Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

Hair is an integral part of our personality and we often realize its value once we lose it, the causes of hair loss are unclear. Though most of the times it is genetic or related to hormones but in this fast life, hair loss also occurs due to stress.

Stress is the main culprit for hair fall amongst men and women, it can also cause baldness or alopecia. But stress can be dealt with, its in our control to de-stress ourselves and take regular breaks from our hectic lifestyles. We can slow down our pace to meet up to our body needs.

The other culprit for hair fall is a hormone called DHT – dehydrtestosterone which is produced by an enzyme called 5 Alpha reductase. The enzymes converts testosterone into DHT and this DHT in turn promotes alopecia. The enzyme 5-alpha reductase was discovered in human scalp, hair follicles and other skin areas.Any disturbance in 5-alpha reductase activity in skin cells causes baldness in men.

There are two types of 5 Alpha reductase enzymes, they are termed as Type I and Type II and both of them produce DHT. Of the two types of 5 alpha reductase enzymes, type I is more active in the hair follicle and scalp. The production of DHT is majorly done by Type I enzyme which is approximately 60% to 70% and Type II produces the remaining 30% to 40% DHT in our body.

Treatment of this type of alopecia is still a challenge, although oral medication in allopathy is available but there aren’t any studies carried out on the effectiveness of these medications. It is not determined if these medicines are safe and would not cause any other effects. The medicines that are used for DHT induced hairloss are 5 Alpha reductase inhibitors, there are many plants and herbs which inhibit this enzyme but a detailed research needs to be carried out for the same.