0 3 Reasons People Experience Hair Loss

3 Reasons People Experience Hair Loss

Hair loss is a problem for both men and women. While male pattern baldness is often perceived as a male problem, many women experience thinning and balding hair also. There are many reasons why men and women experience this problem:

1. Genetics

Heredity plays a big role when it comes to hair growth problems. If you are a man and your father and grandfather lost their hair, you can bet that you will, too. If you are a woman and your mother and grandmother experienced thinning or balding hair, you can expect to have the same experience.

The good news is that if you recognize your genetics and plan for inevitable hair loss by devising a prevention and/or treatment plan, you can retain and regrow hair. There are many treatment options available these days for you to consider.


2. Hormones

Hormones are another reason people lose their hair. Actually, it's not necessarily hormones themselves but a hormonal imbalance. For example, pregnant women notice that during pregnancy, their hair is thicker and more beautiful than ever.

But after they give birth, their hair begins falling out in copious amounts. This is all due to hormones and the hair thinning will eventually stop when the hormonal balance is restored.

This is also the reason men start losing their hair at a certain age. It all comes down to hormonal balances.

For some people, checking and adjusting hormonal imbalances can help prevent hair growth problems. The best thing to do is talk to your doctor about your pattern baldness. He or she can do bloodwork to rule out underlying imbalances or medical causes for your hair loss.

If there is a medical reason for the problem, it will often go away when that reason is treated.

3. Deficiencies

Nutritional deficiency is also another reason some people lose their hair. Hair loss is one of the symptoms of anorexia and bulimia because these disorders are characterized by a lack of nutrients.

However, your deficiency does not need to be severe for you to notice a difference in your hair. Even a slight nutritional deficiency can lead to thinning hair.

This is why you will find supplements on the market designed just for hair health. Even if you feel you're not deficient in any nutrients, these supplements can help accelerate growth and strengthen your hair.

The very first thing you should do when you notice hair thinning is see your physician. Along with ruling out medical causes for your hair growth problems, you can discuss the best treatment option for your individual case.

There are many different ways to treat hair loss, including with topical monoxodil, prescription medication, hair transplant and more.

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0 How to Choose Hair Conditioner

How to Choose Hair Conditioner

The phrase hair conditioner seems a bit broad. The main objective of people who prefer to use hair conditioners is for them to make their hair more vibrant and full of life. Maybe one's hair is thinning, too frizzy, too dry, or has been damaged. Regardless of the situation, hair conditioners should help to deal with it. Below, you can find a list of basic solutions assembled to deal with certain hair concerns.

Unlike shampoo that should be chosen depending on the scalp type, conditioners should be chosen depending on the hair type. This helps avoid greasiness, frizz or limp locks. Eventually, hair can become immune to a conditioning formulas effects, and that will actually cause build up, so no matter what conditioner you end up choosing, change the brand of conditioner you use every month.

How to choose the right conditioner:
1. Look for rich, moisturizing conditioner if hair tends to get extra dry or frizzy.
2. If the hair is limp or fine, use a volumizing conditioner.
3. Healthy and shiny hair needs only a conditioner made for normal hair.
4. Use leave-on conditioners at least once a week. Use it in the shower and rinse immediately if the hair is fine but for drier hair, leave it longer.
5. If there are no conditioners available anymore, or just to avoid chemicals for a change, natural conditioners like mayonnaise or olive oil can be used as a substitute.

If a person has baby-fine hair then too much conditioner will weigh it down. Test the hair at night to see what amount of conditioner works best. Fine hair can be nice and shiny, but too much conditioner makes it look oily, damp or weighted down. The amount of conditioner being used to baby fine hair also matters. Be sure to rinse the hair well. It seems that cooler rinse water works better as it does not leave the scalp feeling heavy or irritated and this has been proven from a lot of hair experts too. Baby shampoo works great to give fine hair extra shine due to its mild content. Flip the hair over while wet and barely blow-dry hair underneath. This will give hair extra bounce.

For people that are trying to have that fuller hair appearance, here are some great tips. The Cholesterol products that come in jars are all great sources to use for fuller hair, one such product is Le Kair. People that are searching for ways to fuller hair should look for products that read volume and fullness.

