Hair Loss & Health: 50 Expert Answers

1. Basics & Structure

1. What is hair made of?

Hair is primarily composed of keratin. It has three layers: the medulla, the cortex (provides strength and pigment), and the protective cuticle.

2. Is hair a living tissue?

No. Only the bulb (root) inside the scalp is alive. The visible hair shaft consists of dead cells, so damage there is permanent.

3. How many hairs do we have?

A healthy person has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs. Blondes usually have more, and redheads have fewer.

4. What is the hair cycle?

It has three phases: Anagen (growth, 2-7 years), Catagen (transition, 2-3 weeks), and Telogen (resting/shedding, 3-4 months).

5. Is daily loss normal?

Yes. Losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. Seek a doctor if you see bald patches or sudden increases.

2. Main Causes

6. What causes hair loss?

Triggers include genetics, hormonal imbalances, extreme stress, nutritional deficiencies, and autoimmune diseases.

7. Does diet affect hair?

Yes. Lack of protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins prevents the body from producing healthy new strands.

8. How does stress impact hair?

High cortisol can push follicles prematurely into the Telogen (shedding) phase, causing Telogen Effluvium.

9. Postpartum hair loss?

Estrogen drops sharply after birth, causing hair that "stayed" during pregnancy to fall out all at once. It's temporary.

10. Can Covid-19 cause loss?

Yes. High fever and systemic inflammation from viruses can trigger intense shedding weeks after infection.

11. Thyroid and hair?

Both hyper- and hypothyroidism can lead to dry, brittle hair and diffuse shedding.

12. Do birth control pills matter?

Some androgenic pills can worsen thinning. Also, stopping the pill triggers temporary shedding due to hormonal shifts.

13. Anemia and hair loss?

Iron deficiency reduces oxygen to follicles, a very common reversible cause of thinning in women.

14. Menopause effects?

Estrogen drops and testosterone increases relatively, shortening the hair cycle and leading to Female Pattern Hair Loss.

15. Medication side effects?

Antidepressants, anticoagulants, and certain acne medications can cause hair shedding as a side effect.

3. Baldness (Alopecia)

16. Shedding vs. Baldness?

Shedding (Effluvium) is temporary. Baldness (Alopecia) is a chronic process of miniaturization where hair gets thinner until it stops growing.

17. Do women go bald?

Yes. Female Pattern Hair Loss involves a widening part and volume loss, though usually without a receding hairline.

18. Is there a cure?

Genetic baldness has no cure, but excellent control. Continuous treatment stops progression and recovers hair density.

19. What is DHT?

Dihydrotestosterone is a hormone that binds to follicles in predisposed people, causing inflammation and hair thinning.

20. How does Minoxidil work?

It is a vasodilator that improves scalp blood flow, extending the growth phase and widening the hair caliber.

21. Can women use Finasteride?

Yes, in specific off-label cases under strict supervision, but it's highly contraindicated for women of childbearing age.

22. Do hair LEDs work?

Yes. Photobiomodulation (LLLT) increases energy in the hair roots and reduces inflammation.

23. When does it start?

It can begin right after puberty (18-20 years old). Early onset usually indicates a more aggressive progression.

24. Can creams fix receding hair?

If the scalp is completely smooth and shiny, the follicle is gone. Only a Hair Transplant can restore hair there.

25. Can I predict baldness?

Trichoscopy can identify thinning and miniaturization years before it becomes visible to the naked eye.

4. Telogen Effluvium

26. What is it exactly?

An abrupt shedding where mafts of hair fall out in the shower. It happens when a trigger pushes many hairs to the shedding phase at once.

27. How long does it last?

Intense shedding usually lasts 3 to 6 months if the trigger is resolved. Beyond that, it is considered chronic.

28. Does washing make it worse?

No. The hair you see in the shower was already dead weeks ago. Washing just helps release them.

29. Traction Alopecia?

Tight hairstyles like ponytails or heavy extensions pull follicles out repeatedly, causing permanent scarring hair loss.

30. Should I stop combing?

No. Avoiding combing just allows dead hair and oil to accumulate, which harms the scalp environment.

5. In-Office Procedures

31. What is MMP® Capillary?

Microinfusion of Medications into the Skin. It uses micro-needles to deliver vitamins and blockers directly to the hair roots.

32. Does it hurt?

It's very well tolerated. We use fine needles and comfort techniques like cooling or local blocks if needed.

33. Number of sessions?

Usually 3 to 6 monthly sessions for the initial "attack" phase, then maintenance sessions as needed.

34. MMP® vs. Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is manual injection. MMP® uses a vibrating device for a much more even distribution of medication.

35. What is PRP?

Platelet-Rich Plasma uses the patient's own concentrated growth factors to wake up dormant follicles.

36. At-home microneedling?

Not recommended. Without sterile conditions and proper depth, you risk infections and permanent follicle damage.

37. Scalp Peeling?

Uses medical acids to deep-clean the scalp, removing dead cells and excess oil to improve topical absorption.

38. Botox for hair?

Injecting botulinum toxin into the scalp can relax muscles and improve blood flow, and it helps with excessive sweating.

39. Time for results?

Reduced loss is seen in 2 months. Density and volume increases usually appear between month 4 and 6.

40. Post-MMP® gym/wash?

No. Wait 12-24 hours to wash your hair or do heavy exercise to allow the medication to absorb fully.

6. Daily Care & Myths

41. Washing daily is bad?

No. Dirty hair accumulates fungi and oil, causing inflammation (dandruff) that actually speeds up hair loss.

42. Does dandruff cause loss?

Yes. Chronic seborrheic dermatitis inflames the follicles and can stimulate premature shedding.

43. Wet hair at night?

Very bad. The warm, damp environment on the pillow is perfect for bacteria and fungi, leading to scalp issues.

44. Do hats cause baldness?

Hats don't cause the genetic condition, but they can trap oil and sweat, making scalp inflammation worse.

45. Hair straightening risks?

Chemicals can cause shaft breakage. If they burn the scalp, they can cause permanent localized baldness.

46. Heat tools damage?

Blow dryers and irons damage the shaft proteins (breakage), but don't cause root loss unless they burn the skin.

47. Cutting ends?

Does not make hair grow faster. Cutting only removes split ends; growth is an internal process at the root.

48. Gummy vitamins?

Usually low in actives. Supplements only help if you have a proven deficiency in your blood tests.

49. Anti-loss shampoos?

They are useful for oil control but don't stay on the scalp long enough to fix the root cause of baldness.

50. Aloe vera or onion?

Risk of severe contact dermatitis. Trust only evidence-based dermatological science for root treatments.