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Natural Hair Loss Products

Hair loss is a problem that can actually be a very harrowing experience for people who suffer from this grave problem. Unlike the popular myth that it is men alone who suffer from hair loss, many women also experience similar situations whereby they witness constant shedding of their hair. In fact, in women hair fall cause much worry and anxiety as hair are taken to be their beauty symbol. This makes them look for some good hair fall products so that they can save their pretty mane. Among the major causes of hair fall in both men and women include various allergic reactions, chemical reactions, lingering illness or various hormonal imbalances that take place inside the body. In women, these hormonal changes basically occur at the time of pregnancy, menopause or when they intake birth control pills while in men it occurs due to low testosterone levels.

These days as medical science has advanced much farther, it is possible to get hair loss treated. There are plenty of amazing oils, potions and pills that can help in growing that beautiful mane back once again. In fact, there are some good surgeries like the hair transplants that also offer with a permanent solution to hair fall that can be opted for. Being a little expensive, this option is usually ruled out by most of the people that leave oils, creams and pills as the most popular means for achieving great flowing hair. All these methods are the ones that consume time and are gradual. While some of them do not even offer a permanent solution, some like the chemically composed pills may cause some side effects on the person concerned. In such a case, natural hair loss products are the best alternative.

If you are also suffering from the problem of hair fall, then natural hair loss products are what you should really opt for. It is so because they are not only absolutely safe to use, but far more effectual and result bearing. Most herbal products for treating hair loss have Aloe Vera as their main constituent. This gel-based substance is applied over the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles for increased hair growth. This is thereby also referred to as a natural wonder drug for treating baldness. Other items that also aid in natural hair growth include the saffron oil, onion, red pepper and others such things. The saffron oil is incredible in soothing the dilated vessels and hereby providing the hair follicles with the required nutrition. As onion is a great source of sulfur, it can be easily used. The apple cedar and vinegar tea are also known to help nourish your scalp and thereby to proliferate the hair growth. Brahmi, cinnamon, mulberries, jatamansi, clam shell and olive can be used as natural hair loss products.

To have a prospering hair growth it is essential that you intake a balanced diet. There are certain nutrients that are required by your hair follicles in large amounts and thus you should make sure that you eat ample to suffice for the nutritional needs of the body and hair. You can also supplement these needs with the various diet products that are available in the market easily so that you can restore that beautiful hairstyle once again and flaunt your style with panache.

 

Hair Loss: Patterns and Causes in Men and Women

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

 

Hair Loss in Men; Myths and Truths

Hair Loss: one of the most confounding conditions men and women have ever struggled with. People consider their hair as kings consider their crown; an important part of one’s identity, an important part of one’s self. Hair and hair loss are often considered as indicators of one’s youth. People tend to assume that hair loss only occurs to old individuals and though untrue they also often equate hair loss with aging. That is why people are always appalled whenever faced with the possibility of hair loss. Hence we often do whatever they can and believe whatever we hear just to make sure that we get to keep that precious hair of ours as thick and as healthy as can be.

The real causes of hair loss or alopecia, as it is clinically known, have already been explained by science, however, before we proceed to know the real causes of hair loss, let us first see and examine the prevalent myths about why hair loss occur in men.

Now, Myth Number One: We often see TV personalities and even some doctors say that stress makes your hair fall out! Although it is unclear whether stress coming from severe life events can cause alopecia, there are case reports indicating that this may be so. It is however very rare and frequently no cause can be found for severe and rapid developing alopecia. Patients who have suffered hair loss following a stressful event may still benefit from specific treatment to assist in hair re-growth.

Myth Number Two: We often hear that bad blood circulation starves the hair follicles which make them fall out. Although patients with poor blood circulation do not appear to be more likely to suffer from alopecia, tight fitting hats and wigs may cause hair loss in a very small minority of people. The mechanism is still unclear but if it occurs, this may be due to the impairment of blood flow in the scalp. That is why extreme care should be taken by alopecia sufferers who wear these garments on their heads.

Myth Number Three: when your hair is dirty it damages the hair and it falls out!
Just not true! The worst thing it may do is irritate your scalp and make your hair smell. How many times at school did you have dirty hair and get away with not washing it for a couple of days? Did you lose hair then? Of course not.

Myth Number Four: Shaving one’s head will cause the hair to grow back thicker. This is just not true. In fact, if you are suffering from androgenic alopecia, this will actually severely quicken your hair loss.

Myth Number Five: Dandruff causes permanent hair loss. This is simply not true. Dandruff is a condition of the scalp, not the hair. Dandruff occurs because of the excessive shedding of cells on your scalp skin. For dandruff sufferers, the natural process of scalp-cell renewal is accelerated when fighting off P. ovale, a normal fungus found on every human head.

