture. The outermost layer is known as the cuticle, which is thin and colourless and serves as a protector of the cortex. The part of it we see, the fiber, is a material which is biologically dead. Hair is so strong that each hair can withstand the strain of 100 grams (3.5 ounces). Based on an average scalp holding 100,000 - 150,000 hairs, your head of hair could hold 10-15 tons if only the scalp was strong enough. Below the surface of the skin is the hair root, which is enclosed within a hair follicle. The root is where the hairs life begins due to the result of complex and continuous chemical and biological reactions, initiated at the very start of embryonic life. At the base of the hair follicle is the dermal papilla, which is fed by the bloodstream to receive the nourishment to produce new hair. The dermal papilla is a structure very important to hair growth because it contains receptors for hormones and androgens. Androgens regulate hair growth and may cause the hair follicle to get progressively smaller and the hairs to become finer in individuals who are genetically predisposed to this type of hair loss. What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss? Hair has the highest rate of cell division, and each hair follicle grows in repeated cycles. One cycle can be broken down into three phases: 1) Anagen (Growth Phase) - Approximately 85 percent of all hairs are in this phase at any one time, with growth varying from two to six years. Each hair grows approximately 10 cm per year and any individual hair is unlikely to grow more than one meter long. 2) Catagen - Transitional phase lasts about 1 or 2 weeks, where the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. The lower part is destroyed and the dermal papilla breaks away to prepare to rest. 3) Telogen (Resting Phase) - This normally lasts about 5-6 weeks. During this time the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase. Approximately 10-15 percent of all hairs are in this phase at any one time. At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters the Anagen phase. The dermal papilla and the base of the follicle join together again and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not already been shed the new hair pushes the old one out and the growth cycle starts all over again. Each hair passes through the phases independent of the neighboring hairs, so we don’t molt like a chicken. There are several reasons as to why someone can have unreasonable hair loss. We actually loose 50 to 100 hairs per day and this is considered to be the normal part of its evolution. So what can be responsible for this abnormal loss? Some of these circumstances could be combined and usually are in severe hair loss cases. Have a look: a) Poor circulation can be responsible for lack of nutrients getting to the hair follicle and improper drainage of the toxins in the skin. Anything appearing on the skin is usually due to toxins in the digestive system, liver and kidneys; b) Thyroid Disease or Diabetes causing not only hair loss but weight gain or loss, fatigue, mood and sleep issues, and usually an imbalance in the total endocrine system; c) Surgery, radiation, chemo, and other drugs including birth control pills, blood thinning, cholesterol lowering, Cox inhibitors, etc., are factors; d) Stress, poor diet, deficiencies in iron, zinc, amino acids, protein, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids can also play a role; e) Alopecia comes in three different forms: Alopecia Totalis means loss of all scalp hair, Alopecia Universalis means loss of all body hair, and Alopecia Areata is when the hair falls out in patches. Scientists are not currently aware of what actually causes this disease but feel that heredity, hormones and aging have an influence. Others believe it is an auto-immune component making the white blood cells attack the hair follicle. Male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia can also affect women, but usually not until after menopause, and usually hormonal imbalances exist; f) All women experience some hair thinning as they grow older, especially after menopause, but in a very few as early as puberty. In addition, most women lose some hair two to three months after having a baby because hormonal changes prevent normal hair loss during pregnancy; g) Scalp or hair follicle poisoning from chemicals massaged into the scalp and overworking or stressing hair from elastics, heat and roughness is also a factor; h) Folliculitis or decalvans cause scarring with hair loss (alopecia). There are areas of “corn stalking” (grouped hairs arising within the area of alopecia), redness (erythema), crusting and pustules. Due to severe scarring, permanent hair loss occurs in the involved sites. Watch in the Nov/Dec issue for an article on growing hair back, thicker and healthier! Have the beautiful locks you so desire! Janet Rowe, owner of Health & Natural Lifestyles Inc., offers a variety of therapies, therapeutic supplements & Blood Analysis. Call 403.212.6077 -- www.healthy-option.com |