Baldness Information
Paul asked:
In this article you will learn more about baldness, its types, its causes and various treatments options.
What is baldness?
The loss of hairs from parts of the head or whole head is called baldness. Both men and women are affected with baldness at any stage of their lives.
One may develop baldness in teenage or their adolescence.
Baldness can be classified into many types depending upon the loss of hairs and sex. Thus, following are the most common types of baldness:
Male pattern baldness
Female baldness
Frontal Balding
Alopecia areata
Toxic Alopecia
Scaring Alopecia
Male Pattern Baldness:
Male pattern baldness is a hereditary disorder which may descend family to family. The disorder is indicated by the loss of hair from frontal part of the head, sides or crown of the head. Some people may loss all hairs on their head.
Female Pattern Baldness:
It is less common but may affect any female at any age especially during pregnancy due to imbalance in hormones. Female pattern baldness is indicated by lessening the amount of hairs from the front side of the head and other sides. It is rarely for a female to lose all hairs just like males.
Frontal Balding:
It is a very common disorder and male pattern baldness starts from frontal balding if it is ignored and not properly treated. It is indicated as loss of hairs from the front side of head in alphabet “M” like shape.
Alopecia areata:
It is a rare disorder and indicated by the sudden hair loss from any part of the body. They grow later after several months. Its causes are unknown but it may be associated to hormonal imbalance.
Toxic alopecia:
Toxic alopecia is indicated by temporary hair loss. It may develop due to a high fever, pregnancy and high levels of vitamin and retinoid.
Scaring alopecia:
Scaring hair loss is a disorder that no hair grows on scared area. In its severe forms, hairs never grow on the scar area throughout the life. Scaring may be due burning, fungal and bacterial infections.
What are the causes of baldness?
There are various causes of hair loss depending upon the types of hair loss and baldness.
Aging
Fluctuation in hormone level
Hereditary factor
Sever illness
One of the fundamental causes of baldness in teenage is hormonal disorder. Teenage is a stage of life when your body develops rapid changes both in morphology of the face and internal bodily function. These rapid changes in body are caused by over activity of certain hormones.
Treatments of various types of baldness:
There are various treatment options depending upon the type of baldness.
Taking medications such as minoxidil and finasteraide
Corticosteroid injections
Hair transplant
Laser treatment
Your dermatologist will determine which treatment options best suits your baldness. If you have chronic baldness, your dermatologist may prefer hair transplantation.
Note:
The article provides information for your knowledge only and not for diagnosis and seeking treatment options and using medications. The author will not be liable for any loss incurred by reading and practicing any advice in this article or in any way undefined here.
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In this article you will learn more about baldness, its types, its causes and various treatments options.
What is baldness?
The loss of hairs from parts of the head or whole head is called baldness. Both men and women are affected with baldness at any stage of their lives.
One may develop baldness in teenage or their adolescence.
Baldness can be classified into many types depending upon the loss of hairs and sex. Thus, following are the most common types of baldness:
Male pattern baldness
Female baldness
Frontal Balding
Alopecia areata
Toxic Alopecia
Scaring Alopecia
Male Pattern Baldness:
Male pattern baldness is a hereditary disorder which may descend family to family. The disorder is indicated by the loss of hair from frontal part of the head, sides or crown of the head. Some people may loss all hairs on their head.
Female Pattern Baldness:
It is less common but may affect any female at any age especially during pregnancy due to imbalance in hormones. Female pattern baldness is indicated by lessening the amount of hairs from the front side of the head and other sides. It is rarely for a female to lose all hairs just like males.
Frontal Balding:
It is a very common disorder and male pattern baldness starts from frontal balding if it is ignored and not properly treated. It is indicated as loss of hairs from the front side of head in alphabet “M” like shape.
Alopecia areata:
It is a rare disorder and indicated by the sudden hair loss from any part of the body. They grow later after several months. Its causes are unknown but it may be associated to hormonal imbalance.
Toxic alopecia:
Toxic alopecia is indicated by temporary hair loss. It may develop due to a high fever, pregnancy and high levels of vitamin and retinoid.
Scaring alopecia:
Scaring hair loss is a disorder that no hair grows on scared area. In its severe forms, hairs never grow on the scar area throughout the life. Scaring may be due burning, fungal and bacterial infections.
What are the causes of baldness?
There are various causes of hair loss depending upon the types of hair loss and baldness.
Aging
Fluctuation in hormone level
Hereditary factor
Sever illness
One of the fundamental causes of baldness in teenage is hormonal disorder. Teenage is a stage of life when your body develops rapid changes both in morphology of the face and internal bodily function. These rapid changes in body are caused by over activity of certain hormones.
Treatments of various types of baldness:
There are various treatment options depending upon the type of baldness.
