Hair loss: a healthy scalp can helpWe often pay (too) little attention to the scalp. It only becomes interesting when it causes problems. Dandruff, oily skin and hair loss: Find out here what causes this and how you can counteract it.
If you count yourself among the people who (still) have hair on their heads, you should probably rarely worry about your scalp – unless it causes problems. For many people, the focus is often on facial skin and the wrinkles it brings with age: Wrinkles, pigment spots and couperose (small, red veins) are not uncommon. But the scalp also degrades if it is not properly cared for. One consequence: hair loss! We tell you what to look out for.
More sensitive than expected: the scalp
The difference between the scalp, which receives little attention, and the visible skin on the face, can be seen not only in the density of hair or in the course of skin aging, but also in the increased apocrine sweat glands as well as the holocrine sebaceous glands. These offer the sensitive scalp protection against free radicals and environmental influences. If the scalp is no longer healthy, it shows immediately – sometimes on the hair of the head. (Read here everything about circular hair loss)
Scalp ages six times faster than facial skin – why?? The scalp owes the rapid aging process to the extreme sun disposition, because it is by far the highest and often the most exposed to solar radiation. UVA radiation penetrates deep into the dermis and causes the collagen and elastic fibers to slacken. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the scalp in particular is hardly protected from the sun. Therefore: Next time in the sun, wear a cap or a hat.
Dandruff and oily skin: when the natural protection is imbalanced
Most of us know the problem: dandruff. Annoying skin particles that often lead to embarrassing ashamed moments, especially on dark clothing. The origin is simple – in contrast to the treatment, explains master hairdresser and coach of the hair care brand "Goldwell" Beatrice Naumann: "The natural acid mantle (fats, sweat) of the skin as well as the PH value is out of balance, the protective bacterial flora is destroyed."(Also interesting: The best tips against dandruff)
The opposite is also often the case: oily skin, despite (or even because of) daily hair washing. To counteract an imbalance in the scalp area, the expert explains, "Dermatologists advise first of all to eliminate everything that is on the scalp. Use mild shampoos – adapted to the scalp."
Peelings for the scalp? But yes!
Beatrice Naumann is a scalp expert and also gives the following tip: "It is best to follow the skin care ritual of the face: peeling, mask, serum. This is also optimal in scalp care". She also recommends delicate special peelings, which very gently remove dead skin particles and thus ensure the skin's ideal receptivity for scalp treatments, tinctures and masks.
In addition, you should pay attention to one thing in particular: "Pay attention to ingredients! Also, not every styling product suits every scalp. It should ideally be without alcohol. Too much heat and UV exposure should definitely be avoided!"A well-groomed scalp not only alleviates the dandruff problem, but can also have a positive effect on hair loss (which mainly affects men). (Read more on the topic: hair loss: time to dispel these myths!)
Which scalp type are you?
However, in order to determine success in the treatment of various scalp diseases, first make sure that you know your scalp type. This is often not obvious at first glance, which is why Naumann always recommends going to a specialist: "Scalp specialists have various diagnostic options at their disposal, e.g.B. we have differentiated dermatoscopes and scalp cameras with different resolutions. This allows us to show our customers their scalps with a digital walk and they get their own before/after pictures sent directly to their cell phones or by email."
Hair loss: These are the most common causes – and what you can do about it
Hereditary hair loss, also called androgenetic alopecia, is considered the main cause of most men with thinning hair (about 80%). The first signs are often already visible from the age of 20. Age in the form of receding hairline. The hair roots are then particularly hypersensitive to the endogenous messenger dihydortestosterone (DHT).
DHT is a metabolic product (a modification of testosterone), which actually has positive properties. Thus, it provides for male development during puberty and body hairiness. However, if the hair root is hypersensitive to DHT due to genetic predisposition, the substance causes the root to slowly atrophy. The consequence: The hair becomes thinner and thinner, until finally no more hair can form. (
Treatment option: Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to counteract the genetic predisposition. Hair can be strengthened by vitamin cures such as Pantovigar and Priorin, but they cannot completely prevent genetic hair loss. Against this, only radical treatment methods such as hair transplantation can help.
they lose far too much hair? Possibly you care for your hair in the wrong way. Don't panic, it's easy to change. Starting with (too frequent) hair washing, daily styling and coloring, we often damage the scalp. Increasingly use cleansing shampoos for washing, which are effective against residues and fats. However, these also often dry out the skin and thus bring it into imbalance, as they act aggressively and partly abrasively. (More on the topic: Hair care: These eight products you really need)
The absolute super gau for skin and hair is and remains the dyeing process. Whether due to style change or gray hair coverage, commercially available colors contain toxic substances such as ammonia, which aggressively interfere with the natural hair structure and damage the hair at the root.
treatment option: Also, try not to wash your hair every day so that the natural protective barrier is not immediately eroded and use mild shampoos. Similarly essential for the health of the scalp is the gentlest possible daily styling. Styling products such as hair gel clog the pores of the scalp. Thus interfere with the supply of the hair root. Do without various products at least temporarily. (
The thyroid gland is one of the "usual suspects" when it comes to the subject of hair loss. The butterfly-shaped organ may seem harmless, but it is a complex construct: both over- and under-function often manifest as brittle hair follicles and hair loss. The thyroid hormones, which are formed from iodine and other substances, provide in the body for the dilation of blood vessels, the regulation of blood prere and the activation of connective tie and metabolism.
When the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) are overproduced, the hair grows much too fast, so that it does not develop the necessary thickness and strength and simply falls out. In the case of hypofunction, the metabolism is so slowed that hair growth is impaired because of this.
Treatment option: Beatrice Naumann recommends regular blood tests by a specialist in order to be able to react to complaints in good time. (Also interesting: Expert clarifies: This really helps against constant fatigue)
Iron deficiency is probably one of the most common deficiency symptoms in the body. A man needs about 10 mg of iron a day, but the body only produces about two to four grams. Consequently, the iron must be supplied by the right diet. Hair follicles are considered the most active cells in the body in terms of cell division. In case of deficiencies, the hair follicles are not properly nourished. The division of cells slows down. The consequence: hair follicles die.
Treatment option: Counteract this by keeping your diet varied. Eat foods rich in vitamins and iron, such as green leafy vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, nuts and almonds, because they get a lot of iron. Nutritional supplements can also be the solution. Stress refers to the physical. Mental reaction to external stimuli. In stressful situations, hormones such as adrenaline are released, which attack the nerve fibers. Since every hair follicle is surrounded by nerve fibers and contains messenger substances of the nervous system, the messenger substance norepinephrine can damage the follicle during acute stress. Consequently, the growth phase of the hair simply breaks off with continuous stress.
treatment option: Recognize the source of stress – often it is problems at work, in the partnership – and give yourself more mindfulness, meditation and breathing exercises to counteract the stress. Get enough sleep and talk therapies can also be a good help. (More on this topic: Mindfulness for beginners: How to avoid stress)
There are several other triggers for hair loss: Psoriasis, eczema, acute fungal infections, infections. Scalp expert Naumann recommends: "Reach for tinctures such as Minoxidil (not for inflammations), preparations containing cortisone for example for Alopezia Areata (circular hair loss), special scalp serums or rely on treatment methods such as local cold treatment and Puva – a form of irradiation with B-waves (photochemotherapy)".