Hairloss FAQ - Other Hairloss Causes By John Ertel May 1, 1999

Many companies advertise products designed to fight other "causes" of hairloss. They ignore the genetic and scientifically researched causes of hairloss, citing these as the causes.

Blood Circulation

Poor blood circulation has been listed as a cause of hairloss, especially since Minoxidil came out, which is a increases blood circulation. Unfortunately, Minoxidil does not grow hair by increasing blood circulation (at least that is not the main way it does). There are literally dozens of drugs that increase drug circulation, none of which grow hair. If bad blood circulation caused hairloss, these would work too, but they don't. Also, bad blood circulation would not be restricted to the top of the head. Since the sides of the head show no loss, this also indicates the problem is not circulation. Any "cure" that tries to address blood circulation is no cure. Bad blood circulation definitely will cause hairloss. It is just not the cause of MPB. There are some indications that blood vessel lining to the hair follicle may become damaged through the process of MPB. Repairing these structures may provide more blood flow to the hair follicle and increase hair growth. However this is not the complete cause of MPB. Vasodialators that increase blood flow probably don't help this problem, since the actual vessels are damaged.

Malnutrition / Lack of Vitamins

There are many nutritional supplements available (at extremely high prices) to grow your hair. Unfortunately, if you were really lacking vitamins or minerals in your diet, the hair on the sides of your head would be disappearing, too. People with a REAL lack of vitamins and minerals lose hair all over their body, not just on the top of their heads. Also, vitamin deficiencies generally produce an overall loss of hair evenly across the head. It does not cause you to lose hair in one spot. Vitamins are definitely helpful in growing hair and play a role in proper hair growth, however, these vitamins can all be found at your local grocery store, drug store, or health/fitness store for much less than you can buy them from people selling them to you who say they will give you a big mop of hair.

Clogged Follicles

This may be the most widely spread notion of all. However, clogged follicles are the RESULT, not the CAUSE of balding. Clogged follicles do not shrink. If your only problem were clogged follicles, once you cleaned your scalp every hair on your head would grow back! However, in balding, follicles shrink and fail to grow back. This can not be caused by 'clogged' follicles. The reason the scalp of balding men is often oily is that the same male hormones that cause balding also cause the sebaceous (oil) glands to increase in size, which increases the amount of oil. Also, the oil they produce contains the male hormone DHT, which is one of the primary causes of baldness. This male hormone sits on your scalp and is reabsorbed into the hair follicle, causing even further damage in a vicious cycle. Once you reduce the male hormones, the glands shrink and stop producing so much oil. Also, there will not be as much male hormone in the oil that is produced so there will not be as much damage. This can be done with such medications as Proscar or Spironolactone. Like Vitamins, maintaining a healthy and clean scalp does help in keeping the hair you have looking healthy. However, it does not regrow hair.

Medication Related Loss

Several medications really do cause hairloss. Generally this hairloss is temporary and once you cease the medication, the hair will grow back. Sometimes it is permanent, however. Click here to see the list.

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