The Facts About Hair Loss

Host: From Rapunso to Samson, a great head of hair makes for a spell binding legend. But for those who are losing their hair, it can be a traumatic experience. To help you keep your crowning glory or what's left in it, take this Everwell Challenge. What you learn could ease your stress distress. First question hair loss is inherited from a) Your mother's father, b) Your father's father or c) Both sides of the family. Male Speaker 1: I think I inherited this somewhere down the line and I was encouraged because my mother's father died with a full head of white hair. So I choose only that one. Female Speaker 1: C, both sides of the family. Male Speaker 2: I believe it's from mother's father, A. Host: To rush up on the fact, we turn to dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi. Elizabeth Tanzi: Hair loss is inherited from both sides of the family, C. Male Speaker 2: Exactly, C. Elizabeth Tanzi: Often times in female pattern hair loss is connected to the mother's side of the family whereas male pattern is often more dominant on both sides, male and female. Host: But how do you know if you're losing too much hair. That's the next question. On average, how many hairs do we shed each day? Female Speaker 2: Is it a multiple choice question? Female Speaker 3: May be 50. Female Speaker 4: 1,500. Elizabeth Tanzi: It's normal to lose about a 100 hairs a day, although it can seem like quite a bit when it's coming out in the shower, that's a completely normal number. Host: Dr. Tanzi says one sign of abnormal hair loss is if it starts coming out in clumps instead of single strands. Still scratching your head. Try this one. In women, which is a possible cause of hair loss? A) Pregnancy, B) Hair coloring products or C) Testosterone. Male Speaker 2: C, testosterone. Well, it seems like guys lose their hair more than women does, that's I think be a pretty safe answer. Female Speaker 5: I just, I know friends who've lost hair during pregnancy. Male Speaker 3: B, hair coloring products. Elizabeth Tanzi: Actually all of those reasons are a possible cause of hair loss. Male Speaker 3: You didn't offer me an all the above. Elizabeth Tanzi: Now all women, men and women have testosterone. There are certain normal levels within the body. When women start having difficulty or an abnormal ratio of testosterone to female hormones, that change in ratio can cause hair to become thinner. Pregnancy will change a woman's hormone levels and therefore since hair is so hormone sensitive you can get temporary hair thinning, whereas hair coloring products can cause damage to the hair shaft itself, you get breakage which leads to a perceived hair loss. Host: So how are doing so far? Male Speaker 4: -- Host: No worry, there is still time to get that knocked out. Here is something you may have heard. True or false; One hundred brush strokes a day will help keep hair healthy. Male Speaker 4: True. One hundred brush strokes I guess a day will help keep the hair healthy, if you have enough hair to brush. Female Speaker 6: I must say false. Female Speaker 5: I am going to say true. Elizabeth Tanzi: This is false, although 100 brush strokes a day will help keep hair looking shiny, it doesn't overall affect the pattern of hair growth. Host: Okay, final question. Which of these will help your hair grow better? A) Cutting it, B) Washing it less often, or C) Quitting smoking. Male Speaker 4: A, cutting it more often, because I get my hair cut every three weeks so they grows and grows. Female Speaker 4: I thing B, washing it less often. Male Speaker 3: It's probably quitting smoking. Elizabeth Tanzi: The answer is C. quitting smoking. Male Speaker 3: I knew there was a reason I didn't smoke. It's all because of my hair. Elizabeth Tanzi: It's important for the hair to get enough oxygen and nutrients because its very, very active and smoking will inhibit some of the oxygen and nutrients getting to the scalp and therefore in the long run lead to less than healthy hair growth. Host: How did our quiz have you pulling your hair out? Male Speaker 4: It's hard and I learned a lot.