<title>Hair Loss Review Centre

Can Soy Cause Hair Loss?

Why does soy cause baldness and thinning hair?

Soy is a popular legume of Asian origin. People who follow a vegetarian diet often use soy to replace meat. However, there is some controversy surrounding the benefits and risks of consuming soy, as some producers now genetically modify the plant.

One of those said risks hair loss. It has been reported that soy, despite its benefits, can actually cause the hair to thin, and subsequently fall out. So, why is this?

Because soy is goitrogenic, it can affect the thyroid. Low thyroid causes baldness and thinning hair. This is especially the case in menopausal women. Products that contain soy, such as tofu, which are used in various vegetarian and vegan diets, have been shown to cause the hair to fall out, even if only on a minimal scale.

Soy protein is also commonly used in workout meals, shakes, and supplements. But of all the supplemental proteins, it has the highest amount of Arginine per 100 gms. Arginine is extremely anabolic and is the main component in Creatine. Creatine has been shown to raise Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and cause hair loss. This can be especially detrimental to the health of men's hair.

There are so many different types of diets these days, and many of them are meat-free. The problem is, too many people are looking for ways to substitute meat, which in some cases, isn't a good thing, and one of those main substitutes is soy. Soy isn't only eaten, but it's hugely popular to drink, too.

Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen that is similar in function to human estrogen, but with far weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body, thus stumping it, and cause weaker levels of estrogenic activity.

When the levels of estrogen drop, hair grows doesn't grow as fast, and becomes much thinner. A decrease in these hormones also triggers an increase in the production of androgens, or a group of male hormones. Androgens shrink hair follicles, resulting in hair loss on the head. Lowered estrogen levels are particularly bad for women.

In today's times, the amount of soy isoflavones in the diet has increased dramatically, and drinking 8-12 ounces of soy milk could be having a hormonal affect on the human body that was never seen in the past. There has been many cases of hair loss, particularly among non-meat eaters, as a result of consuming soy milk and soy products.

Conclusion

It should be noted that soy tends to cause hair loss on a minimal scale, however, people who heavily rely on soy based diets should be careful not to overconsume it, as it can case baldness and thinning hair.

Protein, in general, is hugely beneficial to the hair, as it can help strengthen the strands and promote healthy hair growth. Although soy is a protein, it can have the opposite effects, because of its high concentration of isoflavones, and how it lowers thyroid levels.

Can hair loss, caused by consumption of soy, be countered? Taking multivitamins can help reduce the effects of soy by countering its effect, but in reality, your best bet is to lower your intake of soy, or come off it completely. Find safer meat alternatives for your hair, such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils.

5 Celebrities Who Make a Receding Hairline Look Good

Baldness is not a nice thing to go through in life. In fact, losing your hair is often regarded as one of the worst experiences that any person can go through.

Although some guys can pull off the shaved head look, like Bruce Willis or Dwayne Johnson, for example, but, for most of us, it's not a great look. However, you may just be surprised at how good a receding hairline can look.

Don't believe us? Take a look at these five famous guys rockin' their receding hairlines. It just goes to show that hair loss, in whatever form, doesn't have to be a bad thing...

Henry Cavill

Let's face it, the Superman actor looks pretty damn awesome with a receding hairline. It seems to suits his face shape, and helps enhances his general look. Cavill has a Norwood Hamilton 2-3 receding pattern, which suggests he's experiencing very early stages of male pattern baldness, but approaching 40, he should still have plenty of hair for the foreseeable future.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds has always had a high hairline, with slight recession at the temples. This doesn't necessarily mean it's male pattern baldness, as some guys only experience a maturing of the hairline. Many men will develop a high hairline, without going bald, and luckily for Ryan, it suits him perfectly.

Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck's hairline seemed much more receded when he was in his 20s and 30s, which leads us to believe he's probably had some hair surgery at some point. But even so, with his squared jawline, and dashing good looks, the slight recession actually enhances his appearance and attractiveness. His hairline suits him down to a tee.

hair loss treatment for receding hairline

Jude Law

Never has there been a more iconic hairline than that of British actor, Jude Law. Ok, so it helps that Jude is one handsome chap, but his attractiveness comes from his confidence in his hairline. Unlike other famous men, like Enrique Iglesias, Jude has never tried to hide his recession, which actually takes the focus away from it. This is a very attractive trait in itself.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles has always had a widows peak, even since his teen years. The recession has developed as he's got older, but to be fair to the former One Direction singer, the hairline suits suit him well. Much like Jude Law, Harry doesn't try to hide his hairline - instead, he makes it work. Even with longer hair, this shows that a receding hairline can still look good, and be worked into a style.

What is the Best Treatment for Hair Loss in 2021?

What is hair loss?

Hair loss is something that affects over half of men and women by the age of 40. By the age of 50, around 65% of men suffer from some form of baldness, and around 55% of women, by the same age.

There are a number of causes of baldness, but there are a handful of hair loss types that are particularly amongst men and women. Some hair loss types are temporary, but other types are temporary, and therefore much harder to treat.

Hair loss, also called alopecia, is a disorder caused by an interruption in the body’s cycle of hair production. Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly affects the scalp. It is normal to lose between 50-150 hairs a day, because we are constantly generating new strand growth. However, baldness occurs when the body has stopped generating new hair growth.

A hair growth cycle consists of three phases; the Anagen phase, the Catagen phase, and the Telogen phase. The Anagen phase can last for many years, but during the Catagen phase, the hair stops growing and separates from its follicle, and lasts about 10 days. During the telogen phase, the follicle rests for two or three months, before the hair falls out. The next anagen phase begins as a new hair grows in the same follicle.

Hair loss is usually linked to a person’s genetics, although many medical and behavioural conditions may interrupt the growth cycle and cause hair loss. Some temporary forms of are caused by daily things such as over brushing, which can lead to breakage and damage of the strands.

Types of Hair Loss

To simplify the different types of hair loss, we refer to them in a way in which you can relate to. Of the many types of baldness, these are the main types of hair loss in adults, simplified:

Androgenetic Alopecia (Permanent)

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, affecting over half of men and women. Commonly known as male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss, androgenetic alopecia is hereditary. There is no sure for pattern baldness, however, it can be managed and treated to a certain extent. Whilst hair regrowth isn't usually possible, there is a chance of slowing down, and even stopping the issue, if tackled early enough.

Postpartum Hair Loss

Postpartum baldness can occur in women shortly after they have given birth. Many new mums see noticeable hair loss within just a few months of having a baby. This is normal — and generally seen as a temporary form of hair loss, however, in some cases, postpartum hair loss can lead to longer terms of baldness, with some women never fully recovering from it. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. The excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels.

Menopausal Hair Loss

Again, much like postpartum hair loss, menopausal hair loss is generally known to be a temporary form of hair loss. It occurs shortly after women enter menopause, but only lasts from a few months, up to a year. However, menopausal shedding can last for longer periods, even years, so it depends on each individual.

Seasonal Hair Loss

Seasonal hair loss is something that can occur in many men and women during certain parts of the year. The most common seasons when people shed hair are spring and autumn, however, some people shed excessively during winter and summer. Seasonal hair loss is usually temporary, however, it can keep reoccurring twice a year, which is not ideal for people who have weak hair, or are already prone to hair loss.

Stress Related Hair Loss

Many factors, including stress, can play a significant role in hair loss. Many men and women suffer from excess hair shedding during a time in their life when they are stressed, depressed, or are going through a traumatic experience. The rate of shedding usually slows or stops when the stressful period is over, but it can continue in some people.

Self-Inflicted Hair Loss

In some cases, hair loss can be self-inflicted, so, for example, constant pulling of the hair, poor hair care management, and use of harsh, chemically induced products. This is obviously something that can be stopped, but ongoing self-inflicted damage to the hair can cause long term problems.

