Cheap Clip Hair Extensions

Hair loss usually occurs because of hormonal factors. As a consequence, biological events like puberty, pregnancy and menopause that effect female hormone levels can also cause female hair loss. In the case of pregnancy, hair loss is simply a consequence of the stress the body undergoes during labor and should stop approximately 6 months after birth.

Discontinuation of taking birth control pills can also cause temporary female hair loss.

The cause of female baldness is not just limited to menopause. Some women begin to see their hair thinning as early as puberty. This typically results from a hormonal imbalance. A change in hormones can often lead to female baldness. A hormone evaluation can tell you if hormones are the cause.

What can cause this hormonal imbalance? Most commonly oral contraceptives, PCOS, menopause and pregnancy (post natal stages) can. All of these directly affect the hormone balance within a womans body and can lead to partial or dramatic thinning or loss of hair. Your doctor is the best person to speak to for advice on this especially in relation to PCOS, menopause or oral contraception.

Causes of Hair Loss:

Medication or drugs – the contraceptive pill, blood thinning or blood pressure medication, thyroid hormones, cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, coricosteroids, high dosage vitamin A, amphetamines, cocaine drugs. (Please note that hair loss does not necessarily occur with these medications).

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an immune disease that affects almost 2% of the population in the US. This type of hair loss appears in various degrees of severity from small, round patches of hair loss that regrow without medical treatment to chronic, extensive hair loss that can involve the loss of all hair on the scalp or body hair. This type of hair loss affects both genders equally and can occur at any age, although it occurs most often in children and young adults.

Physical trauma – scarring, childbirth, burns, accidents, general anaesthesia, surgery.

Some common myths related to female hair loss are that frequent washing and shampooing, and wearing of wigs and hats all cause hair loss. In addition, rumors abound that permanents, coloring, and other cosmetic treatments can cause permanent hair loss. Other myths are that brushing your hair everyday will create healthier hair, that shaving your head will cause hair to grow back thicker, and that stress causes permanent hair loss.

Stress is a major reason why you can experience hair loss. Therefore, start reducing the extra stress at once by taking some time out of your daily schedule to relax. Also get enough sleep. You can also start supplementing your diet with a good hair loss nutritional supplement.

The most important thing to remember is to try to remain positive throughout the treatments. It may take as long as a year to begin seeing results from any form of female hair loss treatment. Start by going to a doctor, and just remember, almost everyone is affected by hair loss at some point in their life.

Rogaine is the only medication approved by the FDA to treat female hair loss. Rogaine is packaged separately for women, in a solution of 2% minoxidil. Many physicians suggest not using Rogaine while pregnant or breastfeeding. Side effects can include scalp irritation and more serious, but rare side effects if too much of the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream. Talk to your doctor before starting any treatment.

Basics for hair loss

What you should know?

For all those who are looking for a hair loss treatment, I have covered some basic information which everybody should be familiar with. This article covers some basics subjects like:

I will also suggest some ways or best possible products which can help to stop hair loss and then how to let them growing again.

How & why hair grows?

Human’s hair growth is always unstable; it means while some hair grows that time some hairs remains in resting stage. Normally, for a person who is not losing his hairs, about 90% of the hairs on his head are in a 2-7 years growing phase.  The remaining 10% are in a phase of experiencing a 2-4 month resting phase.  As one hair sheds, a new one replaces it.  This is a process which repeats itself over and over again for many years in most of the people.

Problem of hair loss occurs when this continues process becomes skewed.  Instead of the increment in re-growth rate of hairs faster than the shed rate, it decreases, thus, in result to this shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth.

Why people lose their hair?

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is a kind of hormone. Presence of this hormone is directly linked with hair loss.DHT hormone is formed when testosterone and 5-alpha-reductase merge.  This excess of DHT leads to follicles that grow back shorter and thinner. After some time, this DHT imbalance leads to baldness.

Reason behind DHT imbalance is believed to be caused by genetics or an underlying medical condition.

Why people lose their hair?

In continuation to the above information, there are several other factors which can cause temporary hair loss.

