Hair loss is a highly sensitive topic, because people with strong, shiny hair look vital, well-groomed and attractive. When the splendour of the hair suddenly begins to disappear, self-perception in particular can turn into the opposite.
About 50 percent of men and about 30 percent of women are affected by hair loss. The good news is that targeted therapy can stop hair loss and even stimulate hair growth.
The reasons for hair loss can be many and varied: In addition to hair diseases, external factors such as stress caused by chronic overuse, certain medications, severe operations, infections and blood loss can also be responsible for hair loss - often over a longer period of time. In about 80 percent of all patients, genetics is responsible for the thinning hair. This is referred to as hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia.
Normal Hair Loss vs. Hereditary Hair Loss
Basically, our hair is in a constant cycle of growth and falling out. Every person loses between 50 and 100 hairs a day - this is perfectly normal. The situation is different with hereditary-patterned hair loss. Formerly strong hair becomes thinner, less pigmented and finally atrophied into a tiny body hair. In addition, the growth phase of the hair is shortened. And at the end of the process the hair growth is stopped completely.
Timely intervention is crucial. It is true that the genetic material itself cannot be changed. But if you want to keep your hair on a long-term basis, you should react to the first signs. Once the hair root has disappeared and the hair follicle surrounding the hair root is destroyed, hair loss is usually no longer curable.
Receding hairlines, hair wreathes and total baldness
The pattern of hair loss is different with men and women.
With women, the hair on the top of the head tends to thin out, usually in the parietal region. Although the hairline in the forehead area remains closed, the hair appears thinned. Women rarely get a total bald head.
With men though, balding usually begins in the area of the temples and in the area of the crown. It comes to the formation of receding hairlines, and at some point the hair on the back of the skull also thins out. If the hair-free zones then connect with each other, a bald head is formed, while a hair ring remains standing all around.
Treatment: First off to the doctor!
A therapy is only possible if the reasons for hair loss are known. It is advisable to go to a specialist (usually the dermatologist):
- if the hair falls out in tufts,
- if there is not enough hair growing on certain parts of the scalp,
- if the hair on the top of the head becomes lighter or thinner,
- if the bald crown of the head becomes visible a little wider.
The doctor will clarify the causes with a detailed anamnesis, eye diagnosis, blood analysis and microscopic examination of skin problems and scalp.
Prevent hair loss with pumpkin seed oil
Hair loss can be improved with pumpkin seed oil.
As already shown in the
blog post
Can pumpkin seed oil help with hair loss? there are numerous case studies, homemade recipes and mixtures in connection with pumpkin seed oil and hair loss.
However, it is always important for a doctor to clarify the cause of hair loss beforehand. If treatment is started early enough, good results can be expected.
The treatment can take place either externally (exactly on the corresponding scalp areas) or internally (daily regular intake of pumpkin seed oil). Generally two tablespoons (or teaspoons, depending on your body size) of pumpkin seed oil per day can be considered, but the exact dose should be defined by a specialist.
The active ingredients in pumpkin seed oil are used against progressive hair loss and promote the regrowth of new hair in already thinned areas.
