Scientists have come up with the news many men and women have been praying for - a cure for baldness could be on the way!
They have managed to create new hair cells on the skin of mice, after identifying a mechanism that allows dormant genes to re-awaken.
The researchers believe the findings could “open a window” for new treatments not only for baldness, but for other aspects of wound healing and regeneration. They found mice regenerated hair at the site of a deep skin wound via molecular processes similar to those used in embryonic development. According to the research, published in the journal Nature, the findings show mammals possess greater regenerative abilities than commonly believed. While some amphibians can regenerate limbs and some reptiles can regenerate tails, regeneration in mammals is far more limited.
Dr George Cotsarelis, of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine, who led the study, said the findings dispelled the dogma that hair loss is permanent in people and other mammals, and once they are lost new hair follicles cannot grow. In the mice, the hair was indistinguishable from neighbouring hair with a key exception - it lacked pigmentation and was white. The otherwise brown-haired mice had patches of white hair marking the site of the wound. But Dr Cotsarelis said the white hair issue might not be a problem for any baldness remedy in people, because the human pigmentation system differs from that in mice.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Healthy Hair - We are what we eat!
Healthy Hair
Hair that’s healthy and lustrous has always been highly desirable. Read on to find out how eating right can improve your appearance.
The condition of our hair depends very much on our genetic make-up. However, our diet also has some impact on the health of our hair.
Hair is primarily made up of protein. Adequate protein intake is therefore necessary to supply amino acids needed in the metabolic process for constant hair growth.
Chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, eggs all support health, providing the system much- needed protein. Soybean or other vegtables combined with grains also provide a complete set of proteins for vegetarians.
In addition to proteins, these foods also supply vitamin B, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids that play a role in preventing hair from becoming brittle or life less.
Hair colour and softness
In our bodies, copper works as a coenzyme in our immune systems and is involved in bodily functions that involve energy produc tion. It works hand in hand with various metabolic enzymes especially cytochrome C oxidase, dopamine hydroxylase. If one lacks the mineral, he or she may feel weak and fatigued, have frequent infections, or skin problems.
More importantly, copper is also a mineral needed in the formation of haemoglobin, which flows in blood to the hair shaft and other parts of our bodies. A deficiency of copper may weaken the hair shaft and cause hair shedding. Furthermore, the production of the pigment melanin, that determines hair colour, requires the supportive function of copper enzyme.
Our diets should have sufficient intake of copper to effectively maintain the colour and softness of our hair, and lessen hair thinning.
This does not mean that we need to use copper utensils for cooking or ingest copper.
We can get the mineral from our daily nutritional intake. The following foods are good sources of dietary copper to meet the recommended daily intake of 0.9 mg for adults.
Meat, fish and other seafoods all supply copper. In particular, shellfish – such as oysters, crabs and clams – is known to be a good source of copper. Offal and liver have a higher copper content than cuts of meat. However, due to accumulation of toxins, liver is not a recommended food. If you like offal, the liver of younger chicken has a lower amount of toxins in it.
In a vegetarian diet, nuts and seeds are the best source of copper. Copper content in a 100 gram portion: soybean 1.0 mg, chickpea (kacang kuda) 0.9 mg, yellow dhal 0.7 mg, orange dhal 0.7 mg, black gram 0.6 mg, mung bean 0.8 mg, red gram 0.7 mg.
The fresh ulam served in traditional Malay dishes are flavourful greens which supply copper needed for healthy hair. Copper in 100 grams portion: Indian pennywort (pegaga) 0.3 mg, laksa leaf (kesom) 0.3 mg, fern shoot 0.3 mg, ulam raja 0.2 mg, red chilli 0.2 mg, canned peas 0.2 mg, spinach (por choy) 0.2 mg, bamboo shoot 0.1 mg, betel leaf (sireh) 0.3 mg.
Zinc hinders copper absorption.
As long as we eat a balanced diet, research has shown that deficiency of copper in our bodies rarely comes from not getting enough dietary copper. Other than genetic factors, an overdose of zinc supplements would inhibit the absorption of copper in the body. This may result in copper deficiency and affect hair conditions.
In our diet, beef, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp, oysters, eggs, milk, mushroom, oats, peas, sesame seeds and other grains, cereals, nuts and seeds all supply zinc. If you wish to include a zinc supplement in your diet, con sult a medical professional to ensure there isn’t an excessive intake. Zinc is an important regulator of many genetic activities. Zinc is essential for the body to read genetic instructions. When one does not have sufficient zinc, genetic activities may be impaired. Zinc is also responsible for cell production, tissue growth and repair.
Thus, to a certain extent, zinc is believed to have a role in hair maintenance.
Balancing oily and dry hair.
In a hot and humid climate, we tend to per spire more. The acidic residue in the sweat may affect hair conditions. We need to con sume fruits and vegetables, especially the alkaline-producing foods to neutralise the acidic residue in our bodies. It is also impor tant to go easy on fatty and sugary foods, which the body will convert into acidic wastes.