Taking medications such as minoxidil and finasteraide
Corticosteroid injections
Hair transplant
Laser treatment
Your dermatologist will determine which treatment options best suits your baldness. If you have chronic baldness, your dermatologist may prefer hair transplantation.
Note:
The article provides information for your knowledge only and not for diagnosis and seeking treatment options and using medications. The author will not be liable for any loss incurred by reading and practicing any advice in this article or in any way undefined here.
Insurance Price Quotes
Baldness Causes: Effectively Combat Baldness by Understanding the Causes
John Tulley asked:
Baldness for either men or women has various potential causes. Determining the reason why you could be suffering will greatly help you in finding the ideal treatment for it. Baldness may be characterized by patchy hair loss on certain areas of your head – or generalized hair loss, which means that you’re losing your hair entirely.
Common Possible Causes for Baldness
Read and see if any of the descriptions appear to match your current situation.
Alocepia Areata
This is referred to as an autoimmune condition; it means that the body itself is responsible for the condition the individual in suffering from. In this case, the person’s autoimmune system is attacking the hair follicles, causing usually one but possibly two or three patches of hair loss. Fortunately, these patches will experience hair re-growth in 3 to 6 months even without treatment. However in some cases the regrown hair can be white.
Alocepia areata can become alopecia totalis, and in which case, the condition will cause the individual to suffer from complete baldness. Alocepia areata can also affect other hair follicles in your face and body.
Fungal Infections
Yes, hair loss can also be caused by fungal infection. School-age children are the ones who mostly suffer from this condition. When the scalp area is hit by a fungal infection. Oral antibiotics are, however, available for treating the infection and the hair will almost always grow back.
Male Pattern Baldness
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, this condition is caused by a mixture of genetics and hormones. It affects both men and women because male hormones are present in both male and female bodies.
Telogen Effluvium
This condition is actually not at all bad but simply a natural part of life. Hair on your scalp has an average lifespan of three years. When it reaches the last stage of its cycle, the telogen phase, it seeks to rest and falls out. Approximately 100 hair strands each day reach the telogen phase. When you use shampoo on your hair, the substance loosens up your hair strands, enough for them to fall out sooner than expected. But this is nothing to worry about because these hair strands were also nearing the telogen stage and the shampoo only expedited the entire process. All these hair strands will be replaced by the body.
It is estimated that 10% of our hair is always approaching the telogen phase. This can go as far as forty percent when we have just undergone surgery, childbirth, sudden weight loss, and high fever. But again, this is nothing to worry about because our body immediately seeks to replace any hair strands we’ve lost.
Traction Alopecia
Certain hairstyles exert too much pressure on your hair roots, causing you to lose much more hair than is usual or necessary. This condition is called traction alopecia. You can avoid it simply by ensuring that you don’t tie or bind your hair too tightly and to the extent of causing hair loss.
Trichotillomania
Some people have a habit of pulling their hair, even unconsciously so, while they’re thinking deeply or feeling stressed. In extreme cases, this can cause baldness. Trichotillomania results in broken-off hair strands rather than patches of baldness. It could lead to baldness given enough time of course. The only way to cure this condition is by becoming aware of your problem and resolve to avoid indulging in it.
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Baldness for either men or women has various potential causes. Determining the reason why you could be suffering will greatly help you in finding the ideal treatment for it. Baldness may be characterized by patchy hair loss on certain areas of your head – or generalized hair loss, which means that you’re losing your hair entirely.
Common Possible Causes for Baldness
Read and see if any of the descriptions appear to match your current situation.
Alocepia Areata
This is referred to as an autoimmune condition; it means that the body itself is responsible for the condition the individual in suffering from. In this case, the person’s autoimmune system is attacking the hair follicles, causing usually one but possibly two or three patches of hair loss. Fortunately, these patches will experience hair re-growth in 3 to 6 months even without treatment. However in some cases the regrown hair can be white.
Alocepia areata can become alopecia totalis, and in which case, the condition will cause the individual to suffer from complete baldness. Alocepia areata can also affect other hair follicles in your face and body.
Fungal Infections
Yes, hair loss can also be caused by fungal infection. School-age children are the ones who mostly suffer from this condition. When the scalp area is hit by a fungal infection. Oral antibiotics are, however, available for treating the infection and the hair will almost always grow back.
Male Pattern Baldness
Also known as androgenetic alopecia, this condition is caused by a mixture of genetics and hormones. It affects both men and women because male hormones are present in both male and female bodies.
Telogen Effluvium
This condition is actually not at all bad but simply a natural part of life. Hair on your scalp has an average lifespan of three years. When it reaches the last stage of its cycle, the telogen phase, it seeks to rest and falls out. Approximately 100 hair strands each day reach the telogen phase. When you use shampoo on your hair, the substance loosens up your hair strands, enough for them to fall out sooner than expected. But this is nothing to worry about because these hair strands were also nearing the telogen stage and the shampoo only expedited the entire process. All these hair strands will be replaced by the body.
