Hair Loss: What Is Your Body Trying to Tell You?

Hair loss is not always just about hair. Sometimes it is the body's way of signaling to us that something has changed, and that it deserves our attention.

Our hair is part of our identity. It affects our appearance, our self-confidence, and the way we feel about ourselves. So when we begin to see more hair on the brush, in the shower, or on the pillow, it is natural to feel concerned.

But before rushing to buy a new shampoo, a dietary supplement, or an expensive treatment, it is worth understanding why the hair is falling out in the first place.

When is hair loss considered normal?

On average, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day. This is a completely natural phenomenon, part of the hair's life cycle.

Each hair follicle goes through several stages:

• The growth stage (Anagen): the hair grows for several years.
• The transition stage (Catagen): growth stops and the follicle shrinks.
• The resting stage (Telogen): the hair is at rest before shedding.
• The shedding stage (Exogen): the hair is released, and later a new hair can grow from the same follicle.

The problem begins when too many hairs enter the resting stage at the same time, when the growth stage shortens, or when the hair follicles are damaged.

What causes hair loss?

1. Hormonal Changes

Hormones significantly affect the hair growth cycle.

During menopause and the period leading up to it, when estrogen levels change, many women notice thinning of the hair, mainly in the area of the parting and the crown.

Changes in thyroid function, childbirth, and other hormonal changes can also affect hair density.

It is important to understand that not all hair loss during menopause stems from hormones. Sometimes several factors are at work at the same time.

2. Emotional Stress and Significant Events

Our body also responds to emotional experiences.

Periods of prolonged stress, illness, surgery, loss, or a traumatic event can cause increased hair loss, sometimes only two to three months after the event.

The phenomenon is called Telogen Effluvium, and it occurs when a relatively large number of hairs pass into the resting stage.

In most cases, when the cause passes, the hair gradually grows back. However, the recovery process may take months.

3. Nutrition and Nutritional Deficiencies

The hair needs building materials, just like the rest of the body's tissues.

When the diet does not provide the body with what it needs, hair growth can be impaired.

Nutrients it is important to pay attention to:

• Protein: essential for producing the keratin from which the hair is built.
• Iron: a deficiency in iron, especially when iron stores are low, may be connected to hair loss.
• Zinc: participates in processes of cell growth and renewal.
• Vitamin D: a deficiency in it may be connected to certain types of hair loss, although supplementing it is not a proven solution for all hair loss.
• Vitamin B12: important for the body's proper functioning, and a deficiency in it may appear alongside other nutritional problems.

I always prefer to begin with a varied diet rich in nourishing ingredients, and not with automatically taking supplements.

It is important to remember that an excess of certain ingredients, such as vitamin A or selenium, can actually cause hair loss.

4. Rapid Weight Loss

Extreme diets, too low a calorie intake, or rapid weight loss can cause the body to divert resources to more essential functions, at the expense of hair growth.

Sometimes the hair loss appears precisely after the weight loss has ended.

This is one of the reasons I believe it is important to nourish the body, and not just focus on the number on the scale.

5. Genetic Predisposition

One of the most common causes of hair thinning is hereditary hair loss, known as Androgenetic Alopecia.

In women, it usually manifests in a widening of the parting and gradual thinning in the crown area.

In men, it frequently appears as a receding hairline and balding in the crown area.

Unlike temporary hair loss, this is a process that may progress over the years. Early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve the existing hair.

6. Scalp Condition

A healthy scalp is an important environment for normal hair growth.

Inflammations, fungal infections, psoriasis, and certain skin diseases can affect the hair follicles.

When the hair loss is accompanied by itching, pain, redness, significant flaking, or sores, it is important to have the scalp examined and not make do with a cosmetic treatment.

Can scalp massage help?

I love the idea of scalp massage as part of a care routine.

A gentle touch on the scalp can be pleasant, reduce a feeling of tension, and encourage us to devote a few minutes to ourselves.

There are small studies that examined a possible effect of massage on hair thickness, but as of today there is no strong proof that massage alone stops hair loss or causes hair to grow anew.

If you choose to massage the scalp, it is advisable to do so with the pads of the fingers, in gentle movements, without pulling the hair or strongly irritating the skin.

And what about natural oils?

Rosemary oil, coconut oil, and other plant oils have received much attention in recent years.

It is important to distinguish between caring for the hair and treating hair loss.

Coconut oil may help reduce protein loss from the hair fiber and lessen breakage in some people, but there is no proof that it grows new hair.

Rosemary oil has been examined in a limited number of studies, but the evidence is still limited, and it should not be seen as a proven substitute for medical treatment.

Essential oils can cause irritation or allergy, and therefore they should not be applied directly to the scalp without suitable dilution.

Does frequent washing cause hair loss?

This is one of the most common questions.

Washing does not usually cause hair loss from the root. During washing, hairs that have already finished their growth cycle are released.

A woman who washes once every few days may see a larger amount of hair in the shower, simply because it accumulated since the previous wash.

On the other hand, aggressive washing, strong brushing, frequent use of high heat, and tight hairstyles can cause the hair to break and sometimes also damage to the follicles.

Which treatments can really help?

The treatment depends on the cause of the hair loss.

In cases of hereditary hair loss, minoxidil is one of the treatments that is better established from a research standpoint. It may help slow the hair loss and encourage growth, but persistence over several months is required in order to evaluate its effect.

There are also other medical treatments, including certain medications, PRP injections, and low-level laser treatments. The level of evidence varies between the treatments, and not all of them are suitable for every person.

When the hair loss is caused by a nutritional deficiency, a thyroid disorder, or another medical problem, treating the cause is a central part of the solution.

When should you see a dermatologist?

I would not wait long months when a significant change appears in the hair.

It is advisable to go for an examination especially when:

• The hair loss is sudden or unusual in its quantity.
• Round areas without hair appear.
• The scalp is painful, red, or inflamed.
• The parting gradually widens.
• The hair loss continues for months without improvement.
• There are additional symptoms such as unusual fatigue, a change in weight, or menstrual cycle disturbances.

Depending on the symptoms and the medical history, the doctor may recommend tests such as a blood count, ferritin, and thyroid function tests, and sometimes additional tests.

Can the hair grow back?

In many cases, yes.

When the hair loss is temporary and the follicles remain healthy, the hair may gradually renew itself.

But it is important to be patient. Hair grows on average about a centimeter a month, and therefore, even after the cause of the hair loss has been treated, months may pass until a significant change in density is seen.

In situations where scarring occurs and the hair follicles are permanently damaged, renewed growth may not be possible. Therefore, early diagnosis is important.

In closing – listening to the body, not only to the hair

I believe that the way we care for ourselves should begin long before the product we apply to the skin or to the hair.

Good nutrition, sufficient sleep, coping with stress, physical activity, and listening to changes in the body are part of the basis for our overall health.

They do not guarantee preventing hair loss, but they are certainly part of a lifestyle that supports the body's normal functioning.

If there is one thing I would like you to take from this article, it is that not every hair loss requires a new product, and not every hair loss is a decree of fate.

Sometimes patience is needed. Sometimes habits need to be changed. And sometimes one simply needs to check what is happening beneath the surface.

Because the hair is part of us, but our health always begins deeper.

With love,
Nurit Rozenblat
OrOrgani

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