Exterior Affections

Nutritional deficiencies:
Hair loss is rarely the cause of a nutritional deficiency. In such cases however, a number of non-negligible symptoms are evident.

Anorexia:
A severe nutritional deficiency may result in a major hair loss because at this stage the follicles will stop their re-growth in order to preserve the energy required to make the transition to the rest phase. Usually, hair loss occurs after 3 to 4 months and the hair will grow back only if the body receives once again all the required vitamins and proteins.

Iron deficiency:
An iron deficiency in the body will result in anaemia, characterized by a reduction in the quantity of red blood cells, which may result in hair loss. Generally a woman having experienced significant blood loss during menstruation will lose a large quantity of iron. If she does not take a vitamin supplement to make-up for the loss, she risks seeing her hair thin. Anaemia can easily be diagnosed with a laboratory blood test.

Pregnancy:
All hormonal changes involve certain effects, at times beneficial and at other moments unfortunate. During pregnancy for instance, many women have noticed that their hair was somewhat thicker and their complexion more radiant, although this phenomenon remains unexplained. In addition, during the first three months after pregnancy, more than 50% of these women have indicated a significant loss of hair caused by an apparent lack of sleep and additional stress brought about with their new way of life. While, the exact causes remain unknown, it has been demonstrated that during pregnancy the hormonal disruption affects the anagene/telogene (A/T) ratio, which leaves a large part of the hair in the anagene phase. During this phase, the pilose follicles produce more hair than usual, resulting in greater hair density. After the pregnancy however, the hormones return to their normal production and the A/T ratio falls drastically below normal levels. The reason is that a large proportion of hair is now in telogene phase, or a rest phase during which fabrication stops. In time the A/T will find its own equilibrium and the hair will take on its normal volume. A three-month period is realistic.