What's the most common cause for hair loss?

Androgenic alopecia is pattern hair loss. In men, this could be a receding hairline as well as hair loss on the top of the head. In women, this could be more of a thinning of the hair all over the head. Androgenic alopecia affects 50-80% of males and 25-50% of females.

Hair loss medications work in a few different ways. One popular medication works by increasing oxygen, nutrients, and nitric oxide to the scalp.

Most hair loss medications work by inhibiting a certain enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into a much more powerful form of testosterone called DHT. DHT is a type of androgen.

Too much DHT can cause:

• A thickening of the dermis around the hair follicle (which suffocates the hair follicle)

• An increase in fibrosis (scarring that wraps around the hair)

• Calcification around the hair follicles

Lowering insulin by getting on a low-carb diet and doing intermittent fasting may help with androgenic alopecia.

Natural remedies for androgenic alopecia:

• Saw palmetto

• Zinc

• DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid)

• GLA (a certain type of fat)