Anti-Ageing, Health and Wellbeing

Studies showed that chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are major causes of all types of hair loss including androgenic alopecia. Apart from finasteride and minoxidil; caffeine, essential oils and vitamins, notably vitamin B3, vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5 can be used effectively to prevent and reduce hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia is a hair loss condition caused by androgen hormones, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes hair follicles to shrink gradually in both men and women's body. Over the times, hair becomes weaker, shorter and thinner. Left untreated, this hair loss condition can cause permanent baldness.

Around 90% of hairs on the scalp are at anagen stage and 10% are at catagen and telogen stages. It is normal to shed up to 100 hairs per day. More often, hair loss is caused by the high number of dormant hair follicles rather than hair fall. There are two effective ways to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.

The key to a successful hair loss treatment is making sure that hair follicles get all the required nutrients to prevent them from shrinking. In most hair loss cases, hair density can actually be restored, however it will not happen in a few months. It may take years to reactivate all the dormant hair follicles.

A comparison study between the hair-growth-boosting properties of Rosemary Oil and Minoxidil showed that rosemary is equally as effective as Minoxidil in promoting hair growth in people with androgenetic alopecia. Rosemary contains phytochemicals that help prevent the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

A study published in Toxicology Research Journal suggested that peppermint oil is more effective than minoxidil in promoting hair growth. Peppermint oil has been shown to increase the number and the depth of hair follicles. After 4 weeks, Peppermint Oil improved the hair growth by 92% compared with 55% of Minoxidil.

As an anti-ageing scientist who studied at The Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy (ITHMA), London; I am very fond of essential oils. For more than 15 years, I have been developing and perfecting haircare formulas to slow down my own hereditary hair loss.

In hair follicles, testosterone gets converted to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR). A study published in the International Journal of Trichology suggested that Caffeine may reduce the activity of 5-alpha-reductase. Hence, caffeine seems to help prevent the hair follicles from shrinking.

Finasteride is often used in conjunction with minoxidil for hair loss treatment for men. Studies showed the efficacy of finasteride, however, there have been growing number of reported adverse effects associated with the use of finasteride such as problems with ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and lack of libido.

Hair loss has been linked to various conditions such as hormone imbalances, chronic inflammation, heart and autoimmune diseases. The most common hair loss type found in men and women is androgenic alopecia. When left untreated, it can cause irreversible baldness. Find out the 4 things you need to know about hair loss.

Several studies involving 36,990 men showed that men with baldness on the top of the head have a 48% higher risk of heart disease. A moderate vertex baldness was associated with a 36% increased risk of heart disease while men with mild vertex baldness have a 18% higher risk of suffering from heart disease.

High Blood Sugar Levels trigger inflammation. Chronic inflammation is an autoimmune condition, the same type of condition that triggers alopecia areata. People who suffer from type 1 diabetes are at higher risk of suffering from alopecia areata, a hair loss condition characterised by smooth bald patches on the scalp.