Include generous portions of fruits and veg etable that are dark green, orange and yellow in your diet. Red and yellow plant pigments, vitamin A and carotenoids are required to maintain hair and ensure that it won’t become too oily or too dry.
While these are the nutrients that are inte gral to healthy hair, hair loss may not just be nutritionally related. For example, protein absorption can be hampered by low stomach acid and hair loss can be a symptom that accompanies other health problems. Low thy roid excretion, stress or drugs may also affect hair condition. Seek professional advice if necessary from a Trichologist.
Hard as nails.
A diet that’s good for hair maintenance will also sustain healthy nails. Eggs, seafood, meats and vegetables supply protein, biotin, vitamin A and calcium for the growth of firm, hard nails; thus, they are good for preventing brittle nails. White spots on nails could indi cate the need for more zinc while spoon- shaped nails could signal an iron deficiency.
Increasing the intake of red meat, seeds and nuts will be helpful to combat this. Horizontal or vertical ridges common among the elderly could be due to a vitamin B deficiency or stress that interferes with proper digestion and absorption.
The overall quality, and not quantity, of our diet is important, as we are what we eat.
Hair that’s healthy and lustrous has always been highly desirable. Read on to find out how eating right can improve your appearance.
The condition of our hair depends very much on our genetic make-up. However, our diet also has some impact on the health of our hair.
Hair is primarily made up of protein. Adequate protein intake is therefore necessary to supply amino acids needed in the metabolic process for constant hair growth.
Chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, eggs all support health, providing the system much- needed protein. Soybean or other vegtables combined with grains also provide a complete set of proteins for vegetarians.
In addition to proteins, these foods also supply vitamin B, biotin, and omega-3 fatty acids that play a role in preventing hair from becoming brittle or life less.
Hair colour and softness
In our bodies, copper works as a coenzyme in our immune systems and is involved in bodily functions that involve energy produc tion. It works hand in hand with various metabolic enzymes especially cytochrome C oxidase, dopamine hydroxylase. If one lacks the mineral, he or she may feel weak and fatigued, have frequent infections, or skin problems.
More importantly, copper is also a mineral needed in the formation of haemoglobin, which flows in blood to the hair shaft and other parts of our bodies. A deficiency of copper may weaken the hair shaft and cause hair shedding. Furthermore, the production of the pigment melanin, that determines hair colour, requires the supportive function of copper enzyme.
Our diets should have sufficient intake of copper to effectively maintain the colour and softness of our hair, and lessen hair thinning.
This does not mean that we need to use copper utensils for cooking or ingest copper.
We can get the mineral from our daily nutritional intake. The following foods are good sources of dietary copper to meet the recommended daily intake of 0.9 mg for adults.
Meat, fish and other seafoods all supply copper. In particular, shellfish – such as oysters, crabs and clams – is known to be a good source of copper. Offal and liver have a higher copper content than cuts of meat. However, due to accumulation of toxins, liver is not a recommended food. If you like offal, the liver of younger chicken has a lower amount of toxins in it.
In a vegetarian diet, nuts and seeds are the best source of copper. Copper content in a 100 gram portion: soybean 1.0 mg, chickpea (kacang kuda) 0.9 mg, yellow dhal 0.7 mg, orange dhal 0.7 mg, black gram 0.6 mg, mung bean 0.8 mg, red gram 0.7 mg.
The fresh ulam served in traditional Malay dishes are flavourful greens which supply copper needed for healthy hair. Copper in 100 grams portion: Indian pennywort (pegaga) 0.3 mg, laksa leaf (kesom) 0.3 mg, fern shoot 0.3 mg, ulam raja 0.2 mg, red chilli 0.2 mg, canned peas 0.2 mg, spinach (por choy) 0.2 mg, bamboo shoot 0.1 mg, betel leaf (sireh) 0.3 mg.
Zinc hinders copper absorption.
As long as we eat a balanced diet, research has shown that deficiency of copper in our bodies rarely comes from not getting enough dietary copper. Other than genetic factors, an overdose of zinc supplements would inhibit the absorption of copper in the body. This may result in copper deficiency and affect hair conditions.
In our diet, beef, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp, oysters, eggs, milk, mushroom, oats, peas, sesame seeds and other grains, cereals, nuts and seeds all supply zinc. If you wish to include a zinc supplement in your diet, con sult a medical professional to ensure there isn’t an excessive intake. Zinc is an important regulator of many genetic activities. Zinc is essential for the body to read genetic instructions. When one does not have sufficient zinc, genetic activities may be impaired. Zinc is also responsible for cell production, tissue growth and repair.
Thus, to a certain extent, zinc is believed to have a role in hair maintenance.
Balancing oily and dry hair.
In a hot and humid climate, we tend to per spire more. The acidic residue in the sweat may affect hair conditions. We need to con sume fruits and vegetables, especially the alkaline-producing foods to neutralise the acidic residue in our bodies. It is also impor tant to go easy on fatty and sugary foods, which the body will convert into acidic wastes.