Nowadays, both women and men have processed hair. Adding moisture is key to finding the right conditioner for color treated, permed, & relaxed hair. Sadly, treated hair usually suffers from oily roots to dry scalp and shaft, and sometimes split ends. So washing processed hair can be a demanding business. The trick is to cleanse the roots while moisturizing the ends.

Here are shampoo tips for the following processed hair types:
- For color treated hair try to look for a rich and thick conditioner
- Many people apply conditioner to their scalp like shampoo. Don't forget the ends of your hair, where conditioner is needed most!
- Make sure to get away from conditioners that contain silicone, because this tends to strip color.
- For curly hair, use deep conditioners.

Select products that contain cetyl or stearyl alcohol, panthenol & methicones, silicone or dimethicone, or essential oils & botanicals such as avocado or jojoba oil. This will help in taming the hair and keep it looking gorgeous for a whole day.

Putting conditioner on thinning hair will not be enough to stop a hair loss problem, but this will make hair appear as though it's thicker and fuller. One way to help replenish the hair's natural protein and mineral balance is by using the Tricomin restructuring conditioner. This in turn can build the shine, luster, and even bring back the body of thin hair. A leave-in conditioner can also help smooth and straighten hair.

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0 how to prevent hair fall

how to prevent hair fall

Battle against growing baldness is a common feature today, the world over. While there are many theories to explain the cause behind this common phenomenon, solutions to override this problem are not very forthcoming. At least they were not, till a few years ago. Luckily, the scenario has changed now and there have been some breakthroughs in the recent past. The biggest breakthrough related to baldness has been in the field of medicine. New drugs and procedures now show the light.

Minoxidil



A drug used for hypertension, Minoxidil, was found to cause excess hair growth. Since then topical solutions of this drug have been available for a few years now. The drug should be applied on the balding area twice or thrice a day. But the treatment is life long. However like all other good things, it comes with its own set of problems:



Problems:


* It does not seem to be very helpful in preventing receding temples. It is best used when there is still a lot of hair left on the head.
* It can cause changes in blood pressure.


All this not withstanding, last year alone, its sale reached a staggering figure of US $150 million.


Finasteride



This seems to be a more useful drug than the former, although its principle use is to treat patients suffering from prostrate disease. It prevents the conversion of testosterone to DHT and definitely increases hair growth.


Problems:


* It is known to cause impotence and loss of libido, due to low DHT levels. A handsome impotent? Or a balding potent? Some choice!


Fabao



This is a Japanese drug based on the sebum clogging theory. It prevents hair from being choked to death by the secretions. Preliminary results indicate that it will be the most useful drug in preventing and managing baldness.


Problems:


* Not yet freely available. Over the counter sale eagerly awaited all over the world.


Surgical hair restoration



A permanent solution to baldness under the following conditions:


1. Plenty of time
2. Lots of money
3. Stoic attitude to pain


This procedure uses the hair from the sides and back of the scalp (which are immune to the effects of the sex hormone) and distributes in the balding areas. Patients with hair loss limited to the frontal areas are the best candidates.


The number of transplant sessions and the placement of macro or micro plugs depend on the degree of baldness. Geoplasty or scalp reduction is used for people with bald spots less than three inches in diameter. In this method a small section of the scalp is removed and the sides of the scalp are lifted and sutured together.


So, let's do our good deed for the day. Wish all the baldpates in the world a crop full of hair.

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0 What Are The Common Hairloss Causes?

What Are The Common Hairloss Causes?


One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase
lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.

Read more

0 Caring tips for long hair

Caring tips for long hair 


Long Hair looks extremely elegant but there is quite a lot of care that goes with the maintenance of long hair. Hair that grows fast tends to become long in no time. Little girls often grow long hair which their mothers pleat into neat braids. They really look the best at any party. Long hair is the asset for any woman and nothing could be the best adornment for her. 

Long hair needs a lot of care. The long hair should be carefully oiled, massaged and shampooed for best look. Unkempt long hair would only speak for the untidiness of the person with the long hair. This should be done regularly so that the hair maintains it shine and gloss. 

Long hair should be protected against all
sorts of hair infections like dandruff, acne and head lice. These would make the scalp itchy and the hair very dirty. Care is essential to keep these infections away.

