Advice For Fighting Seasonal Hair Loss This Winter
It’s easy to forget quite how rough the cold can be on our hair. Noticed any hair loss in these cooler months? Here are some reasons why winter can often be a pest to your hair, and how you can help it to fight another day.
Like the seasons, hair goes through a lifecycle. It begins with the growth phase (anagen), which is followed by the transition phase (catagen), and finishes with the resting phase (telogen). The catagen and telogen phases sound much worse than they actually are - both are vital for healthy hair growth and allow for new hair shafts to form in the ensuing anagen phase.
Frustratingly, seasonal hair loss tends to begin around October/November: surely we’d want less hair in warmer weather and more hair in colder weather? However, at least one study has suggested that summertime hair growth exists to protect our scalps from the sun’s rays, and that the excess hair is shed in winter. While our hair growth cycle is natural, those with hair loss conditions may feel the effects of Mother Nature even harder.
The festive period, combined with inclement weather, is bound to stress people out more than usual. Intense bouts of stress can often cause telogen effluvium, a condition that forces hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely - in short, more hair is shed than normal. Stress can also accelerate other forms of hair loss, particularly the two most common hair loss conditions - male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss.
However, all is not lost (hair included). In fact, by February the effects of seasonal winter hair fall should be starting to rectify themselves. While hairloss is a part of many people’s lives, there are a number of steps that can be taken to protect your locks, especially during these chilly seasons.
It’s easier said than done, but looking after yourself and minimising stress is hugely important for a healthy head of hair. Sleep is especially important, as a good night’s rest helps to regulate a number of your body’s most important functions that maintain your hair, in particular: hormone secretion, mental and physical stamina, and immune function. Also, remember to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water (roughly six to eight glasses per day).
We are what we eat and drink. A poor diet can lead to dehydrated, malnourished hair that looks dry and lifeless - and can also start to shed. Unsurprisingly, a balanced diet will help healthy hair growth. Belgravia has even developed Hair Vitalics for Men and Hair Vitalics for Women one-a-day supplements that contain just the right balance of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and botanical extracts to help your hair withstand the harshest of conditions.
Speaking of hair vitamins, the link between vitamin D (and its two forms D2 and D3) and hair loss is a strange one, but potentially really, really important. Recently, research published by the University of Surrey found that D3 is twice as important to general health than vitamin D2. But what does this have to do with hair loss? One study in Turkey found that 91% of those treated for Alopecia Areata, had low levels of vitamin D. Naturally, more work needs to be done into the connection, but it is a brilliant breakthrough.
Another thing to remember during a cold snap, and a question frequently asked of Belgravia's specialists, is that hats do not cause hair loss - so wrap up!
The Circle Of Life
Like the seasons, hair goes through a lifecycle. It begins with the growth phase (anagen), which is followed by the transition phase (catagen), and finishes with the resting phase (telogen). The catagen and telogen phases sound much worse than they actually are - both are vital for healthy hair growth and allow for new hair shafts to form in the ensuing anagen phase.
Frustratingly, seasonal hair loss tends to begin around October/November: surely we’d want less hair in warmer weather and more hair in colder weather? However, at least one study has suggested that summertime hair growth exists to protect our scalps from the sun’s rays, and that the excess hair is shed in winter. While our hair growth cycle is natural, those with hair loss conditions may feel the effects of Mother Nature even harder.
The festive period, combined with inclement weather, is bound to stress people out more than usual. Intense bouts of stress can often cause telogen effluvium, a condition that forces hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely - in short, more hair is shed than normal. Stress can also accelerate other forms of hair loss, particularly the two most common hair loss conditions - male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss.
What Can Be Done?
However, all is not lost (hair included). In fact, by February the effects of seasonal winter hair fall should be starting to rectify themselves. While hairloss is a part of many people’s lives, there are a number of steps that can be taken to protect your locks, especially during these chilly seasons.
It’s easier said than done, but looking after yourself and minimising stress is hugely important for a healthy head of hair. Sleep is especially important, as a good night’s rest helps to regulate a number of your body’s most important functions that maintain your hair, in particular: hormone secretion, mental and physical stamina, and immune function. Also, remember to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water (roughly six to eight glasses per day).
We are what we eat and drink. A poor diet can lead to dehydrated, malnourished hair that looks dry and lifeless - and can also start to shed. Unsurprisingly, a balanced diet will help healthy hair growth. Belgravia has even developed Hair Vitalics for Men and Hair Vitalics for Women one-a-day supplements that contain just the right balance of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and botanical extracts to help your hair withstand the harshest of conditions.
Speaking of hair vitamins, the link between vitamin D (and its two forms D2 and D3) and hair loss is a strange one, but potentially really, really important. Recently, research published by the University of Surrey found that D3 is twice as important to general health than vitamin D2. But what does this have to do with hair loss? One study in Turkey found that 91% of those treated for Alopecia Areata, had low levels of vitamin D. Naturally, more work needs to be done into the connection, but it is a brilliant breakthrough.
Another thing to remember during a cold snap, and a question frequently asked of Belgravia's specialists, is that hats do not cause hair loss - so wrap up!
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.
