Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

We’ve talked about the fact that various medications can cause hair loss.  Many prescription drugs can have dramatic effects regarding hair loss, particularly if nothing is done to counteract this side effect.  And sadly, in many cases, people are not told of this side effect on the front end.

Can we be specific with regard to which medications can cause hair loss?  Yes -  we can.  Here is a list of what the drugs would be taken for as well as the name of the drug.

• Acne - Accutane
• Blood - Anticoagulants - Panwarfin, Sofarin, Coumadin, Heparin
• Cholesterol Lowering - Atronids, Lopid
• Convulsion/Epilepsy - Anticonvulsants - Tridore
• Antidepressants - Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, anafranil, Janimine, Tofranil, adapin, sinequan, Surmontil, Pamelor, Ventyl, Elavin, Endep, Norpramin, Pertofane, Vivactil, Asendin, Haldol
• Diet - Amphetamines
• Fungus - Antifungals
• Glaucoma - Timoptic eye drops, Ocudose, XC
• Gout - Allopurinol
• Heart Beta blockers - Tenormin, Lopresser, Corgard, Inderal
• Hormonal Conditions - Birth control pills, Progesterone, Estrogen, Male Androgenic hormones and all forms of testosterone, anabolic steriods, Prednisone and other steroids.
• Inflammation - Arthritis drugs, NSAIDS such as Naprosyn, Anaprox, Indocin, Clinoril
• Anti-inflammatory drugs such as  - Methotrexatem, Rheumatrex, Folex
• Parkinson’s Disease - Levadopa
• Thyroid disorders - Most all of the drugs prescribed for this
• Ulcers - Both prescription and OTC, Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid

I would suspect, if you take the time to google it, you may find many more culprits that I have not mentioned.  If you are taking any of these medications and are noticing that your hair is beginning to thin, now you know why.  Perhaps you could consider alternatives to the medications or talk to your doctor about an alternative medication which would not cause hair loss.

Knowledge is power, at least now you know what is contributing to the problem.

You are probably aware that diabetes can cause a lot of symptoms. But, are you aware that hair loss is one of them?

Hair loss will normally begin at the onset of diabetes and gradually gets worse as the disease progresses. It is normal to shed some hair daily, but when the shedding rate exceeds the rate of re-growth, you will begin to notice thinning hair or bald patches.

Hair has a growth cycle. A normal hair growth cycle will last for 2-6 years. The growth stage of the cycle is known as the antigen stage. Each hair on your head grows at a rate of approximately one half inch per month. Ninety percent of all the hair on your head is in the growth stage at one time. The other ten percent of your hair is in what is known as the telogen or resting phase. The resting phase will last for 2-3 months and then that hair is shed.

Being a diabetic increases your chance of hair loss. Diabetics are more prone to get skin infections and other fungal infections that can affect the scalp. Stress from the disease can also cause hair loss. Certain medicines that you may be taking for diabetes or other conditions can also cause your hair to fall out.

Getting your diabetes under control should be the first step that you take. Hair loss may stop after your blood sugar is under control and your body is able to function normally. Some hair loss may require medical treatment. For example, if your hair loss is caused by a fungal infection, medication would be needed to get rid of the infection.

One of the solutions offered at Fantasia for thinning hair, is MicroPoint Links. MicroPoint Links increase the volume of your hair by 400% so it would be a great solution for hair loss caused from diabetes or other conditions. It is non-surgical and non-invasive which is really a good benefit for someone who is diabetic.

It is vital that you maintain good blood sugar levels, follow a good diet and exercise. If you do the right things you may be able to stop the hair loss in it’s tracks. Again, if you need a solution for thinning hair, the Hair Replacement Specialists at Fantasia would love to help you find a solution.

We’ve talked quite a bit about what or how to eat for overall hair health but I believe some of it bears repeating.

For good hair health, your diet should contain the following foods:

• The sulphur foods which include onions, radishes, hemp seeds, aloe vera.
• The silicon foods which are cucumbers, red peppers and other shiny-skinned produce.
• The vitamin A foods which are carrots, arugula and papaya.
• The zinc foods which are coconut, nuts and seeds.
• The vitamin C foods which include all citrus foods.
• The vitamin E foods including avacado and olives.

What it the recurring theme here? Raw foods. Reality is that every raw plant food has something good to offer your body and your hair. Because nutrition is the newest of the sciences, they are discovering new things daily about the benefits of raw foods for the human body.

Since most of us are not eating all of the above mentioned foods daily, supplementing is necessary. Make sure the supplements you choose have good science behind them. Selenium, which is a necessary trace mineral, if consumed in too great of quantities, can actually cause hair loss. At Fantasia, we promote Isagenix products because of the science behind them. Jon Anderson, the product formulator of Isagenix products, has been formulating supplements for various companies for over 25+ years. He got frustrated with companies changing his formulations over time. As a scientist of nutrition, he knows what the requirements of the human body are for the various minerals and vitamins. About 6 years ago he came to the conclusion that the only way he was going to assure that the formulations would remain as he created them, was to start his own company. That was beginning of Isagenix International and they have enjoyed record breaking success ever since!

Silica, calcium and iron are all good for hair growth, because, essentially, hair is an extension of your blood. Healthy blood, in conjunction with a healthy scalp, determines the state of your hair and its rate of growth.

