If baldness is a concern for you, then you probably know that there are not only several causes, but also many factors that contribute to each cause. One of the main causes is damage to the follicle itself. How can this happen? There are many reasons why this can occur and it is necessary to know what kills the hair follicles.

First of all, you may not even know what a follicle is. Follicles are sac-shaped tubes that contain roots. Attached to each follicle is the sebaceous gland. This gland is the one that secretes the fatty substance sebum which is what lubricates the skin and hair.

The root that surrounds the follicle is responsible for creating hair growth by stimulating the production of keratin that causes actual growth. Simply put, if your follicle is damaged, your chances of growing new hair are greatly diminished. It is very important to protect your scalp and prevent damage to the follicles to prevent baldness.

There are some obvious factors that result in follicle damage and destruction. Scalp disorders and trauma or damage is one of them. The follicles cannot withstand constant high temperatures. Direct sun exposure and even hair dryers are common culprits for overheating the follicle.

Another leading cause of follicle destruction is chemical exposure. Certain medications that you can use to treat another medical condition may contain a chemical that damages the follicles. Unfortunately, the benefits of chemotherapy for cancer patients far outweigh the disadvantages. The most notable disadvantage is baldness in chemotherapy patients. That is because aggressive chemical treatments to the body kill the follicles.

One of the most common, but not yet well known, causes of follicular damage is the hormone DHT. DHT is present in both men and women and comes from the hormone testosterone. Postmenopausal women are at higher risk for higher levels of DHT. Loss of estrogen during menopause means that testosterone can take over and release more DHT. DHT kills the follicle by attaching itself to it and suffocating it until it falls off.

Now that you know what kills your hair follicles, you can take a few steps to prevent this from happening. Protect your head from heat, avoid stress, and most importantly, avoid medications that contain chemicals that can cause harm, if possible. There are also herbal extracts and some recipes available that can help with the regulation of the DHT hormone.