About Hair Loss
Other causes of hair loss
what is the
enhancer system?
Our Solutionunexplained hair loss
With so many potential causes, it isn’t uncommon for hair loss to remain undiagnosed and we often hear from clients, who aren’t sure why they have started losing their hair or the condition they have. Our years of experience mean we can still help you manage your hair loss, whether it is diagnosed or unexplained.
“Thank you Hair Solved, I can now look forward to my wedding and being the bride every little girl dreams of!”
Jo, Manchester Client. Read my story.
Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss is very common although not all women experience it and some women may experience during one pregnancy but not another. During pregnancy hormones cause fewer follicles to enter the ‘resting’ stage so hair growth is greater than normal, and many women find that their hair looks thicker and healthier during this time.
After a woman has given birth the follicles go into the resting phase as hormones start to back to normal. This tends to happen at around 3 months after the baby is born and at this point women tend to experience a higher degree of hair loss than during pregnancy and often prior to pregnancy. This is quite normal and by six months postpartum most women find that their hair has returned to its normal volume.
“Roughly three months after I gave birth my hair started to shed for the first time in a long time, I first noticed it in the shower when I was conditioning my hair.”
Our Manchester Salon Director, Natalie, shares her experience of Postpartum hair loss.
Thyroid Disease & Hair Loss
“An early menopause coupled with my under active thyroid caused havoc with my hormones and hair. Now I have the hair system, I love it and have it washed regularly, you know I just feel really nice with hair again!” Dominique, Manchester Client.
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair involving the entire scalp rather than patches. Hair tends to appear uniformly sparse. Regrowth is usual with successful treatment of the thyroid disorder; however, this can take time and hair may still be sparse. It is unusual for mild hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism to cause hair loss. Anti-thyroid drugs can, in rare cases, cause diffuse hair loss.
Many people with hypo- or hyper-thyroidism have autoimmune thyroid disease and can be more likely than others to develop another autoimmune condition that also causes hair loss. For example: Alopecia Areata occurs more often in people with autoimmune thyroid disease than the general population; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome may manifest as diffuse hair loss; whilst, Lupus Erythematosus can cause hair loss through scarring.
Stress, nutrition & hair styling
Nutritional
It is thought that a lack of the right nutrients including vitamins A, C, D and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein and essential fatty acids may slow down hair growth or even cause hair loss. Usually, correcting a deficiency in any of these nutrients may help treat hair loss and promote the rate of hair growth. In addition, extreme dieting can, over time, lead to generalised hair loss.
Stress
Stress doesn’t just affect us emotionally it can have a physical impact too. Stress can be caused by life changes such as a new job or the death of a loved one and it can manifest itself in many forms that can contribute to physical and emotional illness.
Stress results in hair loss far more than people realise and the types of hair loss most related to stress are: Telogen Effluvium (excessive daily hair shedding), Alopecia Areata (hair loss in patches), Trichotillomania (hair pulling) and Androgenic Alopecia (hair thinning). Stress does not usually cause hair loss straight away. Most stress related hair loss will present itself anywhere from 6-12 weeks after a stressful event, due to the nature of the hair growth cycle.
Hair Styling
Hair breakage and thinning can result from excessive brushing, using heated appliances too often and dyeing your hair too frequently. They damage the hair, drying it and making hair loss more likely. Hairstyles that put considerable pressure on the hair for long periods of time may lead to traction alopecia.
Illness & Hair Loss
Major/Chronic Illness
Major illnesses, surgery, or traumatic events can trigger hair loss. However, your hair will usually start growing back without treatment. Hormonal changes can cause temporary hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium
It is normal to lose around 150 hairs each day. However, Telogen Effluvium causes a noticeable increase in hair loss, usually happening suddenly and can occur approximately three months after a trigger event. Common triggers include childbirth, severe trauma or illness, a stressful life event (such as losing a loved one), extreme dieting, a severe skin problem affecting the scalp, a new medication or withdrawal of a hormone treatment. It isn’t hereditary and affects both men and women, with a thinness of hair all over the scalp.
Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis can result in hair loss, but it’s only temporary. Scratching the scalp to relieve the itching caused by scaling can cause hair to fall out. Methods of forcefully removing the scales to relieve psoriasis may also cause hair loss. Once you have found an effective treatment, your hair will grow back.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
Scarring alopecia is an area of permanent hair loss usually due to Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE). Discoid lupus generally only affects the skin and is usually confined to the head, neck, and backs of the hands. The affected areas may be coin-shaped and when the lesions occur on the scalp they can unfortunately cause areas of permanent hair loss.
Lichen Planopilaris
Lichen planopilaris is a type of scarring hair loss that occurs when a relatively common skin disease, known as lichen planus, affects areas of skin where there is hair. Lichen planopilaris destroys the hair follicle and then replaces it with scarring, resulting in permanent hair loss.
Our Enhancer System can add volume to thinning or patchy hair or provide the best solution for total hair loss. It is non-invasive, non-surgical, using mesh to attach real hair to your head and mirror the natural fall of hair. As many of our Clients say, they leave our salons looking and feeling like a new woman!