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THE CHECK LIST

(1) Hormone System

 Make sure that your hormone levels and the whole endocrine system is correct and functioning normally.  Any hormone irregularities should be checked immediately.   Women will experience several major hormone changes and correct functioning should be ensured.  Seek advice from an endocrinologist.

(2) Anaemia

 Check body iron levels carefully together with ferritin levels.  Even small falls in level lower the red blood count and will adversely affect hair growth.  This is a very common condition and women are particularly susceptible.  A blood test will easily enable you to check this.

(3) Thyroid Gland

 A simple blood test will also check the thyroxin (an Iodine compound) levels in the blood.  Over activity or under activity of the thyroid gland, which produces thyroxin, have a marked adverse effect on hair growth.  The condition is easily controlled by medication.

(4) Systemic Illnesses

 Almost all systemic illnesses adversely affect hair and skin growth, in fact many serious illnesses first appear in dermatological guise .  The autoimmune system is triggered and hair growth is affected.  Make sure you have a full, regular health check.

(5) Health

 You must not only be free of any systemic illnesses.  You must be in really good health, completely fit and well to obtain optimum hair growth.  Have the mineral (elements) levels of the body checked; a simple hair analysis will give you this information.  Diet is the key.  Traces of almost all mineral (elements) are required for correct body functioning, but hair growth will be seriously affected by shortages of calcium, iron and iodine.

(6) Diet

 It is really important to eat well, a good omnivore diet in the correct quantities.  Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables are essential.  Vitamin A, B group vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin H are vital for hair growth.  People whose diet may not be balanced (vegetarians for instance) must have the appropriate supplementation.  If you are not sure consult a qualified nutritionalist.  Extreme slimming regimes will not give the best hair growth.

(7) Toxins

 Try to ensure that toxins are not present in the blood or body tissue, smoking, excess alcohol and other agents will all have an adverse effect.

(8) Alopecia Areata

 Patchy loss of hair and baldness caused by partial failure of the autoimmune system.  Seek expert help from a dermatologist or trichologist.  The condition  almost invariably reverses but help will be required.  Work to remove the causes if they can be identified; stress is very often involved.

(9) Stress

 Control of stress (elimination is doubtful) and stress management is required.  Yoga, deep breathing, counselling – there are techniques available.  High stress levels will adversely affect hair growth as they will increase the hormone levels, particularly adrenalin.

(10) Medical Conditions of the Hair and Scalp

 These can usually be treated or controlled and help from a qualified dermatologist or trichologist should be sought.  A GP is usually overworked, often with life threatening cases and may not be the best person to consult.  These distressing scalp conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc.) will require treatment before the best hair growth can be achieved.

(11) Damage to the Hair Shaft and Breakage

 Seek expert help as No. (10).  Most conditions will correct themselves once the cause of the damage has been removed.  Check to ensure that permanent scarring and loss of the hair follicles has not occurred.

(12) Exercise

 You must quite simply be fit and well and this has to include some form of regular exercise to increase the heart rate, stimulate the blood flow and top-up the autoimmune system. A healthy life-style will give you optimum hair growth.

(13) The Growth Agents

 Try them; many of them work quite well, sometimes when used in combination.  Find one that suits you but make sure you retain a realistic expectation.  None of these products produce dramatic results; you should aim to stabilise the position and obtain a little re-growth.  It is quite simply not possible in cases of Androgenic Alopecia to re-grow a full head of hair.  Set yourself a realistic budget for this help.  Remember you are only “buying time”.

(14) Check the Cause

 Make sure that the cause of hair loss or poor growth is correctly diagnosed.  The remedy could be quite simple but you must get the diagnosis right.  Consult an expert, a dermatologist or a trichologist.

Do you have Hair Loss Problems, read our Hair Loss Help