The hair loss process was not finally determined till about the end of the 20th century. Before that time there were many things considered, but none proven. Through out the century, studies concluded that testosterone, heredity and the 5 alpha reductase enzyme were responsible. Here is how that conclusion was reached.
One Doctor determined that testosterone was involved when he observed a mental patient, who had been castrated before puberty, had a full head of hair. (Castration was used to calm mental patients down in the early 20th century.) Yet his twin brother, who had not been castrated, had lost some of his hair, creating a bald spot on the crown. The Doctor knew that the castrated man did not produce testosterone, yet his brother did.
With this knowledge, the Doctor injected the castrated twin with testosterone. Very soon his hair started to fall out just like his twin brother. When the injections stopped, the castrated twin stopped losing his hair and even started to re-grow his hair. So the Doctor determined that testosterone might be connected with hair loss.
In the 1940’s, another study was performed to determine if heredity had anything to do with hair loss. The study was performed on men who had been castrated before puberty, for medical reasons, and their male relatives. Castrated males were infused with testosterone. Those castrated men whose relatives had lost their hair, started losing their hair. Those, whose relatives did not have any hair loss, did not lose their hair. When the injections stopped, those castrated men who were losing their hair, started to re-grow it again.
This experiment showed the connection between heredity and hair loss.
Toward the end of the century, it was observed some males, even though they carried the normal XY chromosome for males, grew to puberty looking like girls. But would become normal males after puberty. But would become normal males after puberty. This was determined to be caused by these males not having the 5 alpha reductase enzyme.
Further studies showed that testosterone would combine with the 5 alpha reductase enzyme forming DHT (dihydrotestosterone). The DHT would circulate through the blood stream and then attach to the hair follicle. The hair follicle would be unable to obtain the required nutrients for it self and its hair strand. By not getting the required nutrients, the hair strand would fall out and the follicle would eventually shrink and die.
So to stop hair loss, scientist have found they need to control DHT, testosterone and the 5 alpha reductase enzyme. One method used is herbal supplements. Some of the supplements used are:
Saw palmetto – regulates the DHT
Vitamin A – makes the hair follicle stronger
Vitamin C – develops healthy capillaries
Vitamin E – encourages hair growth
Jimmy Chase started losing his hair when he turned 50. He has done lots of studies on loss of hair, in both men and women, to determine what works and what doesn’t. He has successfully stopped his hair loss and has even re-grown some of his hair. He wants to help other people learn what he has learned, on dealing with loss of hair and re-growing hair.
He operates the web site No Longer Balding
