Dr. Larry Shapiro, who has spent 20 years treating over 11,000 men and women for hair thinning and loss and is the world’s leading hair transplant and hair loss expert, remarked that men and women are losing more of hair now due to self-created reasons than because of genetic reasons.

Shapiro said his clinical practice shows that most people lose hair after battling the effects of anesthesia, thyroid problems, cosmetic surgery, male pattern baldness, use of steroids for weight training, use of growth hormone-based supplements during weight training, dietary deficiencies, prescription medications, use of weight-loss products and fat burners.

From Earthtimes.org:

Shapiro noted that natural or self-induced hormonal changes are common causes among both women and men experiencing hair loss.  “Estrogen levels drop during menopause and after pregnancy, and this can result in hair loss,” said Shapiro.  “In addition, men and women who take growth hormones and testosterone for weight training and weight reduction programs frequently come into my office complaining of hair loss.  I have to explain to them that the growth hormones they’re taking to strengthen their bodies are actually causing their hair to fall out.”

According to Shapiro, popular nutritional supplements such as Creatine and anabolic steroids can cause hair loss because they quickly increase testosterone levels in the body.  Weight-loss products that change the metabolism of the thyroid can also cause people to lose their hair.  And people who undergo rapid weight loss such as those who undergo gastric bypass surgery or have a gastric ring implanted are also hair loss candidates.

Shapiro noted, however, that not all nutritional supplements are bad for your hair.  “The recent surge in genetic premature loss encouraged me to find out what specific ingredient in certain supplements was having such a negative impact on hair.”  Shapiro’s study will conclude that whey protein isolates in many nutritional supplements are the problem behind what’s causing users to lose their hair. The study will show that 80% or more did better on the Help Hair formula with categories of improvement in fuller, thicker, healthier hair compared to regular whey protein isolate, which resulted in a majority of participants reporting poor quality hair growth and even hair loss.

Dr. Larry J. Shapiro is credited for the first doctor in the U.S. to do the strip incision and micro/mini graft, follicular unit technique, and is a renowned hair transplant surgeon and one of the world’s leading experts on hair loss.