Antioxidants are substances that have been linked to a host of health benefits. A diet high in antioxidants has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. The benefits also appear to extend to hair loss, which affects two thirds of men at some point in their life. Scientists applied the antioxidant resveratrol to recently shaved patches of hair and saw the hair grow back alongside a reinforcement of the skin cells that protect the hair. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology.
The antioxidant used in the study was resveratrol, a naturally occurring compound found in grapes, berries and peanuts.
A similar study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science looked at the possibility of reinforcing beauty products with antioxidants to prevent hair loss.
They found that people applying the antioxidant shampoo saw a reduction in hair loss.
An additional reported benefit was fuller hair and healthier skin.
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The science of hair loss is currently incomplete, with the role of aging not yet understood.
Of the 100,000 hairs you are born with about 100 are lost daily and these are replaced at an equal rate when you are young.
Over time your hair is replaced more slowly than it lost, generally beginning at age 30.
Hair loss has been linked by researchers to loss of self confidence and low self-esteem, but does not directly produce any other health risks.
The risk factors for hair loss are broadly genetic, with male pattern baldness being a common heritable trait.
Other things that may increase your risk of hair loss are illness, stress and hormonal imbalances.
Sudden and severe hair loss can be indicative of more serious medical problems such as thyroid disorders.
Depending on the cause of hair loss it may be reversible.