Hair is usually the least of our concerns when it comes to our health...that is of course until we start losing it. Excessive hair loss, or alopecia, can be attributed to a number of things such as: thyroid, diabetes, hormone imbalance, genetic predisposition, fungal infection, emotional stress and even blood thinning and anti-depression medicines. Our hair is made of a protein called Keratin. Our head scalp contains over 100,000 individual hairs which is made of keratin cells being accumulated by our hair follicles; as new keratin cells are produced the old cells are pushed out of the epidermis, the outer skin layer, and are exposed through as hair. Our hair grows approximately 6 inches per year; and we lose around 100+ hairs a day, but don't be alarmed because for a normal, healthy scalp 90% of the hair is continually growing. The hair growth life cycle is divided into 3 stages:

1. Anagen stage - active hair growth; lasts 4 - 7 years where the hair grows 1/2 inch per month
2. Catagen stage - transitional; lasts 2 - 3 weeks
3. Telogen stage - resting phase; lasts 3 - 4 months where the hair is replaced by a new one and the hair growth cycle starts over again

There are many types of hair loss:

• Androgenetic Alopecia - this is the most common type of hair loss, also called Male (or Female) Patterned Baldness (MPB). Typical symptom is receding hair on the crown of the head.
• Telogen Effluvium - the next most common type of alopecia is the Telogen Effluvium (TE). TE is commonly related to severe or sudden stress which will cause scalp hair to shed. Although common in both men and women, TE affects women mostly during the stresses of childbirth. Eliminating the stress factor or restoring normal blood circulation to the hair follicles of the scalp will usually cause the hair to grow back.
• Alopecia Areata - not as common is this auto-immune hair disease where the scalp experiences patchy hair loss. Severe cases will cause all the scalp hair to fall off.
• Anagen Effuvium - occurs as a result of exposure to chemicals or radiation, such as Radiation or Chemotherapy treatments. This condition is only temporary and does not require any treatment. The hair will grow back and return to normal, or sometimes even healthier, once the radiation or chemotherapy is finished.
• Traction Alopecia - also known as Trichotillomania is a self-induced hair loss due to the tensile stresses caused by the excessive pulling of the hair. This occurs due to various types of hairstyling such as: braiding, cornrows, ponytails and buns. Permanent hair loss may occur due to the weakening of the hair roots. Treatment can simply be regular hair scalp exercises to increase blood circulation in order to strengthen the scalp and hair roots.

The head is highest from the heart; and the topside of our scalp is the highest part of our head so it makes sense that our topside losses hair first, called Male Patterned Baldness (MPB). I once heard that being slapped on the face is healthy. Ridiculous as it may seem, I now believe it to be true because a slap on the cheek does give you the needed blood circulation which is so important for our skin's health. Our hair scalp just like the rest of our body needs blood circulation for oxygen so the scalp skin cells can regenerate. However, the top of our head is probably the second least touched area of our body. The first is our backs. Have you ever asked yourself why a back massage feels so good --it is because it rarely gets touched since we can't reach it unless of course we go to a massage therapist. The same thing goes with the top of our head --it hardly gets touched and if it had nerve endings and be sensitive enough, a massage would feel great too. Unfortunately, the top of our head doesn't have enough nerve endings for sensitivity to deserve a good rub which is why we don't massage it enough which then leads to not enough blood circulation...and thus the hair loss. Ever wonder why hair baldness normally does not start on the sides or back but...on the top of our head.

Our hair just like any fixture needs a strong root and foundation to stay in place --- the scalp is that foundation. However, there is only so much we can do to strengthen our hair directly such as giving it chemical treatments or taking in more Vitamins B12, E and Iron, because much of it is attributed to our genetic makeup, family history and the aging process. With that said let us just limit our solution to what we can control. In the end, it comes down to where the rubber meets the road --the hair follicles depend on a strong and healthy scalp to anchor itself into. Poor circulation and lack of blood flow to the scalp translates into malnutritioned and weak hair roots. Once the hair roots get weak, the hair follicles become susceptible to DiHydroTestosterone (DHT). DHT then attaches to the hair follicle which then reduces its growth cycle stage, the anagen stage. As a result, each time a new hair grows it is thinner and weaker than the last and this cycle continues on until eventually the hair follicle stops growing hair entirely. This then leads to baldness. This is why frequent hair scalp massages and scalp exercises to stimulate the blood flow and sebum oil circulation is a critical and essential part in the anagen or growth stage of the hair growth cycle.

