Facts about Hair Loss
- The average person has 100,000 – 150,000 hairs on their head
- One hair fibre can support the weight of 100 grams
- The main component of hair is keratin, which also holds the responsibility for the elasticity of fingernails
- Hair is the second fastest growing tissue in the body. A hair grows 0.3-0.5mm per day
- In any given time, about 10% of the hairs are resting and the rest are growing
- Everyone loses more than 40% of his/her hairs – about 100 hairs a day
- Hair loss will be visible only after losing more than 50% of hair
- More than 50% of men above the age of 50 suffer from hair loss
- Between a third and two thirds of all women experience thinning hair or hair loss
- The most common form of hair loss in women is Effluviums (all over thinning of hair)
- Common reasons for hair loss include: postnatal, menopause, HRT, The Pill, stress, diet and trauma.
- Great looking hair makes you feel good – it also attracts the attention of the opposite sex.
- Hair gives us key information about a potential mate’s health.
Woman and Hair Loss
Are you a woman suffering from hair loss? You are not alone…
Most people assume that it is only men who suffer from hair loss, but nothing could be further from the truth. Although it is basically true with regards to heredity hair loss, millions of women the world over suffer from some form of hair loss and the number appears to be rising each year. The overwhelming cause is a hereditary condition called androgenetic alopecia or female-pattern hair loss. One of the least engaging facts about getting older is that a significant number of women also experience hair loss.
All women have some of the male hormone testosterone in their bodies, but women with androgenetic alopecia are more sensitive to the hormone. This sensitivity causes hair to thin all over the head, and some women develop thinning patches similar to male-pattern hair loss
Sudden hair loss may not be painful or even dangerous in itself, but for the six out of ten women who suffer from it at some point in their lives can find it a devastating blow to their confidence.
Myths of Hair Loss
The following are some common myths about hair loss people tend to believe. These are false!
- Frequent shampooing contributes to hair loss.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss.
- 100 strokes of the hair brush daily will create healthier hair.
- Permanent hair loss is caused by perms, colours and other cosmetic treatments.
- Shaving one’s head will cause the hair to grow back thicker.
- Standing on one’s head will cause increased circulation and thereby stimulate hair growth!
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss.
- Hair loss does not occur in the late teens or early twenties.