_edited.png)
Losing hair? Don’t write it off, there are solutions!
If you’re experiencing hair loss you know that it can be quite a stressful process. You might see more hair than usual washing out in the shower or feel a thinning in your hair that you can’t help but notice in photos. It can be daunting, I’ve been there, but before we go on it’s worth remembering that:
You’re not alone, millions of people in the UK alone experience significant hair loss.
There are things you can do to help, from lifestyle changes to medical intervention. There are solutions before a hair transplant, even if you are suffering from pattern hair loss.
So here are 4 ways to combat hair loss:
Take time To De-Stress
It’s no secret that constant stress is bad for your health, causing and worsening serious conditions such as heart disease. The fact is that it’s bad for your body, in general, seems logical, and therefore it shouldn’t come as a surprise that stress can make your hair fall out. This happens because stress puts you into the “fight or flight” response state, prioritising survival and cutting corners on non-essential bodily functions such as hair growth.
It’s not all bad news though! Studies show that stress-induced hair loss stops when stress is reduced and goes back to normal in 6-9 months. So here are a few ways to do exactly that:
Take deep breaths into your belly (diaphragmatic breathing). This has been shown to reduce Cortisol (the stress hormone) levels – there’s real science behind this common stress-relief practice!
Find and regularly practice a physical and creative hobby you love. As well as giving you a significant outlet for stress, you might even find yourself becoming successful in your chosen hobbies – dream big!
Take a different perspective. We often get stressed over things we can’t control, seems rather counterintuitive don’t you think? Why not focus on things you can improve instead? Significant accomplishments, such as solving problems, causes serotonin to be released which gives you a feeling of calm and satisfaction. Focusing on the solutions you can implement will genuinely make you happier.
PRP Hair Regeneration
You may have heard of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) before, as it is growing in popularity. PRP essentially harnesses the power of the plasma component of your blood which contains a high amount of cells called platelets. Click here to find out more about the process.
But how will this help to regenerate my hair?
The key is in the name, the platelets. Your platelets release proteins called “growth factors” which can act as growth instruction manuals for cells called stem cells. When injected into the scalp they activate these stem cells in the hair follicles. This promotes hair growth in 3 ways:
Blood supply to the scalp is improved – better blood supply = better cell function = more/healthier hair growth!
Hair follicles are activated and pushed into the growth phase. This promotes existing hairs to grow and become thicker.
Hair follicles are kept in this growth phase for a longer period of time. This keeps your hair healthier & thicker for longer.
PRP for hair regeneration has even been shown to be effective in treating pattern hair loss, commonly believed to be treatable only through hair transplantation.
Watch Your Haircare & Style
When it comes to hair maintenance, it’s relatively straightforward. Experts recommend washing your hair every 2-3 days, closer to every 2 days if you have thin hair which can quickly become greasy. Further to this, pay attention to what you are washing your hair with.
Avoid maintenance products with:
Sulphates (SLS, SLES) as they strip far too many oils from your hair and can compromise your hair follicles directly.
Parabens – extensive scientific research has made them known to be harmful to the body. Some studies suggest that parabens actually penetrate and integrate into our tissue, possibly playing a part in cancerous tissue formation.
Formaldehydes (e.g quaternium-15) as they are known carcinogens (cancer-causing) but are often used as preservatives in shampoos. Be aware of formaldehyde releasers such as DMDM Hydantoin also!
Synthetic Fragrances which can directly irritate the scalp and cause hair loss.
Be mindful with hair styling when:
Colouring or perming your hair, as these hair treatments can directly damage your hair. This will manifest in thinner and more brittle hair – eventually resulting in hair loss.
Wearing your hair in a tightly pulled back style. Over time this may cause traction alopecia. This is hair loss from a continual pulling force on the root, which is not regenerable.
Minoxidil & Finasteride
Finasteride and Minoxidil are two drugs used specially to promote hair growth in hair loss caused by genetics – androgenetic hair loss. You may have heard of this referred to as male or female pattern baldness.
In most cases, you’ll experience your hair loss slowing down significantly when taking either, however sometimes even lost hairs can regrow!
If nothing else, we hope that this blog has given you some peace of mind regarding your hair. Hair loss isn’t inevitable, and it doesn’t have to be permanent, there is a solution! As always if you have any other questions please fill out the contact form here and we’ll be in touch asap to help.
Want to learn how to reverse your hair loss? Read more here.