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Thinning hair is a health and aesthetic problem, that affects the majority of our society. Thick and healthy hair is one of the main attributes of appearance, and hair loss is a natural process in the body. Every day we loose about 100 – 150 hairs, but if you lose much more strands than that and for a longer period of time, it means that we have a problem with excessive hair loss.

The influence of the hair growth phase on hair loss

Our hair has a complex structure that consists of a hair shaft, a hair root and a follicle that stimulates hair growth. It is located in the middle layer of the skin, which is nourished through the richly vascularized nipple. The amount of hair of each person is different, but usually it is estimated around 85,000 to 140.000 hair, and the development of hair follicles begins during the first months of gestation. While the fetus is around 60 days old, the first hair follicles are starting to form.

Hair growth does not last continuously, because it is characterized by three different phases that repeat over and over again – the phase of growth, disappearance and loss. During the first phase of growth, the cells of the hair follicle divide very intensively in order to produce new hair later. The duration of the growth phase depends on genetic conditions and it usually lasts from 2 to 7 years. A healthy person has about 90% of their hair on the body in the growth phase. The first stage is followed by a decay phase, which lasts from 14 to 21 days, and during this period, the hair root is rebuilt. The average person has about 3% of their scalp hair in this phase.

thinning hair on top of the head

The last phase mainly concerns hair that is completely calloused, in which the metabolism does not take place. After about 30 – 90 days, the hair bulb loses its thickness and slowly falls out when washing or brushing the head. In this phase, the old hair is pushed out by the new hair.

Thinning hair – what are the reasons?

The reasons for hair thinning vary widely and are often the result of both, external and internal factors. One of the most common causes of hair loss is an unhealthy diet. Improper diet results in a deficiency of vitamins and minerals that build the hair structure. The most important vitamins for hair are:

  • vitamin A, which protects the hair against drying and splitting. Vitamin A improves the chemical composition of lipids produced by the sebaceous glands, which are designed to moisturize the strands and protect them against the harmful effects of weather conditions. The main sources of vitamin A are pumpkin, broccoli, cabbage, kale, apricots, oranges and liver;
  • vitamin E, which reduces the effects of free radicals. It accelerates hair growth by stimulating cell division of the hair matrix, that builds the hair shaft;
  • vitamin H (biotin), which prevents hair loss;
  • the group of valuable minerals include zinc, iron, copper and iodine.

Poorly selected care is also a factor, that significantly contributes to hair loss. Frequent drying, straightening, updos, curling, tight ponytails, braids, high-up hairstyles, dyeing or bleaching – all this contributes to the irritation of the scalp and hair follicles, which causes them to significant weakening and, as a result, makes the hair thinner and thinner .

Thinning hair can also be a sign for a serious disease, so this symptom cannot be ignored. When thinning spots appear on the scalp, it is worth consulting a specialist. A dermatologist is the first person, that can and will give you advice. A specialist will help to identify the cause of hair loss, e.g. iron deficiency, thyroid problems, hormonal problems, side effects of certain medications, stress, anemia or improper care.

Hair transplantation as an effective treatment for baldness

Modern FUE hair transplant treatments are one of the most effective ways to get rid of hair loss problems. The treatment enables hair transplantation from the donor area with the use of special, small-sized puncture needles, to the areas affected by baldness. During this procedure, the doctor collects the hair follicles together with the millimeter tissue surrounding them, then assesses the quality of the collected grafts and prepares them for placement in the recipient area.

FUE hair transplant

During the procedure, local anesthesia is used, which helps to minimize the risk of complications. The hair transplant method is possible for everyone, who has not completely lost their hair and can take material for transplantation from them. It is therefore an excellent solution for patients who struggle with androgenetic alopecia and want to thicken their hair or get rid of troublesome curves. This procedure is almost non-invasive and can be performed in many groups of tpeople.

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