Long hair would indulge in a lot of hair styles. Care should be taken so that use of clips and bands do not tear away tufts of the beautiful long hair. Neat French braids or plaited braids would look extremely elegant in case of long hair and this should be done so that the long hair is kept neatly in place.

Keeping clean long healthy hair is important. She should be extremely careful in her ways and means of caring for the long hair.

Proper intake of food and vitamin rich food is essential for keeping hair long and healthy.
The brushing and combing of hair is utterly important and once the hair is taken care of, it would start responding to the whole process. 

If you have long hair, try to live up to maintaining and caring for it. There should be a balance in all you do about your long, hair, the care you take and the hair style you follow in making people look back at you because of your extremely wonderful cascade of long hair.

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0 Hair Straightening Tips

Hair Straightening Tips


Most women with curly or wavy hair have at some point coveted straight hair. If you are one of them and wish to try this, you should know that there are several great options these days and none of them involves a clothes iron. New methods, using state of the art technology, are safer and less harmful to your hair. You can opt for the chemical process to permanently straighten your hair and achieve a smooth, shiny, straight mane for anywhere from six to nine months. Or you can temporarily sport a straight hairstyle for special occasions. You may want to try this before you commit to a permanent change. 
If you have the time and patience you can just use a good hair dryer and styling brush to blow dry your hair straight or you can try a straightening irons. There are several different types of straighteners available, from the older, most commonly used chrome-plated metal irons to gold-plated ones and of course the newest technology, ceramic. If you are short on cash try the regular metal or the gold-plated ones; gold is easier on your hair. If you can afford to splurge, purchase a ceramic straightening iron and your hair will thank you. The ceramic heats up more evenly and is gentler to your hair by helping preserve the natural moisture. It also results in shinier, smoother, healthier looking hair as it tends to glide through better. Ceramic is known to eliminate frizz and minimize static.

Things to look for in a straightening iron:



- Does it have adjustable and several heat settings? You will have to experiment with it to find your ideal temperature. Although a high heat setting will get hair straighter quicker, try to follow the general rule of using lower settings for fine hair and higher setting for thick or coarse hair

- Look for solid ceramic plates instead of a ceramic coating as the former will last much longer.

- How heavy is it? A lightweight one will be easier on your arms and make you task much more bearable.

- Does it have a swivel power cord? This feature can make your task go much quicker.

- There are now several cordless models on the market. If you are going to use it for quick touch ups or for travel; this option is great.

- Look for a straightening iron with a protective heat resistant case so when you are done you can move on without worrying about it cooling down.

- Get a smaller plate iron for short hair and a wider one for longer hair.

Tips

- Make sure your hair is totally dry before using a heated iron. Hair is most fragile and prone to breakage when it is wet and the straightening iron on damp hair will open the cuticle and damage the cortex. If possible, allow your hair to dry naturally instead of blow drying as this will reduce the amount of heat your hair has to endure at one time.

- Use a product like serum or protein treatment before straightening - specially on the ends. This will further help protect your hair and leave it shinier.

- If you are looking for pin straight hair, part hair into small sections and do a couple of passes with the iron on each section.

- If you are in a rush or are looking for just a smooth, polished finish; straighten just the top layer of your hair. No one will see the bottom layers anyway.

- Do not wrap the cord around the iron as it may fray or damage cord causing a hazard and giving your investment a shorter life.

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0 A complete article on hair care

A complete article on hair care 


HAIR MAINTENANCE

There are a few things you can do on a regular basis that will improve the overall health and appearance of your hair, as well as a few things you can avoid. In general, here's a few standards:

· Brush your hair: Yep, the good old fashioned hundred strokes. This stimulates blood supply to the scalp, removes dead skin cells from the scalp before they can get infected, and distributes sebum over the hair shaft for moisturizing and protection. Bend over from the waist and hang limply while doing some of the brushing. Use a natural bristle brush or other gentle brush. Be careful and don't hurry. Better to go slow and only get 30 strokes in, than go fast and risk breaking or pulling out your hair. Get into the habit of brushing your hair thoroughly before washing it.

