Everyone loses up to 100 hairs per day as a result of the natural regeneration process. However, if clearly more hair falls out, we speak of hair loss. Did you know that all our scalp hairs together grow more than 1 kilometer in one month?

Hair loss in both men and women

Both men and women are affected by hair loss, although there are certain types of hair loss that are more common in men. Because hair loss and hair fall are not the same, there are different types and causes. For example, we distinguish:

• hormonal and hereditary hair loss that often occurs in men;
• circular hair loss;
• and diffuse hair loss.

Sudden baldness

While in most cases there is gradually increasing hair loss, one can also experience sudden hair loss.Physical changes occur in many people as they get older and over the years. A particularly common condition is sudden baldness. Various causes can be responsible for sudden hair loss, which are not always genetically determined. One of the factors that can lead to sudden hair loss is acidity. Acidification of the body is a typical indication of later hair loss. The high acidity disrupts the acid-base balance in the body, causing sudden hair loss in most cases.

What to do in case of hormonal hair loss?

The most common form of hair loss, at 95%, is hormonal and genetically determined hair loss. In this form there is an increased sensitivity of the hair follicles to the hormone testosterone. That is why this form of hair loss almost exclusively affects men.This form of hair loss is hereditary and starts early with the formation of a receding hairline and then spreads to the entire head. Estrogen-containing hair tinctures prevent the conversion of the hormone testosterone. This remedy therefore counteracts the hereditary hypersensitivity of the hair follicles to the hormone. If the hair tincture does not work as expected, the medicines finasteride or alfatradiol can be taken, which have a similar effect.In post-menopausal women who suffer from hormonal hair loss, the use of hormone preparations containing the anti-androgenic drug progestin can bring about an improvement.

What to do in case of circular hair loss

With circular hair loss, the hair falls out in a circular shape in one or more places on the head. The causes have not yet been fully investigated, but it is suspected that disturbances in the immune system and psychological disorders are the cause of this form of hair loss. The immune system appears to attack the hair roots, causing hair loss.Circular hair loss can spread over the entire head and even drag other body hair into the misery. First, blood circulation-promoting and cortisone-containing tinctures are tried to stimulate hair growth again. In addition, taking zinc tablets can help.External immunotherapy with DCP (diphenylcyclopropenone), which is mainly used to treat psoriasis, can also be tried in an advanced form of circular hair loss.

What to do in case of diffuse hair loss

The rarer form of diffuse hair loss can have several causes, such as:

• taking certain medications;
• thyroid abnormalities;
• infections;
• stress;
• an unbalanced diet.

Even after chemotherapy or exposure to heavy metals, diffuse hair loss can occur. The treatment is closely related to the cause. If the underlying disease is treated or the medication responsible for hair loss is stopped, diffuse hair loss usually also stops. Additional intake of vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, vitamin C and zinc, can also help.