Include generous portions of fruits and veg etable that are dark green, orange and yellow in your diet. Red and yellow plant pigments, vitamin A and carotenoids are required to maintain hair and ensure that it won’t become too oily or too dry.
While these are the nutrients that are inte gral to healthy hair, hair loss may not just be nutritionally related. For example, protein absorption can be hampered by low stomach acid and hair loss can be a symptom that accompanies other health problems. Low thy roid excretion, stress or drugs may also affect hair condition. Seek professional advice if necessary from a Trichologist.
Hard as nails.
A diet that’s good for hair maintenance will also sustain healthy nails. Eggs, seafood, meats and vegetables supply protein, biotin, vitamin A and calcium for the growth of firm, hard nails; thus, they are good for preventing brittle nails. White spots on nails could indi cate the need for more zinc while spoon- shaped nails could signal an iron deficiency.
Increasing the intake of red meat, seeds and nuts will be helpful to combat this. Horizontal or vertical ridges common among the elderly could be due to a vitamin B deficiency or stress that interferes with proper digestion and absorption.
The overall quality, and not quantity, of our diet is important, as we are what we eat.
Hair Loss: What really works?
There are many pharmaceutical prescription drugs available to treat all kinds of ailments and that includes hair loss. However, some people who experience hair loss and scalp disorders don’t want to take drugs for their problems. They just don’t want to risk side effects; it’s simply not worth it. They don’t trust the ingredients the drugs are comprised of and they would rather stick to other treatments that don’t involve the use of drugs. These drug free hair loss treatments include everything from laser treatments that stimulate hair follicles to grow to specialty topical plant based treatments that use special ingredients to stimulate hair follicles. These drug free hair loss treatments (plant based treatments which are tried and clinically tested) work when correctly prescribed for many people so give them a try to cure your hair loss. Before starting any treatments make sure that you see one of our trichologists for a correct diagnosis.
Can A Thyroid Dysfunction Cause Hair Loss? What Are The Symptoms And Signs?
There are many factors that contribute towards hair loss: hormonal changes, diet and nutritional deficiency, stress and poor health. A major cause of severe hair loss is developing a thyroid problem. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are responsible for causing severe early onset of hair loss in both men and women of all ages. Everyone seems to believe that these problems will never happen to them and that a thyroid dysfunction is something that happens to old people. This is far from the truth. We see male and female patients from all age groups. Ask your GP for a blood test immediately if you have a suspicion and consult one of our trichologists early on for advice. Early trichological treatment can prevent severe hair loss from this condition and its associated prescription drugs. Hair growth has a three phase growth cycle: anagen, catagen and telogen dormant phase. When a person suffers from hypothyroidism or hypothyroidism, the general mechanism of the hair growth process shuts down and loses balance. Thyroid malfunctions can force hair follicles to remain in the dormant phase for a longer period of time than normal. This leads to stalled hair growth and eventually to hair loss.
The thyroid is an endocrine gland, which is located on both sides of the trachea. It secretes the thyroid hormone, known as thyroxin, which regulates the rate of the metabolism. Any disruption in the mechanism can have great impact on overall metabolic activities. Once the metabolism is disturbed, it has been found to cause a series of abnormalities, one major factor being hair loss. Hypothyroidism has often been seen in women. It is often characterized by problems such as lethargy, menstrual imbalance and deceleration of metabolic rate. All of these factors contribute to hair loss. On the other hand, highly excessive functional activities of the thyroid gland can also cause hair loss.
Hormonal dysfunction within the body has a massive effect on hair loss. Hair loss occurs when dihydrotestosterone (DHT) shrinks the hair follicles and eventually causes them to disappear completely. The problem of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both encourage the conversion process of testosterone into DHT which accelerates hair loss in both men and women of all ages.
Hair loss induced by hormonal abnormalities is serious. This requires immediate action. We suggest that if you are in any doubt then simply feel free to call one of our trichologists for advice.
The thyroid is an endocrine gland, which is located on both sides of the trachea. It secretes the thyroid hormone, known as thyroxin, which regulates the rate of the metabolism. Any disruption in the mechanism can have great impact on overall metabolic activities. Once the metabolism is disturbed, it has been found to cause a series of abnormalities, one major factor being hair loss. Hypothyroidism has often been seen in women. It is often characterized by problems such as lethargy, menstrual imbalance and deceleration of metabolic rate. All of these factors contribute to hair loss. On the other hand, highly excessive functional activities of the thyroid gland can also cause hair loss.
Hormonal dysfunction within the body has a massive effect on hair loss. Hair loss occurs when dihydrotestosterone (DHT) shrinks the hair follicles and eventually causes them to disappear completely. The problem of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism both encourage the conversion process of testosterone into DHT which accelerates hair loss in both men and women of all ages.
Hair loss induced by hormonal abnormalities is serious. This requires immediate action. We suggest that if you are in any doubt then simply feel free to call one of our trichologists for advice.