Treatments for Hair Loss

There are quite a few options available for treating baldness and thinning hair. The market is saturated, and most products have no success in treating the hair, however, there are some good treatments on the market that can help slow down and even stop excess hair shedding in both men and women.

Medically Approved Treatments

There are only two medically approved treatments for hair loss. The first finasteride, which is an oral pill for male pattern baldness. The second is minoxidil, which is a topical solution for men and women.

Both can give promising results, however, both can also give you negative side-effects, particularly finasteride. Common side-effects from using finasteride include; erectile dysfunction, low libido, impotence, skin rash, feminisation, depression, headaches, and fatigue.

Both treatments can be effective, however, many men and women are not willing to compromise on their health, and therefore seek safer alternatives.

Hair Surgery

Surgical procedures such as hair transplants and micropigmentation, offer patients a viable solution for hair loss, but they come at an expensive price. Surgical treatments can range from £3000-£10,000, depending on what needs to be done. It is more than likely that more than one surgical treatment will be needed, so it is an ongoing thing.

Hair transplants have become more affordable in recent years, but they still don't offer the guarantee of producing the results you might be looking for. It's a risk, but it can pay off if it goes well. We expect the continued development of hair surgical procedures to make transplants even more affordable and accessible in the coming years.

Hair Growth Supplements

Multi-vitamin hair growth supplements like HR23+ are safe alternatives to the harsh prescription drugs like finasteride. Many men and women are experiencing excellent improvements in their hair from using multi-vitamin supplements.

Multi-vitamin supplements can help slow down hair fall, support healthy hair growth, and increase the thickness of the strands. These types of supplements are becoming the most popular treatment for hair loss.

Hair laser treatment

You may have heard that laser combs, brushes, hoods, and caps can help halt hair loss. The theory is that when hair follicles absorb laser light at a certain level, it stimulates hair to grow. But there's not enough evidence that any of these devices restore hair or prevent balding.

Ketoconazole Shampoo

Ketoconazole is an antifungal drug used to manage scalp conditions like dandruff. But ketoconazole is also used as a hair loss treatment for androgenetic alopecia (genetic pattern baldness) in both men and women. Although its not medically approved, Nizoral shampoo, which contains ketoconazole, has shown to help treat hair loss when used in conjunction with other treatments.

What is the most Effective Hair Loss Treatment?

It is difficult to define what treatment is the most effective for hair loss. This is because most treatments have varying effects on different patients. Results will always vary from person to person.

It is also rare that one particular treatment would work effectively on its own. The most successful way to treat hair loss would be through multi-treatments, which is often referred to as a 'treatment plan'.

Treating hair loss isn't easy, and in most cases, it can take a period of trial and error to establish what treatments work for you, and which ones work best in conjunction with each other.

You may also be interested in the article: The Best Hair Loss Prevention Routine

Hair Loss Myths Explained: The Truth About Baldness

The real truth about Hair Loss

'Hair loss' is one of the most widely explored topics, both online and offline. The hair loss treatment industry is said to be worth nearly £3 billion, and that figure is set to grow further over the coming years.

With so much information on the topic of hair loss, much of it can be contradictory, and so it's difficult to know exactly what's true and what is false. We have to remember, there are a lot of companies out there looking to profit from hair loss, so much of what you read and research on the topic, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

In this article, we look at some of the most common hair loss "myths" out there, and we'll explain exactly how accurate (or inaccurate) they are.

My dad is bald, so does that mean I will go bald?

While it is true that a common cause of male pattern baldness is genetics, or having a family history of baldness, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose your hair if your father, uncle or brother has.

Research has found that male pattern baldness is associated with male sex hormones called androgens. The androgens have many functions, including regulating hair growth. Each hair on your head has a growth cycle. How bald you get, really depends on your individual genetic makeup.

Does Biotin regrow your hair?