Some of the reasons behind hair loss are:

Most of these can be treatable with a variety of products that are available at various shops according to prescription.  It is advised to consult the doctor to help diagnose the problem.

Treatment for hair lose

There are some basic methods for the treatment of hair loss. Some of these treatments are helpful to stop hair loss while others are useful to re-grow hair.  These treatments include:

Some men never go “bald” but everyone’s hair thins out over the years. The term androgenetic refers to the fact that common balding requires both male hormones (androgens) and a genetic tendency to lose hair. Because there are many genes involved, however, you can’t look at your parents and know how much hair you will lose or how fast you will lose it. In particular, the idea that hair loss is passed down from the mother’s side of the family is folklore, not fact. Hair loss may be hereditary or because of increasing air and water pollution. There is no single reason for this problem. Mostly hair loss or baldness is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Thyroid disease can cause hair loss, but thyroid tests on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal. Although many medications list “hair loss” among their potential side effects, drugs are also not overall common causes of thinning or lost hair. On the other hand, with cancer treatments and immune suppression medications, hair loss is not uncommon.Many conditioners, shampoos, vitamins, and other products, as well as procedures involving lasers and heat, claim to help hair grow in unspecified ways. These are harmless but useless and not worth the investment. To slow down hair loss, there are just two medically proven options:Baldness generally involves hair loss on head where it often grows. There are different stages in hair loss it starts from hair thinning and this condition called androgenic alopecia or “male pattern baldness” that occurs in adult male humans and other species. The amount and patterns of baldness can vary greatly; it ranges from male and female pattern alopecia (androgenic alopecia, also called androgenetic alopecia or alopecia androgenetica), alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body.There are various ways to camouflage hair that has already gone. These include hairpieces or hair-weaving processes. Toupees require tape or other ways to keep them from sliding off, and they also stretch and oxidize. Hair weaves loosen and need periodic restyling.Techniques for performing surgical procedures like scalp reduction and hair transplants have improved over the years, producing better, more natural results. Transplant surgeons do their best to use hair that is not genetically programmed to fall out later. Taking Propecia after a transplant also helps to retain hair. Shaving the scalp has been fashionable and is an option other than trying to grow more hair.There is one useful way to classify hair loss is by whether the loss is localized and patchy, or whether it affects large areas or the whole scalp.

Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women

Hair loss in adult male and female is not uncommon. Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day. Hair normally lives for around five years. Male and female baldness happen when these hairs do not always get replaced (which they normally would) and gradually bald areas appear. There are a lot of hair loss treatments as well as hair loss remedies in the market today. But how effective are they? Let’s have a post mortem of the causes of hair loss and the hair loss treatment available today and find out which products or treatments suit you the most.

The Normal Cycle of Hair Growth and Loss

The normal hair cycle growth lasts between 2 to 6 years. Each hair strand grows at the rate of approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. As a matter of fact, about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is in the active growing phase while the rest 10% is in dormant phase. Once a hair strand enters a dormant phase (hair stop growing), it will stay on the scalp for 2 to 3 months, then fall out. It is normal to shed some hair each day (average of 100 strands) as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect both men and women and even children. 

Causes of Hair Loss

Illness

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary. Hormonal problems may cause hair loss, which more often than not, caused by stress. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. 

Scalp Cleanliness

If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it. Dandruff can be a source of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, and excess sebum follicle oil. Over time this combination of chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles can’t support hair growth. 

DHT (di-hydro-testosterone)

When excessive amounts of testosterone are converted to DHT by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, this DHT accumulates at the hair root where it blocks blood circulation to that hair follicle. This decrease in blood to the hair root weakens it and it loses its health. 

Male Pattern Baldness

The male pattern baldness form of androgenetic alopecia  (inherited hair loss pattern) accounts for more than 95% of hair loss in men. By age 35, two-thirds of men will have some degree of appreciable hair loss and by age 50 approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair. About 25% of men who suffer from male pattern baldness begin the painful process before they reach 21. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head. Most men who suffer from male pattern baldness are extremely unhappy with their situation and would do anything to change it. Hair loss affects every aspect of their life. It affects interpersonal relationships as well as their professional life. It is not uncommon for men to change their career paths because of hair loss. 