Smoking Can Increase Hair Loss
We have just seen some very interesting research in the Archives of Dermatology which suggests that the amount of cigarettes that a man smokes can influence the extent to which he will go bald. Male pattern baldness is influenced by genetic and hormonal factors but some research by scientists in Taiwan has concluded that there was a definitive link between men who were moderately to severely bald and the number of cigarettes that they smoked.
It is not clear how the cigarettes influence baldness but if there is a link then it is likely that it emphasises an already pre-existing predisposition to go bald. It has been suggested that smoking destroys hair follicles but surely this would be the case with female smokers as well. Whilst this research is interesting, further work needs to be done to determine if such a link does indeed exist, how it actually operates.
It is not clear how the cigarettes influence baldness but if there is a link then it is likely that it emphasises an already pre-existing predisposition to go bald. It has been suggested that smoking destroys hair follicles but surely this would be the case with female smokers as well. Whilst this research is interesting, further work needs to be done to determine if such a link does indeed exist, how it actually operates.
Alopecia: What is it?
Everyone is familiar with male pattern baldness, a condition that sooner or later catches up to at least two-thirds of men. But what about those three bald spots that appeared recently on the back of your head? You’ve recently noticed quite a few of your own hairs clogging up the shower.
What’s going on? What’s happening?
The loss of some hair - about 80 to 120 a day - is normal, part of the natural process of growth and replacement cycle. At any given time, about 10 percent of hair on the scalp are in a resting (telogen) phase in preparation for being shed. A new hair then begins to grow in the same hair follicle. Excessive hair loss, partial or total, is known as alopecia. And it comes in many forms.
The male-type baldness that is most common typically occurs in certain patterns - a receding hairline, a bald patch at the crown or a completely bald top. This type of hair loss is primarily determined by genetics and male hormones.
In response to dihydrotestosterone, some hair follicles shrink or become miniaturized, producing progressively shorter, finer hair. Known as androgenetic alopecia, this type of progressive hair loss can begin as early as in your teens.
Women also suffer from androgenetic alopecia, although generally without a receding hair line or completely bald areas. A woman may notice general thinning on top with a more exaggerated part line, that can be masked through hair styling.
Women with androgenetic hair loss do not necessarily have higher levels of male hormone but rather more androgen receptors in hair follicles.
Similar appearing diffuse hair loss can be a result of telogen effluvium - a condition in which the normal growth cycle of hair become abnormally shortened, causing a predominance of hairs in the telogen or resting phase preparing to be shed.
Telogen effluvium is a temporary condition, usually caused by stress, either emotional or physical, or abnormalities of the thyroid, parathyroid or pituitary glands. It can be reversed by identifying and treating the underlying cause.
The patchy hair loss that are suffering is more than likely alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that affects about 2 percent of both men and women. Although it can occur at any age, this type of hair loss is actually more common in children and young adults.
There is usually no clear reason why the immune system starts to attack hair follicles, and the problem often goes away on its own, usually to recur later. In milder forms, no treatment may be necessary, but it is still a good idea to see a trichologist. In severe cases, the patient may lose every hair on the head or even every hair on the body.
Treatment may involve corticosteroids - taken orally, rubbed on the skin or injected into the scalp. Anthralin cream, a psoriasis medication, may also be used.
Treatment usually requires counseling, behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications. Damage to the scalp should also be repaired.
Traction alopecia refers to hair loss caused by hair styles such as ponytails or corn rows that put excessive pressure on hair follicles. With both trichotillomania and traction alopecia, it’s important to stop the damage before scarring of hair follicles occurs. Any disorder or infection that causes scarring of the scalp can cause irreversible hair loss.
In addition to treating the underlying cause, most types of hair loss can be reversed to some extent with minoxidil in a topical solution to apply to the scalp.
Minoxidil revitalizes and increases the size of hair follicles that are dwindling in size, creating increased hair density in a certain percentage of patients. Minoxodil should not be used on scalp areas that are inflamed, infected or irritated.
The other treatment for male pattern baldness, finasteride, works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. As an oral prescription medication, it is not approved for females. It’s too easy to dismiss thinning, receding or patchy hair as a cosmetic problem. Even though only about five percent of cases are caused by illness, hair loss can have a damaging effect on image and self confidence in social relationships.
Some persons have patchy hair because they can’t stop pulling it out. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling behavior that the individual may try to hide. Sometimes a response to stress, this disorder often starts in childhood. For further advice why not speak to one of our trichologists today.
What’s going on? What’s happening?
The loss of some hair - about 80 to 120 a day - is normal, part of the natural process of growth and replacement cycle. At any given time, about 10 percent of hair on the scalp are in a resting (telogen) phase in preparation for being shed. A new hair then begins to grow in the same hair follicle. Excessive hair loss, partial or total, is known as alopecia. And it comes in many forms.
The male-type baldness that is most common typically occurs in certain patterns - a receding hairline, a bald patch at the crown or a completely bald top. This type of hair loss is primarily determined by genetics and male hormones.
