The Most Common Cause of Hair Loss

Can you guess the most common cause of hair loss?

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction: Most common cause of hair loss

0:10 What is androgenic alopecia?

0:35 Hair loss medications

1:05 DHT and hair loss

2:23 What increases 5-alpha reductase?

2:57 The correct diet for androgenic alopecia

3:04 Natural remedies for androgenic alopecia

3:38 Share your success story!

Let’s talk about the most common cause of hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenic alopecia.

Androgenic alopecia is pattern hair loss. In men, this could be a receding hairline as well as hair loss on the top of the head. In women, this could be more of a thinning of the hair all over the head. Androgenic alopecia affects 50-80% of males and 25-50% of females.

Hair loss medications work in a few different ways. One popular medication works by increasing oxygen, nutrients, and nitric oxide to the scalp.

Most hair loss medications work by inhibiting a certain enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into a much more powerful form of testosterone called DHT. DHT is a type of androgen.

Too much DHT can cause:

• A thickening of the dermis around the hair follicle (which suffocates the hair follicle)

• An increase in fibrosis (scarring that wraps around the hair)

• Calcification around the hair follicles

The enzyme 5-alpha reductase seems to be a key factor in whether or not you could develop hair loss. Insulin increases 5-alpha reductase. Conditions that involve high insulin are associated with androgenic alopecia. Low progesterone can also increase 5-alpha reductase. Lowering insulin by getting on a low-carb diet and doing intermittent fasting may help with androgenic alopecia.

Natural remedies for androgenic alopecia:

• Saw palmetto

• Zinc

• DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid)

• GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid)

DATA:

https://www.meridianvalleylab.com/clinical-significance-of-5a-reductase-activity/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946143/