It is estimated that 10% of our hair is always approaching the telogen phase. This can go as far as forty percent when we have just undergone surgery, childbirth, sudden weight loss, and high fever. But again, this is nothing to worry about because our body immediately seeks to replace any hair strands we’ve lost.
Traction Alopecia
Certain hairstyles exert too much pressure on your hair roots, causing you to lose much more hair than is usual or necessary. This condition is called traction alopecia. You can avoid it simply by ensuring that you don’t tie or bind your hair too tightly and to the extent of causing hair loss.
Trichotillomania
Some people have a habit of pulling their hair, even unconsciously so, while they’re thinking deeply or feeling stressed. In extreme cases, this can cause baldness. Trichotillomania results in broken-off hair strands rather than patches of baldness. It could lead to baldness given enough time of course. The only way to cure this condition is by becoming aware of your problem and resolve to avoid indulging in it.
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Male Pattern Baldness Treatments: Do They Really Work?
John Tulley asked:
The statistics are quite staggering, by the time they reach the age of 50, 50% of the worlds’ male population are affected by male pattern baldness. Many men just accept this and get on with life, but more men are learning about the newly affordable male pattern baldness treatments and want to keep their crowning glory. These new treatments started becoming available over fifteen years ago, but unless you were quite well off cost was always a major prohibiting factor (John Travolta was reported as spending around $1000 a month for his treatment). Now prices are down to a level where most people can afford high quality treatments and if started early enough there is no reason why you should ever go bald. Having said that it should be made clear that there are still no miracle cures, if you are now completely bald there is still very little that can be done apart from wearing a hairpiece. But treatments can be very effective in re-growing hair for some people. It is a matter of learning what is possible and setting your expectations accordingly. There are a few things you should know before seeking a particular type of treatment. It is firstly important to understand why male pattern baldness occurs and how it develops before deciding which of the currently available treatments is right for you.
Why Hair Loss Occurs
Male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia is a genetically predetermined condition. The main contributing factor for causing it is the male hormone testosterone, hence this is why few females suffer from the condition and why castrated males never go bald. But testosterone does not directly cause hair loss, it interacts with an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase to produce the real culprit, a derived hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is widely acknowledged to be the main cause of hair loss in men. Men lucky enough not to go bald have hair that is resistant to the effects of DHT.
Topical Application
Now that it is known what causes male pattern baldness many hair loss shampoos have been developed specifically to remove DHT from the scalp. These types of products are deep cleansing agents known as DHT blockers and have been used effectively to stop further hair loss and provide the optimum conditions to stimulate new hair growth. You may have heard of Minoxidil male pattern baldness treatment, this is not a DHT blocker, it is thought to work by directly stimulating cell growth in the hair follicle thereby giving it a resistance to DHT. The results though are the same and because they work differently, Minoxidil and DHT blockers can be used together for an even more effective hair loss treatment.
Internal Drugs
One of the most effective oral medications for treating hair loss was discovered accidentally when developing a cure for enlarged prostate gland in men. This drug was finasteride and it was found that in low doses finasteride was effective in preventing of male pattern baldness. It is now one of very few drugs with FDA approval for the prevention and treatment of male pattern baldness and only available on prescription.
As a natural alternative to Finasteride, a herb called Saw Palmetto is often claimed to be able to reduce DHT and therefore prevent male pattern balding. There are now many natural male pattern baldness treatments that contain saw palmetto and while only small scale clinical trials have been conducted results have been positive.
Transplants
As a last resort hair transplantation may be the only option for men with a bald patch greater than about ten centimetres (4 inches). This generally involves removing a doner strip of scalp from the neck area and grafting doner follicles to the bald patch. Scalp reduction is another surgical procedure where the bald scalp area is removed altogether with the remaining scalp skin pulled together. While this may seem quite drastic it can be a quite effective procedure in removing small bald patches
Conclusions
For many men baldness is accepted as part of the aging process and they adapt gracefully to their new look. But with many new male pattern baldness treatments available, men now have a choice in preventing hair loss altogether if they act early enough. The treatment is often needed for life but for many men that could be one of the best investments they ever make!
Please visit our web site for more information and advice on how to stop thinning hair.
