Can hair loss occur in teenagers?

Male-pattern hair loss can occur as early as 15, although it typically begins anywhere from the 20s and early 30s. Familial history may help determine if this is going to occur, as parents with a history of early-onset male-pattern hair loss may increase the risk for this to occur in descendants.

Alopecia areata and telogen effluvium, two other forms of temporary hair loss, can occur in children as young as one year of age. Other precipitating factors may also be involved.

What is the cause of sudden hair loss?

Stressors to your system, such as illness, high fever, pregnancy, extreme weight loss or gain, and drug use, can cause temporary hair loss. This occurs when the ratio of growing to resting hairs is upset and more of the growing hair shifts into a resting phase.

A greater quantity of normally sleeping hairs falls out, prompting a visit to the trichologist.

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/

It was during this use that hair growth was noted in patients with hair loss. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown; most experts feel that it causes dilation of the blood vessels in the scalp and increased exposure of the hair follicle to I’ve made this flow.

It has been shown to work best on the top all the of the head and less well at the angles. Its words in predominant effect is to decrease loss and maintain the existing growth.

Are high-strength Minoxidil formulas better than lower-strength ones and is there a natural equivilant?

There are two forms of topical minoxidil available over the counter today: two percent and five percent. It is generally felt that the five percent is more effective in preserving existing hair mention and stimulating new growth. The five percent of natural alternative solution is not recommended for use in women because of possible increased hair growth on the sides of the face.

This growth is temporary, however, and some practitioners do use it after explaining the full range of possible side effects and complications to the individual. The five percent solution is definitely better at maintaining and promoting new hair growth.

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/

The very best type of diet to prevent hair loss is one that is high in protein and iron. This involves eating green, leafy vegetables and foods that don’t contain much fat such as soy and yogurt. It is helpful to drink Aloe Vera juice and to add sesame seeds to your salads. Another great juice is made from lettuce and spinach leaves mixed with carrot juice. Make sure you consume plenty of the Vitamins A and C.

There are a variety of herbs that are known to effectively fight hair loss. Depending on the type of herb, it can be swallowed, ground into a paste, or in the form of a lotion that you rub on your scalp.

Common herbs used for this include Kuttannati, Gunja, Malati, and Karavira. Oil massages can be beneficial too because they help improve the level of circulation to the scalp which promotes hair growth. It helps if you gently tug and the roots of the hair while you are massaging the scalp. Popular massaging oils include coconut oil, Vitamin E oil, Brahmi oil, and Bahringaraj oil.

Aromatherapy combined with essential oils is great of ayurveda as well. The best essential oils to try are Bay, Cedar Wood, grapefruit, Jojoba, Lavender, lemon, Chamomile, and Rosemary. You can add such essential oils to the water you use to rinse your hair after you have shampooed it. Some people prefer to add the oils to vegetable oil and then massage it into the scalp.

Ayurveda should be viewed as a way of life that involves balancing the physical properties, philosophy, spirituality, and a person’s lifestyle. Meditation and breathing exercises should be part of your lifestyle as they help calm your spirit and your mind. Yoga can be helpful too as some of the inverted exercises will help you get more circulation to your scalp.

For the best results with ayurveda, schedule an appointment with an ayurvedia practitioner. Don’t be tempted to make changes to your diet and rub various oils on your scalp. You need to be prepared to make the necessary lifestyle changes to treat your hair loss effectively.

Learn more information on hair treatment centers and Hartz flea and tick treatment. MedicalHairTransplantation.org is a comprehensive resource to help individuals with hair loss identify treatment options such as hair transplant.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m just an average looking guy. I am tall and have always stayed in good shape and have always had a friendly and good sense of humor. Because I’m a bigger guy, people seem to make friends with me as I may make them feel comfortable. This is how it had always been since I was twenty years old. However, it wasn’t happening anymore. Inside I was still the same sarcastic, humorous and friendly person but on the outside I must have appeared to look like a loner or a psycho-serial killer.

I have never went out of my way to make new friends. However, occasionally when you would just come across people I was getting negative reactions. I knew that there was nothing at all different about me except for one thing. I was still big and had a good body, I was still tan, I still had nice, clean white teeth. I still wore brand new expensive shirts. The only thing that had changed was my hair. It was thinning and looked miniaturized and it was very apparent.

I knew that this was my only draw back but I really didn’t know what to do about it. I always made a good living and the thought of hair transplants was totally out of the question. I thought about just shaving it as it seemed “that look” was becoming more common. But I could just never come to do it as I always had this thought in my mind that there was a solution.

I bought a bottle of Propecia and for some reason I kept it in my medicine cabinet for about 6 months. I think that I was scared to take it. Everything that I had read seemed to imply that there were too many side effects. At the time, I hadn’t began to do any real research.

So I just hung in there and decided to start scouring the internet and do as much research as possible. I went to the discussion forums and I started to listen to a radio talk show about hair loss. The more that I researched, I started to realize that I must take the Propecia right away or my hair is going to start looking worse.

Even though I was still a little nervous I finally made a decision and I just went for it. I went to a Dermatologist and requested a prescription and he agreed that my hair was miniaturized and he felt that I would be a perfect candidate for Propecia. I had read in these forums that others were experimenting with this “big three” regimen and when I decided to get the prescription for the propecia, I would also start on the other two products as well. My plan was to give myself one full year of taking the three products and I would pray that the routine would work. After ninety days I was starting to see progress. As each month went by I would tell myself that I’m at 15% and now I’m at 20% and so on. Now that I look back, I see that I was being way too conservative. When I thought that I was at 50% of the way there and on the road to recovery, I was probably really only at 20%. I still had another 80% of improvement to go. As some people would say, I hadn’t even “scratched the surface”

After almost three years of this regimen I must say that I am very happy and that my results are definitely better then expected. I was a guy who had obvious hair loss to anybody that knew me or not. Now I’m a guy that still has a little frontal recession and still a little thinning in the crown and for the most part has a significant amount of hair.

I went out to a local establishment recently and a 27 year old guy talked to me for about an hour and he told me that he was 27 and that I’m “what 32,33?” I said try 39. He said “really, wow you actually look about 32 and you seem like a 32 year old” Of course the first thing that comes to your mind is that he was just trying to be nice and just complementing me. But I really believe that he was sincere as I have been getting a lot of this kind of treatment for the past year.

I can go out now and I have that magnetism again where people want to know me or talk to me instead of looking at me like I’m some crazy man. I still wear the nice shirts, I still work out and my body still looks as good as it did when I was 36, my teeth are still nice and white and I still look tan. The only thing that is different is my hair. It doesn’t look thin and miniaturized anymore. It looks like a normal full head of hair.

I truly believe that the way your hair looks tells a lot about a person’s age. The hair is the frame for your face and I must say I know that my hair looks 10 times better today then it did back when I was 36. You would think that since I have androgenic alopecia that my hair would look thinner and worse each year.