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, stimulates keratin production in hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth. While biotin is added to some shampoos that claim to reduce hair loss, there is no evidence that this works.

Biotin can help increase the speed of your hair growth, but it will not regrow lost hair. However, Biotin can strengthen the hair, as well as increase the strength and speed of nails.

Does Saw Palmetto block DHT?

Despite limited research, Saw Palmetto has been used for years to treat many things, including hair loss. However, more studies and testing is needed to confirm just how effective Saw Palmetto is.

Saw Palmetto is an anti-androgen, but it lacks the potency needed to deliver results on a grand scale. Saw Palmetto has shown to be more effective for stopping hair loss when taken in conjunction with complimenting ingredients, as part of a multi-vitamin supplement.

Is my doctor always right about hair loss treatments?

When it comes to hair loss, many doctors aren't actually as qualified to recommended you a treatment as you may think. That's not to say they all don't know what they're talking about, but hair loss is a specific topic that needs careful research.

If you're looking for a hair loss treatment plan, then you are best off going to a certified hair clinic. From there, they can recommend you the right treatment plan to help you tackle baldness in the best possible way.

Are Finasteride and Minoxidil my only viable hair loss treatment options?

Finasteride and Minoxidil are the only two medically approved treatments for baldness, but that's not to say they're your only options. There are a number of viable treatments you can try in order to halt hair loss, such as multi-vitamin supplements, topical serums, micro-needling, laser treatment, or even hair surgery.

When it comes to treating hair loss, results will always vary from person to person. This is due to the fact there isn't a set cure for baldness, and so different treatments will work differently on each individual.

Is it normal to lose 100 hairs a day?

It may sound excessive, but it is absolutely normal to lose between 50-100 hairs every single day. The hair shedding process occurs daily, and for some people who experience seasonal hair loss, the shedding can increase during certain times of the year.

As long as you are growing new hair during the shedding, your hair growth cycle is perfectly normal. However, it only becomes a problem when you are losing hair, but not re-growing it at the same rate. That's when baldness occurs.

Can wearing hats lead to hair loss?

Wearing hats will not lead to hair loss. Tightening the hair may lead to pulling and damage to the strands, but permanent forms of hair fall, like pattern baldness, are not caused by wearing a hat.

The same could also be said about the theory of over-washing your hair. Washing your hair regularly with shampoo will not cause hair loss. It is true that too much washing can make your hair finer, and more suspect to breakage, but generally speaking, it is good to wash your hair 3-4 times a week.

Does stress cause hair loss?

While everyday stress is not typically enough to cause hair loss all by itself, it is true that big traumatic events (like a long term illness, for example) have been linked to hair fall. Severe stress can cause your hair to go into a longer “resting phase” in which hair follicles pause to regenerate hair. It can also cause alopecia areata, a form of patchy hair loss.

This type of hair loss is only temporary, though, so treating it would be different to treating a permanent form of hair loss, such as pattern baldness.

Do bald men have more testosterone?

Studies have shown that balding men have the same testosterone levels as men with a full head of hair. This doesn’t mean that hormones don’t play a role, however. They do, and studies have shown a hormone called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is to blame, and men who go bald just happen to be more sensitive to it than men who don't.

The Best Hair Loss Prevention Routine

By Ken Dillingworth

Stopping hair loss isn't an easy task, but despite what some people (mainly doctors) tell you, it can be prevented. Hair loss affects over 6 out of 10 men by the age of 40, and around half of women by the same age.

At 39, I've been through a fair few treatments over the years, and I now have a solid hair care routine that has helped me prevent excess hair loss, and maintain healthy hair growth. I started experiencing male pattern baldness in my 20s, so, to still have a good, healthy head of hair at nearly 40, is something I never imagined would be possible.

How did I stop my hair loss?

There wasn't just one single treatment that helped me slow down, and then eventually halt my hair shedding. It was a number of treatments combined that did the trick. Over years of trial and error, I have gradually built up a hair care routine that has worked for my hair.