Online Insurance Quotes
The statistics are quite staggering, by the time they reach the age of 50, 50% of the worlds’ male population are affected by male pattern baldness. Many men just accept this and get on with life, but more men are learning about the newly affordable male pattern baldness treatments and want to keep their crowning glory. These new treatments started becoming available over fifteen years ago, but unless you were quite well off cost was always a major prohibiting factor (John Travolta was reported as spending around $1000 a month for his treatment). Now prices are down to a level where most people can afford high quality treatments and if started early enough there is no reason why you should ever go bald. Having said that it should be made clear that there are still no miracle cures, if you are now completely bald there is still very little that can be done apart from wearing a hairpiece. But treatments can be very effective in re-growing hair for some people. It is a matter of learning what is possible and setting your expectations accordingly. There are a few things you should know before seeking a particular type of treatment. It is firstly important to understand why male pattern baldness occurs and how it develops before deciding which of the currently available treatments is right for you.
Why Hair Loss Occurs
Male pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia is a genetically predetermined condition. The main contributing factor for causing it is the male hormone testosterone, hence this is why few females suffer from the condition and why castrated males never go bald. But testosterone does not directly cause hair loss, it interacts with an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase to produce the real culprit, a derived hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is widely acknowledged to be the main cause of hair loss in men. Men lucky enough not to go bald have hair that is resistant to the effects of DHT.
Topical Application
Now that it is known what causes male pattern baldness many hair loss shampoos have been developed specifically to remove DHT from the scalp. These types of products are deep cleansing agents known as DHT blockers and have been used effectively to stop further hair loss and provide the optimum conditions to stimulate new hair growth. You may have heard of Minoxidil male pattern baldness treatment, this is not a DHT blocker, it is thought to work by directly stimulating cell growth in the hair follicle thereby giving it a resistance to DHT. The results though are the same and because they work differently, Minoxidil and DHT blockers can be used together for an even more effective hair loss treatment.
Internal Drugs
One of the most effective oral medications for treating hair loss was discovered accidentally when developing a cure for enlarged prostate gland in men. This drug was finasteride and it was found that in low doses finasteride was effective in preventing of male pattern baldness. It is now one of very few drugs with FDA approval for the prevention and treatment of male pattern baldness and only available on prescription.
As a natural alternative to Finasteride, a herb called Saw Palmetto is often claimed to be able to reduce DHT and therefore prevent male pattern balding. There are now many natural male pattern baldness treatments that contain saw palmetto and while only small scale clinical trials have been conducted results have been positive.
Transplants
As a last resort hair transplantation may be the only option for men with a bald patch greater than about ten centimetres (4 inches). This generally involves removing a doner strip of scalp from the neck area and grafting doner follicles to the bald patch. Scalp reduction is another surgical procedure where the bald scalp area is removed altogether with the remaining scalp skin pulled together. While this may seem quite drastic it can be a quite effective procedure in removing small bald patches
Conclusions
For many men baldness is accepted as part of the aging process and they adapt gracefully to their new look. But with many new male pattern baldness treatments available, men now have a choice in preventing hair loss altogether if they act early enough. The treatment is often needed for life but for many men that could be one of the best investments they ever make!
Please visit our web site for more information and advice on how to stop thinning hair.
Online Insurance Quotes
Is Stress Really A Cause Of Baldness?
Jim Mcdonald asked:
Millions of people suffer from baldness, and this condition can be very degrading for some people, leading to a feeling of self worthlessness. On the other hand, there are also millions of baldness sufferers who just treat their hair loss as a fact of life - a part of growing old.
Baldness treatments are becoming more effective, owing to recent scientific discoveries. And like so many other medical and personal health symptoms, if you act on the problem right away, you’ve got a better chance of reducing the affects, or in some cases, even reversing the condition.
Now it must be pointed out that there is not a magic pill for ailing baldness (yet) and there is no one single technique that works for one and all. As a significant fact, in the majority of cases a combination of a few anti- baldness products will gain better results than any one product or technique. The baldness treatment that suits each of will need to be tailored to our individual characteristics and traits.
That brings us to the imminent question, whether or not stress can cause hair loss? You see, stress is so often referred to as the major cause of baldness, that many people believe this to be accurate. The fact is that stress is a cause of baldness, so you can blame your job or your sporting team if it makes you feel better, but it is not the major cause. Although stress is a cause of baldness, it is seen only as a contributing factor, because there is one cause that affects most hair loss sufferers.
Baldness can be caused by many factors, with more than 50% of males enduring some form of balding or thinning by middle age. Women also suffer from hair loss, and around 35-40% of women will suffer some type of balding or thinning by age 60. The most common cause of hair loss is Pattern Baldness. Pattern baldness alone affects more than 40% of the male population. Pattern balding is easy to explain - it is a genetic disposition - it develops naturally.
Our genetic make-up naturally predisposes most men and women to Pattern Baldness. The cause of Pattern hair loss is very intricate, but simply put, it occurs when testosterone combines with a specific enzyme and is converted into what is know as dihydrotestosterone (aka DHT). DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles - it is the originator for slowing down hair production and produces weaker, shorter hair - and in time stops hair from growth altogether.
