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[V138]Vitamin D And Hair Loss

by Louise Levinthall, Lou

Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of disease. One disease that often presents an initial symptom of hair loss is diabetes. If you are losing your hair faster than usual and you have a feeling that the cause is not common pattern baldness, you should visit your physician to rule out an underlying disease such as diabetes. Diabetes has the following impact on your physiology:
1. Impacts to circulation due to diabetes. Proper circulation is often impacted by diabetes, and this can impact hair follicle health. Hair normally grows two to six inches every year, goes dormant for a period of time and then falls out. Poor circulation can limit the nutrient supply to hair follicles and shorten this cycle; hair falls out faster, and starved hair follicles don't have the resources to replace lost hair with new hair.
2. Diabetics are more susceptible to skin conditions, and skin conditions on the scalp can cause hair loss. Both bacterial and fungal infections of the scalp can interrupt the normal growth process of hair.
3. Medications that are typically prescribed for diabetes can impact hair growth. As your body adjusts to new medications or new medication levels this process will often diminish or disappear completely. If you are just starting on a new course of medication, keep this in mind.
4. Stress comes with a diagnosis of diabetes, and stress can lead to hair loss. Especially when combined with other factors such as dehydration, which also often accompanies diabetes, stress can be the overriding source of your hair loss.
If you have hair loss related to diabetes, here are some helpful suggestions:
1. Be patient. Often the process of hair loss will slow or stop as your body becomes accustomed to your new dietary and medical regimen. Give yourself several months to get used to the changes in your life that come with a new diagnosis of diabetes.
2. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Eight to ten 8 oz. glasses of water consumed through your day will assure proper hydration. this is important for overall health, and will also impact hair growth and retention.
3. Exercise regularly. Exercise increases blood circulation, and your head will be a recipient of that increased circulation. Your follicles will love you for it.
4. Adopt a stress reducing routine that includes yoga or meditation. Either of these are excellent coping tools, and will help to reduce unhealthy levels of stress. Some stress is unavoidable, but an unhealthy level of stress will only make hair loss worse.
Diabetes is a significant diagnosis and a life-changing illness. Follow your physician's instructions carefully and continue to do those things that you know are good for your general health. Hair health is affected by all that you do and consume.

Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT is a medical term which describes a by-product of testosterone. This by-product is found in both males and females, however, to a much lesser degree in females. DHT's primary function is to develop primary sex characteristics in males, while still in the embryo and then to later develop secondary sex characteristics during puberty. DHT then continues to play a major role in male sexual functions throughout life.

After forming from testosterone, DHT can be broken down into two 5-alpha reductive isoenzymes, known as Type I and Type II. Both are produced in several parts of the body such as the adrenal glands, the prostate, the skin and scalp. Type I is produced in large quantities by the sebaceous glands. These glands are oil glands found in the skin. Type II is most often produced in the scalp. DHT is also a major factor in hair loss in men and even women. Androstanedione and DHEA also play a role in hair loss. When the adrenal gland produce an excess of androstanedione or DHEA, and increased conversion to DHT takes place within the organs or hair follicles. This excess can be due to many factors such as overstimulation or possibly a tumor. The average age where men usually experience hair loss is between 20 and 30, however, may vary greatly from person to person. Initial signs include a receding hairline or gradually thinning hair, usually on the top of the head. In many cases, a U-shape is formed in balding areas, stretching from the sides and back of the head. Any small amounts of hair remaining in this U-shape are more than likely very thin and fine in texture. Hair typically grows approximately 1cm every month. When hair follicles have been affected by DHT, it becomes decayed, therefore, drastically reducing its growth phase. Each follicle on the scalp become shorter and thinner, eventually stopping any development or growth. Some hair follicles will shrink down in size producing weak, thin hair. Some follicles will cease to develop any hair at all. This, of course, results in baldness. Family history can usually help determine if hair loss will develop in an individual. If your father, uncles or grandfather suffered from hair loss, unfortunately, other males within the family will as well.

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Both Louise Levinthall & Todd Mumford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Louise Levinthall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hair Care, Fitness and Hair Care. You may be anxious if you're shopping . To find a. Louise Levinthall's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.

Todd Mumford has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Dogs and Hair Care. Todd Mumford writes for Revivogen, offering and technological advances in. Todd Mumford's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.