What causes hair loss?
Shedding hair is a natural and even healthy occurrence – people typically shed between 50 and 100 single hairs each day. However, there is a natural balance to the process of shedding hair and when the balance is disrupted – meaning more hair is falling out than growing back in – this can result in hair loss. While most hair loss is due to hereditary causes, it can also be the result of hormonal changes, medical conditions, stress, trauma, alopecia, pregnancy, or even a normal part of aging. 

Unlike many other medical conditions, hair loss affects not only self-esteem, but rather it affects every aspect of a patient’s life. In the United States alone, hair loss affects roughly 50 million individuals; that is why Pharmacy Solutions partners with relentless pharmacists who are driven to personalize treatment for every unique hair loss patient with every hair loss need.

The Stages of Hair Growth:

• Anagen Phase: This is the longest lasting phase in hair-growth and the phase where actual growth is taking place. Hair type can affect how long it lasts overall, but generally this phase will last between 3 and 5 years. Shorter hairs, such as the eyelashes and eyebrows may only stay in this phase for a month or so. 
• Catagen Phase: Once the anagen phase has ended, the catagen phase begins. This is a transition stage, and is much shorter than the anagen phase, lasting only two to three weeks. During this phase hair follicles shrink, hair growth slows, and the hair begins to separate from the bottom of the follicle, though it stays in place. 
• Telogen Phase: The telogen phase is the hairs resting stage – hair is neither growing nor falling out. An estimated 10-15% of scalp hairs are in this phase at any given time. New hairs additionally begin to form in follicles that have just released hairs.
• Exogen phase: This phase, which typically last between 2 and 5 months, is the latter part of the telogen phase in which hair is shed from the scalp, often aided by the actions of washing or brushing.

Types of Hair Loss:

• Anagen Effluvium is rapid hair loss triggered by medications and treatments such as chemotherapy that prevent hair follicle production, sometimes poisoning the follicle. Once the treatment is complete, the hair follicles are usually restored and grow back on their own, though physicians can prescribe certain medication to speed up the process.
• Telogen effluvium occurs when a significant number of follicles enter the telogen phase, but the anogen phase doesn’t begin. This type of hair loss is typically triggered by medical conditions or events, but may also be the result of vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
• Androgenetic alopecia/female pattern alopecia/female pattern hair loss (FPHL)/male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss. This kind of hair loss is hereditary and presents differently in men and women. For men, this type of hair loss usually begins above the temples and continues upward, eventually resulting in baldness. For women with this type of hair loss, hair gradually thins across the entire scalp and can become very thin; however, the hairline doesn’t typically recede.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and male pattern baldness (MPB) combined make up 9 out of every 10 male hair loss patients cases. Hair loss and balding are prevalent in men, and around 65% of men will see some degree of hair loss by the age of 35. By the age of 50, roughly 85% of men have seen or have shown signs of significant hair loss, balding, or thinning.
Although it is not nearly as common, women can suffer from hair loss as well; in females, the leading conditions are female pattern alopecia and female pattern baldness. Hair loss in females comes on noticeably weaker and tends to mainly be shown through thinning.

Treating Hair Loss
One of the most commonly used and recognized hair-regrowth ingredients is Minoxidil. Other active ingredients widely prescribed are compounds of estrogen and progesterone for individuals who may be experiencing hair loss due to hormonal depletion or changes. According to the National Library of Medicine:

• Saw Palmetto nourishes the hair follicle to promote normal growth
• Zinc Sulfate adds shine, strength and density to hair
• Niacinimide -0.5% activates dormant hair follicles, reduces hair fall and help reverse effects of DHT on hair growth cycle
• Ketoconazole is an antifungal known for increasing the size of hair follicles and increasing hair growth – similar to minoxidol 
• Biotin – 0.03% naturally stimulates the scalp to promote hair growth
• Estradiol increases hair count and thickness
• Fluocinonide is a steroid to reduce inflammation
• Azelaic Acid reduces DHT levels and slows down hair loss
• Caffeine – 1% blocks effect of DHT in male hair follicles – stimulates hair shaft elongation
• Progesterone – helps keep hair in the Anagen phase (growing phase) – keeps hair on your head longer
• Spironolactone – 1.247% helps combat conditions that cause hair loss like PCOS
• Green Tea inhibits the activity of hormones that induces hair loss
• CoQ10 boosts Keratin which depletes with aging
• Zinc Oxide counteract the effects of DHT