Actually the reverse has happened for me and time is actually on my side instead of against me because I have reversed the progression of my hair loss. Instead of having a higher level of DHT in my scalp miniaturizing my existing hair follicles, I take finasteride, better known as Propecia. Finasteride has been proven to block Type II 5 alpha reductace, the enzhyme that converts testosterone to DHT.

Although Propecia is the main player of The Big Three, there are still two other products that I feel must be taken. The three products taken together seem to work in a synergistic manner. Propecia does its thing, minoxidil has its role and nizoral also plays a key part. However, one plus one plus one equals four as far as the overall effect of the treatments. Nizoral makes Minoxidil more effective and Mixoxidil works better when taking propecia.

I have been taking the Big Three now for almost three years and I must say the regimen has really changed my life.

About The Author

Mark Brassia is a consumer advocate who has been researching the hair loss industry for about four years. He handles many calls and emails from consumers who have been ripped off by scams and bad hair loss products. He is a hair loss sufferer himself and has spent thousands of dollars on many products that din not work and he has good advice if you are dealing with hair androgenic alopecia. The web site is http://www.ReGrowNow.com and it is set up to educate the hair loss sufferer with real facts, articles and information.

Of course, there is no denying the fact that baldness is more prevalent and more apparent in males than in females. However, women suffer more than men when they sense that they are losing hair at an abnormal pace because females tend to attach a great deal of importance to the quality and quantity of hair. And why shouldn’t it be, given the fact that hair are an integral part of feminine charm.

In some cases, female baldness can be hereditary. Mostly, menopause brings hair loss in women, which is determined by one’s genetic heritage. In other words, if a female loses hair in menopausal stage, it is because her mother too suffered from hair loss at that particular stage of her life.

Another cause for female baldness are certain ailments, especially those that come with extended bouts of high fever. Among them are typhoid fever and scarlet fever. Such fevers are a medically established cause of hair loss. There are certain medications, the use of which may also result in hair loss. But in such cases hair loss is gradual.

Malnutrition and a dysfunctional endocrine system have also been found to trigger a slow hair loss.

Fungal infections can also cause hair loss. These fungal infections are chronic bacterial attacks or a result of the presence of ringworms.

Chemotherapy tends to destroy all the rapidly developing cells including the hair follicles, as they also consist of active cells. The baldness thus caused is not temporary but total.

A condition called Alopecia universalis also causes permanent loss of body hair including those on the head and those that form the eyelashes and eyebrows. The causes of the ailment is not fully known and the research is on in this area.

What is quite apparent is a fact that female hair loss does not set in early phase of life unless there are some other reasons for it, like some ailment or malnutrition. So, no cause for beauty-worries for the young ladies and for the relatively older ones, too. Things are pretty much bright unless the genes are unfavourable.

Ashish Jain

About The Author

To get more information on hair loss, hair loss and women and hair loss treatment visit http://www.hair-loss-updates.com/.

It is a widely-known dilemma affecting over 30 million women in the United States alone, which is according to the American Dermatology Academy. It doesn’t only affect older women, even girls at a tender age of 15 or 16 can develop this dreaded problem – female hair loss.

What can possibly cause hair loss in women? Here are some of the speculated culprits of female hair loss:

Blame it on your parents.

Yes, genes or having genetic predisposition to succumb to this problem is one of the major causes of hair loss. Checking if your grandma or aunts are suffering from hair loss can help inform you of your future with your tresses. Those with genetic predisposition to develop hair loss usually suffer from androgenic alopecia. It is a condition wherein androgen, a type of hormone which is aplenty with men, interferes with the normal cycle of hair growth. Androgenic alopecia used to be the most popular cause of hair loss.

You could be sick of something.

Sometimes female hair loss is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Such conditions that can cause female balding include polycystic ovary syndrome. Other conditions include autoimmune disorders. These autoimmune disorders can cause alopecia areata, hair loss in a less dramatic level. Alopecia areata is an inflammatory condition which can make hair come out in patches or clumps.

Medical conditions such as anemia, a viral or fungal infection, anorexia or bulimia, liver disease, essential fatty acid deficiency, zinc deficiency, too much vitamin A, thyroid disorders and other chronic diseases can also be at fault when female hair loss is experienced. Some women who also undergo medications such as chemotherapy or taking in or stopping certain birth pills, amphetamines, bromocriptine, anti-cholesterol agents, etc., can also be one root cause of hair loss.

Other conditions that can cause a certain type of hair loss known as telogen effluvium include crash dieting, child birth, menopause, a traumatic emotional event or surgery. This female hair loss condition is usually temporary and happens because the natural growth cycle of the hair gets altered.

Habits can also cause female hair loss. These habits are hair pulling, overuse of scrunchies, overuse of hair products, etc. Stress can trigger hair pulling and other habits that can cause hair to come out.

So how does female hair loss get treated?

Experts in treating hair loss in female recommend diagnosing the main cause of this condition first before attacking it with any treatment plan.

If your thinning hair is because of an oily scalp, doctors would recommend that you shampoo your hair more frequently.

If it’s a habit that is causing hair loss, psychological help is usually of great help. But if it’s another medical condition, such as anemia, or thyroid disorder another treatment plan will abate female hair loss. Getting this disorder diagnosed early will also prove to avoid aggravation of this condition.

Also, although taking in vitamins won’t cure hair loss, a healthy diet replete with the essential vitamins and minerals can help make sure that your hair is in good health, too.

About the author

Charlene J. Nuble For All the things you need to know about hair loss, please go to: http://www.all-hairloss.com/

My personal preference is to use jojoba oil. I buy it at my local natural foods store. I like to scent it with a bit of lavender oil too, since I love that scent.

It takes very, very little oil to do the job. My hair copes pretty well with being long, so I find I do best by only oiling the last few inches. If I do much more, my hair shortly looks oily, and that’s not the look I’m after.

I added the lavender oil to the jojoba before using it, right in the bottle.

The thing to remember is that you hardly need any oil at all. Put a drop or two in your palm, rub your hands together and stroke your hair smoothly between your hands. Just on the ends, as I said before. It really doesn’t take a lot.

If you need extra help for all your hair, try oiling the entire length of your hair before bed, and wash it out in the morning. This will give the oil time to soak in.

Of course, jojoba isn’t the only oil that works well. Coconut oil is quite popular, although it has a stronger scent. Some use olive oil straight from the kitchen cabinet. If you aren’t sure about putting oil in your hair, you can start with that, but a lighter oil really is better in the long run.

What does the oil do for you? It keeps your hair moist and flexible, so it doesn’t break so easily. If you want your hair to grow long, that’s vital.

If you do choose add a scent to your oil, make sure it is one that is safe for your hair. Some essential oils are really not good for your hair.

Oiling your long hair is one of those things where you’ll feel the difference in the texture of your hair quickly, but it will take time to see a difference in how long it grows. After all, it takes a long time for hair to grow. But if you’re serious about having really long hair, it’s an easy step to add to your routine.