In response to dihydrotestosterone, some hair follicles shrink or become miniaturized, producing progressively shorter, finer hair. Known as androgenetic alopecia, this type of progressive hair loss can begin as early as in your teens.
Women also suffer from androgenetic alopecia, although generally without a receding hair line or completely bald areas. A woman may notice general thinning on top with a more exaggerated part line, that can be masked through hair styling.
Women with androgenetic hair loss do not necessarily have higher levels of male hormone but rather more androgen receptors in hair follicles.
Similar appearing diffuse hair loss can be a result of telogen effluvium - a condition in which the normal growth cycle of hair become abnormally shortened, causing a predominance of hairs in the telogen or resting phase preparing to be shed.
Telogen effluvium is a temporary condition, usually caused by stress, either emotional or physical, or abnormalities of the thyroid, parathyroid or pituitary glands. It can be reversed by identifying and treating the underlying cause.
The patchy hair loss that are suffering is more than likely alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that affects about 2 percent of both men and women. Although it can occur at any age, this type of hair loss is actually more common in children and young adults.
There is usually no clear reason why the immune system starts to attack hair follicles, and the problem often goes away on its own, usually to recur later. In milder forms, no treatment may be necessary, but it is still a good idea to see a trichologist. In severe cases, the patient may lose every hair on the head or even every hair on the body.
Treatment may involve corticosteroids - taken orally, rubbed on the skin or injected into the scalp. Anthralin cream, a psoriasis medication, may also be used.
Treatment usually requires counseling, behavioral therapy and antidepressant medications. Damage to the scalp should also be repaired.
Traction alopecia refers to hair loss caused by hair styles such as ponytails or corn rows that put excessive pressure on hair follicles. With both trichotillomania and traction alopecia, it’s important to stop the damage before scarring of hair follicles occurs. Any disorder or infection that causes scarring of the scalp can cause irreversible hair loss.
In addition to treating the underlying cause, most types of hair loss can be reversed to some extent with minoxidil in a topical solution to apply to the scalp.
Minoxidil revitalizes and increases the size of hair follicles that are dwindling in size, creating increased hair density in a certain percentage of patients. Minoxodil should not be used on scalp areas that are inflamed, infected or irritated.
The other treatment for male pattern baldness, finasteride, works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. As an oral prescription medication, it is not approved for females. It’s too easy to dismiss thinning, receding or patchy hair as a cosmetic problem. Even though only about five percent of cases are caused by illness, hair loss can have a damaging effect on image and self confidence in social relationships.
Some persons have patchy hair because they can’t stop pulling it out. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling behavior that the individual may try to hide. Sometimes a response to stress, this disorder often starts in childhood. For further advice why not speak to one of our trichologists today.
Women get to the root of hair loss.
Unlike the receding hair line creeping over a man's scalp, hair loss sneaks up on a woman.
Maybe she sees a few more hairs in her favorite brush. Her ponytail feels skinnier. Her part widens. Eventually she notices she can see her scalp peeking through in a photograph.
Whatever the telling sign, female pattern hair loss can be traumatic. But women today are less likely to suffer in silence than a decade ago; doctors report that women increasingly are coming forward to seek remedies.
Locks we love
In some cases, pinpointing the cause is the first step to a cure, though the source of hair loss in women is not always as clear as it is in men.
The hormone fluctuations of puberty, pregnancy and menopause can cause hair to shed. So can the stress of general anesthesia, illness, anemia, crash diets and thyroid abnormalities. Some women -- and a few men, too -- suffer a compulsion to tug at the hair, damaging the follicles.
Stress on the hair itself, whether from chemical treatments, extensions or tight hairstyles that tug at the scalp, can also break the hair or scar the follicle. Black women are particularly vulnerable due to the hair relaxing treatments and braiding often begun at a young age.
"Half of our hair loss visits are African-American women," said Dr. Marianne O'Donoghue, a dermatologist in Oak Brook and associate professor at Rush University Medical Center. "They have a terrible time keeping their hair in."
The most common cause of female hair loss is androgenetic allopecia, or female pattern baldness. Thought to be influenced by levels of sex hormones, this type of hair loss usually begins after menopause, but it can start as early as puberty. Instead of a woman losing 100 to 125 hairs a day, which is normal, she'll lose so many that her scalp will show through.
Help is available. The topical medicines, laser treatments and hair transplants designed for men can help women, too.
Stopping the loss
One of the oldest treatments for hair loss in men and women is Rogaine, the brand name of the drug minoxidil. Spread over the scalp twice a day, Rogaine works by increasing the growth phase of the hair follicles. It also helps hair grow thicker, stronger and with more pigmentation.
Women's Rogaine is less potent than men's -- a 2 percent strength rather than 5 percent -- though some doctors recommend the 5 percent strength for women, too.
"If you're going to fill your tank up with gas, you may as well fill it up," said Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair loss specialist in Florida.
