NutritionRecipes |
Hair Loss and Hormones
By Vanessa Billingsley, Fountain of You Wellness Writer There is nothing new about male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). In fact, this phenomenon occurs after adolescence among some primates like chimpanzees, macaques, and the South American uakari. From a human social standpoint, as cranial hair decreases for a man he is perceived to increase in social maturity, a “non-threatening form of dominance associated with wisdom and nurturance.” 1 Because pattern baldness can be traced genetically, some researchers believe this occurrence is the result of natural selection among human beings and that it signifies evolutionary fitness. The American Hair Loss Association reports that approximately 66% of men over 35, and 85% of men over 50 experience thinning of hair. Although we typically associate hair loss with men, the American Academy of Dermatology reports that 40% of women over age 40 have suffered visible hair loss. Certainly, this condition is not a rare one, as these statistics are extraordinarily high. Androgenic alopecia is experienced by both men and women. This type of hair loss is associated with the metabolism of hormones. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), rising DHT levels shrink hair follicles, and the result is thinning hair and pattern balding. Of course, the hair loss industry understands this. Consequently there are pharmaceutical drugs like Propecia (finasteride) which inhibit 5-alpha reductase and lower DHT in an effort to stimulate new hair growth. The problem with such drugs is that they also inhibit the body’s ability to make Androstendiol, which is a cancer-protective prohormone. 2 Women cannot take this drug at all, and pregnant women are advised that they must not even touch the pills as “the active ingredient may cause abnormalities of a male baby’s sex organs.”3 Among men, there is a possibility of serious side effects including breast cancer and persisting erectile dysfunction after discontinuance of the medication.4 In place of a drug, an anti-aging physician may advise a patient with this type of hair loss to incorporate natural 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like zinc, progesterone, saw palmetto, quercetin, omega-3 fatty acids, or beta-sitosterol into his or her age management plan. Alopecia (hair loss) is of particular concern when it occurs as a symptom of a larger, systemic issue. Digestive system difficulties can prevent the nutrients we ingest from being absorbed properly. For example, a gluten allergy causes the immune system to attack the inner lining of the digestive tract when gluten is eaten. Inflamed bowels cannot properly assimilate nutrients, and this leads to symptoms of malnutrition to include hair loss. Other digestive problems can occur when stomach acid-neutralizing agents like Tums are used habitually. Each time this type of medication is ingested, the pH of stomach acid is changed so that it is no longer effective for digesting food appropriately. This can be the cause of nutritional deficiencies which lead to hair loss. Major health setbacks like infection, surgery, severe stress, thyroid insufficiencies, or strong medical treatments like chemotherapy can interfere with normal, healthy cycles of hair growth. Such health challenges can interrupt the metabolic activity of the hair follicles and force all or many of them into their resting phase at once, resulting in hair loss in clumps. Alopecia is a major yet largely neglected source of psychological stress. A person experiencing hair loss should share any concerns with his or her physician as it may be reversible or a sign of a more serious medical condition. (1) Muscarella, F., & Cunningham, M.R. (1996). The Evolutionary significance and social perception of male pattern baldness and facial hair. Ethology and Sociobiology, 17(2), 99-117 (2) Somers, S. (2009). Knockout: interviews with doctors who are curing cancer and how to prevent getting it in the first place. New York, NY: Crown. (4) Investigation of Propecia led by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (in Swedish): http://www.lakemedelsverket.se/Alla-nyheter/NYHETER-2006/Ger-Propecia-nedsatt-sexuell-funktion-efter-avslutad-behandling/ |
|
|
||