About The Author

Stephanie Foster enjoys the pleasure of having long hair, even when it takes a little extra effort. You can learn more about long hair care at http://www.whylonghair.com/category/long-hair-care/.

These cycles are as follows:

ANAGEN

This is the growth cycle in which cells divide and elevate to the upper portion of the hair bulb, as dead cells. Hairs in this growth stage become longer and larger. The anagen cycle normally runs in durations of two to seven years.

CATAGEN

During the catagen stage the hair is separated from it’s nutritional source and hair growth stops. The follicle begins to shrink and no melanins, which create hair color, are added. The duration of this cycle is normally two to three weeks.

TELOGEN

During this cycle (which ranges in time from one to four months) the hair either falls out or is forced out by new growth.

With a normal growing head of hair the anagen cycle begins again at this stage. Each individual hair is totally independent. The anagen stage normally involves between eighty-five percent and ninety five percent of the total number of hairs on one’s scalp.

The catagen stage normally involves less than one percent of the total amount of scalp hairs.

The telogen cycle involves five to fifteen percent of total scalp hairs. When you are losing hair through pattern hair loss, the catagen and telogen stage are not accelerated but instead, the anagen stage diminishes on a gradual basis with the hair growing finer and finer and also shorter until growth is virtually invisible.

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/

There are many rumors and myths concerning dreadlocks, as there is little proper information available concerning this style, and as with anything that is misunderstood many myths arise around it.

Dreadlocks can and must be washed; otherwise they will smell badly like any other dirty hair. The best process to use to wash dreadlocks is to use a residue-free shampoo. Most commercially made shampoos leave residue and can cause hair not to lock, lending fuel to the rumor that hair had to be dirty to form dreadlocks.

Clean hair actually locks much better than dirty hair, as dirt is a residue in itself that will inhibit hair from locking. For best results one should use a fragrance free, conditioner free shampoo.

Dreadlocks do not react well to oily and greasy substances, yet there are many good substances that are on the market today that will assist you in forming dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are formed through a process, not simply by not combing or brushing the hair. Generally, one should start with hair about two inches in length, and the hair should be separated into even squares of hair and twisted gently together using a bonding or gel substance.

Many use natural beeswax containing no petroleum, while others use loc and twist gels specifically formulated for locks. Once the hair is separated and twisted into small locks, it is important that they are left alone and allowed to bond naturally.

The length of time it will take to lock will depend on the coarseness of your hair, but one can normally expect to wait several months before locks begin to form. While the hair is locking, it will need to be washed.

Here is where washing should be extended for a while if possible, so that the hair can be allowed to lock for two weeks to about a month without manipulation.

When you do wash your hair, use a stocking cap or “do-rag”, and low-pressure water to make sure that the newly forming locks do not come loose. It will be necessary to rinse for a much longer time than you normally do, because of the lower pressure of the water and the lack of direct manipulation of your hair with your hands.

The water is good for your hair and locking process, so this is not a problem. It is also imperative as indicated before that you use a shampoo that does not contain a conditioner and leaves as little residue as possible. A little research on your part will be necessary here; your health food store should contain a variety of natural shampoos.

Have a skilled professional or a friend re-twist the hair gently, reapplying the twist gel or beeswax that you used previously. Repeat this process every two weeks to a month, the longer you are able to wait the better, and within a few months your hair will begin to lock.

Again, if you have a fine grade of hair rather than a kinky grade of hair, a beautician skilled at forming locks (“locktitian”) or a friend who is very familiar with the hairstyle should be consulted.

Even though dreadlocks are mainly a hairstyle for Blacks, there are other races that have people that enjoy the hairstyle. In general, it tends to be a style of hair that in the long run will give the hair and scalp needed rest from the rigors of chemical and heat treatments and rigorous combing and brushing, and therefore can contribute to longer life for your hair.

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 1 

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 2
How To Look After Black Hair - Part 3 - Dreadlocks 

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/

This is why these same products are used in products like Drano® to clean clogged drains which often are clogged by hair. No-lye relaxers are very popular today, mainly because it leads people to believe that the product is not caustic. This is far from the truth.

The combination of calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate are combined to form guanidine hydroxide, which could just as easily clean a sink. Repeated use of such products can cause some degree of hair loss, and if scarring occurs while using these chemicals, the hair loss can be permanent in that area of the scalp.

One must ask themselves is it wise to place such caustic chemicals in the hair on a regular basis for the sake of desired appearance?

The question must be answered by each individual, however the facts should be known. There is little that can be done to alleviate this syndrome without changing the typical hairstyles of African Americans. There is a catch-22 concerning relaxing Black hair, since combing natural Black hair causes so much stress and breakage of hair, while chemicals cause so much harm to the hair and scalp as well.

There are a few hair-relaxing products on the market that use chemicals and are somewhat less harsh than sodium hydroxide (lye) or its popular equivalent in “no-lye” relaxers: calcium hydroxide (quicklime) mixed with guanidine carbonate.

One such product is called Natural-Laxer® and Sahara Clay® by Baka ProductsTM that has been on the market since 1990. This product is all natural and because it does not contain many of the harsh chemicals of commercial relaxers and actually contains only a finely ground plant called Daphne Gnidium and clay from Africa it is figured to be relatively safe.

Of course this product does not straighten hair in most instances the same way as commercial relaxers, however it does tend to make Black hair more manageable. There is yet another product on the market that is reported to be 92-96% natural which is called Naturalaxer Kit In A Jar™ that does not require the applicant to comb through the hair during the application, which results in a lot less damage.

Of course the bottom line is once again, if you can leave your hair in its natural state then you will experience less stress and damage to the hair and thus prevent at least one cause of hair loss.

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 1 

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 2
How To Look After Black Hair - Part 3 - Dreadlocks 

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/ 

The many styling methods utilized on Black hair cause concern with hair loss. Black hair is very strong, fortunately so because Black hair styles cause a great deal of Stress on the hair and scalp.

For example, using a hair pick to pick the hair up to a bushy style is a very damaging process due to the constant pulling causing stress on the hair shaft as well as the follicle. In fact, combing Black hair in general can create high stress on Black hair and cause breakage, which perpetuates dryness.

Conrowing and braiding are methods of hairstyling that pull the hair tight, and this can cause a great deal of stress on the hair and scalp resulting in hair loss.

Braiding that results in the hair being pulled very tight can cause traumatic alopecia, a hair loss that is caused by trauma to the hair and scalp. Traumatic alopecia is usually reversible with proper hair care.

Hot combs and relaxers used to straighten hair can cause a great deal of heat and chemical damage to hair and scalp, which can also cause traumatic alopecia, and over time can cause permanent hair loss. This becomes especially true when the heat or chemically processed hair is pulled tight by rollers or a hot curling iron.

Hot oil conditioners are excellent for Black hair, as hot oil treatments contain proteins and polymers vital to repairing the hair cuticles. Hot oil treatments involve heating the oil and putting it into the hair and scalp, then covering the hair with a plastic cap to allow the oil to soak in.

