Hair Loss

Hair loss is currently an increasingly common health problem. There are several types of hair loss, each with different causes. Therefore, it is not possible to make a general statement about which specific nutrient, vitamin, or product can solve this problem.

The Hair Loss Screening Package includes the most important vitamins and minerals that affect hair growth and quality, such as vitamin B, vitamin D, and iron. It also includes selected hormones that affect hair health, such as thyroid hormones and certain sex hormones. In addition, the package includes tests to evaluate metabolic processes, such as glucose and glycated hemoglobin, as well as liver function tests and a complete blood count.

More detailed information about the test

A certain degree of hair loss is a natural part of the hair growth cycle. To distinguish between physiological and excessive hair loss, the number of hairs shed over a 24-hour period is assessed. Approximately three days after the last hair wash, a person with suspected excessive hair loss counts all hair shed throughout the day—including during normal daily activities and while sleeping. A loss of approximately 100–120 hairs per 24 hours is considered normal.

Hair quality is influenced by nutrition, including an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, which are important for hair growth, metabolism, and regeneration. A deficiency in these nutrients can be one of the causes of poor hair quality.

Excessive hair loss can be a symptom of several medical conditions; it may accompany periods of increased stress, result from hormonal changes, or be a side effect of certain medications. Some types of hair loss are also hereditary.

Excessive hair loss, known as effluvium, leads to thinning hair or even baldness (alopecia). The direct cause is a disruption of the integrity of the hair follicle and the balance of the hair growth cycle, which can have many different causes. Hair follicles are tiny structures in the skin from which new hair grows.

Iron

Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, which ensures the transport of oxygen to tissues. Hair follicle cells are among the fastest-dividing cells in the body, so they require a constant supply of oxygen. In the event of iron deficiency—even before anemia sets in—hair follicles remain in the resting phase longer, leading to thinning hair and increased breakage.

Zinc

Some studies suggest that zinc is important for hair growth and regeneration. A deficiency can weaken the hair’s protein structure and increase breakage.

Vitamin D

According to some studies, vitamin D is essential for the growth phase of the hair cycle and plays a role in the formation of new hair follicles. Low vitamin D levels may be associated with excessive hair loss, thinning hair, and the development of alopecia.

Active Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues. When there is a deficiency, hair follicles are not adequately supplied with the oxygen needed for healthy hair growth.

Thyroid Hormones

Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction include changes in hair quality and hair loss. Testing for TSH, fT3, and fT4 helps detect these disorders.

Androgens

Elevated androgen levels can lead to a reduction in the size of hair follicles. The result is the growth of increasingly thinner and shorter hair, until hair production in the follicle stops completely.

Testosterone itself has a minor effect on hair growth. Its conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is also found in the scalp, plays a more significant role.

DHEAS is a precursor to androgens, and elevated levels of it may indicate their excessive production. The body subsequently converts it into testosterone.

SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) binds testosterone, thereby reducing its bioavailability. If SHBG levels are low, the amount of free testosterone in the blood increases. Low SHBG levels can thus cause androgenetic hair loss even with only a slightly elevated level of total testosterone.