· Massage your scalp: Before you stop to groom and brush your hair during the day, make a point of doing a quick scalp massage first. Slip your fingers into your hair, and using just the pads of your fingers, massage in small circular motions over your scalp. Using your finger pads will keep you from breaking your hair, scratching your scalp and messing up your style too much. Then restyle, re-spray (if you use it) and go...· Break Day: Get into the habit of giving your hair a break once a week. It is not necessary to wash your hair every day (unless you are a teenager, have a dirty job or work up a real sweat every day). If you are over the age of 20, and do not have any rashes or infections (like dandruff), give your hair a

break for a whole day. Pick a day where you normally do not go out, or just do housework and run errands. Do not wash with shampoo and do not heat style. If you just feel too grubby and must do something, after brushing your hair thoroughly to distribute the sebum, simply wet your hair, apply a little daily conditioner to the ends, rinse well, and then pull back into a "wet look" ponytail or bun. Give your hair a break from shampooing once a week, and whenever possible, from blow-drying and heat styling.· Conditioning Treatment: Unless you have very fine, limp hair, get into the habit of applying a deep conditioning treatment to your hair once a week. Deep conditioners are not the same as daily conditioners, and homemade preparations work really well. Coconut oil is especially good for hair conditioning. Brush your hair, wash it lightly, and then towel dry. Apply your deep conditioner and then wrap your head in a heated towel to open the hair cuticle and allow the conditioner to soak in. Leave for 10 minutes to half and hour. Then rinse thoroughly in warm water to remove the conditioner residue that remains, then cool water to close the hair cuticle. Rinsing your hair in cool water can be a little uncomfortable, but it can do amazing things for the appearance of your hair. It closes the hair cuticle close to the shaft, which increases shine and manageability, and helps to keep hair strong. A mixture of cool water and lemon juice is even better for shine and strength (a half of a teaspoon of lemon juice in two quarts of cool water is sufficient).· Daily Conditioner: Get into the habit of applying a daily conditioner to hair ends every time you shampoo. This will reduce slit ends, discoloration when coloring, damage when heat styling and reduce the need for frequent trims. Use a product designed for thermal styling if you frequently blow-dry, use a curling iron or hot rollers.· Haircuts: Get into the habit of getting your hair trimmed when it needs to be. Again, this reduces split ends and keeps excess weight off your hair (which can cause breakage). About once every 8 weeks is right for shoulder length or longer hair, once every 6 weeks for shorter styles.· Up-Dos: Yep, that's right – if you have long hair and want to keep it that way - put your hair up when possible. I'm not suggesting you look like an librarian every day, but one of the reasons that women grew such long beautiful hair back in the "old days" is because they wore it up all the time. The weight of your hair can stimulate the start of the telogen phase. When hair is weighed down and very long, it stops growing and falls out, or simply breaks off. Putting your hair up frequently will keep that weight off the root of the hair. You can pin it up gently with bobby pins or a banana clip when running errands, doing housework, cooking dinner, doing yard work, messing around on your computer, watching TV, etc. Now, this depends on your hair style and hair length. If you have a short hairstyle, this step is not only unnecessary – it's impossible. However, if you have shoulder length or longer hair, and want it to be as thick and healthy looking as possible, make it a point to put it up and keep the weight off your scalp. The other upside is that it will help keep the hair out of dinner.How to Wash Your Hair
Believe it or not, there is a right way to wash your hair. Treat it like the finest silk! If you've ever made the mistake of running a pair of expensive silk hose through your washing machine, you'll know what I mean.

Here a few tips for avoid causing any excess damage to your hair while washing it:

1. Let your hair hang naturally when you wash it; either standing in the shower or with your head leaning over the bath, or in a shampoo sink. NEVER – NEVER – NEVER – pile it up on your head to wash.

2. Wet your hair with warm water (not hot) to prepare it for shampooing. Keep the pressure on the showerhead gentle enough to avoid excess water pressure on your hair.

3. Pour shampoo into the palm of your hand.

4. Work the shampoo into a lather in your hand, and apply to your scalp. Work the shampoo into your scalp all over your head by massaging with your fingertips (not your fingernails). Move fingers from one area of your head to the other by lifting the fingers and then placing them elsewhere on your head. Do NOT drag them through your hair. Remember, hair is the most vulnerable to damage and breakage when it is wet. If your hair is particularly dirty or oily, you can work the shampoo through to the ends. If your hair is very dry or processed, you may just want to wash your scalp, and let the shampoo pick up any dirt or oil on the ends as it's rinsed out.

