Healthy, full hair is an ideal of beauty for both men and women. However, many people are denied this due to hair loss. We explain how hair loss occurs and how you can counteract it.
The problem of hair loss affects more people than expected. While around one in three women suffers from pathological hair loss, almost 40% of all men are affected.
In this day and age of beauty ideals, this has more consequences than ever. Among other things, the psychological burden increases. Those affected often experience reduced self-confidence and a feeling of discomfort. One reason for this is that many of us judge a stranger by their appearance. We associate a full head of hair with attractiveness and draw conclusions about other positive characteristics such as intelligence, health and trustworthiness.
How does our hair growth work?
On average, each person grows 0.3 – 0.5 mm of hair per day. This results in an annual growth of 15 cm. We also lose about 100 hairs a day. Our hair grows from hair follicles that lie deep in the skin. Hair growth takes place in a circular cycle in three phases.
Around 85 to 90% of all hair is in the first phase, the anagen phase, at any given time. This phase is also known as the growth phase because new hair roots form and the hair begins to grow. This process can take between 2 and 6 years, as individual factors such as age, gender and location influence it.
This is followed by the catagen phase, during which the hair follicle atrophies and hair growth stops. This phase lasts 2 to 4 weeks and only two to three percent of all hair is found at this point in the cycle.
The last phase is the telogen phase. Around 15% of the hair is in this phase and it lasts 3 to 5 months. During this phase, the hair follicles regenerate, allowing new hair to grow.
“It’s not about becoming someone else.
It’s about discovering the best version of yourself.”Dr. med. Nauras Abuagela, Specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery
Why do you have hair loss?
There are numerous factors that can cause or promote hair loss.
Stress: Under stress, our body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. This inhibits hair growth. In addition, the concentration of messenger substances at the hair follicle is increased, which triggers inflammation.
Genetics: Androgenetic alopecia is by far the most common form and mainly affects men. Those affected have a hypersensitivity of the hair roots to the male sex hormone androgen. As a result, the growth phase becomes shorter and shorter and the follicles shrink, leaving only short, thin or barely visible hair. In the worst case, these can even fall out without growing back. In addition to the genetic cause just mentioned, which only becomes apparent in old age, there is also congenital alopecia. This is a genetic defect in which hair grows sparsely or not at all.
Autoimmune reaction: This is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the hair roots, resulting in hair loss.
Certain medications: For example, beta-blockers, antibiotics and even some (head) pain medication can contain active ingredients that promote hair loss.
Heavy metal poisoning: The substances aluminum (e.g. in baking powder, salt, cosmetics), mercury (e.g. in cereals, mushrooms, potatoes), cadmium (e.g. in gelatine, canned food) and lead (e.g. in outdated water pipes or on food cans) can lead to hair loss. This is due to the combination of toxins that impair the metabolism of various nutrients.
Radiotherapy for cancer treatment: Many of the drugs used in this type of treatment have a particular effect on fast-growing and frequently dividing cells. As this is the case with the hair root cells, the patient’s hair may fall out.
Nutrient deficiency: A distinction is made between macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies. The former are fats or proteins and the latter are zinc, iron and vitamins. If you do not consume enough of these nutrients, hair loss occurs because the hair follicle cells have a high nutrient requirement. A deficiency of vitamins D and B leads to functional disorders of the skin, which also results in hair loss.
Incorrect hair care: Washing the hair too often unbalances the pH value of the scalp, causing the hair to dry out and become brittle. This is exacerbated by the use of shampoos with silicones.
Hormone changes: One hormone that can cause hair loss is oestrogen. Taking or stopping the contraceptive pill, pregnancy or the onset of the menopause can disrupt oestrogen levels. If this is too low, hair loss can be the result.
What helps against hair loss?
One of the most important things to pay attention to, especially if you are affected by hair loss, is a healthy lifestyle:
- You should have a balanced and healthy diet to compensate for nutrient deficiencies. With a vegan diet, it can be beneficial to take nutritional supplements, such as vitamin B12.
- To avoid heavy metal poisoning, you should rinse your fruit and vegetables with lukewarm water, avoid wrapping them in aluminum foil, do not eat food from opened cans, wear protective clothing when working with vapors and use cold water from the tap, because warm/hot water is more likely to dissolve heavy metals from the pipes.
- Avoid stress, because unlike hormonal hair loss, hair grows back when the stress subsides.
- Use hair care without silicones and do not wash your hair too often.
Which doctor is the right one?
The plastic and aesthetic surgery practice DOCTOR NAURAS ABUAGELA also has methods and treatments available for you to visibly minimize your hair loss.
One way to help you achieve a full head of hair is the PRP method. This involves counteracting your hair loss with an autologous blood treatment. The treatment is the perfect complement to a hair transplant and is also painless, low-risk and effective.
Get in touch with us!
We will be happy to advise you personally on our treatments and help you regain a full head of hair. You can reach us by phone or by booking an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you!
Written by:
Dr. med. Nauras Abuagela
Specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery
Specialist in gentle anti-ageing treatments and innovative laser medicine. Dr. Abuagela combines medical expertise with a keen sense of aesthetic harmony and has been successfully treating patients with state-of-the-art skin rejuvenation procedures for years.
Make an appointment
Do you have questions about our treatments?
Get individual advice now and start your treatment with our experts.