A new foam version of Rogaine is less irritating to the scalp, Bauman said.
The mistake many women make with Rogaine is quitting too early, Bauman said. Many women quit after six weeks. But it will take six to 12 months to see the results in the mirror, Bauman said. As soon as you quit you'll start losing hair again.
"About 70 percent of women are going to get a response from it, but it's a long-term commitment," he said.
Since it has not been studied in pregnant women, women who are nursing or pregnant are usually advised against using Rogaine.
Propecia is an oral medication that stops hair loss in 90 percent of men, but it's not FDA-approved for use in women and poses risks to a developing male fetus. But some doctors prescribe Propecia to women who are not of childbearing age. While the evidence is not conclusive, a few studies show it works in women whose hormones are controlled with birth control pills or hormone therapy, Bauman said.
Other medications are available for specific types of hair loss. Women with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder signaled by circular bald patches, may get cortisone shots in the scalp or a topical cream. Low iron levels or thyroid disorders can be treated and the patient usually will regrow her hair, O'Donoghue said.
Laser therapy
A newer -- and less proven -- treatment involves beaming low-level lasers over the scalp, usually in a series of treatments lasting several months. The FDA recently approved a laser comb as a cosmetic device that can be used at home, though doctors said the laser hoods available in offices are more effective.
The lasers increase blood flow to the scalp and boost cell metabolism, said Dr. Stephen Dayan, a Chicago plastic surgeon who is testing a laser hair restoration device in his office.
"By increasing cell metabolism, you're creating more energy for the hair follicles, and the hair follicles are creating thicker hairs," he said.
The laser treatments work best on men and women with thinning -- not absent -- hair. They have to have functioning follicles.
"If they've been bald for a long time, it's probably not going to do a lot for them," Dayan said.
Jessica Hinkle of Streamwood is completing a series of laser treatments for thinning hair she first noticed five years ago. She didn't have a receding hair line, just more scalp where her bangs should be.
"My husband shaves his head on purpose," Hinkle said. "But a woman being bald is not OK."
Because she's planning to have more children, the 31-year-old didn't want to use Rogaine or other medications that pose any risk to a developing baby. So she entered a contest sponsored by a radio station and won a series of free laser treatments at Deerfield-based Natural Hair Growth Institute.
Once a week, Hinkle sits under a device shaped like a salon hair dryer while lasers glow on her scalp. Since she began treatments in May, Hinkle said her hair is thicker and her scalp less visible.
"I was skeptical, but it's noticeably different," she said. "A lot of people have noticed my hair has changed."
Not everyone can win a contest, and such treatments don't come cheap. Steve Bennis, a former engineer who launched Natural Hair Growth Institute after lasers helped with his own hair loss, says clients spend between $6,800 and $12,800 for a six-month series of treatments.
Bennis is not a doctor, so he requires clients visit one first to rule out medical conditions that could cause hair loss. He says clients start to see new hair growth within four weeks.
"When I started my business, I thought it was only for men," Bennis said. "Now I have 70 percent women. They like it because it's non-invasive, and it solves the problem."
You can also buy a variety of laser combs or brushes that range from $399 to $2,499. Newer versions cover wider areas in less time, Bauman said.
"The lasers are not a miracle cure, but I have noticed in my patients that laser therapy can certainly enhance hair quality and produce thicker, fuller, healthier, shinier hair," Bauman said. "It's not going to give you a teenager's head of hair, but you can see improvements over time."
Transplants
The growing awareness among the public about what cosmetic surgery offers has spread to include hair transplants, even for women, said Dr. Arthur Kaplan of Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.
"Women are the fastest growing percentage of patients," he said.
Part of that is due to more refined technique. A surgeon can implant follicles taken from the back of the head one, two or three at a time, rather than plugs.
"For women, plugs were unacceptable from day one, whereas with men there was a time that was acceptable," Kaplan said. "The aesthetics women required were much higher. As the field has evolved, that has opened up the opportunity."
Micrografts are essential for women, who often have diffuse thinning in a part of the scalp. A surgeon must take care to preserve existing follicles, Bauman said.
"You can't put large grafts into diffuse areas or you're going to cause trauma," he said. "You can't go into a tomato garden with a backhoe. You have to use a small instrument to plant those seeds."
The cost depends on the number of follicles transplanted. Women are usually less expensive than men because a smaller area is involved. Most women spend between $4,500 and $6,000 for transplants at Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.
The procedure takes two to four hours. Women start to notice new hair growth in three to five months, with full results taking a year to appear.
Maybe she sees a few more hairs in her favorite brush. Her ponytail feels skinnier. Her part widens. Eventually she notices she can see her scalp peeking through in a photograph.
Whatever the telling sign, female pattern hair loss can be traumatic. But women today are less likely to suffer in silence than a decade ago; doctors report that women increasingly are coming forward to seek remedies.
Locks we love
In some cases, pinpointing the cause is the first step to a cure, though the source of hair loss in women is not always as clear as it is in men.
