|
Debunking common beliefs about the causes of hair loss and how to arrest a receding hairline.
 Contrary to popular belief, hair loss affects men and women equally, though it is more obvious in men. This is because men are more prone to pattern balding, where the hairline recedes until only a fringe of hair is left banding the ears, making the lack of hair more obvious, said Dr Lynn Teo, Associate Consultant, Department of Dermatology, Changi General Hospital (CGH). Women, on the other hand, tend to suffer from a less noticeable thinning along the parting of the hair. The primary cause for hair loss in both sexes is genes. “There are more than 1,000 genes associated with hair loss,” said Dr Teo, adding that it is possible for hair loss to affect a person but not his siblings, or the parents but not their children. “The sad truth is that if you do have a genetic tendency to lose hair, there is very little you can do about it,” said Dr Teo. However, genes are not the only culprit.
Non-genetic hair loss is caused when the body produces unusually high levels of a chemical known as dihydrotestosterone. “Stress is probably the second most common cause of hair loss,” said Dr Teo. This can be physical, emotional or mental stress. Major hormonal changes can also jumpstart the production of dihydrotestosterone.
Such changes include pregnancy and menopause for women and for men, male menopause – also referred to as andropause – which triggers higher levels of the hormone. Dihydrotestosterone causes hair follicles to shrink which shortens their lifespan and stops them from producing normal hair. “However, although dihydrotestosterone is commonly found in sebum (an oily substance produced by glands surrounding hair follicles), people with oily scalps are not more prone to hair loss,” said Dr Teo. “It depends on how vulnerable the hair follicles are to the presence of the hormone.”
Solutions for hair loss
The good news is that there are a number of treatment options available to fight a bald patch. The first line of treatment is a hair growth enhancer known as minoxidil that is applied to the scalp, said Dr Teo. But results will take up to a year. If this does not achieve the desired effect, then oral medication will be prescribed. For men, finasteride is given to lower dihydrotestosterone production. For women, spironolactone is given to reduce levels of testosterone, which in turn decreases levels of dihydrotestosterone. The success rate of these treatments is around 60 per cent.
Another option is a hair transplant. Like other treatments, hair transplants take up to 12 months to work, but the rate of success is close to 100 per cent. A hair transplant takes between four and 12 hours, and involves taking hair from an unaffected part of one’s head, cutting it into tiny hairlets, and planting them individually into the target area. At CGH, an average of one hair transplant is done every two months. To get the best results though, people should keep a watchful eye on their hair growth as there is not much that can be done to prevent hair loss, said Dr Teo.
Understanding hair transplants
What are they?
Rather like setting rice shoots to grow in a paddy field, hair can be taken from hairier parts of your head and transplanted individually into the target area.
What is the success rate?
A hair transplant has a 98 per cent rate of success within 12 months of the transplant.
Why don’t more people go for transplants straightaway?
Although hair transplants are markedly more effective compared to other treatment options, they require surgery and are costly. Depending on your hair condition and where you seek treatment, it can cost anywhere from $10,000.
Hairy myths
There are many old wives’ tales surrounding the topic of hair loss. Dr Lynn Teo, Associate Consultant, Department of Dermatology, Changi General Hospital, helps comb them out.
1. By using many hairstyling products, could I be inadvertently causing my own hair to drop?
Overuse of hair products can cause damage to the hair and this stress can in turn cause hair loss.
2. Could the stress I’ve been having at work lately contribute to my receding hairline?
Stress is a very big factor in hair loss. Genetics do play a large role as well, but stress of any form such as physical , emotional or mental stress can take its toll on your hair.
3. Do herbal remedies and potions like aloe vera, rosemary, olive oil and other herbs have any effect on hair growth?
While many of these remedies certainly smell good – some even create a pleasant tingling sensation on your scalp – there is no scientific basis to back up any claims of their potency. At the moment, none of these remedies have been conclusively proven to work.
4. How about oral supplements, like the botanical supplement saw palmetto?
So far, only one study has shown that saw palmetto has a positive effect on hair growth.
5. Can hair loss be due to an overconsumption of salt or monosodium glutamate (MSG)?
There is no conclusive evidence highlighting the effect of salt, MSG or other foods on hair loss. However, for the sake of your health, it would be wise to refrain from eating foods which are high in salt and MSG! |