Follow the recommendations on the treatment you are using for the amount of time you should leave the treatment on the hair. This process can heal breakages and shinier stronger hair will be the result.

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 1 

How To Look After Black Hair - Part 2
How To Look After Black Hair - Part 3 - Dreadlocks 

About the Author:

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

http://www.thewestminsterpractice.com/ 

In one of my other articles, I revealed that plugged hair follicles are one of the main conditions that start hair thinning and baldness.  The other condition is insufficient blood circulation in the scalp.

When you don’t have enough blood circulating in your scalp, then your hair roots don’t get enough nutrients to support the life and strength of your hair in the follicle.

The hardest place to get good circulation is at the top of your scalp.  It is the furthest point away from your heart.  It is the area that is less stimulated.  The sides of your head are stimulated as you sleep and move your head around the pillow.  That is one reason why most people still have hair on the sides of their head while the top is completely bald.

So what the ways you can increase blood circulation to the top of your head?

Here are two ways to do it.

1. Use herbal remedies to increase body and scalp blood circulation

2. Use hot and cold hydrotherapy

Use herbal remedies to increase body and scalp blood circulation

There are several herbs that provide increase circulation to all parts of the body.  Two good standby remedies are ginkgo biloba and cayenne pepper.  Use ginkgo biloba as indicated on the label. Ginkgo increases the blood circulation in the brain and all parts of the head.

Use Cayenne pepper in the formulation made of Heart Foods Company.  This Cayenne strengthens the heart giving it the ability to pump blood to the furthest reaches of the body.

There are two other herbal formulations that have recently come out to provide increase circulation to all parts of the body – vital cell and Arjuna.

Vital cell is a Chinese herbal combination that is available in the US. It is a powerful remedy that helps to re-establish small veins that have closed off.  This creates more pathways for blood to go where it is needed and where it once went.

Arjuna is another herb that comes from another country – India.  It is now readily available in the US.  Arjuna is the latest herb to be exposed as good for preventing and reducing arthrosclerosis.  By reducing narrowing of the arteries in the head, strokes can be avoided and a side benefit is the scalp get more blood.

Use Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy

I have talked about this natural way of bringing more blood into the scalp.  It’s a technique I use every time I shower.  At the end of your shower, run hot water over your head for 20 seconds, turn the hot water off and allow the cold water to run over your head for 20 seconds.

Do this hot-cold water technique three – four times and end with the cold water.  This technique allow blood to move in and out of the lower layers of your scalp giving you a blood massage and providing more nutrients to your hair roots.  As a side benefit, you are bringing in more blood to your brain giving you more brain power as long as use this technique.

Use herbs to improve you blood circulation to your scalp and use hot-cold water to blood massage your scalp.  By doing this, you will find less hair loss and you may even start to see some hair growth.

Aout the Author

Rudy Silva is a Natural Nutritionist.  To get more tips and remedies for preventing hair loss and for growing hair go to:  http://www.hair-loss-remedies.for–you.info

High fever, severe infection, severe flu

Sometimes one to three months after a high fever, severe infection or flu, a person may experience hair loss, this is usually temporary and corrects itself.

Thyroid disease

Both an overactive thyroid and an underactive thyroid can cause hair loss. Thyroid disease can be diagnosed by your physician with laboratory tests. Hair loss associated with thyroid disease can be reversed with proper treatment.

Deficient diet

Some people who go on low protein diets, or have severely abnormal eating habits, may develop protein malnutrition. To help save protein the body shifts growing hair into the resting phase. If this happens massive amounts of hair shedding can occur two to three months later.

A sign of this is if the hair can be pulled out by the roots fairly easily. This condition can be reversed and prevented by eating the proper amount of protein. Its very important when dieting to maintain an adequate protein intake.

Medications

Some prescription drugs may cause temporary hair shedding in a small percentage of people.

Examples of such drugs include some of the medicines used for the following: gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure, or blood thinner.

High doses of vitamin A may also cause hair shedding.

Cancer treatments

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment will cause hair loss because it stops hair cells from dividing. Hairs become thin and break off as they exit the scalp. This occurs one to three weeks after the treatment. Patients can lose up to 90 percent of their scalp hair.

The hair will regrow after treatment ends and patients may want to get wigs before treatment. There are some drugs in development to help prevent this hair loss from occurring.

Low serum iron

Iron deficiency occasionally produces hair loss. Some people don’t have enough iron in their diets or may not fully absorb iron in their diets.

Women who have heavy menstrual periods may develop iron deficiency.

Low iron can be detected by laboratory tests and can be corrected by taking iron pills.

Major surgery/chronic illness

Anyone who has a major operation - a tremendous shock to the system - may notice increased hair shedding within one to three months afterwards. The condition reverses itself within a few months but people who have a severe chronic illness may shed hair indefinitely.

A relatively unknown fact is that hair transplantation surgery can actually cause additional hair loss or “shock fallout”. Hairs lost from shock fallout usually don’t regrow.

Alopecia Areata

This type of hair loss is believed to be caused by the immune system reacting to hair follicles as if they were antibodies and shutting them down. The hair loss is usually limited to a coin sized area and all the hair in the area is lost leaving a totally smooth round patch.

In a more severe rarer condition called Alopecia Totalis, all hair on the entire body is lost, including the eyelashes. Treatments include topical medications, a special kind of light treatment, or in some cases drugs.

Fungus Infection (Ringworm) of the scalp

Caused by a fungus infection, ringworm (which has nothing to do with worms) begins with small patches of scaling that can spread and result in broken hair, redness, swelling, and even oozing. This contagious disease is most common in children and oral medication will cure it.

Stress

Stress can cause hair loss is some people. Usually it occurs 3 months after the stressful event has occured and it may take 3 months after the stress period has ended for the hair growth to resume.

In most cases it is temporary if the person is not predisposed to genetic or Androgenic Alopecia, if they are stress may trigger the onset of genetic hair loss or may worsen existing Androgenic hair loss.

Trichotillomania or Hair Pulling

Some children and less often adults play with their hair by pulling on it or twisting it. This can be part of a behavioral problem or a bad habit that is often done unconsciously.

If the behavior is not stopped permanent hair loss can result from the constant stress on the hair. Its best to seek the help of a mental health professional to solve this problem.

Hair Styling Treatments

Many people change the appearance of their hair by using chemical treatments like dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, relaxers and permanent waves. If correctly done and done using reputable products, its rare to have any damage.

However, hair can become weak and break if any of these chemicals are used too often. Hair can also break if the solution is left on too long, if two procedures are done on the same day, or if bleach is applied to previously bleached hair.

Some chemical relaxers do contain powerful chemicals and there have been instances of people get chemical burns from these products resulting in permanent hair loss.

Only go to qualified hair stylists and if doing it yourself make sure you only use reputable products and follow the product directions.