The hormone fluctuations of puberty, pregnancy and menopause can cause hair to shed. So can the stress of general anesthesia, illness, anemia, crash diets and thyroid abnormalities. Some women -- and a few men, too -- suffer a compulsion to tug at the hair, damaging the follicles.
Stress on the hair itself, whether from chemical treatments, extensions or tight hairstyles that tug at the scalp, can also break the hair or scar the follicle. Black women are particularly vulnerable due to the hair relaxing treatments and braiding often begun at a young age.
"Half of our hair loss visits are African-American women," said Dr. Marianne O'Donoghue, a dermatologist in Oak Brook and associate professor at Rush University Medical Center. "They have a terrible time keeping their hair in."
The most common cause of female hair loss is androgenetic allopecia, or female pattern baldness. Thought to be influenced by levels of sex hormones, this type of hair loss usually begins after menopause, but it can start as early as puberty. Instead of a woman losing 100 to 125 hairs a day, which is normal, she'll lose so many that her scalp will show through.
Help is available. The topical medicines, laser treatments and hair transplants designed for men can help women, too.
Stopping the loss
One of the oldest treatments for hair loss in men and women is Rogaine, the brand name of the drug minoxidil. Spread over the scalp twice a day, Rogaine works by increasing the growth phase of the hair follicles. It also helps hair grow thicker, stronger and with more pigmentation.
Women's Rogaine is less potent than men's -- a 2 percent strength rather than 5 percent -- though some doctors recommend the 5 percent strength for women, too.
"If you're going to fill your tank up with gas, you may as well fill it up," said Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair loss specialist in Florida.
A new foam version of Rogaine is less irritating to the scalp, Bauman said.
The mistake many women make with Rogaine is quitting too early, Bauman said. Many women quit after six weeks. But it will take six to 12 months to see the results in the mirror, Bauman said. As soon as you quit you'll start losing hair again.
"About 70 percent of women are going to get a response from it, but it's a long-term commitment," he said.
Since it has not been studied in pregnant women, women who are nursing or pregnant are usually advised against using Rogaine.
Propecia is an oral medication that stops hair loss in 90 percent of men, but it's not FDA-approved for use in women and poses risks to a developing male fetus. But some doctors prescribe Propecia to women who are not of childbearing age. While the evidence is not conclusive, a few studies show it works in women whose hormones are controlled with birth control pills or hormone therapy, Bauman said.
Other medications are available for specific types of hair loss. Women with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder signaled by circular bald patches, may get cortisone shots in the scalp or a topical cream. Low iron levels or thyroid disorders can be treated and the patient usually will regrow her hair, O'Donoghue said.
Laser therapy
A newer -- and less proven -- treatment involves beaming low-level lasers over the scalp, usually in a series of treatments lasting several months. The FDA recently approved a laser comb as a cosmetic device that can be used at home, though doctors said the laser hoods available in offices are more effective.
The lasers increase blood flow to the scalp and boost cell metabolism, said Dr. Stephen Dayan, a Chicago plastic surgeon who is testing a laser hair restoration device in his office.
"By increasing cell metabolism, you're creating more energy for the hair follicles, and the hair follicles are creating thicker hairs," he said.
The laser treatments work best on men and women with thinning -- not absent -- hair. They have to have functioning follicles.
"If they've been bald for a long time, it's probably not going to do a lot for them," Dayan said.
Jessica Hinkle of Streamwood is completing a series of laser treatments for thinning hair she first noticed five years ago. She didn't have a receding hair line, just more scalp where her bangs should be.
"My husband shaves his head on purpose," Hinkle said. "But a woman being bald is not OK."
Because she's planning to have more children, the 31-year-old didn't want to use Rogaine or other medications that pose any risk to a developing baby. So she entered a contest sponsored by a radio station and won a series of free laser treatments at Deerfield-based Natural Hair Growth Institute.
Once a week, Hinkle sits under a device shaped like a salon hair dryer while lasers glow on her scalp. Since she began treatments in May, Hinkle said her hair is thicker and her scalp less visible.
"I was skeptical, but it's noticeably different," she said. "A lot of people have noticed my hair has changed."
Not everyone can win a contest, and such treatments don't come cheap. Steve Bennis, a former engineer who launched Natural Hair Growth Institute after lasers helped with his own hair loss, says clients spend between $6,800 and $12,800 for a six-month series of treatments.
Bennis is not a doctor, so he requires clients visit one first to rule out medical conditions that could cause hair loss. He says clients start to see new hair growth within four weeks.
"When I started my business, I thought it was only for men," Bennis said. "Now I have 70 percent women. They like it because it's non-invasive, and it solves the problem."
You can also buy a variety of laser combs or brushes that range from $399 to $2,499. Newer versions cover wider areas in less time, Bauman said.
"The lasers are not a miracle cure, but I have noticed in my patients that laser therapy can certainly enhance hair quality and produce thicker, fuller, healthier, shinier hair," Bauman said. "It's not going to give you a teenager's head of hair, but you can see improvements over time."
