Hair loss - big hairball woman

Thanks to a genuine collaboration with Blodkollen, we are able to offer professional blood tests for hair loss. Blodkollen works with several of the country's leading laboratories. The analyzes are of the same quality as at your doctor, and are carried out by authorized laboratories around the country.

Are you losing hair or feel that your hair has become much thinner? Then you should start by checking for possible nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances via a blood test.

Your scalp has about 100,000 active hair follicles that produce hair in a cyclic growth cycle. The hair cycle begins with a growth phase that lasts 2-8 years (anagen phase). The hair follicle then goes into a short transitional phase (catagen phase) which lasts for 4-6 weeks and finally into a resting phase (telogen phase) where the hair remains for 2-3 months before finally falling out. Around 85-90% of the head hair is in the growth phase and grows about 1 cm per month. It is normal to lose around 50-100 hairs every day.

LARGE HAIRCOOL WOMAN is a blood test where various parameters are measured in your blood, to gain a deeper insight into possible causes of a loss of more than 100 hairs a day and/or thinning hair. The analysis also includes follow-up dietary advice and recommendations.

The blood test is a step in the process to investigate and find possible causes of increased hair loss or thinning hair.

THE BLOOD ANALYSIS LARGE HAIRKOLLEN FEMALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TESTS:

Folate/folic acid (vitamin B9) : Folate/folic acid is needed to form new cells and red blood cells. These cells include those found in your skin tissue as well as in your hair and nails. This B vitamin keeps these cells and red blood cells healthy, optimizing hair follicles to support hair growth. Generating new red blood cells can help in the keratinization of hair which generates hair growth and which stops hair loss.

In addition to preventing hair loss and supporting hair growth, folic acid or folate has other benefits for hair. A lack of this B vitamin can cause hair to thin and eventually fall out, as the hair becomes weak. The increase in new cell production that the vitamin provides can therefore cause hair to grow where it has thinned.

Folate is the variant that comes from food and folic acid the variant that comes from dietary supplements. Both have the same effect in the body.

Cobalamin (vitamin B12): Vitamin B12 promotes healthy hair growth by aiding in the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells that supply hair follicles with the nutrition they need.

Ferritin: The ferritin value reflects how the body's iron stores look. In the hair follicles there is a certain amount iron . Iron helps stimulate new hair growth. In case of iron deficiency, the body reacts by using iron resources from less important parts of the body. One of the places that the iron is then taken from is the hair follicles, which results in the hair becoming thinner and falling out. Hair loss due to iron deficiency usually results in the entire hair thinning/falling out equally over the entire head, rather than in bald spots, so-called patchy hair loss.

Zinc: Zinc is involved in protein and nucleic acid synthesis and plays a role in various metabolic pathways and cellular functions. When it comes to hair loss is zinc a potent inhibitor of hair follicle regression and accelerates hair follicle recovery.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D modulates the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes – which are the most common cell type in the epidermis. It is the keratinocytes that manufacture keratin , a protein found in skin, nails and hair - 95% of hair consists of keratin.

Another important role that vitamin D has is to stimulate new and old hair follicles. When there is not enough vitamin D in the body's system, new hair growth can be inhibited. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to alopecia (hair loss), an autoimmune condition that causes bald patches on the scalp and other parts of the body.

Blood count: The blood picture is a collection of analyzes which give an overall picture of the blood's various cells. The analysis can give indications of several conditions in the body - which can affect the hair - such as, for example, vitamin deficiencies, iron deficiency and inflammations/infections.

The analyzes included are: platelets (TPK), leukocytes (LPK) EVF, MCV, MCH and hemoglobin .

Thyroid Status: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates the production of T3 and T4, which in turn controls TSH production, to keep levels within the normal range (so-called feedback regulation). In the case of an overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism) of these hormones, an effect on the hair can be seen, with increased hair loss and lack of new hair growth as a result. Even some autoimmune diseases such as Alopecia areata (spotted hair loss) can be seen in connection with thyroid problems.

The analyzes included in the thyroid status are: T3, T4 and TSH .

Estrogen (Estradiol) & Progesterone: Estrogen and progesterone are hormones in the body that perform many functions. For example, they are responsible for menstruation and can help keep your bones strong. These hormones are also important for hair growth. Estrogen and progesterone can help keep hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Therefore, these hormones can help keep your hair longer and can even make your hair grow faster.

Optimal levels of estrogen and progesterone help maintain thick hair, while low estrogen and progesterone levels lead to thinning hair and slow hair growth, eventually leading to hair loss.

SHBG: Sex hormone binding globulin or Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein that binds and transports the sex hormones testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol. When SHBG binds to sex hormones, these hormones cannot exert any effect. Estrogen increases the production of SHBG while androgens decrease it.

Women who have low levels of SHBG are more likely to have higher testosterone levels. Due to the higher level of testosterone, women may experience male pattern hair growth on the face and increased hair loss from the head.

Testosterone: Testosterone can affect hair, as some forms of testosterone produced by the body can shrink hair follicles. The form of testosterone that is the most common cause of poorer hair quality is called dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. About 10% of an adult's testosterone is normally converted to DHT in the body.

Shrinking follicles make the hair shaft smaller in diameter, making it more brittle. This makes the hair weaker overall, as the individual hairs that grow out are more sensitive. The hair falls out more easily than usual and the hair becomes thinner overall.

