What is Causing Your Hair Loss?
27 February 2024
By Dr Sophie Shotter

Why Hair Loss Occurs, Marylebone, London
Shedding hair is a natural part of daily life, with most of us losing an average of about 80 strands per day. However, if you begin to observe a significant increase in hair loss, it might raise alarms.
Typically, when we discuss hair loss, our minds gravitate towards genetic factors, such as male pattern baldness. Yet, it’s important to recognise that hair loss doesn’t discriminate by gender—approximately 80% of women will experience some form of hair loss by the time they reach sixty. Beyond genetics, a myriad of factors can contribute to hair loss, including hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, and various diseases.
But what exactly could be causing your hair to thin, and more importantly, is there a way to mitigate or reverse this condition?
The Root of the Problem: Common Causes of Hair Loss
Hair loss, medically known as alopecia, can stem from multiple factors, including:
Genetics
Hereditary-pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most prevalent cause, affecting both men and women.
Hormonal Changes
Hormone changes due to pregnancy and menopause can have a significant impact on the hair. When we’re pregnant, we experience a rise in oestrogen levels, giving our skin a beautiful glow and our hair looks thick and luscious. Unfortunately, post-pregnancy, it can feel like it’s falling out at a scary rate as our oestrogen levels decline.
Menopause can affect your hair in a similar way. As we age, almost everyone will experience some degree of hair loss, and hair growth will slow down. This process is accelerated in perimenopausal women, thanks to a significant decrease in oestrogen levels – an essential hormone for hair growth.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Vitamin B12 and D deficiencies are relatively common in hair loss sufferers. Vitamin B12 deficiency often causes hair loss as it can affect the health of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your tissues. Reasonable dietary B12 can only be obtained from animal sources, making deficiency most common in vegans.
The majority of the UK population has suboptimal Vitamin D levels, so we recommend that everyone take at least 2000iu per day. However, some people require more than this.
Stress
It’s no secret that stress can cause your hair to fall out. Chronic stress can increase androgen (male hormone) levels, which in turn can cause hair loss. When we are stressed, we may also skip meals or eat more processed foods than usual – giving minimal nutritional benefit. Stress can impact digestion and your body’s absorption of vital nutrients, both of which can negatively impact the hair.
Thyroid conditions
The thyroid gland helps to regulate the body’s metabolism by controlling the production of proteins and tissue use of oxygen. When this process is disrupted, it affects the development of hair at the root causing the hair to fall out.
If hypothyroidism is left untreated, it may also result in anaemia, which over time can cause baldness.
Understanding the specific cause of hair loss is crucial for selecting the most effective treatment.
Why Does Hair Loss Occur?
Hair loss occurs when the hair growth cycle is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue. Factors like genetics, hormonal changes, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices can significantly impact this delicate balance, leading to the cessation of hair growth and the onset of hair shedding or thinning.
What Are the Best Treatments for Tackling Hair Loss?
The evolution of hair loss treatments has brought forth several innovative options, each catering to different causes and types of hair loss. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most effective treatments:
Start with Trichotest
The Trichotest is an advanced DNA test that fully explains your genetic characteristics and how they relate to your hair loss. This information provides your hair specialist with a deep understanding of the causes of your hair loss and will enable them to provide a fully personalised treatment plan.
The beauty of the Trichotest is that it takes the trial and error out of hair restoration treatments. So you can start with the most appropriate treatment approaches and ultimately, see the best results possible.
Calecim Professional Serum
By sourcing the stem cells from the cord lining, Calecim Professional serum offers the highest concentration of stem cells that can be extracted safely and without harming any animals.
These cells contain a potent mixture of proteins, cytokines, and growth factors, to improve skin and scalp health, promote skin and hair rejuvenation and give life-changing results. Again, we can combine this treatment with microneedling to open micro-channels in the scalp for better, faster serum absorption, making it more effective overall.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP works to stimulate the growth of new hair. During treatment, your practitioner will take a vial of your blood, usually no more than the average blood test would require, and they’ll spin it in a centrifuge to create plasma rich in platelets. This is then infused or injected into your scalp, where the platelets will release growth factors and encourage hair growth.
PRP can also be combined with microneedling to help deliver the growth factors deeper into the scalp. The tiny injuries caused by the microneedling cause your body to deploy its healing capacity, including regenerating your hair follicles, leading to increased hair growth and thickening.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Our whole body is made up of a delicate system of hormones and, behind the scenes of every bodily function is a hormone that’s driving it. So, when these hormones fall out of balance, issues will start to occur, hair loss included.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) aims to restore hormonal balance by supplementing the hormones with bioidentical replacements that mimic those produced by the body. BHRT can effectively counteract menopausal changes by restoring the balance in the endocrine system and reducing menopausal symptoms.
Typically, BHRT treatment begins with a blood test to measure hormone levels, followed by rebalancing with body or bio-identical versions of hormones like progesterone, testosterone, and oestrogen, to restore optimum levels for optimal functioning. In turn, hormone-related issues like weight gain, poor cognitive function, and hair loss are often reduced.
Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides represent a cutting-edge treatment involving the injection of naturally occurring nucleotides into the scalp. These nucleotides stimulate cell regeneration and improve blood circulation, potentially leading to improved scalp health and hair regrowth.
Finding the Right Solution
Choosing the best treatment for hair loss depends on various factors, including the underlying cause, severity, and individual health considerations. It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional specialising in hair loss to receive a tailored treatment plan that addresses your specific needs.
If you’d like to learn more about the options, click here to enquire or to book a consultation.
