Before diving into various treatments and therapies for hair loss, it is important to have an understanding of how hair grows in the first place. More recent research has revealed hair to be far more complex in its structures than we initially thought, however its useful to start by thinking of hair having two main structures: the hair follicle and the hair shaft.

The hair follicle anchors the hair into the scalp and consists of the papilla and the bulb, which are located beneath the scalp surface. The bulb is situated at the bottom of each strand containing the active cells which grow the hair around the papilla. This is particularly important when we look at how various treatments work. The papilla provides the blood supply to the hair follicle to encourage healthy hair growth.

The hair shaft is the visible hair that grows out from the follicle which is made up of a hard protein called keratin and a protective layer called the cuticle. On average, there are around 100,000 hair follicles on the scalp, which is why it is completely normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day!

Hair growth consists of three stages known as the anagen phase, the catagen phase and the telogen phase. Each of these phases has a part to play and we will briefly look at each one in turn. The anagen phase is the growth phase of hair. This can last anywhere from 2 to 7 years and during this phase hair can grow between 18 and 30 inches, depending on your genetics, age, lifestyle, and nutrition amongst other things.

The catagen phase is relatively short in comparison lasting only 2-3 weeks. In this transitional phase, hair stops growing and detaches itself from the blood supply and is then named a club hair. The final phase is the telogen phase which lasts around 3 months on average. During this phase, club hairs rest in the follicle whilst new hair grows beneath it.

The club hair then falls to allow the new hair to come through. Follicles work as individuals, so this process is happening all over your head all the time rather than in patches, which is why hair fall of 50-100 hair per day is completely normal and usually goes unnoticed. In fact, at any one time, it is estimated that between 80% and 90% of your hair will be in the anagen phase.

Around 90% of hair loss is caused by a condition known as Androgenic Alopecia (AGA), but this is more commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). It is caused by exposure of hair to the male hormone Di-Hydro-Testosterone (DHT) which is a bi-product of testosterone created when testosterone reacts with an enzyme called 5-alpha- reductase. When hairs are exposed to DHT they become finer and shorter with each recurring growth cycle, which can eventually lead to baldness in some cases.

The severity of MPB varies dramatically and can be as mild as minor recession of the hairline or as severe as complete loss of the hair on the top of the head. Genetically determined differences in the sensitivity to DHT can explain some of these variations between people. However even in the most severe case of MPB, hair loss does not occur in the horseshoe shaped ring of hair at the sides and back of the head. This is because this hair is not sensitive to the effects of DHT.

No, sadly not. Female pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss in women and is an inherited condition but hormonally more complex than its male counterpart. The hair loss is triggered by male hormones, so whilst it may occur at any time from puberty, it is most common after the menopause when levels of female hormone decrease.

In both men and women, the male hormone testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. DHT then proceeds to influence the susceptible hairs to fall or thin out. However, in women, it is thought that hair loss does not proceed as far as it does in men because women have only half the amount of 5-alpha reductase. In addition, women have increased amounts of the enzyme aromatase. This converts male hormones into female hormones and therefore reduces the hair loss cycle.

Some good news! There are now many options for people with hair loss, both men and women. DalyHair.com aims to provide a range of treatments depending on where you are in your hair loss journey. Take a look around and don’t be afraid to contact us with any questions that you can’t find the answer to here. If you would like to talk through your options with me, please go ahead and book a consultation so that I can advise the best treatment plan for you.