Hair Braids & Weaves

Many black women and some black men braid their hair or wear hair weaves. Under normal conditions these cause no problems. However if the weave is attached too tight or the braids are wrapped too tight, they put a constant strain on the hair follicle.

If this is done for an extended period of time permanent hair loss can result.

This is known as Traction Alopecia and is fairly common among people who braid or weave their hair. Make sure the person applying the braids or weave is qualified to do so and don’t wear braids or weaves continuously for extended periods of time.

Author: Gary Heron

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. www.thewestminsterpractice.com

DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone

Dihydrotestosterone is the most common cause of thinning and affects both men and women. Men generally have hair loss concentrated in a specific pattern from the front through to the crown. Women tend to have thinning throughout their head without being in any specific pattern.
Since everyone has DHT that is produced by their bodies and only some people suffer from hair loss there has to be another factor involved. This other factor is having follicles that have a greater number of Androgen receptors for the DHT to attach to. This is the component that is inherited through the genes.

To date the most effective preventative treatments are anti androgens, drugs that prevent the creation of DHT. In the future gene therapy will one day be able to alter the genes to prevent the follicles from being affected by DHT.

Childbirth

After pregnancy many women experience a loss of hair, this is caused many hair simultaneously entering the resting (telogen) phase. Within two to three months after giving birth, some women will notice large amounts of hair coming out in their brushes and combs.

This can last one to six months, but resolves completely in most cases. This condition is caused by the hormonal changes that take place after a woman’s body recovers from her pregnancy.

Birth Control Pills

Women who have a genetic predisposition to suffer from Androgenic Alopecia can have it occur at a much younger age by taking birth control pills.

The hormonal changes that occur trigger the onset of the Androgenic Alopecia. If a woman has a history of female pattern loss in her family she should advise her doctor before going on the pill.

After the discontinuation of the pill the woman may notice that her hair begins shedding two or three months later. This may continue for six months when it usually stops. In some cases the process cannot be reversed and the woman may not regrow some of the hair that was lost.

Author: Gary Heron

Gary Heron is one of Europe’s leading trichologists for the past 20 years dealing directly with every type of hair loss and scalp disorder for both men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. www.thewestminsterpractice.com

During this process something unusual happened. Not only did the wounds heal about 30 percent faster, but a significant stimulation of the follicular cells occurred. As a side effect, these tripeptide complexes actually grew hair around the wound area.

The discovery was so startling that they then applied the same Copper Peptide complex to a female patient who had suffered roughly 90 percent alopecia or, hair loss, for years. After about six months of use, she had recovered almost 100 percent of her hair.

Tests were then conducted with chemotherapy patients and recent hair transplant recipients, all with great success in stimulating newer and stronger hair follicles. The implications of such a startling discovery have gotten the attention of several large companies. Neutrogena, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Dow Chemical are just a few of the big companies that have shown interest in copper peptides.

The discovery could have major implications in the somewhat shady area of the hair growth industry. There are many products that promise amazing results but they usually fail to deliver. Most have some sort of DHT inhibitor with traces of Minoxidil so they can claim Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. There is one company that has been able to take advantage of this and manufacture for the public. Everest R & D Labs, located in California’s Simi Valley.

Incredible advancements in the manufacturing process of Copper Peptide technology are bringing even better results in hair re-growth than the original tests. Some people providing the company with feedback are offering amazing stories, with positive side effects that include the reduction of acne and psoriasis. There have been many reports from both men and women. Reports from women include statements that their graying hair is regaining some of its original pigmentation.

This product has been integrated into a therapeutic shampoo and conditioner called Follipro. As more and more corroborating evidence from research universities around the country become available, the possibilities for this new technology could be far-reaching.

“Frequent hair-pulling traumatizes the follicles and can lead to permanent hair loss,” says Alan J. Bauman, M.D., a leading U.S. expert on hair loss and restoration who’s treated several recovered trichotillomaniacs. “Trichotillomania often leads to the total loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, in addition to bald spots in the scalp.”

The permanent hair loss can make it difficult for recovered trichotillomaniacs to return to a normal life. But according to Dr. Bauman, three new treatments can help these patients regain a natural look:

1. Eyelash Transplantation
   A new surgical procedure that creates new living, growing eyelashes by transplanting hair from the scalp into the upper eyelids. Doctors can create 20 to 50 new lashes per eye in a single session.
2. Eyebrow Transplantation
   Delicate single-follicle transplant procedure that recreates the eyebrows by imitating the unique angle and position of the original hair follicles. Similar to the hair transplant technique used to create undetectable hairline restoration.
3. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
   Minimally invasive, micro-surgical hair restoration procedure that uses tiny donor sites (as opposed to larger “strips” in micro-grafting) to transplant new follicles into balding areas of the scalp.

For more information on hair restoration treatments for recovered trichotillomaniacs, visit www.baumanmedical.com or www.eyelash-transplant.com.

“Hair loss is an important health issue for millions of American men and women, and they need accurate medical information in order to make informed decisions about their treatment options,” said Dr. Bauman.

According to Dr. Bauman, the five most common hair loss myths are:

1. MYTH: Hair loss can be predicted by looking at your mother’s father.

   The Truth: Baldness is inherited, but it’s a combination of genes passed on from both the mother’s and father’s side of the family.

2. MYTH: Hair loss stops after a certain age.

   The Truth: Hair loss is a progressive trait that doesn’t stop at any particular age. Regardless of whether a person still has a full head of hair or thinks they’ve lost all they can, hair loss can increase over time.

3. MYTH: Special shampoos that “unclog” hair follicles can prevent baldness.

   The Truth: There is no scientific proof that follicles can actually “clog” and prevent hair growth.

4. MYTH: Wearing a hat or helmet can cause hair loss.

   The Truth: Headwear like hats and helmets have no effect on hair loss. However, heavy hairpieces that are attached to existing hair by weaves, tape or glue can sometimes lead to hair loss called “traction alopecia.”

5. MYTH: Brushing or massaging the scalp can reduce hair loss.

   The Truth: There is no scientific proof that brushing or massaging the scalp to improve circulation will prevent or reduce hair loss.

Over 80 million American men and women suffer from hair loss, and they spend about $2 billion on treatments each year. For more information about the causes and treatments of hair loss, visit Dr. Bauman’s website at www.baumanmedical.com

Gradually hair transplant has taken a new turn in the span of time with single follicular hair being the standard unit of hair transplant surgery. The hair transplant procedure has now become standardized. A long string of hair transplant starts with the harvesting of donor´s hair. It begins with the excision of 1cm and 20cm long strip of hair from donor site. The strip is tapering at end to facilitate easy removal.

The dissection of strips is the next step. After the strip is excised from the donor site it is handed over to the surgical assistants. Then he cuts the strip into many fine strips with the use of stereoscopic microscope. This process of transplantation of donor strips into many strips is technology termed as silvering.