Now what really causes androgenic alopecia or hair loss in men?

Now there are the DHT and the Androgen Receptors. Testosterone is an androgen hormone which is essential for the healthy development of the body and the maintenance of the secondary sexual differences we see between men and women. Testosterone is converted by an enzyme (namely, 5-alpha reductase) to form dihytestosterone or what we know as DHT. This conversion occurs in the peripheral tissues around the body and results in higher levels of DHT in the scalp and in the blood. Although the mechanisms are not quite clear, scientists believe that DHT is plays a major part in the development of androgenetic alopecia.

From puberty onwards, androgens interact with the genetically determined androgen-sensitive hair follicles, resulting in a sequence of events. This process includes gradual miniaturisation of the hair follicles, alteration of the hair growth cycle and eventually results in small thin hair follicles – hence, the patient will experience thinning and loss of hair. To alter the process and redress the balance of hair loss, products that inhibit DHT production, or interfere with the binding of the DHT, along with products that promote hair growth can be used.

When we have the situation detailed above our bodies react by considering these hair follicles as foreign objects that need to be dealt with! This is an auto-immune response. The body then rejects these hair follicles and this exacerbates the situation. Symptoms include itching scalp, tingling and inflammation of the scalp. You should consider the use of a shampoo that treats this irrespective of the hair loss solution you choose.

Hair loss in men or androgenic alopecia can be lessened and reduced, even stopped. All you need to do is know the right information about alopecia and do the right things to combat hair loss. There are lots of hair loss treatment medicines available out there; all you need to do is to know which one is the right one for you, depending on the extent of the hair loss. Remember, that the longer you wait to treat your hair loss, the harder it will be to achieve good results. So if you want to win this hair loss battle, stand up and do it now! The quicker you take action the easier it’s going to get.

Hair Loss Treatments: Which One is the Right One?

As the cause of hair loss tend to vary with every individual, so is the Hair Loss treatment used to combat hair loss. Choosing the right treatment to your condition is very essential in ending alopecia as soon as possible.
Now what are the things you should look at in choosing the right hair loss treatment for your condition? First of all, you should evaluate at what kind of hair loss you have. People lose hair in several different ways, the most common of which are: Receding Hair Line (Thinning Hair) centralised loss on the top back (vertex) or thinning hair without a receding hair line. Depending on these factors, you’ll know what the extent of treatment you want to have for your hair.
To better know on what kind of hair loss you have, you can go here to Evaluate your hair Loss.
Once you have evaluated the type of hair loss you have and identified the extent of the treatment you have to do. Your choice might be one or a combination of any of the common treatments. Currently, there are five (5) solutions commonly available in the market; DHT inhibitors, Super Oxide Dismutase Treatments, Growth Stimulators, Anti-Androgens and Anti-Inflammatories.
DHT Inhibitors
DHT or dihytestoserone is a converted testosterone, the hormone which helps maintain the secondary sexual differences between men and women. However, when much of the testosterone is converted into DHT, it bonds with Androgens and proceed to slow hair growth down, this usually leads to the development of androgenic alopecia. DHT inhibitors reduce or inhibit the production of DHT therefore preventing the root of androgenic alopecia/
Super Oxide Dismutase Treatments / Immune System Treatments
When excess DHT is produced it usually causes inflammation of the scalp. This is because your body consider hair follicles as foreign objects and start attacking them. The body produce Super Oxide Dismutase to combat the supposed foreign objects, what Super Oxide Dismutase does is that it reduces the levels of Super Oxides reducing the chances of hair follicle loss.
Growth Stimulators
Growth stimulators promote hair growth in the scalp. While not really addressing the root cause of hair loss, they are very successful in cosmetically changing your appearance. This is often enough with most people and has great benefits in the perception and thinking of individuals experiencing hair loss. Growth Stimulators are best used in conjunction with other hair loss treatments and remedies that treat hair loss at its root cause.
Anti-Androgens
When the body produces DHT it bonds with androgens and when this process occurs, hair loss starts to set in. Anti-Androgens help stop DHT from binding with Androgens by obstructing or blocking androgen receptors on cells, significantly reducing the chances of DHT reaching the androgens and starting the hair loss process. Blocking the Androgen receptors is the first step in stopping the binding of DHT and Androgen and therefore stops the hair follicles from being damaged.
Anti-Inflammatory
As a result of DHT binding on Androgens, the immune system starts attacking on the hair follicles and the scalp becomes inflamed, irritated, flaky and itchy. Anti-Inflammatory treatments and remedies help treat and lessen the effects of these symptoms thus raising the chances for the overall success of your hair loss regimen.
All in all these hair loss treatments/remedies are best used in conjunction or along with others to be more effective in combating hair loss. Using one is just fine, and would help treat your hair loss problems with their intended benefits.