If you’re losing your hair, know that you’re not the only one.
NYU Langone Health says that more than 80% of guys lose their hair over the course of their lives. But the condition doesn’t just happen to guys. According to researchers, hair loss can start in nearly half of women before they reach middle age.
Hair loss and thinning affects more than just a person’s physical appearance; it can also have serious mental and emotional effects.
People often think that hair loss is a genetic problem (called androgenetic alopecia), but Phipps says that hair loss can have causes other than your genes.
Why Does Hair Fall Out?
Even though your genes may be a big cause of hair loss and thinning, they are not the only ones.
Hair loss can be caused by things like lupus and other autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, thyroid problems, and anemia. If a woman has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, just had a baby, or is going through menopause, she may also lose her hair. Some acne, birth control, antibiotics, and cholesterol medicines have been found to make the problem worse.
How Can Hair Loss Be Treated?
People can treat hair loss and thinning hair in a number of ways, such as with over-the-counter medicines or light treatment.
For example, Hair Club’s EXT® Extreme Hair Therapy is a treatment you can do at home. It includes minoxidil, which helps hair grow back. Low-Level Laser Light Therapy is another choice. This technology has been approved by the FDA and has been shown to help grow hair back and stop further hair loss.
Finasteride is another medicine for men that is mostly used to stop further hair loss but may also have stimulating benefits. This medicine stops the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which causes hair follicle cells to weaken in people who are genetically prone to hair loss.
What Foods Can Do to Help Stop Hair Loss
Researchers think that bad nutrition may also play a role in hair loss, along with genetics and medical conditions.
The hair roots do get hurt by not getting enough nutrients. It is also suggested that your food be fortified with enough vitamins and minerals to meet the Recommended Dietary Allowance.
Some nutrients are directly linked to the stages of hair loss and growth. There are three stages in the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen, and telogen.
This is the time when hair grows. If you don’t eat well, this time can be cut short, which can cause you to lose a lot of hair. Most of the time, bad eating habits cause temporary hair loss. This happens when hairs move too quickly from the growing (anagen) phase to the sleeping (telogen) phase of the growth cycle. This makes the hairs fall out.
Vitamin C, biotin, niacin, iron, zinc, and B vitamins added to your food are actually “good for the health of the hair follicles.”
By eating these superfoods, you can also make your hair grow faster:
- Nuts are good for you because they have omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, vitamin E, and copper.
- Oysters (high in zinc)
- Shrimp have B12, iron, and zinc in them.
- Omega-3 fats, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C, K, and E are all found in sweet potatoes.
- Eggs have biotin, B vitamins, zinc, selenium, copper, and iron. They are also a good source of protein.
- Spinach is good for you because it has iron, beta-carotene, calcium, vitamins A and C.
- Carrots are full of vitamin A.
- Prunes contain iron.
- Green peas are full of iron, zinc, and vitamins B and C.
- Oats are full of zinc, iron, and omega-6 fats.