Earlier most of the hair restoration surgeons used to take help of multi blade knife for cutting the strip into silvers. However after the introduction of stereoscopic dissection of microscope the use of single blade has gained much acceptance. After the completion of slicing of strips, the next hair transplant procedure consists of dissecting of these silvers into categories of grafts again with the use of dissection microscope.

In case of dissection of one–haired follicular unit it is called follicular unit graft, in case of two–haired it is called micro-graft, in case of three haired follicular units it is called mini-graft.

Making slits on the recipient site is the next procedure after micro-grafts and mini-grafts and follicular unit. This is one of the most important procedures. The natural direction of the hair plays an important role in the surgery. The size of the slit is also of immense importance. The size of slit and size of graft to be transplanted should be same. Different sizes of blades are used for different kinds and sizes of follicular units and groups of follicles.

Laser hair transplant is another method. It has proved to give much natural results. In this process a laser beam is used to vaporize a narrow slot in scalp for implanting hair graft. It is capable of transplanting hundreds of graft dramatically and thus also reduces the time of hair transplant surgery.

The first step is to you educate yourself through a variety of information sources. You will find websites in addition to local resources to provide you with information about the different causes of hair loss and their effects. Identifying your particular hair loss causes is the first step in determining the best solution for your condition. By educating yourself as to why you are losing your hair, you be better equipped to identify a successful solution.

Another step that you can take is to visit with your healthcare provider to discuss your hair loss. They determine if you have disease-related hair loss or if it is caused by pre-determined genetics. If you are unsure why you are losing your hair, it is best to consult an expert who can examine your scalp area, as well as your medical history, in order to determine the causes. This will provide you with the the right diagnosis for the causes of your hair loss.

After you have examined these options, you will need to determine what will fit your individual needs and requirements. For example, if you have allergies, are on other medications, or are uncertain about side effects, you may not want to use some available medications to treat your hair loss. You may want to discover if minerals, nutrients, or other available natural solutions will provide you with effective results. This will be determined, in part, on your bodyily reactions, but may also be determined by how much hair loss has already occurred and the severity of the necessary measures to stop the hair loss.

You can also handle your hair loss through the use of cosmetics. If you don’t expect your hair to grow back or if don’t want to expend your time, energy, and money on other solutions, you may want to find a new hair style or look into possible cover ups for your hair. You can consider not doing anything for your hair loss. If you are certain your hair loss is genetically determined, you can take care of your balding areas by applying sunscreen or keeping them out of the sun and accept the resulting change in your looks. While many men may feel uncomfortable balding, there are others who feel it is very fashionable.

If you are coping with thinning, balding or complete loss of your hair, it may be necessary to investigate several available treatment possibilities. This will provide you with the necessary tools and information to help successfully treat your hair loss. There are a variety of sources for the necessary information to make an informed choice.

Linda Williams

Linda Williams contributes to several online magazines, including http://bosiv.com and http://nedod.com.

Although the numbers of men and women experience hair loss or thinning hair is roughly equal, the degree of thinning is usually less for women.

Male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness are terms used to describe the hair loss and both conditions are known as androgenetic alopecia.

This term means hair loss caused by sensitivity to male hormones which exist in both men and women. DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is one of the main enemies in the Hair loss in women war.

DHT is a combination of testosterone and androgen receptors mixed with sebum and dirt particles. DHT has a disastrous effect on the hair follicle so it begins to shut down and the hair eventually falls out. (Sebum is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of which open into hair follicles.)

Sebum buildup in the follicles attacks the hair bulb, the rounded area at the end of a hair strand which is rooted in the follicle. Sebum causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted.

After the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the hair follicle is so damaged it dies.

Many products on the market therefore try and address this problem by effectively cleaning out the Sebum and dirt from the hair follicles.

Women often notice their own hair loss much sooner than it becomes visible to others. By the general feel, texture, and body of their hair, they realize it is getting thin.

Often, just behind the hairline, they notice a roundish shaped area that gets very thin. This rings alarm bells and those women then search out the best treatment.

Rough combing and brushing of the hair and vigorous rubbing with a towel after shampooing can cause it to break, adding further to the problem of Hair loss in women. Wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips are recommended to minimize hair breakage.

Hair loss in women is often connected to pregnancy. Three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

A woman’s body can also be greatly affected by intensive diets and losing a lot of weight in a short period of time.

Hair loss in women can be aggravated further by improper use of chemical hair treatments such as dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves. Generally, healthy hair can undergo these treatments without showing signs of stress, if they are not done too often. However, if hair is breaking or if it becomes brittle it is best to stop these procedures until the hair has grown out.

The constant pulling of hair with styles such as ponytails and braids can sometimes cause Hair loss in women. Avoid pulling the hair tight with these styles.

About the Author:

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: The NewHair Biofactors system stops hair loss within 1 week guaranteed! This hair care range from Nisim International, leaders in hair science for over 20 years, also assists in the growth of new hair. Click here for full details: http://www.1bodycare.com/newhair.htm

Whether you are 20 or 60, hair loss seems to start suddenly and the panic and anxiety associated with it can be devastating. It is relatively acceptable for men to walk around with bald spots or even no hair, but for women, there is no justice in it. It is not socially acceptable for women to have hair loss.

After the initial shock, you are faced with, well, what am I going to do now?

Well, the first thing to do is educate yourself. There are many reasons why women can experience hair loss.

1. Birth control pills can lead to hair loss in some women due to the hormonal changes that occur. It can happen when you’ve begun taking the pills or after you have stopped taking them.
2. Women who have just had a baby can experience hair loss shortly after the birth or a few months later. This is because during pregnancy, estrogen levels increase and the normal shedding of hair does not necessarily take place until the hormones level out and then a mass shedding begins. This is temporary and should sort it self out on its own.
3. Thyroid problems are one of the main causes of hair loss in women. If you have an under active or over active thyroid, women can experience hair loss. A check with you physician can determine if that is the case and steps can be taken to address that problem.
4. Diet can be a cause of hair loss. Whether you are eating a high calorie diet that has few actual nutrients, or you are literally starving your self over a long period of time, your body will be deficient in the nutrients it needs for proper body function. Hair loss in this case can be a symptom of other things going on with your body as well.

To maintain hair health it needs vitamins and minerals. Zinc and iron deficiencies have been linked to hair loss. Hair also needs protein, specifically, amino acids. There are many amino acids but the nine essential amino acids are crucial to hair growth. To help with hair growth, women can also supplement with herbs such as, rosemary, sage and saw palmetto.

There are effective over the counter hair growth products such as Minoxidil that jump start your hair growth while you are correcting what is causing the hair loss.

Hair loss can be devastating but finding the correct cause and treating it from the inside and out, one can have a full head of hair. Be patient, educated and determined to correct it.

Receding hairline

Moderate to extensive hair loss, particularly on the crown of the head.

About ninety-five percent of hair loss in men is attributable to Androgenic Alopecia also know as male pattern baldness.