The Causes of Male Pattern Baldness

Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males after puberty, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. Acting on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle it slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair, sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss. 

Female Pattern Baldness

The patterns of hair loss in women are not as easily recognizable as those in men. Unlike hair loss in men, female scalp hair loss may commonly begin at any age through 50 or later, may not have any obvious hereditary association, and may not occur in a recognizable “female-pattern alopecia” of diffuse thinning over the top of the scalp. A woman who notices the beginning of hair loss may not be sure if the loss is going to be temporary or permanent—for example, if there has been a recent event such as pregnancy or illness that may be associated with temporary hair thinning. 

Patterns that may occur include:

The Causes of Female Pattern Baldness

In women as in men, the most likely cause of scalp hair loss is androgenetic alopecia—an inherited sensitivity to the effects of androgens (male hormones) on scalp hair follicles. However, women with hair loss due to this cause usually do not develop true baldness in the patterns that occur in men—for example, women rarely develop the “cue-ball” appearance often seen in male-pattern androgenetic alopecia. Unlike the case for men, thinning scalp hair in women due to androgenetic alopecia does not uniformly grow smaller in diameter (miniaturize). 

Women with hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia tend to have miniaturizing hairs of variable diameter over all affected areas of the scalp. While miniaturizing hairs are a feature of androgenetic alopecia, miniaturization may also be associated with other causes and is not in itself a diagnostic feature of androgenetic alopecia. In post-menopausal women, for example, hair may begin to miniaturize and become difficult to style. The precise diagnosis should be made by a physician hair restoration specialist or suitable hair treatment products. 

It is important to note that female pattern hair loss can begin as early as the late teens to early 20s in women who have experienced early puberty. If left untreated, this hair loss associated with early puberty can progress to more advanced hair loss.

Non-Pattern Causes of Hair Loss in Women

In women more often than in men, hair loss may be due to conditions other than androgenetic alopecia. Some of the most common of these causes are: 

Trichotillomania— compulsive hair pulling. Hair loss due to trichotillomania is typically patchy, as compulsive hair pullers tend to concentrate the pulling in selected areas. Hair loss due to this cause cannot be treated effectively until the psychological or emotional reasons for trichotillomania are effectively addressed. 

Alopecia areata— a possibly autoimmune disorder that causes patchy hair loss that can range from diffuse thinning to extensive areas of baldness with “islands” of retained hair. Medical examination is necessary to establish a diagnosis. 

Triangular alopecia— loss of hair in the temporal areas that sometimes begins in childhood. Hair loss may be complete, or a few fine, thin-diameter hairs may remain. The cause of triangular alopecia is not known, but the condition can be treated medically or surgically. 

Scarring alopecia— hair loss due to scarring of the scalp area. Scarring alopecia typically involves the top of the scalp and occurs predominantly in women. The condition frequently occurs in African-American women and is believed to be associated with persistent tight braiding or “corn-rowing” of scalp hair. A form of scarring alopecia also may occur in post-menopausal women, associated with inflammation of hair follicles and subsequent scarring. 

Telogen effluvium— a common type of hair loss caused when a large percentage of scalp hairs are shifted into “shedding” phase. The causes of telogen effluvium may be hormonal, nutritional, drug-associated, or stress-associated. Loose-anagen syndrome—a condition occurring primarily in fair-haired persons in which scalp hair sits loosely in hair follicles and is easily extracted by combing or pulling. The condition may appear in childhood, and may improve as the person ages. 

There are various hair loss products as well as hair loss treatments available in the market. It is recommended that users should conduct due diligence to identify which product suit them most, in order to stop hair loss and hair thinning.

References:

Olsen EA (ed). Female Pattern Hair loss: Clinical Features and Potential Hormonal Factors. J Amer Acad Dermatol 2001; 45:S-70-S80.

Olsen EA. Hair disorders. In: Freedberg IM et al (eds.) Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999:729-751.

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

Male Hair loss generally refers to the male pattern baldness. It is medically referred as “Androgenic Alopecia”. Male hair loss affects a person at any time after puberty. The hair usually recedes the letter “M” and the crown hair becomes thinner as age advances. It is common in men and women. But a lot more men suffer from it than women.

