What are the causes of hair loss?
Publié le 30-12-2020 et mis à jour le 16-10-2024
Seasonal changes, daily life stress, unsuitable cosmetics, repeated blow-drying and coloring, hormonal disturbances.
Our hair undergoes daily aggressions that weaken and thin it so that eventually it ends up falling out.
Obviously, it is not only about these factors; there are others such as diet, which nowadays is depleted and no longer provides the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantity for the construction of hair fiber.
Discover in this article how to prevent hair loss through diet and a hair supplement suited to your needs.
Also read: Which foods cause hair loss
Summary
I. The composition of hair
Hair is composed of 95% keratin.
This keratin is a protein called "fibrous", that is to say a protein that plays a structural role: it is part of the composition of the body's tissues and serves as a basis for the production of enzymes or hormones. Its main role is a protective role.
Keratin is composed of B-group vitamins, trace elements, minerals, and sulfur-containing amino acids.
Vitamin B5 limits hair loss, accelerates growth, and acts on cell protection; vitamin B9 acts on cell repair, and vitamin B8 stimulates hair growth.
Zinc protects against oxidative stress, iron transports oxygen to the cells just like magnesium.
It is essential to stimulate the microcirculation of the scalp to provide the hair follicle with all the necessary nutrients for healthy hair.
Finally, methionine fights against the aging of the body, it strengthens the hair because it contains sulfur, an essential element for keratin.
The action of cystine is coupled with that of zinc, it contributes to the synthesis of proteins and collagen. It helps absorb calcium, one of the factors required to form collagen, and lysine stimulates hair growth.
In short, these are nutrients that you can find in food and that are part of the composition of hair. When the intake is insufficient, when you have vitamin deficiencies responsible for hair loss, your hair becomes fragile, you may notice a loss of shine and a loss of volume.
II. Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss is not always related to diet; indeed, nowadays we face many daily aggressions.
Stress and hormonal imbalances play their part in the blame. Cortisol is the stress hormone, it is triggered when we are subjected to daily pressures.
Its role is to help us prepare to cope with stress experienced. However, when the stress is too intense and constant, it can become chronic and its level remains too high.
Its secretion causes the retraction of hair follicles and blood vessels, the hair fiber is no longer properly supplied, nutrients are therefore no longer delivered in sufficient quantity and the hair becomes thin, fragile and eventually, it ends up falling out.
1. Genetic pathologies
Then, we are not all equal, genetics has its say.
There are genetic pathologies such as alopecia, for example. It is observed more in men than in women.
It is actually an excess of male hormones: testosterone, which accelerates hair growth and alters the hair cycle that occurs in three phases.
The first phase is the Anagen phase, a growth phase lasting over a period that can span 2 to 5 years. Then, with age, this phase becomes increasingly shorter.
The second phase is called the Catagen phase. It concerns only 3% of our hair and is considered a "sleep" phase since the hair no longer grows. However, it remains attached to the hair follicle.
The third and final phase is the Telogen phase. It is a resting phase, affecting 12% of the hair. The hair does not grow; it remains attached to its follicle for a period of 6 to 7 months until it eventually falls out and makes way for the creation of a new hair.
In the case of alopecia, the bulb becomes fatigued more quickly and eventually atrophies, creating areas of thin hair where they are less numerous. Once the hair dies, "empty" areas can be observed.
2. Hormonal imbalance and impact on hair
a. Cause in humans
In men, hair loss is often linked to an excess of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of testosterone.
This hormone causes the miniaturization of hair follicles, making the hair finer and more fragile until it eventually falls out.
Other factors influencing hair loss in men
Besides the excess of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), several other factors can contribute to hair loss in men.
Chronic stress, for example, can cause excessive secretion of cortisol, a hormone that disrupts the hair cycle and weakens hair follicles.
Similarly, a diet deficient in essential nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, and iron can weaken hair and accelerate its loss. Lifestyle habits, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, can also negatively impact hair health.
Finally, the use of harsh or unsuitable hair products can damage the scalp and hair, thereby increasing the risk of hair loss. By taking care of one's lifestyle and choosing quality hair products, it is possible to minimize these factors and preserve hair health.
b. Cause in women
In women, hormonal fluctuations are often responsible for hair loss.
Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and menopause are periods when hormone levels can vary significantly, thereby affecting hair health.
Hormonal fluctuations and their impact on women's hair
Hormonal fluctuations play a crucial role in hair loss in women.