Here is a regular 5-minute hand exercise routine that can stimulate your scalp:

1. With your 5 fingers in one hand horizontally opposing the other 5 fingers of your other hand

2. Straighten and stiffen your fingers, and press the tips of your fingers on your scalp,

3. In a vigorous back and forth motion, trying to grip only the scalp and not the hair, stroke each set of fingertips opposite and towards each other to create a pinching action to squeeze out the old sebum oils and stimulate your scalp without pulling your hair.

Following this regular hair scalp exercise routine will help prevent hair loss and promote a healthy head of hair.

The list mentioned below are among the most common causes of hair loss in both men and women. Early treatment can reverse the hair loss for some conditions allowing the hair to regrow. As for the other conditions, further hair loss can only be slowed or prevented through various means.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
One of the most common causes of thinning hair is hormonal changes. Our body will undergo changes in our hormones and it will affect both men and women. Women will experience thinning hair at no particular pattern. While men will normally experience thinning hair developing in a particular pattern commonly called Male Pattern Baldness. The hormone that affects the hair cycle is called DHT or Dihydrotestosterone. DHT has not been scientifically proven to directly cause hair loss; however, the presence of DHT allows other factors such as androgen to attach to the Dihydrotestosterone hormones to clog the shaft of the hair follicles and impede the normal growth of hair.

Alopecia Areata
An autoimmune disease that causes the person’s hair to fall out is called Alopecia Areata. The hair follicles, in this case, is attacked by the autoimmune system. The hair loss is characterized by clumps of hair falling out leaving bald patches the size of a coin. This disease may be triggered by the genetic makeup of the person and can be treated by corticosteroids, minoxidil or other topical medications.

Stress
Extreme or long-term stress can lead to hair loss. The constriction of blood flow in the scalp caused by stress can cause disruption of the reproduction of healthy cells.

Poor Diet and Nutrition
Although hair loss causes are more often hormonal, nutrition can also play a part in the maintenance of healthy hair. Poor diet and nutrition can result in hair loss. A healthy amount of protein is important in maintaining a healthy hair growth cycle.

Birth Control Pills
Some women who due to genetic predisposition may experience Androgenic Alopecia much earlier in life triggered by taking birth control pills. After two to three months into taking birth control pills, the woman may start to notice baldness associated with Androgenic Alopecia. The hormonal changes caused by the birth control pills is suspected to lead to a disruption in the autoimmune system resulting in irreversible hair loss which may not be restored even after the taking of the birth control pill has been discontinued.

Post Pregnancy
Some women may also experience hair loss during the first six months after child birth. This is normally caused by the hair cycle period where a significant number of hair will simultaneously enter the telogen stage of the hair cycle which is the resting stage. However, when the woman’s body restores its metabolic balance within six months or less then the hair will regrow back to its previous condition. There is no need to take action in this case as this is a passing stage in the woman’s post pregnancy phase.

Thyroid Disease
Thyroid and hair loss usually go hand in hand. Patients who undergo treatments from sickness related to thyroid gland problems have a very high chance of experiencing shedding of hair no matter how young the patient is. This type of hair loss is a phenomenon that is experienced by people who suffer from problems related to excessive secretions of thyroxin. The hair follicles start to weaken which leads to thinning hair that will eventually fall out.

Chemotherapy / Radiation Treatment (Anagen Effluvium)
Anagen Effluvium is the type of hair loss caused by the disruption of cell growth caused by chemotherapy and radiation treatment which almost always leads to hair loss after the first few days of treatment. Patients will lose almost 90% of the hair wit