The way men and women experience Pattern Baldness is very different. Men tend to endure thinning hair in certain sections or patches of the scalp and that’s why many instances in men result in the ‘monk’ effect, i.e. balding on top, with hair still growing at the sides and back. Women tend to lose hair equally across the scalp, so instead of having a visibly bald patch, a woman can actually lose more hair than a man, but still appear to have a full head of hair.
Pattern Baldness is by far the most likely cause f hair loss, but there are a number of other known causes. The other causes of balding are credited for such small percentages of occurrences, and in many cases are the easiest to prevent, detect or even reverse. Other known causes of balding are hormonal imbalances (especially in women) illnesses, lousy diet, inferior hygiene, drug abuse and last but not least, stress. Again, stress is an indisputable known cause of balding. Not a major cause, but it ranks in the top few causes.
Stress related baldness has a scientific name - Telogen Effluvium. This type of baldness can also be caused by experiences such as trauma, childbirth, puberty, major surgery and even severe chronic illness. Telogen Effluvium is characterized by abrupt hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. Stress and trauma cause large numbers of hair follicles to concurrently enter a stage of rest. After some time, the hair follicles will enter a stage of growth, and the old hair will be ejected out of the follicle by a new hair that is formed beneath it. The result is a period of hair shedding, and is usually self correcting, but if the stress is ongoing, then this type of hair loss can become chronic and eventually lead to more prevalent balding.
Stress-related baldness does really exist, so you can blame your football team, or your job or anything else that stresses you out. But in reality, although stress can lead to hair loss, it is one of the secondary causes of balding. And it is only really related to more dramatic experiences that have bought on stress. Fact is, Pattern Baldness is the most prevalent cause of hair loss, and acting on it quickly can help the minimize the effect it has.
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Millions of people suffer from baldness, and this condition can be very degrading for some people, leading to a feeling of self worthlessness. On the other hand, there are also millions of baldness sufferers who just treat their hair loss as a fact of life - a part of growing old.
Baldness treatments are becoming more effective, owing to recent scientific discoveries. And like so many other medical and personal health symptoms, if you act on the problem right away, you’ve got a better chance of reducing the affects, or in some cases, even reversing the condition.
Now it must be pointed out that there is not a magic pill for ailing baldness (yet) and there is no one single technique that works for one and all. As a significant fact, in the majority of cases a combination of a few anti- baldness products will gain better results than any one product or technique. The baldness treatment that suits each of will need to be tailored to our individual characteristics and traits.
That brings us to the imminent question, whether or not stress can cause hair loss? You see, stress is so often referred to as the major cause of baldness, that many people believe this to be accurate. The fact is that stress is a cause of baldness, so you can blame your job or your sporting team if it makes you feel better, but it is not the major cause. Although stress is a cause of baldness, it is seen only as a contributing factor, because there is one cause that affects most hair loss sufferers.
Baldness can be caused by many factors, with more than 50% of males enduring some form of balding or thinning by middle age. Women also suffer from hair loss, and around 35-40% of women will suffer some type of balding or thinning by age 60. The most common cause of hair loss is Pattern Baldness. Pattern baldness alone affects more than 40% of the male population. Pattern balding is easy to explain - it is a genetic disposition - it develops naturally.
Our genetic make-up naturally predisposes most men and women to Pattern Baldness. The cause of Pattern hair loss is very intricate, but simply put, it occurs when testosterone combines with a specific enzyme and is converted into what is know as dihydrotestosterone (aka DHT). DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles - it is the originator for slowing down hair production and produces weaker, shorter hair - and in time stops hair from growth altogether.
The way men and women experience Pattern Baldness is very different. Men tend to endure thinning hair in certain sections or patches of the scalp and that’s why many instances in men result in the ‘monk’ effect, i.e. balding on top, with hair still growing at the sides and back. Women tend to lose hair equally across the scalp, so instead of having a visibly bald patch, a woman can actually lose more hair than a man, but still appear to have a full head of hair.
Pattern Baldness is by far the most likely cause f hair loss, but there are a number of other known causes. The other causes of balding are credited for such small percentages of occurrences, and in many cases are the easiest to prevent, detect or even reverse. Other known causes of balding are hormonal imbalances (especially in women) illnesses, lousy diet, inferior hygiene, drug abuse and last but not least, stress. Again, stress is an indisputable known cause of balding. Not a major cause, but it ranks in the top few causes.