Some believe this condition includes three factors:

1. Age
2. Heredity
3. The male hormone testosterone

As hair loss in men progresses, the hair becomes finer, does not grow so long and the bald spot at the crown widens.

Finally, the thinning crown and the receding points may meet forming a horseshoe pattern with hair around the sides of the head.

Hair loss in men can begin as early as 20 although for the majority of men, hair loss is more noticeable from the age of 35 to 40.

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is recognized as a main culprit. DHT is a combination of testosterone and androgen receptors mixed with sebum and dirt particles. Some hair follicles are particularly sensitive to DHT and tend to shrink when exposed to it. Finally the hair follicle may shut down altogether and the hair falls out.

Another condition is called Alopecia Areata, in which hair comes out by the roots in one or more spots. It is much less common than Androgenic Alopecia.

Other causes of hair loss in men can include scalp infections, nutritional deficiency, systemic illness, and severe stress.

About the author:

Mike Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendation: The NewHair Biofactors system stops hair loss within 1 week guaranteed! This hair care range from Nisim International, leaders in hair science for over 20 years, also assists in the growth of new hair.

Click here for full details: http://www.1bodycare.com/newhair.htm

Amongst women other factor like pregnancy may also be a viable cause of hair loss. Even certain hairstyles contribute to hair loss like tight hair braiding amid others. Several chemicals are available in the market which can treat hair loss amongst both men and women.

But due to the harmful effects of chemicals, won’t a herbal hair loss treatment be apt? Is there a herbal treatment for hair loss amongst both men and women?

Herbal hair loss treatment, Provillus has been proven effectual for both men and women. Senior marketing executive at Hair Care Tips, Mr. Alan Baker comments, “Provillus is an effective hair loss treatment which can be used by both men and women.

It constitutes a blend of natural ingredients such as biotin, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6 amid others.

This natural blend of ingredients provides the essential nourishment for hair and aids in effective hair-growth”. Provillus is free from any harmful side effects, owing to its all natural ingredients.

So there seems to be a hierarchy in the hair care world. First of all there are the drug store products that you can buy inexpensively but the surveys tell us that women and men that use salon shampoos have over 80% less hair problems – that is very big!

This means that the first step toward better hair is to use a salon professional shampoo. However the next survey tells us that even these women and men are looking for better results. This was the foundation of developing Nourish Hair Care. Most salon products simply treat the hair with dimethicones that make the hair feel better but they do little to work on the health of the hair.

Nourish hair care uses a tri hair care approach. This means that Nourish products focus on the hair root, the scalp and the shaft of the hair. By focusing on all three parts of the hair the results over time are very beneficial. Vitamins for the hair and shampoo treatments for practically all hair types need to nourish the root and heal the scalp and this results in much healthier hair.

Healthier hair is vital for those that treat their hair. Chemicals can damage hair and strip nutrition. By starting with a healthier hair that is loaded with amino acid building blocks and hair vitamins the hair can have a much stronger bond and this resists damage.

So it is up to you! There are products that can make your hair look great and then there are products that can make your hair look great and actually be great by focusing on the health of the hair.

Check out Nourish Brand Hair products online at http://www.nourish-hair-care.com

Hairs don’t actually turn gray. They grow out that way from the scalp, becoming more visible as darker hairs around them fall out.

The decrease in melanin makes hair drier and coarser. As a result, gray hair is especially resistant to dyes, permanents and other treatments.

A stress, illness or severe weight loss causes the older, darker hair to fall out, exposing the gray hair.

A B-12 deficiency, a thyroid imbalance, and anemia can all cause premature gray hair.

The smokers are four times more likely to go gray at a young age.
Age is probably the main factor, although many people get gray hair as early as their teens. The average age for graying to begin is 30 for men, 35 for women.
Genetics play a role; often, early graying runs in families. Race is a factor as well, with white people tending to go gray earlier and faster than those of other races.

Since its launch, nearly 100 Detroit children have received a wig from the Wigs 4 Kids.

By providing custom-fitted, age-appropriate wigs which are individually cut and styled, Wigs 4 Kids helps children feel better about their appearance and look more like their peers.

Read more

He is one of only three prestigious MHR Hair Transplantation Fellowship-trained hair transplant surgeons in all of New England.

Dr. Boden earned Medical Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo after earning departmental honors for his undergraduate work at Vassar.

Following residency at the University of Connecticut/St Francis Hospital and Medical Center, he have served as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Because of his own personal experience as a hair transplantation patient, Dr. Boden can identify with his patients’ concerns and frustrations about their hair loss.

Doctor Boden’s typical patients are men who are losing their hair naturally, but the desired results with female patients would be very much the same.

His hair restoration centers in Manhattan and Fort Lee, NJ are devoted to the treatment of hair loss using these state-of-the-art hair transplant techniques.

Dr. Bernstein also authors popular Hair Transplant Blog.

In 2006 Robert M. Bernstein, MD has been selected as one of New York Magazine’s “Best Doctors” for the seventh year in a row.

Dr. Bernstein is the only hair restoration surgeon honored to be included in this list of prominent physicians for seven consecutive years.

Robert M. Bernstain was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, NY. He went to medical school in Newark at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He then went on to a residency in dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he served as chief resident.

Robert M. Bernstein authored and coauthored over 50 papers on follicular unit transplantation (FUT) addressing issues such as quantifying various aspects of FUs among patients, racial variations, graft sorting, as well as hairline aesthetics, corrective techniques, the use of special absorbable sutures, and FUE and its instrumentation.

Dr. Bernstein has two sons, Michael and Taijiro, and a daughter Nikita. His wife Shizuka, is the owner of Shizuka New York, a popular Day Spa in Manhattan.

That would be grossly unfair. Well, it would be unfair but the fact is even women suffer from hair loss. And if there is something that goes by the expression ‘male pattern baldness’, there is also a thing called ‘female pattern baldness’.

Of course, there is no denying the fact that baldness is more prevalent and more apparent in males than in females. However, women suffer more than men when they sense that they are losing hair at an abnormal pace because females tend to attach a great deal of importance to the quality and quantity of hair. And why shouldn’t it be, given the fact that hair are an integral part of feminine charm.

In some cases, female baldness can be hereditary. Mostly, menopause brings hair loss in women, which is determined by one’s genetic heritage. In other words, if a female loses hair in menopausal stage, it is because her mother too suffered from hair loss at that particular stage of her life.

Another cause for female baldness are certain ailments, especially those that come with extended bouts of high fever. Among them are typhoid fever and scarlet fever. Such fevers are a medically established cause of hair loss. There are certain medications, the use of which may also result in hair loss. But in such cases hair loss is gradual.

Malnutrition and a dysfunctional endocrine system have also been found to trigger a slow hair loss.

Fungal infections can also cause hair loss. These fungal infections are chronic bacterial attacks or a result of the presence of ringworms.

Chemotherapy tends to destroy all the rapidly developing cells including the hair follicles, as they also consist of active cells. The baldness thus caused is not temporary but total.

