Hair loss and baldness is a widespread problem. More than 66% of men will
experience hair loss by the age of 35. By the age of 50, 85% of men and 50% of
women will have significantly thinner hair. But before we look at the solution, let’s
dive into the origins of hair growth.

Hair grows in small living pouches we call follicles. A hair follicle is a tube-like
structure (pore) that surrounds the root and strand of a hair. The base of the
follicle bulges, forming a hair bulb, and is invaginated by connective tissue known
as dermal papilla. The dermal papilla contains many tiny blood vessels and nerve
projections which nourish follicles (Pic 1). These follicles produce hair, a non-living
material made from keratin. The same material as our nails. We are born with over
one million hair follicles on our head, of which about 100.000 will grow out to cover
our scalp at adulthood. Several conditions may affect the quality of the hair follicle.

The growth of the hair in the follicle is cyclical and can be divided into four phases (Pic 2). The first phase is the growth phase or anagen and is the longest and takes years.
The second phase is a transition phase or catagen and is the shortest and takes
several weeks. In the third phase or telogen the hair starts to fall over a period of
3 to 6 months – the shedding phase. The fourth phase is the exogen (actually an
early next anagen phase), where new hairs are pushing the old ones out, and a new
hair is getting ready to take its place.

The longer the anagen phase, the thicker and longer our hair will be. Young and
healthy people have a long anagen phase that shifts slowly towards the telogen
phase. Several conditions may affect the length of each phase in the cycle.

Thick and long hair are the result of both, a healthy hair follicle and of a well-
functioning hair cycle, especially a long anagen phase.

Conditions affecting the Hair Cycle

It is normal to shed approximately 30-150 hairs from our scalp daily as part of our
hair cycle. This can vary depending on washing and brushing routines. Hair regrows
automatically so that the total number of hairs on our head remains constant.
A sudden traumatic experience can result in a marked increase in the number of
hairs shed each day. An increased proportion of hairs shift from the growing phase
(anagen) to the shedding phase (telogen). Normally only 10% of the scalp hair is
in the telogen phase, but in this situation the anagen phase ends abruptly and
hair shift immediately into the telogen phase, that increases to 30% or more. This
happens naturally after the delivery of a baby, or after physical or mental stress
situations. Some diseases can cause that shift as well. We call it the TELOGEN
EFFLUVIUM. A very common cause that can be dealt with easily with REYU.

Conditions affecting the Hair Follicle

Aging, steady hormonal decline, combined with a genetic predisposition will gradually deteriorate the lifeline of the hair follicle. This results in a miniaturization of the hair follicle, a shorter anagen phase and ultimately less and thinner hair. Hair follicles shifting to this condition are referred to a “sleeping hair follicles”. Increase in sleeping hair follicles due to this cause is the most common type of hair loss, named AGA or ANDRO GENETIC ALOPECIA. Men and women are affected by this type of baldness, although each with its own pattern as shown in the chart of AlviArmani (Pic 3).

Degeneration of the hair follicle in AGA is gradual. It leaves us with a pattern of
living, dead and dormant hair follicles (Pic 4).

• Hair follicles can be alive and active. In that case, you will have a luxuriant head of hair and will not need to do much. These living and active hairs are on average 0.1 mm thick.
• Hair follicles can also “die” and no longer be able to produce a hair. They unfortunately cannot be revived. A hair transplant can be useful in specific cases.
•  “Dormant” hair follicles are present in incipient baldness. They produce thin hairs (on average less than 0.04 mm thick) and from distance could be seen as baldness. Baldness increases as more and more active hair follicles enter a dormant phase. Fortunately, with REYU they can be transformed back into active hair follicles.

Hair loss through follicular regression is due to the degeneration of the vessels
and nerves that run from the brain and heart to the hair follicle, and back. We
call them the biofeedback loops. Lymphatics play a role too. Nerves, vessels
and lymphatics deteriorate with aging, stress, poor lifestyle, diseases, and other
external aggressions that will be examined during your first consultation. When the
hair follicle fails to receive enough nourishment to its cells, the hair starts thinning
and the follicle becomes dormant. Ultimately the hair follicle will vanish.

Balding men have on average of 30.000 sleeping hair follicles. They become bald
as hair thins out. Our latest technology guarantees a result for AGA within 3 months
if you have enough “dormant” hair follicles. This is the case in individuals aged
between 25 years to 50 years with mild to moderate baldness corresponding to the
framed heads on the AlviArmani scale: Class 2 to Class 5.

 

Conditions affecting the Hair Lustre and Vitality

The vast majority of people suffer from unmanageable hair that lost its vitality and
luster. Dull and unmanageable hair is often the result of overstyling, physical damage to the hairs, perm, bleaching or coloration. This is often the case with extensions or wigs that are attached to the existing hair. Internal causes are equally important and include nutritional deficiencies, intoxications, some medications, and diseases that affect hair quality. As the causes may vary, so does the treatment.

 

MAIN CAUSES OF ALOPECIA 

» Why is my hair falling out?
By the age of 50, 85% of men and 50% of women will experience significant hair loss.

It’s true that men are more likely to lose their hair than women, mostly due to male
pattern baldness. But thinning hair and hair loss are also common in women, and
no less demoralizing.

In many cases, there are ways to treat both male and female hair loss. It all depends on the cause. Here are some common and not-so-common reasons why you might be seeing less hair on your head.

AGA - Type

» Male pattern baldness m-AGA
About two out of three men experience hair loss by age 35, and most of the time it’s
due to male pattern baldness. This type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genes
and male sex hormones, usually follows a classic pattern in which the hair recedes
at the temples, leaving an M-shaped hairline.