DHEAS: Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA for short, is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal gland from cholesterol. High DHEA levels can cause hair loss and thinning hair. This is due to the hormone DHT, which can be formed from DHEA.

DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink and shorten the hair cycle. The longer the hair follicle is exposed to DHT, the more the hair follicle shrinks. What happens is that DHT causes the hair to enter the resting phase more quickly, which means that the hairs become more brittle, thinner, shorter, decrease in number, and fall out more quickly. DHT can also make it take longer for your follicles (hair follicles) to grow new hair when old hairs fall out. These factors together contribute to a noticeable thinning of the hair.

Protein status: Eating enough protein is important for optimal hair growth because hair follicles are mostly made up of protein. A lack of protein in the diet can therefore promote hair loss. Even the hair itself is made up of protein, and a full 95% of each strand of hair is specifically made up of the protein keratin.

The analyzes included in the protein status are: urea and albumin .

WEIGHT LOSS CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS

Hair loss after severe weight loss is usually associated with a condition known as telogen hair loss (effluvium). Severe weight loss causes physical stress, which signals the hair follicles to enter an inactive stage, where hair production shuts down and the hair follicles are put into a resting phase. Here, a lot of hair is lost in the telogen phase in a short time, perhaps 1000 hairs daily, for one or a few weeks. Usually the hair loss comes 2-3 months after the triggering cause.

Other causes of this "diffuse hair loss" can be; infectious disease with fever, parturition, stress, various medical conditions and also chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, as well as various medications.

Increased hair loss and thinning hair can also be caused by certain medications such as birth control pills, antidepressants, blood thinners and chemotherapy.

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS

Overdosing on certain nutritional supplements can cause side effects such as increased hair loss and thinning hair; these include vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and selenium.

HEAVY MENSTRUATION CAN CAUSE THINNER HAIR

Blood deficiency (anemia) which can occur with heavy menstruation, can cause hair loss and thin hair.

DISEASES CAN CAUSE HAIR TO FALL OUT

Certain diseases such as diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism), Alopecia areata, and infectious disease with fever, can cause hair loss and thinning hair.

Also certain diseases and conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, can cause hair loss. In this type of disease and condition, there is often a deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin B9. Another example is gluten intolerance (celiac disease), where deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin B9 can be seen.

ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE THINNER HAIR WITH LOWER QUALITY

Alcohol leaches the body of important vitamins and minerals that are important for, among other things, the hair, including the mineral zinc and various B vitamins.

DIET (EXAMPLE VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN) CAN CAUSE THINNING HAIR STRANDS

A diet with too little protein can contribute to increased hair loss and thin hair. Even a diet with too little nutrition (vitamins and minerals) contributes to increased hair loss and thin hair.

TRACTION ALOPECIA CAN CAUSE HAIR LOSS

Here, loss of hair manifests itself mainly in the hairline (or the areas where the tension is applied) mainly in women with tightly tightened hairstyles (neck knot, ponytail, braids).

HEREDITY, ANDROGENT OR ANDROGENETIC DISPOSITION CAN CAUSE THIN HAIR

Androgenic hair loss - male hair loss, occurs due to increased sensitivity to testosterone of the hair follicle which eventually goes into involution (regrowth). Affects genetically predisposed men and can start after puberty as early as 17–18 years of age. Usually manifests in middle age in more than half of all men.

Female hair loss (androgenetic), as with male hair loss, there is a genetic predisposition and testosterone-sensitive hair follicles. Debuts later than male pattern baldness, at the age of 25–30 and affects about 10% of women.

AGING CAN MAKE HAIR GROW SLOWER

As part of general aging, the number of active hair follicles decreases, around 20-30 percent, which causes the hair to become thinner and the hairline to become higher. This affects both men and women. Can also start early in adulthood (presenile).

SMOKING MAKES HAIR THINNER

Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that cause constriction of the blood vessels and block blood circulation in the hair follicles. Because your hair follicles are not receiving the necessary nutrients from the blood, your hair growth cycle is disrupted, which in turn leads to noticeable hair loss and thinning hair.

STRESS INCREASES HAIR LOSS

Different types of stress (physical and mental) can cause reactions in the body that lead to telogen hair loss. Stress can put the hair follicles into a "resting" phase so they don't produce new hair. Over time, hair can fall out, even if you just wash, comb or touch it. Telogen hair loss (effluvium) - can also be caused by the body not getting enough nutrition or by changes in hormone levels.

PARTUS (BIRTH) CAUSES HAIR TO FALL OUT

Many women experience noticeable hair loss a few months after giving birth. This is normal - and not "real" hair loss. This hair loss is caused by decreased estrogen levels.

CLIMATE MAKES HAIR THIN

During e.g. menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop naturally. When estrogen and progesterone levels drop, hair grows more slowly and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens (a group of male hormones). Androgens shrink the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head. In some cases, however, these hormones can cause more hair to grow on the face.

Hair loss from hormone deficiencies in menopause can take many forms. Most women notice thinning hair and hair loss on/from the entire head, which can be visible when the hair is parted in a side part or clearly noticeable when the hair is put up in a bun.

IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOUR SAMPLING:

If you take dietary supplements with biotin (vitamin B7), you should stop taking it at least one week before sampling, as it affects the analysis results.

The following medication can also affect the analysis results:

• Birth control pills
• Certain medicines, such as some steroid medicines
• Anti-estrogen drugs

IN PROUD COLLABORATION WITH BLODKOLLEN - BLOOD ANALYZES