Progressive Progressive Medical Center - 2019 | Page 25

and the cells burn through nutrients. Diffuse hair loss may
also be seen in this condition, along with body hair loss.
Unlike hypothyroid, persons with high thyroid hormones tend
to have increased appetite, weight loss, and insomnia. giving birth, these hormones and growth factors drop
off sharply which triggers hair loss. Fortunately, this is
largely self-limiting, and normal hair growth resumes.
Treating hyperthyroid conventionally involves the thyroid-
blocking medication methimazole. Often, hyperthyroid is
part of an autoimmune condition and may spontaneously
remit within a year. Once thyroid hormone levels are
brought down to a normal level, hair loss should stop. Patchy hair loss may be caused by a fungal infection of the
head, called tinea capitis. The fungus lives deep enough in
the skin to cause hair loss, but not so deep as to trigger the
immune system. Fungal infections can happen anywhere on
the body, and normally cause patches of itching and some
skin peeling. Topical antifungals work well, and hair normally
returns to normal thickness after the infection is resolved.
ANDROGEN EXCESS
Testosterone is the most renown of androgens, but there
are actually many different androgens, all of which have
different actions. The type of androgen classically responsible
for hair loss is called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hair
loss pattern tends to present in the classic “male pattern
balding,” with hair loss coming mainly from the front and
the top of the head. This is a bit of a misnomer, because
women can also experience this type of hair loss.
Medications that block the conversion of testosterone to DHT —
like finasteride or minoxidil — are often a first-line treatment for
androgen-related hair loss. However, once the drug is stopped, hair
loss resumes. There are also nonpharmaceutical substances that
block the formation of DHT, like saw palmetto 1 and zinc 2 . Other
strategies include supporting hormone balance and excretion.
AUTOIMMUNE
Alopecia areata is the most common autoimmune cause
of hair loss. It presents with circular patches of hair loss,
which may converge or eventually include the whole
head. This disease tends to remit spontaneously. Treatment
involves addressing the underlying immune dysfunction and
inflammation. There have been several positive studies on
the efficacy of onion juice therapy to aid hair regrowth. 3,4
Other autoimmune conditions that may cause hair loss include
lupus, lichen planus, and alopecia totalis (also known as
alopecia universalis). Often, autoimmune conditions present
with systemic symptoms like fevers, weight loss, and fatigue.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
Hair cells replicate very quickly, much like our skin cells. This
means that they need a lot of nutrients and are often the first to
reflect any nutrient deficiencies. Hair growth may slow, strands
may break easily, and hair may even thin. Anyone on a proton
pump inhibitor like Prilosec is at risk for nutritional deficiencies,
because stomach acid is essential for freeing minerals for
absorption. If nutrient deficiency is the underlying reason for hair
loss, the nails may also reflect this. Peeling, thin, and easily broken
nails are signs of general nutrient deficiency. White spots on the
nails, if not from trauma, are often a sign of zinc deficiency.
POSTPARTUM
During pregnancy, a woman has a lot of extra hormones
and growth factors, which drive hair growth. After
INFECTIONS
1. Marks, L. S., Hess, D. L., Dorey, F. J., Macairan, M. L., Santos, P. B. C., & Tyler, V. E. (2001).
Tissue effects of saw palmetto and finasteride: use of biopsy cores for in situ quantification of
prostatic androgens. Urology, 57(5), 999-1005.
2. Azzouni, F., Godoy, A., Li, Y., & Mohler, J. (2012). The 5-alpha-reductase isozyme family: a
review of basic biology and their role in human diseases. Advances in urology, 2012.
3. Sharquie, K. E., & Al Obaidi, H. K. (2002). Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treat-
ment for alopecia areata. The Journal of dermatology, 29(6), 343-346.
4. Hajheydari, Z., Jamshidi, M., Akbari, J., & Mohammadpour, R. (2007). Combination of topical
garlic gel and betamethasone valerate cream in the treatment of localized alopecia areata: a
double-blind randomized controlled study. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and
Leprology, 73(1), 29.
SIGNS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
• COLD HANDS AND FEET
• UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN OR INABILITY
TO LOSE WEIGHT
• DRY SKIN
• BRITTLE NAILS
• FATIGUE
• CONSTIPATION
• SLOW HEART RATE
• LOW TEMPERATURE
• BRAIN FOG
CAUSES OF
NUTRITIONAL
DEFICIENCY
PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR •
PROFUSE SWEATING •
FREQUENT DIARRHEA •
FREQUENT VOMITING •
GROWING (KIDS) •
PREGNANCY •
POOR OR UNVARIED DIET •
EXERCISE •
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