HAIR GROWTH & HAIR LOSS

Q. I am 60 years old, towards the end of menopause and I have lost a lot of hair over the past few years. I was wondering if there were any supplements or treatments I could use on my scalp to promote hair growth or at least stop me from losing anymore hair.

A. Hair loss, For men and women alike this can be a very frustrating, and for some a very emotional, experience. There are a variety of causes, from genetics, to hormone fluctuations, to sign of disease. Some hair loss or thinning is reversible, while others are not. For the most part I will focus on female hair loss, although most of these suggestions will be applicable to men and women alike.

Hair loss is actually not a pathological process at all. Our hair, like our skin cells and many other cells within our body, undergoes continuous turnover. A typical growing cycle for hair lasts about 2-3 years. During this time the hair shaft grows approximately 1 cm per month. At the end of the growth cycle, the resting cycle begins, in which the hair follicle stops growing. This phase lasts 3-4 months, ending with the hair falling out. The process then starts all over again. Each hair on your head is at a slightly different time in this cycle of growth and resting. As we age, there is an expected amount of hair loss that can be explained as this process slows.

The most common cause of hair loss in men is due to androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as male pattern baldness. It is almost always due to an inherited trait and usually results in receding hair line or loss of hair at the top of the head (or both). There is also female pattern baldness, again most often due to a genetically inherited trait. It manifests as a general thinning of the hair over the entire scalp.

Physical or emotional stress can cause our hair to enter a premature resting phase, but because the resting phase can last for 3-4 months before the hair is lost, many individuals have overcome the illness or stressful period well before the hair loss occurs. For this reason it is often overlooked in terms of cause. This is why stress management, healthy diet and immune support are so very important. Although hair loss due to physical or mental/emotional stress is most often temporary, taking a proactive position on health by exercising regularly, having effective coping mechanisms for stress, and eating a healthy diet can lead to a more adaptive stress response and prevent hair loss before it happens.

At the root (no pun intended) of most female hair loss, there is usually a hormonal trigger. It is important to understand that hair growth is modulated by androgens (sex hormones). Often at major times of change in the female hormonal cycle; puberty, pregnancy and menopause, significant changes in hair volume and texture will take place. During pregnancy, for instance, high estrogen and progesterone cause a delay in the resting phase of hair. Hair continues to grow throughout the nine months of pregnancy. Once the baby is delivered and there is yet another change in hormone levels, resting phase begins again, causing an abnormally large amount of hair loss approx. 3 months after delivery.

During menopause, hair loss or thinning is caused by a decrease in estrogen. In some females the relative increase in testosterone will actually cause hair growth in androgen sensitive areas such as the chin, upper lip and below the belly button, either with or without thinning of head hair. Menopause can also be a time for relative estrogen excess for some women, as progesterone declines more rapidly, leaving estrogen unopposed. As with everything in our body, balance is key. Too much OR too little of a good thing can often have similar manifestations. Some women find that hormone replacement therapy, either natural or pharmaceutical, helps to decrease hair loss, other may find that it exacerbates the problem, especially if there is thyroid involvement.

This leads me to another hormonally related issue causing hair loss that often goes untreated, specifically in menopausal women; hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland controls metabolic activity in the body. When our bodies are producing less (or no) thyroid hormone, our metabolic rate goes down, causing fatigue, weight gain and often hair loss. Insomnia, night sweats and mood swings are also often associated with thyroid dysfunction. Given the similarity between symptoms of menopause and hypothyroid, you can see why the latter is often missed or misdiagnosed as standard menopause symptoms. There is also commonly an overlap in onset of symptoms, with estimates of 25-30% of menopausal women developing thyroid hormone deficiencies at the same time. Women who go to their doctor with these symptoms may be put on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), to increase estrogen levels. In the case of hair loss due to hypothyroidism, HRT is only going exacerbate the problem. The excess estrogen further shuts down the thyroid, often making symptoms caused by thyroid deficiency worse.

I would encourage menopausal women who are experiencing significant hair loss, fatigue, insomnia and weight gain to consider supplementing with herbs or vitamins aimed at supporting the thyroid. Give it 3 months. If these symptoms decrease, you may be looking at a concomitant low thyroid issue, brought on by hormonal changes at peri menopause and menopause. Alternatively you can go to your doctor and ask to have your TSH checked. Due to some controversy in terms of 'healthy reference range', also ask your doctor to have your free T3, free T4 or anti - thyroglobulin antibodies checked if your TSH comes back 'normal'. These tests may be a better indicator of thyroid dysfunction.

Supplementing with Ashwaganda not only boosts thyroid function, but it also helps to reduce cortisol in response to stress, ultimately supporting the adrenal and thyroid glands and their respective hormone levels. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is highly involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormone and supplementation can naturally increase levels. Ascophyllum nodosum (Norwegian kelp) is high in iodine, a substance needed by the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormone. Some individuals with low thyroid are so because they are low in iodine and respond particularly well to supplementation. Guggulsterones, selenium, as well as a simple high quality multivitamin can also go a long way in supporting thyroid function.

Fo Ti is a Chinese herb that possesses both adaptogenic and tonic properties. It is meant to treat individuals who are 'burnt out' due to stress. If stress and overall exhaustion (due to poor sleep or malnutrition) play a factor is hair loss, using Fo-Ti as a general tonic and to help the body cope with stress has been shown to reduce symptoms, including hair loss.

During puberty, menopause and peri menopause, herbs like vitex/chaste tree may help to minimize hair loss when caused by hormonal imbalances. Vitex is not meant to support any one hormone in and of itself, but rather balance hormone levels in general, and promote a healthy estrogen: progesterone ratio. Supporting health liver function may also help to rid the body of excess estrogen levels. Herbs such as milk thistle and supplements such as calcium d-glucarate also aid in the detoxification of hormones via the liver.

Individuals suffering from significant hair loss must also consider their current medications. Anti-depressants, birth control pills, and anti-coagulant medications are only some of the more frequently prescribed drugs that include hair loss as a side effect. Also keep in mind that unexplained significant hair loss may be a sign of a larger disease process. If your concerns don't seem to fit well with some of the common causes mentioned here, you may want to consult your doctor or naturopath for further testing.

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