attilio
19.09.2007, 09:26 AM
Hi all,
Taken from: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=331520&page=2&type=Feature
We all expect to lose a few hairs every day, but sudden massive hair loss is a disaster. Zhang Qian writes about the reasons why hair gets into such an unhealthy state.
Autumn is believed to be a romantic season, but losing hair is quite another thing. We find a few pieces of hair lying on the pillow or twisted on the comb every day as a natural process of metabolism, but losing too much hair may not only ruin a nice image but also indicate an unhealthy state - a lack of energy and blood.
A healthy adult has 100,000 to 120,000 pieces of hair, with 85 percent in growth, 10 percent stable and five percent dropping off. The growth period usually lasts two to six years; then those hairs enter the stable period for three to six months and go back to the growth period again.
Therefore, losing 50 to 100 hairs every day is not a serious problem that may lead to baldness.
This growth circle of hair happens seven times in a man or woman's life until age 56, and then an increasing number of hairs refuse to grow again.
That's why older people find their hair thinning every day.
Yet an increasing number of young people, even teenagers, are suffering excessive hair loss, according to Dr Ma Shaoyao, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine at the Special Care Department of Longhua Hospital attached to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Stress and unhealthy living habits are the main causes.
There are two common types of hair loss: male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and patchy hair loss. Male pattern hair loss is also called androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which results from excessive androgen, the male sex hormone.
A high androgen level makes the sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum that easily blocks the hair follicles and blocks hair growth. It can also be found in women suffering endocrine disorder.
Usually, the hair on the forehead or the top go first and the bald area enlarges gradually.
Patchy hair loss refers to the symptom that only hair in a certain area goes while in other parts the hair grows healthily.
It used to be called gui ti tou (hair shaved by a ghost), as ancient Chinese suspected that a ghost stole the hair.
Though modern medicine believes patchy hair loss as a disease of the immune system, no more than five percent of patchy hair loss sufferers really catch the disease due to a defective immune system; most such problems are related to psychological factors.
Stress, long-term concentration and lack of sleep are all main causes of hair loss problems.
"TCM believes in a close relationship between the hair and kidneys," says Dr Ma. "According to TCM theory, hair problems are all caused by the lack of blood and energy, and unhealthy liver and kidneys. Foods that reinforces energy and produces blood like jujube and sesame can help hair grow more healthily. Enough sleep and a good mood are also essential."
According to Dr Ma, good living habits, including eight hours of sleep, balanced dining and certain exercises, all benefit hair growth. Keeping a good mood will improve the function of liver and produce more blood that can nourish hair.
Protecting hair from outer stimulation is also important. Dr Ma suggests gently combing hair in the direction it is growing, washing hair no more than two times a week, except for summer, and avoiding waving hair by high temperature or dying hair more than once in three months.
Taken from: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=331520&page=2&type=Feature
We all expect to lose a few hairs every day, but sudden massive hair loss is a disaster. Zhang Qian writes about the reasons why hair gets into such an unhealthy state.
Autumn is believed to be a romantic season, but losing hair is quite another thing. We find a few pieces of hair lying on the pillow or twisted on the comb every day as a natural process of metabolism, but losing too much hair may not only ruin a nice image but also indicate an unhealthy state - a lack of energy and blood.
A healthy adult has 100,000 to 120,000 pieces of hair, with 85 percent in growth, 10 percent stable and five percent dropping off. The growth period usually lasts two to six years; then those hairs enter the stable period for three to six months and go back to the growth period again.
Therefore, losing 50 to 100 hairs every day is not a serious problem that may lead to baldness.
This growth circle of hair happens seven times in a man or woman's life until age 56, and then an increasing number of hairs refuse to grow again.
That's why older people find their hair thinning every day.
Yet an increasing number of young people, even teenagers, are suffering excessive hair loss, according to Dr Ma Shaoyao, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine at the Special Care Department of Longhua Hospital attached to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Stress and unhealthy living habits are the main causes.
There are two common types of hair loss: male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and patchy hair loss. Male pattern hair loss is also called androgenetic alopecia (AGA), which results from excessive androgen, the male sex hormone.
A high androgen level makes the sebaceous glands produce excessive sebum that easily blocks the hair follicles and blocks hair growth. It can also be found in women suffering endocrine disorder.
Usually, the hair on the forehead or the top go first and the bald area enlarges gradually.
Patchy hair loss refers to the symptom that only hair in a certain area goes while in other parts the hair grows healthily.
It used to be called gui ti tou (hair shaved by a ghost), as ancient Chinese suspected that a ghost stole the hair.
Though modern medicine believes patchy hair loss as a disease of the immune system, no more than five percent of patchy hair loss sufferers really catch the disease due to a defective immune system; most such problems are related to psychological factors.
Stress, long-term concentration and lack of sleep are all main causes of hair loss problems.
"TCM believes in a close relationship between the hair and kidneys," says Dr Ma. "According to TCM theory, hair problems are all caused by the lack of blood and energy, and unhealthy liver and kidneys. Foods that reinforces energy and produces blood like jujube and sesame can help hair grow more healthily. Enough sleep and a good mood are also essential."
According to Dr Ma, good living habits, including eight hours of sleep, balanced dining and certain exercises, all benefit hair growth. Keeping a good mood will improve the function of liver and produce more blood that can nourish hair.
Protecting hair from outer stimulation is also important. Dr Ma suggests gently combing hair in the direction it is growing, washing hair no more than two times a week, except for summer, and avoiding waving hair by high temperature or dying hair more than once in three months.