So, again, some natural things you can do to assure healthy hair? Eat raw and green, as much as possible. And, as we’ve discussed before, you can stimulate your scalp to keep it healthy by massage. Whenever you shampoo your hair, spend some extra time massaging your scalp. If you are using one of the “minty” refreshing shampoos such as Nioxin or Pureology, this feels wonderful. I always joke with the hair stylist when I have my hair done and they are shampooing and massaging my head that they can continue with it for about a couple of hours!

We all know by now that smoking is a bad thing. It causes cancer, heart disease, increased respiratory illness and a whole host of other health problems. And yet, many still smoke. If you can’t quit for your health’s sake, what about for vanities sake?

Perhaps we need to focus on the hair rather than the health? Scientists have thought for some time that cigarette smoke might accelerate hair loss and premature graying. The connection was largely attributed to toxins in smoke that can harm the hair follicles and damage hormones. (remember, hormonal problems can cause hair loss) According to epidemiological studies, that appears to be the case. A report in the journal BMJ looked at more than 600 men and women, half of them smokers. After controlling for variables, the researchers found a “significant” and “consistent” link between smoking and early graying.

Last year, another team studied the link in a group of 740 men in Taiwan, aged 40-91 years. This is important because Asian men generally have low rates for hereditary baldness. After controlling for age and family histories, the researchers found a greater rate of hair loss among the smokers, a risk that grew with increasing smoking.

The question then, is the link a result of tobacco toxins directly affecting the scalp, or is the smoking causing disease which speeds aging? There are now several studies suggesting that smoking can lead to premature graying and hair loss.

Smoking is more than a smelly, bad habit. Again, if you can’t quit for health’s sake, how about for vanities sake?

Do diabetes and hair loss have a relationship? For a long time we have known that diabetes can cause hair loss as it is a hormonal related disorder. Therefore, diabetes can lead to thinning of the hair or hair loss. Hair loss is actually one of the initial physical signs that indicates a person may have diabetes.

With diabetes, a persons body looses its effectiveness to metabolize carbohydrate (sugar) properly. I can rememeber a time when it was called Sugar Diabetes as doctors believed sugar was the culprit in the disease rather than the carbohydrates which turn to sugar in the body. Unfortunately, diabetes can lead to other diseases such as skin conditions. Since the scalp is part of the skin, hair growth or re-growth can be impeded.

In terms of the health of your hair, when dealing with diabetes, you may become susceptible to other communicable diseases and infections. If it infects the scalp, infection can cause hair loss especially if it is a fungus which has caused the infection. A example of this would be fungus tinea capitus which is also known as Ring worm.

The hair growth issue in diabetes is not always a direct effect of the disorder but a result of medications used to treat and control diabetes. Also, stress of the disease can be a factor in diabetic hair loss. The degree to which a diabetic will be affected boils down to their current level of health when diagnosed with the disease.

As diabetes progresses, another cause of hair loss can come from autoimmune, where the body’s own self-defense system attacks itself. This condition can sometimes lead to bald patches on the scalp.

We’ve talked a lot about hormonal imbalance. When discussing diabetes and hair loss, this is another factor. This functions almost the same as the menopause issue where women lose hair to changes in the body which cause stress which causes hair loss. The same concept applies regarding diabetes and hair loss.

If you have diabetes, you can know whether or not you are affected with excessive hairloss. If you are loosing more than 100-125 hairs per day, it should immediately be a point of concern. Early detection and monitoring can be a big help. Fantasia may be able to help with solutions for you. A good place to start would be Hair Support System, to nourish and treat your hair and scalp.

Our hair grows in cycles. It grows then it rests then it falls out. This is a normal growth “cycle”. This cycle will continue year after year. Normally we lose 100-125 hairs per day. Abnormal hair loss may be due to a number of causes. If you lose a lot of hair when you or comb or brush; or if you notice it becoming thinner and thinner and falling out on it’s own, it’s time to seek professional help.

If a woman is pregnant, her hair will grow and the normal 100-125 hairs per day may not be lost. Within two to three months of her delivery, those hairs are likely to fall out. This could seem excessive since no hair had been lost in awhile but is perfectly normal.

Diet can impact hair loss. If you are not getting enough quality protein or are losing weight rapidly, you may experience massive shedding of hair. Make certain you include high quality protein in your diet daily. Iron deficiency call cause hair loss. Try to include high iron content foods in your diet, or you can take iron supplements if necessary.

Birth control pills can cause hair loss because they alter the body’s hormones. Experts say this is something which runs in families. If your mother and grandmother had issues with this, you will likely have issues with hair loss while on birth control pills.

If you are being treated for cancer, some medications will cause your hair to fall out. Most drugs used in chemotherapy will cause hair to fall out. Generally your treating physician will tell you exactly what to expect in this regard. Usually the hair will grow back once the treatment is completed. And, don’t be surprised when it comes in a different color, texture or curly where it was once straight!

Trauma and stress to the body can cause hair loss. If you battle a high fever you could experience hair loss. High levels of stress for whatever reason, can cause hair loss. It can be stress on the job, stress in the home with finances or relationships, a death or an extended sickness of a loved one or any emotional stress. This can cause significant levels of hair loss. Try to alleviate any stress in your life that you can. Obviously that is easier said than done but very important for your overall health and your beautiful hair.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have no control over our hair loss issues, such as medical treatment for cancer or other health issues, please think of Fantasia for your hair replacment needs. Fantasia salon has been in business for 46 years and has been fitting and customizing wigs and hair pieces since the 1960’s. We have trained professionals ready to assist you with your hair replacement needs. They will help you make the best decision for your situation. Call today to schedule you fee consultation.