5. Rinse hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. Ensure that you allow it to hang naturally. You may spread it out gently with your fingertips if it's long and needs extra help getting out the shampoo.

6. If you chose to use a rinse-out conditioner, this is the time. Unlike shampooing, apply conditioners to the ends of your hair, and if your hair is generally dry, apply the remainder on your hands gently to the roots. Repeat the rinse.

7. Towel dry gently. The new hair towel wraps are excellent, keep hair in place and aren't heavy like a towel wrap so there's less risk of breakage to your hair.

8. Once hair is towel-dried you can apply a leave-in conditioner.

9. ALWAYS comb wet hair with a wide-tooth comb– NEVER brush wet hair.

10. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER sleep on wet hair – it is vulnerable when wet, and can break easily as you turn on your pillow. Even if it doesn't break, it roughs up the cuticle and makes it look dull.

11. Air dry hair whenever possible

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0 10 Great hair care tips

10 Great hair care tips

1. Use a professional conditioner that is formulated for your specific hair type. While you can skimp a little on the shampoo, a good, professional conditioner is a must have. Look for products in salons that are customized for your hair type. For instance: If you have color or a perm, choose a conditioner that is for chemically processed hair. And stay away from those all-in-one shampoo and conditioner combos.

2. Choose a cut tailored to your face and body shape. The number one mistake that people make when choosing a new hairstyle is to pick a style based on popularity rather than how it will enhance their features. Always choose a new cut based on how it will enhance or detract from your facial features and build. If you have broad shoulders, choose a full-bodied cut over a close cropped head hugging doo. 

3. Don't forget your UV protectants. Just as your skin gets damaged by wind and sun, so does your hair. To combat this, look for finishing products such as mousses, gels and sprays that block UV rays.

4. Keep your appointments. Did you know that your hair will split faster than it will grow? You need to get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks, even if it's just a micro trim. A good hairdresser makes them good because they know what to leave on the head, not take off.


5. Leave chemicals to the professionals. There is a reason why beauticians need to go to school to learn how to handle chemicals and hair processes. You can do irreparable damage with these products even if the package says that it's way easy. And even if you don't make your hair fall out, you could end up looking like a clown and paying a stylist big bucks to fix your mess. (Note: Most stylists charge double the rate for corrective color than they do for normal color processes)

6. Get color for interest and body. Every cut needs a little bit of color to make it truly breathtaking. No matter whether your taste is subtle or dramatic, you can add interest and volume to your tresses with a color process. Highlights, lowlights, all over color, gray coverage, you name it, it's all good for your look.

7. Do weekly conditioning treatments. Even if your hair is extremely healthy, it is constantly on the attack from wind, sun, cold and heat. During the summer months, your hair is battered even more when it absorbs chlorine and other chemicals from your pool. 

8. Get an ionic ceramic flat iron. Instead of frying your hair with a conventional metal plated flat iron. Straighten your tresses, add shine and infuse moisture with one of the a negative ionic flat irons. We personally use T3 irons for all our work. 

9. Choose your styling products wisely. Avoid products that leave build-up on your hair. If you see white gunk, that means that your product is not water-soluble and may be coating your hair shaft. Build-up causes limpness, breakage and inability to curl not to mention the white flakes.

10. Did you know that if you use a towel after your shower to dry your hair you are causing split ends and adding static electricity to your hair. Don't rub the towel back and forth over your hair, scrunch the towel around your hair like your would scrunch crackers in your soup.

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0 SOME COMMON HAIR LOSS CAUSES

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.

Read more

0 TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR HAIR LOSS SUFFERS

The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.

This article will focus on four basic approaches:

1. A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.

2. A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.

3. A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.

4. A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.

It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications. Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine (minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.

The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and more research! Many useful products are available on the market but none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly most popular, commercially available products are those containing natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".

It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can be achieved by:

- eating adequate amounts of protein.

- eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates.

- achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Other articles in this series will examine these issues in greater detail but in the meantime you can find out more by visiting the site listed below.

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