» Female pattern baldness f-AGA
Female-pattern hair loss, is basically the female version of male pattern baldness.
Unlike men, women don’t tend to have a receding hairline, instead their hair parting
may widen and they may have noticeable thinning of hair.

» Heredity
There is a strong hereditary factor to hair loss. Mainly transmitted and visible through the female members of the family. If you come from a family where women started to have hair loss at a certain age, then you might be more prone to it whether you’re a male or a female.

Observe also the brothers of your mother for a better assessment of your hereditary
traits. Are they bald? Chances are that you might be too with aging.

» Aging
It’s not uncommon to see hair loss or thinning of the hair with age. Presumably
due to a shortening of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle. This creates
an uneven length of hair due to irregular rate of growth (observe the limit of hair
colouration), typical in old age.

 

Telogen Effluvium - Type

» Physical stress
Any kind of physical trauma - surgery, a car accident, or a severe illness, even the
flu or Covid-19 - can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. Hair has a
programmed life cycle: a growth phase, rest phase and shedding phase (telogen
phase). When you have a stressful event, it can shock the hair cycle, “pushing”
more hair into the telogen phase. Hair loss often becomes noticeable three-to-six
months after the trauma. We call it Telogen Effluvium.

» Emotional stress
Emotional stress causes hair loss like physical stress. It can happen, for instance, in the case of a divorce, after the death of a loved one, or while caring for an aging parent.

» Pregnancy/Delivery
Pregnancy is one example of the type of physical (traumatic) stress that can
cause hair loss. Pregnancy-related hair loss is seen more commonly after your
baby has been delivered rather than during pregnancy, where you are protected
by increased level of female hormones. To the stress factor we can add the drop
in female hormones, common at the delivery. This is similar to stopping the birth
control pill. See “Female hormones”.

» Female hormones
Just as pregnancy hormone changes can cause hair loss, so can switching or going
off birth-control pills or a hormonal IUD. This causes a telogen effluvium, and it may
be more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. The change in the hormonal
balance that occurs at menopause may also have the same result.

» Dramatic weight loss
Sudden weight loss is a form of physical trauma that can result in thinning hair. This
could happen even if the weight loss is ultimately beneficial for your health. The
weight loss itself is stressing your body and not eating right, can result in protein,
vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Hair Damage - Type

 

» Over styling
Vigorous styling and hair manipulation over the years can cause your hair to fall
out. Examples of extreme styling include tight braids, hair weaves or corn rows as
well as chemical relaxers to straighten your hair, hot-oil treatments or any kind of
harsh chemical or high heat. Common causes are extensions and wigs attached to
the hairs, bleaching or perm.

Because these practices can actually affect the hair root, your hair might not
grow back.

Medical - Type

» Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania, classified as an “impulse control disorder,” causes people to
compulsively pull their hair out. It’s sort of like a tic, the person is constantly playing
and pulling their hair. Unfortunately, this constant playing and pulling can actually
strip your head of its natural protection: hair. Trichotillomania often begins before
the age of 17 and is four times as common in women as in men.

» Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the medical term for having an underactive thyroid gland. This
little gland located in your neck produces hormones that are critical to metabolism
as well as growth and development and, when it’s not “pumping out” enough
thyroid hormones, can contribute to hair loss.

» Autoimmune-related hair loss / Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata basically is a result of an overactive immune system. The body gets
confused. The immune system sees the hair as foreign and targets it by mistake.
The solution is not based on restoration of the hair follicles, but rather in solving the
immunological conflict.

» Lupus
Other inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as lupus can also cause hair loss.
Again, it’s a case of mistaken identity: overzealous immune cells attack the skin on
the scalp destroying hair follicles. Unfortunately, hair loss of this type is “scarring,”
meaning the hair will not grow back.

» Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is another imbalance in male and female
sex hormones. An excess of androgens can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, a
higher risk of diabetes, changes in your menstrual period, infertility, as well as hair
thinning. Because male hormones are overrepresented in PCOS, women may also
experience more hair on the face and body.

» Chemotherapy
Some of the drugs used to treat cancer unfortunately can also cause your hair to
fall out. Chemotherapy destroys rapidly dividing cells. That means cancer cells, but
also rapidly dividing cells like in hair follicles.

» Anabolic steroids
If you take anabolic steroids - the type abused by some athletes to bulk up muscle
- you could lose your hair. Anabolic steroids can have the same impact on the body
as polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) has on women, as the mechanism is the same.

» Anaemia
Almost 10% of women aged between 20y and 49y, suffer from anaemia due to an
iron deficiency (the most common type of anaemia), which is an easily corrected
by iron supplements. Your doctor will do a blood test to determine for sure if you
have this type of anaemia.
In addition to hair loss, other symptoms of anaemia include fatigue, headache,
dizziness, pale skin, and cold hands and feet.

» Antidepressants, blood thinners, and more
Certain other classes of medication may also promote hair loss. More common
among them are certain blood thinners and the blood-pressure drugs known as
beta-blockers. Other drugs that might cause hair loss include:

• methotrexate (used to treat rheumatic conditions and some skin conditions);
• lithium (for bipolar disorder);
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen;
• antidepressants;
• others.

» Vitamin B deficiency
Although relatively uncommon in modern civilisation, low levels of vitamin B are
another correctible cause of hair loss. They are present in hair supplements.

» Too much vitamin A
Overdoing vitamin A-containing supplements or taking medications based on
Vitamin A derivatives such as Retinoids (Accutane or Roaccutane), particularly
sulphated proteins, can trigger hair loss.

» Lack of protein
If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may ration protein by
shutting down hair growth. This can happen about two to three months after a
drop in protein intake.