Expert: Melanie Vonzabuesnig - 6/7/2009

Question
Hi Ms Melanie,
Okay, so I went to Hair Club and was given such information that made me really uneasy. I am hoping they were just trying to sell me their treatment. They said I am guarunteed to have elevated levels of DHT, independent on whether or not it is telegon or not. They said stress triggers hair loss because stress causes overproduction of DHT, which strangles the hair follicle, and causes the unhealthy hairs to be diffusely shed. They also said my hair is not likely to grow back without treatment. Is DHT even a factor in telegon effluvium?
If not, how does stress physically cause these hairs to enter the resting phase?

By the way, does excessive sebum cause thinning hair?

Answer
Hello Claus: Excess sebum can clog the follicle. making it more difficult for new hairs to permeate. The hairs will have to struggle to get through. Because the follicle opening is diminished the hairs that come through will become thinner and weaker. Essential oil scalp treatments can help cleanse the scalp of excess sebum and also help to balance sebum production. Essential oils treatments also help to nourish and energize the follicle by increasing blood circulation to the scalp. Keeping the scalp free of excess sebum also helps minimize the effects of dht.
You did not mention your current hair loss situation or how the clinic determined their findings. Did they do blood work, scalp biopsy, microscopic scalp examination....?
Stress is a common cause of telogen effluvium. Normal everyday stress would not have an effect. Extreme, prolonged, unresolved stress can cause many different physiological effects on the body. Anytime the body feels a change, disturbance or imbalance the hair growth cycle can become disrupted causing more hairs than normal to retreat to the resting (telogen) stage where they will then be shed within 1-3 months. There are so many possible causes of telogen effluvium. Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. With telogen effluvium sometimes hair does grow back without treatment if the body adjusts to the change that caused it, or if the imbalance was temporary.
Stress can increase sebum production. Stress can trigger the onset or exacerbate the condition of MPB.
You did not mention what treatment was being recommended. I personally prefer natural methods as they are very effective and do not come with the adverse side effects of synthetic medicines.
Please see my website for more information on using essential oils for hair loss.
Sincerely, Melanie Vonzabuesnig
Essential Oil Scalp Treatments for Hair Loss
http://www.vzbotanicals.com