Significant hormonal changes, such as those observed during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or even during menstrual cycles, can affect hair health.
For example, during pregnancy, high levels of estrogen prolong the hair growth phase, but after childbirth, the sudden drop in hormone levels can lead to significant hair loss.
Additionally, medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders can also disrupt hormonal balance and cause diffuse hair loss.
A balanced diet and the use of appropriate dietary supplements can help maintain stable hormone levels and promote hair health.
c. In young women: causes
Young women can also be affected by hair loss due to hormonal imbalances, often caused by oral contraceptives, thyroid disorders, or syndromes such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
d. Estrogens and hair
Estrogens play a crucial role in regulating the hair life cycle.
By extending the anagen phase, which is the active growth phase of the hair, they promote thicker and more voluminous hair.
When there is a significant decrease in estrogen levels, as is often the case after menopause or following hormonal treatments, hair can prematurely enter the telogen phase, leading to increased shedding.
This hormonal decrease can also thin the hair structure, making it more fragile and prone to breakage. Maintaining an optimal hormonal balance is therefore essential to preserve hair density and health.
e. Progesterone and hair growth
Progesterone, a key hormone in the menstrual cycle, plays an essential role in hair health.
It helps balance the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can cause hair loss by miniaturizing hair follicles.
By neutralizing this effect, progesterone promotes an environment conducive to hair growth.
However, significant fluctuations of this hormone can disrupt the hair cycle, leading to a temporary but significant hair loss.
These variations are common during pregnancy, after childbirth, or during perimenopause, periods when progesterone levels can be particularly unstable.
Maintaining an optimal hormonal balance through a suitable diet and specific nutritional supplements can help minimize these effects and support continuous hair growth.
III. Solutions against this issue
1. Food
Initially, you can change your lifestyle for a balanced, healthy, and varied diet.
Bring seasonal fruits and vegetables, foods rich in vitamins and minerals for a colorful plate!
Choose complex carbohydrates rather than refined ones, they contain less simple sugars and more fiber. According to recent studies, refined sugars as well as processed products would cause hormonal reactions responsible for hair disorders.
We also recommend consuming good fatty acids, rich in essential omegas, that is to say, those that are not produced by the body but must be provided through the diet.
Oilseeds such as walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, vegetable oils and fatty fish are rich in omega 3 and 6. They have many antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering properties, for example. You can provide plant or animal proteins for their amino acid content.
Also read: Hair loss, natural solutions
2. Anti-hair loss dietary supplements
If the diet is not sufficient, it is possible to supplement. At D-LAB we offer 100% natural dietary supplements, without nanoparticles, without controversial substances, and not tested on animals.
Our goal is to provide all the necessary nutrients to your body in high doses and of good quality. That is why we have developed a hair range thanks to a scientific committee to address various issues.
To address hair loss problems, our Keratin Absolute is ideal for providing high-quality keratin thanks to molecules of different weights that promote assimilation and thus allow to strengthen the hair fiber. Once taken from the blood, these keratin plates will stack at the hair bulb to cement the hair fiber and significantly reduce hair loss.
Our formula contains cynatine, a patented, natural active ingredient similar to that produced by humans.
In the case of hormonal hair loss, our Hair Mass Program is the answer you were waiting for.
We offer you 3 products for a synergistic action on several issues to reduce hair loss, regulate the hormonal activity responsible for the loss, reactivate hair growth, and reoxygenate the scalp . Thanks to targeted active ingredients, you gain hair mass and restore a balanced body.
We recommend 3 months of treatment to activate the cellular memory of your hair knowing that a cellular life cycle is 28 days. You will have more visible and long-term results.
IV. The In & Out routine to prevent this problem
Do not hesitate to optimize your indoor routine with an outdoor routine.
Choose gentle, natural shampoos suited to your issue, such as a hair loss shampoo to which you can add a few drops of ylang-ylang essential oil to stimulate hair growth.
Do not hesitate to slow down hair loss by massaging your scalp for a few minutes to reactivate blood circulation.
Thanks to all these tips, you will be able to stop hair loss and regain beautiful hair for your greatest satisfaction.
What deficiency causes this situation?
Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, zinc, vitamin D, and B vitamins, can cause hair loss. A balanced and varied diet is essential to maintain hair health.
What are the main causes?
The main causes of hair loss include genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, stress, an unbalanced diet, and the use of unsuitable hair products. Genetic conditions such as alopecia, hormonal disorders, and nutritional deficiencies are also determining factors.
