Hair loss, the bane of our looks-obsessed society

Hair loss is hard enough to suffer in itself, but it can be particularly difficult to cope with in our appearance-obsessed society.

Yet it is often seen as a taboo subject, particularly by women. Many suffer in silence because they are reluctant to admit to a problem which they may feel strikes at the heart of their femininity.

In reality, more than 25% of women have experienced hair thinning or hair loss at some point, and it's estimated that the problem affects eight million women in the UK.

May is Hair Loss Awareness month and designer and former singer Pearl Lowe, 43, has spoken out for the first time about her experience of hair loss.

"It does affect how you feel about yourself and can really get you down," she says.

Despite a healthy lifestyle, a few years ago Lowe started to feel permanently exhausted. Distressingly, her hair started getting thinner.

"I felt really down and not myself and totally lacking in energy despite the fact that I eat healthily and swim daily," she says.

"It was worrying as I couldn't understand it and the hair loss was particularly upsetting."

Lowe, who lives in Somerset and is married to Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey, has four children. Her eldest daughter is model Daisy Lowe, 24.

However, her hair loss problems started after the birth of her third child, Frankie, in 1999.

"I really noticed it on the sides of my head. I had a bald patch about 5cm wide on the left side near my temple. I would try to cover it with my remaining hair but that was pretty thin too," she says.

"The hair loss didn't get any better over the years, and when I washed it, I could see handfuls coming out at once.

"If I had something special to attend, I would wear a hairpiece that I would clip on the front - I even wore a hairpiece for my wedding.

"It became really noticeable that I had this bald patch and generally thinning hair. When I did photo shoots, they would automatically airbrush in extra hair, which was really embarrassing."

Eventually, Lowe was diagnosed as anaemic, but more significantly she had an underactive thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism is a common complaint affecting at least two in every 100 people in Britain, particularly women, but many people spend years before they are diagnosed.

The thyroid produces the hormone thyroxine, which helps regulate the body's metabolism. Hair loss can be common because the condition slows down the normal turnover of cells, which can include hair cells.

It's just one of a number of reasons for hair loss including genetics, hormonal changes, diet, and health issues.

Dr Wendy Denning, a GP with a specific interest in women's health and natural health, says: "I have seen many cases of thinning hair and hair loss over the years.

"Although most people think of hair loss in men, it is surprisingly common in women after the menopause and increasingly in young women.

"Of course, there are many reasons for it including hormonal changes, poor nutrition, certain medications and over-styling - but one of the most common reasons that is on the rise is stress-related hair loss."

Treatment is aimed at helping sufferers manage their lives with less stress, and a diet which supports hair growth. Dr Denning also recommends Nourkrin, a natural food supplement to boost hair.

"Many of my patients are living busy lives and finding it difficult to cope with the demands of work, family and life in general," she says.

"This stress often manifests itself in their diet and their appearance, and in particular their hair."

Psychologist and therapist Corrine Sweet says the emotional effect of hair loss cannot be over-stated.

"In my 25 years experience as a therapist I've seen many women, and men, who are deeply traumatised by the loss of their hair.

"Appearance is everything in this celebrity-influenced era, and for women the state of their hair forms a major part of their self-image and self worth.

"Thinning or dwindling hair hits right at the heart of women's sexual self-esteem and makes them question their attractiveness."

She's treated people who've become reluctant to socialise, suffered depression, and even contemplated suicide, such was their distress over the problem.

"Hair loss problems can undermine confidence, creativity and the ability to operate successfully in a stressful, modern world," she says.

Lowe, who is on medication for her thyroid condition, takes a supplement specifically for hair, Viviscal, which contains iron, Vitamin C, silica and a marine protein complex.

Early findings of a study on the product, which will be published in full later this year, suggested that the supplement may thicken hair. When 72 women with hair loss were given it or a placebo, those who took the supplement also had an increased hair shaft width in three months.

"I started taking it six months ago and my hair feels so much fuller. It's boosted my confidence and I feel my hair is the best it's looked in years. It no longer gets me down and I think it's helped to stop my shedding," says Lowe.

Check out the seven most common causes of hair loss and a plan by an expert trichologist to boost your crowning glory.

Understand & cope with hair loss It may not be life-threatening, but losing your hair is certainly a life-altering experience, says Dr David Kingsley, a certified trichologist (hair and scalp specialist).

"The good news is that it's not something you just have to put up with. In many cases hair loss or thinning is a temporary problem and there are many steps you can take to help overcome it.

"While there may be one trigger, there are normally several factors at play, so it's worth trying to identify which ones affect you and then addressing them all."

