Hair Loss FAQ

Q: Are other analysis of the hair needed?
A: Sometimes microscopic analysis is used to determine if your rate of loss is excessive, if the growing hair bulbs are normal, confirm the presence of fungal infections, or determine the severity of alopecia areata. Mineral analysis may be used to determine imbalances of calcium, sodium, magnesium, and lead. However, today's blood tests are also very sensitive for these minerals.

Q. Have you been shampooing with gasoline or dishwashing detergent?
A. Most likely! Laurimide DEA is used in a shampoo to strip debris and add lather. It is also used in dishwashing detergent. If a person is experiencing hair loss or other scalp problems, it is advisable to avoid chemicals in shampoos such as:

1. Sodium laurel, laureate or laureth sulfate (SLS) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or ammonium laurel, laureth sulfate or sulfeth which have 7 day ½ lives and damage follicles by acting as a degreasing agent. They are a gasoline derivatives.
2. Nitrosol diethelanolamine (DEA) or cocamide DEA - (cancer causing agent)
3. Alpha hydroxy acids - glycolic, lactic or malic acids
4. Ethelene oxide
5. Isopropyl alcohol
6. Mineral oil
7. Sodium Chloride - (table salt causing dry scalp)

These chemicals are found in over 95% of all commercial shampoos. There is evidence that these chemicals actually corrode the hair follicle and impair the ability of hair to grow. SLS seems to cause a dramatic decline in the hair growth cycle, prolonging the hair loss phase (normally three months) by a factor of eight. Simply removing the corrosive and irritating effects of these ingredients begins to restore the healthy function of the hair follicle.