Stress related baldness has a scientific name - Telogen Effluvium. This type of baldness can also be caused by experiences such as trauma, childbirth, puberty, major surgery and even severe chronic illness. Telogen Effluvium is characterized by abrupt hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. Stress and trauma cause large numbers of hair follicles to concurrently enter a stage of rest. After some time, the hair follicles will enter a stage of growth, and the old hair will be ejected out of the follicle by a new hair that is formed beneath it. The result is a period of hair shedding, and is usually self correcting, but if the stress is ongoing, then this type of hair loss can become chronic and eventually lead to more prevalent balding.
Stress-related baldness does really exist, so you can blame your football team, or your job or anything else that stresses you out. But in reality, although stress can lead to hair loss, it is one of the secondary causes of balding. And it is only really related to more dramatic experiences that have bought on stress. Fact is, Pattern Baldness is the most prevalent cause of hair loss, and acting on it quickly can help the minimize the effect it has.
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Your Appearance if you Have Male Pattern Baldness
John Tulley asked:
Generally, health conditions have different types. For instance, if you have alopecia or baldness, your condition can be classified into different types like pattern baldness (which is the most common), androgenic alopecia, and many others. If the primary cause of your baldness has something to do with your genetic make-up, then you’re suffering from male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is a prevalent problem of most men especially those in their late thirties. In the US alone, millions of men are suffering from it and they are greatly concerned about their physical appearance.
If you’re suffering from pattern baldness, you will notice that your hair loss follows a certain pattern. Oftentimes, it would begin with bald patches or spots and if left untreated, you will end up with total hair loss. Pattern baldness can occur in both men and women however, the effects are more evident in men.
In most cases, pattern baldness happens when a man reaches his late thirties or forties. But there have been noted cases wherein an individual may start losing hair as early as twenty five. Men suffering from genetic baldness are already totally bald upon reaching his sixties. Most men with pattern baldness are devastated with this condition but if you know your treatment alternatives, you can act on your hair loss problem at an early stage and save your remaining hair.
If you’re wondering what you’ll look like several years from now, read on and you will find out. On the onset of pattern baldness, you will notice your hair thinning and at the same time receding. This usually takes place from ages 25 until 30. Oftentimes, men take hair thinning for granted and this is their biggest mistake. If you know the first signs of pattern baldness, which is thinning of the hair and receding hairlines, then you can immediately treat it before your condition is too obvious.
By taking hair thinning for granted, the next thing that you will notice is that you already have bald patches or spots especially around the area of the crown. Treatment at this time is already a necessity and you must seek the help of a doctor or hair specialist if you want to save your remaining hairs. Once again, if you still ignore this, your condition will get worse.
Bald patches will increase until such time that the crown of your head is totally bald. Treatments may no longer work at this particular point however, if you can afford plugs or surgical procedures, you can restore your hair or at least a semblance of it.
Most men suffering from pattern baldness will do almost anything to keep their hair. After all, a person’s physical appearance is very important especially in today’s modern times. Pattern baldness is permanent and surely you will need treatments over the long term in order to restore some of your lost hair, if not all.
Keep yourself informed and it would be best to ask your parents if pattern baldness runs in your family. This way, you will easily notice the first signs and get immediate help.
Don’t disregard male pattern baldness because you may not be able to re-grow your lost hair. If immediate action is conducted on the first signs of this condition, then you will have higher chances of saving your hair. Try to observe your hair more closely.
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Generally, health conditions have different types. For instance, if you have alopecia or baldness, your condition can be classified into different types like pattern baldness (which is the most common), androgenic alopecia, and many others. If the primary cause of your baldness has something to do with your genetic make-up, then you’re suffering from male pattern baldness.
Male pattern baldness is a prevalent problem of most men especially those in their late thirties. In the US alone, millions of men are suffering from it and they are greatly concerned about their physical appearance.
If you’re suffering from pattern baldness, you will notice that your hair loss follows a certain pattern. Oftentimes, it would begin with bald patches or spots and if left untreated, you will end up with total hair loss. Pattern baldness can occur in both men and women however, the effects are more evident in men.
In most cases, pattern baldness happens when a man reaches his late thirties or forties. But there have been noted cases wherein an individual may start losing hair as early as twenty five. Men suffering from genetic baldness are already totally bald upon reaching his sixties. Most men with pattern baldness are devastated with this condition but if you know your treatment alternatives, you can act on your hair loss problem at an early stage and save your remaining hair.
If you’re wondering what you’ll look like several years from now, read on and you will find out. On the onset of pattern baldness, you will notice your hair thinning and at the same time receding. This usually takes place from ages 25 until 30. Oftentimes, men take hair thinning for granted and this is their biggest mistake. If you know the first signs of pattern baldness, which is thinning of the hair and receding hairlines, then you can immediately treat it before your condition is too obvious.
By taking hair thinning for granted, the next thing that you will notice is that you already have bald patches or spots especially around the area of the crown. Treatment at this time is already a necessity and you must seek the help of a doctor or hair specialist if you want to save your remaining hairs. Once again, if you still ignore this, your condition will get worse.