A condition called Alopecia universalis also causes permanent loss of body hair including those on the head and those that form the eyelashes and eyebrows. The causes of the ailment is not fully known and the research is on in this area.

What is quite apparent is a fact that female hair loss does not set in early phase of life unless there are some other reasons for it, like some ailment or malnutrition. So, no cause for beauty-worries for the young ladies and for the relatively older ones, too. Things are pretty much bright unless the genes are unfavourable.

To get more information on hair loss, hair loss and women and hair loss treatment visit http://www.hair-loss-updates.com/

The recommended daily dose of niacin is 14 mg a day for women and 16 mg a day for men. Taking more than 25 mg a day can result in “niacin flushes” (blood cell dialiation and temporary heat sensation).

“The people speaking to bald guys are Hair Club for Men, Rogaine, hair transplants. They’re all saying it’s not cool to be bald,” says Howard Brauner, Bald Guyz founder. “It’s a market no one’s speaking to.”

Bald Guyz products, which are mostly manufactured in North Florida, are made with natural ingredients such as calendula, green tea extract and chamomile. There’s a shampoo, a 30 SPF sunscreen, head wipes, a moisturizer, a shaving gel and a cleanser/conditioner.
They retail for $4.99 to $9.99 and are sold in 16,400 stores across the country and Brauner just inked contracts with Wal-Mart and CVS.

“People have always been treating bald guys like it’s walking on eggshells. We say embrace your baldness.”

Minoxidil is the only drug or medication approved by the FDA to treat female pattern baldness. Minoxidil may help hair to grow in 20% to 25% of the female population, and in the majority it may slow or stop the loss of hair.

Minoxidil must be used twice a day to be effective. According to clinical studies by Pharmacia& Upjohn, minoxidil works better on those who are younger and whose hair loss is recent.

Up to now about the only documented methods to combat hair loss have been minoxidil (Rogaine) and propecia. Unfortunately, they have a range of unpleasant side effects, including sexual dysfunction.

Rogaine should not be used in pregnancy. Also should not be used by nursing women.

Possible side effect of minoxidil is an itchy scalp. Another drawback is that it must be used for life or any regrown hair will fall out. Also, only those people losing hair on the crown, not in front, are candidates for regrowth.

Japanese researchers have discovered a substance from apples, apple polyphenols or procyanidin B-2, that is effective for regrowing hair.

After studying over 1,000 botantical extracts and conducting clinical trials with double-blind studies, the results were quite conclusive.

The British Journal of Dermatology observed that procyanidin B-2 seems to promote hair growth by prolonging the anagen phase (active growth phase) and shortening the telogen phase (resting phase) in the hair follicle cycle. The result is increased hair growth.

Another study discovered that “The procyanidin B-2 nearly doubled the hair growth of minoxidil (Rogaine).”

Most hair solutions work to block the production of DHT, a male hormone. The downside of blocking DHT is that it is needed for libido.
Procyandin B-2 blocks the production of TGF Beta, a degraded form of DHT. It is actually this TGF Beta that causes the hair follicle to shrink and the hair to fall out. TGF Beta is not needed in sexual function.

This makes procyandin B-2 a safe solution for hair loss without the sexual side effects that can occur with other productions.

Zinc stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune function. Zinc is involved in the health of the immune system, assists vitamin A utilization and is involved in the formation of bone and teeth.

Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry also provide the majority of zinc.

Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain seafood, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Biotin is used in cell growth and metabolism of fats and amino acids. Biotin also plays a key role in metabolizing the energy you get from food. Biotin binds easily to proteins, making it unavailable to your body, which in turn causes biotin deficiency and hair loss.

Fatty acids are a valuable growth factor in numerous processes in the body including the hair.

Hair loss is one of the initial symptoms of biotin deficiency. Other symptoms may include fine and brittle hair, dry skin and fungal infections.

Many dermatologists prescribe biotin supplements to their patients as part of their medical treatment for hair loss.

Many patients who are taking Propecia and Proscar are taking a biotin supplement.

Balding men might find that a Biotin supplement may keep their hair longer.

Biotin is available within multivitamins and B-vitamin complexes, and as individual supplements.

Food sources of biotin include egg yolks, brewer’s yeast, liver, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, walnuts and milk.

Daily dose: 150-300 mcg.

Stem Cells

Research on bald mice can grow hair after being implanted with a type of stem cell could lead to an eventual cure for baldness according to a group of scientists.

Many scientists have been researching whether hair follicles contain “blank slate” stem cells that can give most humans a full head of hair for life. Don’t count on this treatment any time soon. It’s still several years away.

Hair Cloning

The principle behind hair cloning is to produce new hair follicles from certain cells. At its simplest, a few healthy hair follicles can be excised from a biopsy. The follicles are then get dissected to isolate a small ball of cells at the base of each follicle called the dermal papilla.

For the average full grown scalp hair there are about 200-400 cells in each dermal papilla.

These few cells can be cultured in incubators to make several hundred thousand cells within 6 weeks or so. The cells are then implanted into the patients bald skin where the dermal papilla cells induce new hair follicles to develop.

The process is not fully understood, but we do know that dermal papilla cells send out chemical signals called cytokines that tell the skin to produce a new hair follicle. A new hair follicle is made from epithelial cells, but the “development and cycling” of the follicle is determined by dermal papilla cells.

You must have both dermal papilla cells and epithelial cells together to form a hair follicle. Just one or the other cannot form a follicle on their own.

Since there are so many factors involving the development of hair follicles in order to bring about new hair follicle formation the actual development is a long way off. You can read the article written by Dr. Kevin McElwee at HairlossTalk.

Maybe in our lifetime science will find a cure for hair loss. Hair loss is not a crippling disease. It’s a lifestyle. If you’re comfortable with the way you look then you’ve won. If on the other hand it’s affecting you emotionally that you need to use medication, then try different hair loss treatments and see what works for you.

Always consult your doctor about any treatments you’re interested in. And take the time to look for any side effects on the product you’re looking to purchase.

About the author

William Cortes is a freelance writer and owner of Endbalding.com which sells an anti-inflammatory hair loss teatment that stops inflammation DHT.

“So a man in his 50s, taking this lifestyle drug, might get a result of 2, when it’s really a 4, which is more alarming.” The higher number could indicate a growing cancer.

The research was funded by Merck & Co., Propecia’s maker.

DHT inhibitors such as Propecia and Dutasteride are popular treatments for some types of hair loss but there is a lot of confusion about what they actually are and how they work.

Depending on your gender, stage of hair loss and other factors, your available options may include taking a daily Finasteride or Dutasteride tablet or capsule to reduce the levels of DHT circulating throughout your entire body.

Or, if you don’t like the idea of such ’system wide’ approaches, or cannot use them for other reasons, you might benefit from natural and topical solutions, lotions and creams applied directly to the scalp to combat various phases of the production of DHT and its attempts to combine with your follicles’ androgen receptors.

In addition, some of these products are frequently used in combination with each other.