Why do some people suffer hairloss, yet others keep a healthy head of hair?

Hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body! The average rate of growth is about one-half inch a month. Hair growth is optimal from age 15 to 30, slows down from age 40 to 50, and is progressively lost by about age 50. We usually lose between 50-100 scalp hairs each day. Healthy hair growth consists of three phases:

• Anagen Phase - Hair follicles enter an active growing period lasting about 3-5 years. Up to 95% of healthy hair follicles are in this phase at any given time.


• Catagen Phase - The anagen phase is followed by a 2-3 week period of declining growth.


• Telogen Phase - The catagen phase is followed by a temporary resting period, which typically lasts 3-4 months. After which the hair is then shed and the follicle begins pushing a new hair to the surface.

If everything goes according to plan this cycle of growth and rest continues through many cycles during our life.

Research indicates that one of the primary causes of age-related hair loss or hair thinning in men and women is DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the "bad" form of the hormone testosterone.

As we age, the level of DHT tends to increase. This form of testosterone, DHT, fits perfectly onto a receptor site on the follicle causing the hair to shorten its normal growth phase. In other words, DHT tends to inhibit the growth of scalp hair, and in most men the hairs in the front of the scalp are more sensitive to DHT. This in turn causes men to lose their hair in a distinct pattern, starting with a receding hairline often coupled with a growing bald spot on top of the head. At this stage the person is suffering from a condition known as androgenic allopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness.

The effect on women is noticeably different in that women tend to have a general thinning of the hair as they age. Approximately 40% of women passing through menopause experience moderate to severe thinning of the hair. This is driven by a combination of rising levels of DHT as well as decreasing levels of estrogen brought on by menopause.

Specifically why and how these levels of DHT get to the level where they create a problem with hair loss is not known. At this point in time the cause is largely attributed to genetic factors.

Baldness and hair loss can appear to be a very sudden onset, but in reality hair loss can go unnoticed for many years as each re-growth of shed hair gets progressively weaker and thinner than the previous hair that is being replaced.

Apart from our understanding of the causes of hair loss that is more or less permanent, there are several factors affecting men and women that can cause temporary hair loss; such as scalp infections; improper use of hair care products; side affects of some medications and medical procedures (surgery and chemotherapy for example), stress and inadequate nutrition for healthy hair growth.

The longer you wait to treat your hair loss the harder it will be to achieve good results. The process of losing your hair takes years to progress so the sooner you do something about it the better your chances of achieving a successful outcome.

Fighting hair loss is about prevention as well as reversal and this should always be understood. If you are a young man in your twenties then you have a great chance of having a full head of hair in the next 20-30 years as the balding process has not had as long to progress yet. However, don't lose hope if you have been suffering from hair loss for more than 5 years; usually, once the origin of hair loss is established a successful combination of treatments can reverse this process.

How long does it take for hair to return to its former glory?

Everyone is different but it will take a while - weeks if not months. It's important to recognise that an ongoing healthy diet with adequate nutrition including nutrients that have a known hair growth function such as Biotin, Zinc and the herb Saw Palmetto is essential.

Hair loss treatment options are widely available, there is a range of natural over the counter preparations that have undergone some clinical trials and have had some continued success in stopping hair loss and promoting re-growth of natural healthful hair.

What are your options if the natural way does not deliver the desired results?

It's a big ask but you could find some way to accept the change and live with it after all , most men struggle to come to terms with their baldness and at least society equates it with seniority and power. Or you can try cosmetic treatments such as wigs, hair thickeners or medicinal therapies. The last option is hair-replacement surgery.