In this article, I'll go through my hair care routine, and each and every product/treatment I use to combat baldness and thinning hair. It should be noted that this hair care routine may not work as effectively for you, because when it comes to treating baldness, results tend to vary from person-to-person, but I would expect this routine to work to some extent for the majority of men.

1. Minoxidil

I'm sure the vast majority of men and women are familiar with Minoxidil. Minoxidil is the only medically approved topical treatment for baldness. It is most commonly recognised as Regaine/Rogaine, but it also comes under a number of cheaper brands, such as Kirkland.

I've been using Kirkland Minoxidil 5% Foam for about five years, and although it hasn't worked miracles for my hair, I do think it has helped prevent excess hair shedding to a certain extent. I apply the foam twice a day, for six days a week. I experienced some heavy shedding during the first few days of using it, but then the shedding stopped, and my hair stabilised.

I find that Minoxidil is one of those treatments that works well when used in conjunction with other products (all of which I'll get to in this article). I usually purchase a six-pack offer which comes to around £6.60 per month, which does offer excellent value for money.

2. Micro-needling

Micro-needling has become a popular way of treating hair loss. You may have heard of a derma roller device, which is used to pierce tiny wounds into the skin While normally used as an anti-aging skin treatment, micro-needling may also be a method of treatment for hair loss. It's thought that this can result in new hair growth, or perhaps, it may thicken thinning hair as seen in androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness.

By inflicting damage to your scalp, the body produces protein in order to repair the wounds. This, in turn, has shown to increase the rate of new hair growth, and when used in conjunction with Minoxidil, the results can be excellent.

I use a 1.5mm derma pen (you can get these for under £10 on Amazon) once a week, on the day I don't apply Minoxidil. Since doing this, I have experienced new hair growth along the front of my hairline, and on the crown area of my scalp. The hair growth is only on a small scale, but that's good enough for me to persist with it.

I'd recommend this technique highly, because, if you're suffering from early stages of baldness, you should see some great results. Just be sure NOT to micro-needle and apply Minoxidil on the same day.

3. Ketoconazole

I started using the Ketoconazole based shampoo, Nizoral, a few years ago, and it seems to have invigorated my hair like no other shampoo.

Ketoconazole, also sold under the prescription name Nizoral, works to decrease the production of testosterone, which when converted to a substance called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) destroys hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. Again, we're only talking small scale effects, here, but, when used in conjunction with the Minoxidil and the derma pen, you can expect some pretty good results.

4. Multi-Vitamin Supplement

I've always been one to stay away from prescription drugs, due to the nasty side-effects associated with them, so, right from the beginning, I have looked for safe and natural alternatives.

If you suffer from early stages of baldness, then multi-vitamin supplements can be very effective in slowing down hair loss, and increasing the rate of healthy hair growth. I use the leading brand, HR23+, and have done so for about five years now. I've tried many others, but HR23+ has given me the most impressive results. I find that, when used in conjunction with the other treatments mentioned in this article, HR23+ has been hugely effective for my hair.

If you're suffering from deficiencies in certain vitamins, then multi-vitamin supplements should be the first thing on your shopping list. Feeding your body with hair beneficiary ingredients alone, can do wonders for your hair.

Lifestyle and Diet

Drinking plenty of water and getting lots of exercise will also help you and your hair get into tip-top shape. But lifestyle choices over the years—like what we eat, how often we exercise, and how we manage stress—all factor in, too. The health of your hair growth is similar. Even though genetics and aging have influence over the growth rate, strength and size of hair follicles; lifestyle factors play an important role.

Living an active and healthy lifestyle won't cure hair loss, but it will certainly help make your hair healthier. The healthier you are, and the better you eat, the better your mind, body and hair will be. Eating foods that are rich in protein, such as fish, meat, lentils, eggs, and cheese, gives your hair the vital nutrients to thrive.