For the male Propecia is a good product that should not be used by women. If a women is pregnant Propecia may injure the baby in the womb.

Propecia will also cause hair growth on parts of the body where women do not like to have hair (body, face)
Hence Propecia is not recommended for women. Men can be treated with propecia but with some side effects which include impotency and lack of sex drive. You should always consult your physician before taking this medicine.

In the early days, Rogaine was used to treat high blood pressure, but now it is primarily used to stop hair loss. Rogaine should be used continuously for three to four months to have some fruitful results.

The reason for men losing hair is mainly due to the levels of DHT (Dihydro testosterone) in the scalp. The DHT is present in a person immediately after his puberty and the purpose of DHT is to develop secondary sexual characteristics. DHT gets attached to the hair follicle and prevents the assimilation of nutrients to the follicles which in turn cause thinning out of hair and finally shedding of hair.

In order to prevent this problem there are many products available on the market. The most important igredient is saw palmetto. It is clearly evident that saw palmetto blocks DHTs and is a natural medication. A product called Hair Genesis consists of saw palmetto and is used extensively.

Hair energizer hair products by Ferm-T are also being used for treatment. Even women can use this product without any side effect. The Hair energizer helps to stop hair thinning and loss of hair. The Hair Energizer kit comes with a bottle of Follicle spray, 15 ml tube Jojoba oil, a bottle of shampoo, and 60 tablets of vitamins & minerals. Advecia, is another product that helps with this problem. It is essential for revitalizing the hair follicles which are deprived of nutrients.

In contrast generaly Women’s hair loss does not result in total loss as like that of men. It is still devastating.

The psychological impact on women is extensive when compared to men since women consider their hair as a vital part of their beauty and find it to be an important part of their outer appearance.

Heredity is a cause for this problem in women. Moreover the treatment of women is entirely different than that of men, because the medication offered for re-growth of hair may cause the growth in other parts of the body such as chest, back, and face. Most women don’t like facial hair growth.

Women suffering from hair loss need to consult a doctor to find out what the causes are. Once it has been ascertained, the physician will be able to prescribe the suitable medication. For women, many physicians prescribe estrogen to correct the condition.

Loss of hair in women can be treated with cucocorticoids. Topical application of Minoxodil or Anthralin is the only recommended treatment available for women. The initial stage can be treated well and the response to the treatment is also extremely good.

An important condition called Androgenic alopecia is found to be affecting about 2% of the population. This condition causes complete loss of hairfrom the whole body. In this category women’s treatment is found to be difficult to cure. Doctors may prescribe certain medicines to reduce the symptoms of androgenic alopecia.

Women who have just given birth to a child also suffer from hair loss very often. This is usually temporary and may stop within 6 months after birth. This is mainly due to the fact that there is a higher estrogen level during pregnancy, which might result in keeping the hair follicles in the growth phase. Immediately after childbirth, there is a sudden withdrawl of estrogen. Hair may grow again after 6 months, but applying hair tonic may hasten re-growth of hair.

Sometimes crash diets may lead to women losing hair and also rapid weight loss over a short period of time. In addition to this, emotional and physical stress may also result in hair loss. Immediately after the alleviation of the stress, the hair fallout will be stopped.

Frequent dyeing and chemicals e.g. Perming solutions used on hair may cause a problem. This happens when chemicals are used frequently. The hair begins to break off. Treatments, when applied on the scalp may strengthen the follicles.

Once you have identified the main cause of the loss, choose the right treatment at the right time to ensure better hair growth. In most serious cases of women’s hair loss, it is always advisable to seek the help of a dermatologist for complete diagnosis and
treatment plan.

There are lots of people all over the world who are suffering from hair loss especially women have great percentage among all. No one has ever tried to know reasons for hair loss and people normally don’t bother to search reasons for hair loss. There are number of reasons for hair loss in men and women but among women hair loss is very common because of the following reasons.

Genetics:

One of the major causes of hair loss is genetics Research has shown that if any of parents has hair loss disease then it will likely to transfer to next generation. Such women have to take extra care to their hair otherwise, they can be bald. This happens by the actions of pair of enzymes called aromatase and 5-a reductase.

