What Is Alopecia & Can Collagen Help?
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Hair-Loss Condition Explained
Jada Pinkett Smith has been open about her journey with alopecia, long before the controversy at the 94th annual Academy Awards.
Around 1 in 5 women in the UK aged over 25 are currently experiencing hair loss or thinning according to a study commissioned by Philip Kingsley.
Unfortunately many suffer in silence, meaning that the true number of women experiencing hair loss is much larger than is commonly thought.
Pinkett Smith’s openness with her alopecia journey is sure to inspire and empower many women to do the same.
Here we'll be taking a look at what alopecia is and if collagen can help as a treatment.
What is Alopecia?
Alopecia is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks healthy hair follicles, causing them to decrease in size and production, typically resulting in hair falling out in clumps.
There are a number of different types of alopecia, with the most common forms being alopecia areata which causes patches of hair loss, and alopecia totalis which results in hair loss across the entire scalp.
Researchers don’t fully understand what leads to the immune system mistakenly attacking hair follicles.
Alopecia areata affects one in every 500 to 1,000 people in the U.S. Genetics may play a role in developing alopecia. It’s also possible that diet, stress or illness can bring on alopecia in people who are at risk, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Is there a cure?
There is currently no cure for alopecia.
However, there are many treatment options available although it depends on the type of hair loss.
Some people can opt for topical or injected steroids, platelet-rich plasma, anti-inflammatory medications, minoxidil or hair transplants.
However, it is very important to get a diagnosis by a professional to determine what's causing the hair loss before you start treating it.
How does Collagen help?
One significant cause for hair loss can be the lack of collagen produced by the body.
When there is a decline in collagen, your hair begins to lose its suppleness and thickness, including the health of the scalp.
Collagen is a protein produced naturally by your body.
But there’s bad news…
Levels of collagen drop by about 1% a year as we get older, meaning signs of ageing creep in and the condition of our hair and skin starts to deteriorate.
Noticed reduced hair growth? More breakage? Perhaps a few new wrinkles or drier skin? A lack of collagen could well be to blame.
What are the benefits of Collagen?
Collagen comes to your rescue by providing the necessary nutrients, strength and moisture required to sustain healthy hair.
Let’s look at what collagen can do for your hair?
1. Hair Growth
Collagen (in this case known as Keratin) lives in your strands and nourishes the pores on your scalp, allowing your hair to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients. This in turn creates more growth and thickness.
2. Reduce Hair Loss
Collagen can strengthen the internal structure of hair by improving blood circulation, reducing inflammation and providing the necessary supply of nutrients to the hair follicles. This enables the hair to remain healthy, strong and supple.
3. Reduce Splits Ends & Breakage
Lower levels of collagen leads to loss in elasticity which results in hair breakage and split ends. Along with providing strength, collagen also improves moisture content of the hair, reducing dryness which can lead to frizziness, breakage and splits ends.
Other Beauty Benefits
Collagen is the secret sauce behind youthful, glowing skin. Working beneath the surface to keep skin cells hydrated, it’s able to ensure maximum elasticity and plumpness i.e. prevent the appearance of wrinkles and fine line.
Which Collagen Supplement Should I Take?
Luckily the effects of collagen deficiency can be reversed with a high quality collagen supplement. Look no further than the 5-star rated Hair Boost Collagen Drink.
This delicious berry-flavoured supplement boasts an impressive 10,000mg of pure marine collagen, which is derived from fish and is easily absorbed by the body (leading to faster results).
The Hair Boost Collagen Drink is bursting with additional nutrients that support for healthier, longer hair and youthful glowing skin. These include: Vitamin C, Biotin and Hyaluronic Acid.
Click here to learn more.