Bald patches will increase until such time that the crown of your head is totally bald. Treatments may no longer work at this particular point however, if you can afford plugs or surgical procedures, you can restore your hair or at least a semblance of it.
Most men suffering from pattern baldness will do almost anything to keep their hair. After all, a person’s physical appearance is very important especially in today’s modern times. Pattern baldness is permanent and surely you will need treatments over the long term in order to restore some of your lost hair, if not all.
Keep yourself informed and it would be best to ask your parents if pattern baldness runs in your family. This way, you will easily notice the first signs and get immediate help.
Don’t disregard male pattern baldness because you may not be able to re-grow your lost hair. If immediate action is conducted on the first signs of this condition, then you will have higher chances of saving your hair. Try to observe your hair more closely.
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Learn About How Stress Can Contribute to Baldness
Jim Mcdonald asked:
Millions of people suffer from baldness, and this condition can be very degrading for some people, leading to a feeling of self worthlessness. But, at the same time, millions of other men and women just learn to live with baldness, thinking of it as yet another one of life’s natural aging effects.
Baldness treatments are becoming more effective, owing to recent scientific discoveries. And like so many other medical and personal health ailments, if you act on the problem right at the onset, you’ve got a better chance of lowering the affects, or at times, even reversing the condition.
Now it must be stated that there is not a magic pill for correcting baldness (yet) and there is no one single treatment that works for everyone. As a matter of fact, in most instances a combination of a few anti- baldness products will reap better results than any single product or method. The baldness treatment that suits each of will need to be tailored to our individual characteristics and traits.
That moves us to the imminent question, whether or not stress can cause baldness? You see, stress is so habitually referred to as the major cause of hair loss, that many people believe this to be genuine. The fact is that stress is a cause of balding, so you can blame your job or your sporting team if it makes you feel better, but it is not the major cause. Although stress is a cause of baldness, it is seen only as a contributing factor, because there is one cause that affects most hair loss sufferers.
Balding can be caused by many factors, with more than 50% of males enduring some form of balding or thinning by middle age. Women also suffer from hair loss, and around 35-40% of women will suffer some type of balding or thinning by age 60. The most prevalent hair loss cause is Pattern Baldness. Pattern baldness alone affects more than 40% of the male population. Pattern baldness is easy to explain - it is a genetic disposition - it occurs naturally.
Our genetic make-up naturally predisposes most men and women to Pattern Baldness. The cause of Pattern hair loss is very intricate, but in laymans terms, it occurs when testosterone combines with a specific enzyme and is converted into what is know as dihydrotestosterone (aka DHT). DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles - it is the causer for slowing down hair production and produces weaker, shorter hair - and in time stops hair from growth altogether.
The way men and women experience Pattern Baldness is very different. Men tend to endure thinning hair in certain sections or patches of the scalp and that’s why most instances in men result in the ‘monk’ effect, i.e. baldness on top, with hair still growing at the sides and back. Women tend to lose hair evenly across the scalp, so instead of having a visibly bald patch, a woman can actually lose more hair than a man, but still appear to have a full head of hair.
Pattern Baldness is by far the most likely cause f hair loss, but there are a number of other known causes. The other causes of hair loss are accountable for such small percentages of cases, and in many cases are the easiest to prevent, detect or even reverse. Other known causes of hair loss are hormonal imbalances (especially in women) illnesses, lousy diet, inferior hygiene, drug abuse and last but not least, stress. Again, stress is an established known cause of hair loss. Not a major cause, but it ranks in the top few causes.
Telogen Effluvium is the scientific name of baldness that is caused by stress. This type of balding can also be caused by experiences such as trauma, childbirth, puberty, major surgery and even severe chronic illness. Telogen Effluvium is characterized by sudden hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. Stress and trauma cause large numbers of hair follicles to synchronously enter a stage of rest. After some time, the hair follicles will enter a stage of growth, and the old hair will be ejected out of the follicle by a new hair that is formed beneath it. The result is a period of hair shedding, and is usually self correcting, but if the stress is ongoing, then this type of baldness can become chronic and eventually lead to more prevalent hair loss.
Stress-related baldness does really exist, so you can blame your football team, or your job or anything else that stresses you out. But in actuality, although stress can lead to hair loss, it is one of the lesser causes of baldness. And it is only really related to more dramatic experiences that have bought on stress. Pattern Baldness is the most likely cause of hair loss, and if you act on it right away there’s a good chance that you can minimize the effects.
Term Life Insurance Quotes
Millions of people suffer from baldness, and this condition can be very degrading for some people, leading to a feeling of self worthlessness. But, at the same time, millions of other men and women just learn to live with baldness, thinking of it as yet another one of life’s natural aging effects.