Menopause:

With the passage of time, estrogen level decreases in a woman and it is not produced in the same when she was younger and the result is hair loss. Hormonal imbalance because of menstrual cycle is also another reason for hair loss.

Medication:

There are certain medicines that cause hair loss among women and these medicines include diabetes medications, chemotherapy, antidepressants, auto immune disorders and scalp yeast infections. These all medications contain some elements that weaken the roots of hair and ultimately cause hair loss among women. Such medicines should be avoided. Every medicine should be consulted in advance with your doctor if you have hair loss problem with you.

Anxiety and Frustration:

Stress cannot be avoided and has become a part of our life. The best remedy is to stay relax and cool. Indulge is such hobbies that keep you fresh and nourishing.

These all factors are great contributors in hair loss and you can overcome them to some extent but cannot control them at all. There are many available treatments for hair loss but if you cannot eliminate these factors then you cannot find any permanent solution to get rid of hair loss. You should take healthy diet, make yourself relax, avoid such medications which have elements to weaken your hair and take proper medicine if you have got this hair loss in inheritance.

When it comes to women talk, hair is one big issue to discuss. Hairs and those long healthy hairs are a crown and a wish of every woman. Though in this busy life, not every woman can make it possible, but hairs needed to be cared and groomed as there are many negative effects that surround us. Along with development in city life, there are a lot of issues that are affecting human health; the major affect is seen on hair on both men and women.
Hair loss is not quickly noticed, and those who notice do not pay attention to it at right time, as a result either way, hair loss occurs. Hair loss is treatable but at a certain time period. When the disorder crosses its limit it then also becomes untreatable.
Hair loss among women is usually caused by hormonal changes, stress, long term illness, intake of strong and prolonged medicines and pregnancy. These are the major reasons for what women usually suffer from hair loss. Hair loss also can be held due to improper intake of food, lack of vitamins, improper menstruation cycle or any other side effect. Hair loss among women can have a big common factor of DHT increment. The increased level of DHT makes the hair follicle ill, this lead to hair loss. Hair loss occurs in different patterns, among women the hair from front gets thinning, at early stage this doesn’t seem to appear prominently, but later on one gets shocked to see such a big loss that itself become a stress itself.
Hair loss remedies are bulk, some home remedies work a lot and a lot of therapies are also offered in market. Medicines both allopathic and homeopathic are both suitable to women but still a lot of difference is created in fake medicines and original medicines.
Many people adopt the usage of hair loss medicines, but of course it doesn’t suit merely to all people. Anyhow before any medication it is important to know the real cause of hair loss so that the doctor proposes the accurate and according medication and medicines. In different regions, hair loss among women occurs in different reasons.
The hair loss among women is common and same occurring like that among men. It is equally a disorder, and needs the same attention as men pay to their hair loss. Hair loss among women occurs in between the age of 15 -40. Hair loss is caused in major due to stress, and itself hair loss is a stress. Women might have more fear regarding hair loss as its acceptance in society is a big matter. More over, before the treatment would start, there is a big issue of selection of products, the right medication and the right effect. It is good to follow up the steps of an experienced person, who have already attempted a medication and has improved hair health, but this doesn’t mean you carry on the same medications as the other did, you need to consult the same doctor, as its not necessary your hair loss reason is same as to the one who is experienced.
You should seek guidance of the product company, yourself and your budget before making any attempt for treating hair loss at high expense. Hair loss is natural, but if the extent is high, or you feel hair loss is at stage of maximum level then you must seek guidance of your physician.

Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.
Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.
Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as a strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.
First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.
Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.
For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.
Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.
A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.
Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall perception of ourselves.
A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establish place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.
It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.
Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the phycological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.
Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self esteem.
Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.
Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay attention.
Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.
Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as or hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.
Although medical research is on going, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.
Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.
The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.
Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.
Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss
Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.
Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care
Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth. Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of the scalp.
Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so handle with care.
Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the natural luster of your hair.
Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the scalp.
Healthy Lifestyle
Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are. I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at peace with who you are. Remember, that for some, hair grows back as mysteriously as it disappeared.