What is alopecia?
The term ALOPECIA (= hair loss) is derived from the Greek alopex, meaning fox. The origin of the usage results from the fox shedding its coat twice a year.

What is considered normal hair loss?
Most people lose between 50-100 hairs a day. This is normal and shall not worry you as this is replaced with new hair through the three stages of natural hair growth.

A consistent loss of 150 hairs a day is considered significant hair loss. If you start to notice more hair than usual in your shower drain, on your pillow or in your hairbrush, then you may be experiencing hair loss/hair thinning. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What is the normal hair growth cycle?
The normal hair growth cycle lasts between 3-8 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 cm (less than half an inch) per month. Human hair growth is a process which repeats in three stages: anagen = growing, catagen = intermediate and telogen = resting stage. About 85% of hair on your scalp is in the growing phase, 5% in the intermediate and 10% in the resting phase of the cycle. After 2-4 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

What causes significant hair loss?
It can be number of things. For example after illness or surgery you may all of a sudden lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is temporary.

Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.  

Some medicines can cause hair loss – for example blood thinners, medicines used for gout or used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A if too much taken, birth control pills and antidepressants. Usually when you stop taking the medicine, this type of hair loss improves. 

Post-pregnancy (= post-partum hair loss): Women after childbirth often suffer from hair loss. This loss is also related to hormones – high level of hormones during pregnancy cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. After giving the birth, the hormones return to the pre-pregnancy level, that hair falls out and the normal hair growth cycle starts again.

Among other causes belong: poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency, hair treatments, psychological factors and stress situations.  

What is diffuse alopecia?
Diffuse alopecia appears in both women and men; however women are much more affected than men. Diffuse hair loss can occur at any age and is characterized by thinning of the entire scalp, followed by thinning of the hair (the hair loses its density).

What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata, or circular hair loss, affects both men and women equally. It is known as "spot baldness" - appearing in small, round, smooth patches. In 90% of cases the hair will ultimately grow back. In the other 10%, only some or no hair will regrow. In rare cases it can result in complete loss of scalp hair.

What is androgenetic alopecia?
Androgenetic alopecia known as "male pattern baldness (MPB)", is closely linked to a person's hormonal balance and accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. This form of hair loss is related to hormones called androgens, in particular an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Progressive hair thinning rises with age and affects mostly men. Typically it is permanent.

What is keratin?
Keratin is the main component of hair and also nails. This substance consists of a group of proteins or peptide chains which are characterized by a large number of amino acids containing sulphur. These amino acids give the hair its mechanical properties (resistance and elasticity). The quality of keratin, together with a sufficient amount of amino acids, are important factors for hair vitality.  

Besides keratin, what other components are important for healthy hair?
These include calcium and silicon as well as metabolic regulators, i.e. vitamins B1,B2,B6, pantothenol and biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid (vitamin H), vitamin E (anti-oxidant) and a special formulation of the minerals zinc, copper and iron.  

Why does a poor nutrition cause hair loss and worsen the hair structure?
Crash dieting can indeed cause hair loss. Blood vessels supply the hair bulb with vital elements such as amino acids and vitamins. If the supply of these substances is decreased or interrupted, the hair bulb stops to function, the life of hair is shortened and falls out prematurely. The consequence of this is increased hair loss - called "reactive" hair loss (Telogen Effluvium). This kind of hair loss is limited and temporary – the hair will grow back on its own. 

What causes the hair structure to be damaged?

• The reasons for structural hair damage are varied. External factors, such as the following, are usually involved: Mechanical factors (intensive combing, extreme brushing)
• Chemical factors (dyeing, bleaching, perming)
• Physical factors (blow-drying with hairdryer, intense effect of the sun or solarium, UV radiation)
• Nutritional factors (deficiency of protein, amino acids and vitamins) 

Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?
Yes. For example wearing pigtails or cornrows or using tight hair rollers can pull on your hair and cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.

Hot oil treatments or chemicals use in permanents may cause inflammation of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss. 

Excessive hair-drying can damage hair considerably and causes it to break.