Baldness treatments are becoming more effective, owing to recent scientific discoveries. And like so many other medical and personal health ailments, if you act on the problem right at the onset, you’ve got a better chance of lowering the affects, or at times, even reversing the condition.
Now it must be stated that there is not a magic pill for correcting baldness (yet) and there is no one single treatment that works for everyone. As a matter of fact, in most instances a combination of a few anti- baldness products will reap better results than any single product or method. The baldness treatment that suits each of will need to be tailored to our individual characteristics and traits.
That moves us to the imminent question, whether or not stress can cause baldness? You see, stress is so habitually referred to as the major cause of hair loss, that many people believe this to be genuine. The fact is that stress is a cause of balding, so you can blame your job or your sporting team if it makes you feel better, but it is not the major cause. Although stress is a cause of baldness, it is seen only as a contributing factor, because there is one cause that affects most hair loss sufferers.
Balding can be caused by many factors, with more than 50% of males enduring some form of balding or thinning by middle age. Women also suffer from hair loss, and around 35-40% of women will suffer some type of balding or thinning by age 60. The most prevalent hair loss cause is Pattern Baldness. Pattern baldness alone affects more than 40% of the male population. Pattern baldness is easy to explain - it is a genetic disposition - it occurs naturally.
Our genetic make-up naturally predisposes most men and women to Pattern Baldness. The cause of Pattern hair loss is very intricate, but in laymans terms, it occurs when testosterone combines with a specific enzyme and is converted into what is know as dihydrotestosterone (aka DHT). DHT has an adverse affect on the hair follicles - it is the causer for slowing down hair production and produces weaker, shorter hair - and in time stops hair from growth altogether.
The way men and women experience Pattern Baldness is very different. Men tend to endure thinning hair in certain sections or patches of the scalp and that’s why most instances in men result in the ‘monk’ effect, i.e. baldness on top, with hair still growing at the sides and back. Women tend to lose hair evenly across the scalp, so instead of having a visibly bald patch, a woman can actually lose more hair than a man, but still appear to have a full head of hair.
Pattern Baldness is by far the most likely cause f hair loss, but there are a number of other known causes. The other causes of hair loss are accountable for such small percentages of cases, and in many cases are the easiest to prevent, detect or even reverse. Other known causes of hair loss are hormonal imbalances (especially in women) illnesses, lousy diet, inferior hygiene, drug abuse and last but not least, stress. Again, stress is an established known cause of hair loss. Not a major cause, but it ranks in the top few causes.
Telogen Effluvium is the scientific name of baldness that is caused by stress. This type of balding can also be caused by experiences such as trauma, childbirth, puberty, major surgery and even severe chronic illness. Telogen Effluvium is characterized by sudden hair loss caused by an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. Stress and trauma cause large numbers of hair follicles to synchronously enter a stage of rest. After some time, the hair follicles will enter a stage of growth, and the old hair will be ejected out of the follicle by a new hair that is formed beneath it. The result is a period of hair shedding, and is usually self correcting, but if the stress is ongoing, then this type of baldness can become chronic and eventually lead to more prevalent hair loss.
Stress-related baldness does really exist, so you can blame your football team, or your job or anything else that stresses you out. But in actuality, although stress can lead to hair loss, it is one of the lesser causes of baldness. And it is only really related to more dramatic experiences that have bought on stress. Pattern Baldness is the most likely cause of hair loss, and if you act on it right away there’s a good chance that you can minimize the effects.
Term Life Insurance Quotes
Dramatics Of Hair Loss In Women
Marlene Affeld asked:
Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.
Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.
Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as a strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.
First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.
Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.
For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.
Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.
A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.
Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall perception of ourselves.
A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establish place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.
It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.
Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the phycological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.
Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self esteem.
Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.
Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay attention.
Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.
Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as or hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.
Although medical research is on going, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.
Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.
The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.
Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.
Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss
Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.
Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care
Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth. Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of the scalp.
Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so handle with care.
Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the natural luster of your hair.
Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the scalp.
Healthy Lifestyle
Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are. I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at peace with who you are. Remember, that for some, hair grows back as mysteriously as it disappeared.
Insurance Price Quotes
Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.
Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.
Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as a strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.
First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.
Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.
For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.
Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.
A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.
Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall perception of ourselves.
A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establish place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.
It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.
Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the phycological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.
Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self esteem.
Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.
Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay attention.
Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.
Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as or hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.
Although medical research is on going, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.
Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.
The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.
Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.
Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss
Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.
Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care
Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth. Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of the scalp.
Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so handle with care.
Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the natural luster of your hair.
Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the scalp.
Healthy Lifestyle
Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are. I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at peace with who you are. Remember, that for some, hair grows back as mysteriously as it disappeared.
Insurance Price Quotes