Can The Cause of
Hair Loss Be Stress,
Poor Circulation and Gravity?

Some believe a possible cause of hair loss is poor scalp circulation combined with stress. This page explains why this theory is incorrect.

Androgenetic alopecia is better known as male pattern baldness (MPB). But, despite the name, this condition can affect women as well as men (female pattern baldness). As such, it affects a huge number of people throughout the world.

Genetic inheritance, a family of hormones called androgens (especially DHT) and an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase are usually given the main blame as the cause of hair loss in this way. But, poor scalp circulation (made worse by stress and gravity) have also been linked to MPB. However, none of these factors can actually be the cause of hair loss by androgenetic alopecia.

This is what the theory involves...

Is poor circulation the cause of hair loss?

Hair grows from follicles (pouches) within the dermis of the skin. The dermis lies beneath the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), and also contains blood vessels. The circulation of blood transports the nutrients that are essential for hair growth to the follicles via these blood vessels.

As you can see, on the side of the head, a network of arteries and (smaller) arterioles exists. And, with its powerful blood supply, this overlaps quite accurately with the area of strong hair growth.

But, on the crown of the head, the follicles are served by a capillary network (not shown in the graphic). This area overlaps with the MPB region, and total hair loss has occurred.

This is no coincidence!

The nutrients that grow hair can only be supplied to the follicles through this capillary network. These tiny vessels only allow one blood cell at a time to pass through. Obviously then should this fragile part of the circulation system be disrupted, the blood supply to this region of the scalp could suffer, or even stop.

This theory suggests that, with its weaker capillary network, and being at the very top of the human body, the MPB area of the scalp is much less likely to receive an adequate blood supply than any other part of the body. Quite obviously, if the blood supply to the scalp suffers, then the hair follicles will become seriously undernourished too. Both male and female thinning hair can initially result. This could then continue to get worse and so eventually become a cause of hair loss throughout the entire MPB region.

This mechanism for hair loss is made even worse by stress...

Can stress be the cause of hair loss?

We all have an inherent stress response ("fight or flight") borne from our evolution. But of course, today it's not necessarily a life or death situation that causes us stress. It's more likely to be responsibilities at work or at home, relationships, time constraints, things going wrong, etc. Most of us are bombarded every day with situations that may lead to stress.

First, your non-essential functions stop. This includes digestion (which is why you might get that stomach churning sensation when stressed out). Also, your blood is immediately diverted inwards to protect vital organs, and to fuel your limbs (i.e., to fight or run). You'll also begin to sweat - this helps you cool down from all that warm blood being diverted inwards.

When blood is diverted inwards from the extremities, this includes the skin. Your skin will often turn pale as a result, and this can include the scalp. And, if the follicles within your scalp do not receive enough blood, hair growth can suffer.

Stress is a condition that affects you, and your circulation, from time to time. And, for those living today's "24-7" lifestyle, this could become more and more frequent. But, for everyone, stress is not a permanent condition.

However, something that does affect you permanently, is gravity…

Could gravity be the cause of hair loss?

This subject can be linked in with stress.

For example, following a stressful situation, the MPB region (being at the very top of the head) will experience a painfully slow return in its blood supply. This is because gravity bears upon all fluids to flow downwards. It may assist the flow of blood down from the heart, but will to some extent oppose the pumping of blood upwards to the scalp. So, even if the stress response only lasts for a short while, the effect on the scalp (and, therefore, hair growth) can be much more lengthy.

And, of course, living our lives upright means that this extreme MPB region is being constantly subjected to gravity pulling down and opposing its blood supply.

Why this theory is wrong

Poor scalp circulation (including the effects of stress and gravity) does have a part to play in the hair loss process, but does not cause MPB. These are the reasons why:

• If poor scalp circulation were the cause of hair loss, literally everyone would suffer MPB to the same extent, and at a similar age. But this simply does not happen. We all, more or less, have virtually the same physiological structure as each other. And this includes the capillary network of the scalp. These tiny vessels will allow only one blood cell to pass through at a time for both those who do suffer MPB, and those who don't.
• If stress were the cause of hair loss, you'd expect all of those in stressful jobs, relationships, etc, to have extensive MPB. Again, this is not the case.
• If gravity were the cause of hair loss, you'd expect everyone to suffer extensive MPB (this is simply because everyone is constantly subjected to the effects of gravity). This is obviously not true.

Furthermore, none of them can answer the following questions.

Q1. Why does remnant hair sometimes last long after baldness has developed? (Remnant hair is thick, strong, healthy hair that grows within the MPB region despite extensive hair loss all around it).

Q2. Why do 20% of men start losing hair at puberty, whilst others don't start until they're much older?

Q3. Why do some people lose hair from the front, back or both these regions of the scalp?

Q4. Why is it that hair can fall faster in one region of the scalp than it does in the other?

These are all very significant questions concerning hair loss by MPB, and so it's important that satisfactory answers be given before any theory can be recognised as the true cause of MPB.

So, what is the true cause of hair loss if not circulation, stress or gravity?

Skull Expansion is the REAL cause of hair loss!

The skull expansion process completely explains the hair loss process, and fully answers all four questions.

It also explains why some people lose their hair, whilst others keep a full head of hair for life.

For example, why is it that Bruce Willis went bald, whilst
Only skull expansion can fully answer this question.

Many more celebrity photos are examined in: "The World Famous Hair Loss Ebook" This fascinating ebook has over 50 pictures of movie stars, sports stars and other famous faces. To find out how you can download a copy completely free, click here.

"Skull Expansion - True Cause of Genetic Hair Loss".

This groundbreaking ebook reveals how the hair loss industry got it wrong! Learn more.