Losing your hair can be incredibly distressing, especially for women and young men. This article will help you understand what’s going on, and what you can do about it.

When should you worry if you find you are losing your hair?

It’s normal for up to 150 strands of hair to fall from the scalp every day. If you’re losing hair in greater quantities, have developed bald patches on your scalp or have noticed that your hair is visibly thinning, it’s important to consult your healthcare professional about possible causes, which may include:

• Male pattern hair loss: Typically characterised by a receding hairline and thinning of the hair at the top and sides of the head.
• Female pattern hair loss: Generalised thinning of the hair, especially on the crown of the head and towards the hairline, which generally starts to occur after menopause.
• Telogen effluvium: Increased hair loss from across the scalp (rather than in the patterns of hair loss described above); this type of hair loss often occurs following periods of hormonal upheaval (e.g. pregnancy), but is also sometimes triggered by factors such as stress, illness or crash dieting.
• Alopecia: A condition characterised by complete hair loss from parts of the scalp or (less commonly) the entire body, the causes of which are not yet fully understood. Despite being confronting and distressing, alopecia does not usually cause any other symptoms; however affected people may be at increased risk of also experiencing allergies and certain immune conditions.

In other situations, hair loss may be indicative of underlying health problems, and consequently professional advice is required.

What makes hair fall out?

Each strand of hair on your scalp continually moves through phases of growth (called the anagen phase), transition (catagen) and resting, before falling out (telogen). Issues such as pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium and alopecia occur when this hair growth cycle is disturbed, resulting in increased shedding of established hairs and inhibited or absent development and growth of new ones.

Changes to the Growth Cycle

These changes to the hair growth cycle are often the result of a complex interplay of genetic and hormonal factors. For example, pattern baldness occurs in people whose hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be sensitive to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent form of testosterone present in both men and women that promotes the hair loss (telogen) phase of the hair cycle at the expense of the growth (anagen) phase.

Phytofol for healthy hair

Phytofol is a specialised extract of the Chinese herb Fallopia (also known as Polygonum or He Shou Wu), which has traditionally been used to promote healthy hair growth and aid the management of hair loss from various causes, including male and female pattern baldness, alopecia and telogen effluvium. From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, the benefits of Phytofol are considered due to its actions on the Kidney and Liver organ meridian systems, which are traditionally believed to be responsible for the health of the scalp and hair follicles.

Scientifically speaking

Expressed in more scientific terms, it is believed to work by promoting the growth phase of the hair life cycle and encouraging the revitalisation of hair follicles in the resting phase, perhaps via inhibitory effects on DHT. Phytofol is often taken in combination with other hair tonic herbs and along with key nutrients for hair health, such as silica, biotin and zinc, all of which are also important for the condition of the nails and skin. However, if you’re breastfeeding, other women’s herbs traditionally used to support reproductive balance as well as helping to promote healthy hair growth and aid the management of hair loss may be more appropriate for your needs.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Fusion Health Hair Tonic, Hair, Skin & Nails and Women's Balance

Fusion Health, premium quality Australian-made supplements that combine the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and the science of modern Western herbalism Find out more and shop online below

• Fusion Hair Tonic: A synergistic blend of Phytofol and other herbs that promote healthy hair growth and aid the management of hair loss
• Fusion Hair, Skin & Nails: Combines Phytofol with Silica and other nutrients for healthy hair, skin and nails, and is the ideal companion to Fusion Hair Tonic
• Fusion Women’s Balance: Herbs traditionally used to support reproductive health and aid the management of hair loss