Heredity: A genetic cause is by far the most common reason for hair loss in both men and women, says Dr Kingsley. But while having a family member who's experienced hair thinning or balding is a predictor, it's not a given.

"I'd say around 15 to 20% of people with inherited hair loss are clueless as to where it's come from. Likewise, there are some people whose parents have both lost hair but they remain unaffected."

Health: The eyes may be the window to the soul, but our hair gives us clues as to our overall health status, he says. "Hair is a non-essential tissue so it's one of the first parts of the body to be affected by poor health," says Dr Kingsley.

"An accident or major trauma, surgery requiring anaesthetic, or a very high fever (over 101F), for example, will impact the hair cycle.

"Likewise diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, Crohn's and IBS can impact on hair too. But it's often hard to make the connection as the hair loss won't occur at the time of illness."

Instead, says Dr Kingsley, it happens two to three months later.

"Hair grows at a rate of half-an-inch a month and the normal life cycle of a strand of hair is two to six years," he explains.

"When a hair falls out naturally, the follicle normally lays dormant for three months before growing a new one. So it'll be around three months after a trigger before you notice thinning, and about three months before you see improvement after starting a treatment regimen."

Hunger: Go hungry - or simply miss out on a few essential nutrients - and your hair will almost certainly suffer, says Dr Kingsley.

"Hair itself is 80 to 95% protein, so you need to eat a plentiful supply of protein to keep it looking its best," he says Dr Kingsley.

"Aim for 150g (gross) a day and make sure you get enough energy from carbohydrates, too. Eat little and often, every three to four hours, to sustain energy."

Other nutrient deficiencies linked to hair loss include iron (low ferritin, not anaemia), vitamin D, folic acid and B12.

"Low iron can be a particular issue for women, thanks to the menstrual cycle," he points out.

"And the UK is known to have a vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure."

Rather than take vitamin and mineral supplements unnecessarily, Dr Kingsley recommends asking your GP to check your nutrient status with a blood test, and then altering your diet and supplementing if needed.

"Avoid crash diets and generally poor, unbalanced eating habits. Rapid weight loss or gain can cause metabolic changes and you may temporarily shed hair," he says and recommends a food supplement such as Nourkrin.

Stress: You've heard the expression 'tearing your hair out' - and while stress hopefully won't drive you to such extremes, it has been known to affect the hair cycle.

"It can be psychological stress, caused by money, job or relationship worries," says Dr Kingsley.

"Alternatively, it can be physiological, following an accident or illness. Then, of course, you have the added stress of losing your hair, which may make recovery harder.

"Again, it's likely to be two to three months after a stressful episode that hair loss occurs, so you may not make the connection.

"There's evidence acute and chronic stress can contribute to hair loss so, while it's easier said than done, it's a good idea to try and minimise it." he advises.

He suggests taking regular exercise and ensuring breaks during the day, and factoring in relaxation or leisure time at weekends.

Healing: Certain medications can affect the health of hair - but as with most medicines and their side effects, it's different for everyone.

"One drug might result in significant hair loss for one person, while another is completely unaffected," says Dr Kingsley.

"Don't automatically assume it's the cause - and never stop taking something without consulting your doctor. Health is more important than hair."

The types of drugs that may affect hair include chemotherapy, antidepressants, thyroid medication, oral contraceptives, cholesterol and blood pressure medication.

"Sometimes your body adjusts to the drug and side effects stop. Other times it's the accumulation of the medicine in the body - or ending the course of treatment - that triggers symptoms.

"They're nearly always temporary, but switching to a different brand or formulation may help. Speak to your GP if you're concerned."

Hormones: Hormones play a big part in controlling hair growth and many irregularities will affect its cycle and condition.

An over or underactive thyroid, for example, often results in thinning hair.

"In men, an excess of testosterone can contribute to balding, which is why those who use anabolic steroids can experience hair loss," explains Dr Kingsley.

In women, an irregular menstrual cycle, puberty, pregnancy, menopause and hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can all affect hair.

Those who have PCOS become extra sensitive to male hormones, which, paradoxically, can result in hair loss on the head but an excess of hair (hirsutism) on the face and body.

"Some women find hair naturally thins during and after the menopause, as levels of female hormones fall," adds Dr Kingsley.

"Such women normally have a genetic tendency to hair loss."

Hairdressing: "While not strictly hair loss from the scalp, overzealous hairstyling can damage hair to the point that it breaks or even comes away at the scalp - called traction alopecia," says Dr Kingsley.

"Poor hair care can also cause thinning and hinder growth. Think excess heat treatment, chemical over-processing, vigorous brushing and even scraping the hair back into tight ponytails or buns day after day."