Falling and thinning hair
Shedding around 50 hair strands a day is normal as each lost strand is replaced by new hair from the same follicle located just beneath the skin surface. While shedding is a normal phenomenon, a combination of factors such as heredity and hormonal activity can come into play causing hair follicles to shrink. Overtime, this progressive shrinking of certain hair follicles leads to a shortening of the hair growth cycle until there is no growth at all.
In normal, healthy adults, 84% of hair are in the growth (anagen) phase, while 0-1% are in the transition (catagen) phase, and 14-15% are in the resting (telogen) phase. For people with falling or thinning hair, returning the hair follicles to the anagen growth cycle is the objective of any plan to regrow healthier hair.
The issue of falling hair has been bothering me for some time because apart from three hair rebonding and countless hair treatments I have subjected my hair to in the last six years, the huge weight loss probably aggravated the problem.
It is quite alarming to see all that hair on your bathroom sink each morning when you shampoo your hair so when I saw a kiosk down at the Mercury drugstore that says free hair analysis, I took the time to answer a questionnaire and had my hair follicles scanned. Turns out I had normal scalp condition, no dandruff but the I had naturally thin hair, a little less in diameter than a normal hair would have, which makes it prone to breakage. It needs a boost in order for it to grow thick and hold strong.
I tried Dermclinic’s Hair Spa once and they use Minoxidil Regroe 5% for Men as part of the treatment. I did not buy the kit they were selling which consists of trial sizes of Pregroe shampoo, hair toner and conditioner and a 30ml bottle of Regroe. I went to the supermarket and bought a 60ml bottle of Minoxidil Regroe 3% for Women and used it for three months as directed. I switched to Pregroe shampoo and conditioner and tried their new hair thickening gel as well. I still use Pantene, Sunsilk and Palmolive every now and then and alternate them with Pregroe since a dermatologist told me sticking to one product can be drying to the hair.
Wouldn’t you know, after three months I noticed small hair sticking out (new hair growth) when I use a hairband and I don’t see as much hair on my pillow or on the bath sink.
There are actually two brands of Minoxidil I know of, Regroe, which is the more established brand, and Isac by Derm Pharma. Both have the same product variants, 5% for men, 3% for women and another milder version that teens can use. I never knew teens can also suffer hair loss but I guess the stress level (isn’t multitasking the norm these days) and the environmental factors (less cleaner air and water to shampoo your hair with) can cause young people to lose hair faster.Good thing we have minoxidil to counter the effects that lead to hair fall and hair thinning.
What is this miracle hair grower known as minoxidil? It’s a topical solution medically approved by both USFDA and BFAD that treats falling hair while inducing growth of thicker and healthier hair. When used regularly, minoxidil works in three ways: (1) it stimulates the small hair matrix cells to continuously divide and multiply in order to produce longer and thicker hair; (2) dilates and increases the size of smaller blood vessels around the follicles, improving blood flow for better nutrition and oxygenation of the follicles; (3) prevents hair fall.
Apart from minoxidil, a once a week scalp treatment can do wonders for the hair. Kerastase Stimuliste is a first daily nutri-energizing scalp treatment specially formulated to fight hair loss and stimulate better hair production. Containing a mixture of technological activities that provide energy and nutrients leading to stronger and more vigorous hair fibres and extending hair’s life cylcle.