Transplants
The growing awareness among the public about what cosmetic surgery offers has spread to include hair transplants, even for women, said Dr. Arthur Kaplan of Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.
"Women are the fastest growing percentage of patients," he said.
Part of that is due to more refined technique. A surgeon can implant follicles taken from the back of the head one, two or three at a time, rather than plugs.
"For women, plugs were unacceptable from day one, whereas with men there was a time that was acceptable," Kaplan said. "The aesthetics women required were much higher. As the field has evolved, that has opened up the opportunity."
Micrografts are essential for women, who often have diffuse thinning in a part of the scalp. A surgeon must take care to preserve existing follicles, Bauman said.
"You can't put large grafts into diffuse areas or you're going to cause trauma," he said. "You can't go into a tomato garden with a backhoe. You have to use a small instrument to plant those seeds."
The cost depends on the number of follicles transplanted. Women are usually less expensive than men because a smaller area is involved. Most women spend between $4,500 and $6,000 for transplants at Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook.
The procedure takes two to four hours. Women start to notice new hair growth in three to five months, with full results taking a year to appear.
Female Hair Loss: Your health questions answered.
Hormonal problems are top of the list of causes of hair loss in women. An underactive thyroid is more likely than an overactive thyroid. So the first thing I would suggest is another thyroid-function test at your GP. Eight years is a long time, and just because your thyroid was working well eight years ago doesn’t mean it is still OK. There is a long list of drugs that can interfere with hair growth, so if you are taking anything at all, you should read the small print carefully. Another possible problem is seborrhoeic dermatitis. This causes dandruff, together with oily, flaky skin and itchiness, which can cause hair loss. If you don’t get a solution from any of these routes, I would give yourself a six-month trial of vitamin and mineral supplements – poor hair growth is sometimes sensitive to deficiencies. You could also try massaging the brow area with regular-strength minoxidil lotion, used to treat male baldness. But you might end up with bushy eyebrows, so beware.
Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.
Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.
However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.
Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.
Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.
However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.
British women’s hair loss ‘from stress’.
Record numbers of women in Britain are suffering from hair loss and acne because of stress and busy lifestyles, researchers have said.
A study of 2,052 women aged 18 and over, found that 19 per cent suffer or have suffered from hair loss and 38 per cent have adult acne.
More than a third of women, or 35 per cent, have been to their doctor about the problem, the study said.
Anita Ellis, a registered nutritionist, described the results as “extremely worrying”.
She said: “The fact that over a third of women have been to their GPs highlights how serious the problem is. There needs to be more information for women on how to deal with these conditions.”
The research, carried out by Vitabiotics Perfectil, which makes vitamin supplements, also found that 27 per cent of women never wear the recommended level of sun protection factor cream on their face.
Why not call 0207 976 6868 and speak to one of our trichologist who will be happy to help and advise you.
Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.
Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.
However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.
A study of 2,052 women aged 18 and over, found that 19 per cent suffer or have suffered from hair loss and 38 per cent have adult acne.
More than a third of women, or 35 per cent, have been to their doctor about the problem, the study said.
Anita Ellis, a registered nutritionist, described the results as “extremely worrying”.
She said: “The fact that over a third of women have been to their GPs highlights how serious the problem is. There needs to be more information for women on how to deal with these conditions.”
The research, carried out by Vitabiotics Perfectil, which makes vitamin supplements, also found that 27 per cent of women never wear the recommended level of sun protection factor cream on their face.
Why not call 0207 976 6868 and speak to one of our trichologist who will be happy to help and advise you.
Your initial consultation and assessment are free. So why not take advantage of our expertise and get the facts so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of your hair today.
Take control of your hair loss so that it does not control your life.
However, not all cases are treatable. But with early diagnosis and treatment you will give yourself and us the best possible chance to help you.
Hair Loss Immediately After Pregnancy Is Often Considered Abnormal: POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS IS NORMAL.
Hair loss immediately after childbirth is common and totally normal. Women are concerned for postpartum hair loss and consider it abnormal. Immediate thinning or hair loss convinces them into thinking that they have a fatal disease or illness manifested in the form of hair thinning.
Studies show postpartum or after pregnancy hair loss is totally normal and a part of regular hair growth life cycle. Your hair grows from hair follicles. Each follicle gives rise to a single hair shaft.
Each hair shaft undergoes a regular life cycle for its development and replacement with a new one. Anagen is the first phase of hair growth cycle in which it grows and takes 2 to 6 years. The longer the anagen phase, the longer the hair you will have.
Catagen is second phase starts just after ending of anagen. Catagen is intermittent or transitional phase lasting 2 to 3 weeks. During this phase, the hair shaft neither grows nor rests.
Telogen Phase is the third and last phase of the hair growth cycle. During this phase old hairs are lost and the hair enters an anagen phase again in order to maintain a normal hair growth cycle. It is this period when you notice hair in your comb and on your brush.
The duration of each phase is influenced by internal and external stimuli. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes uncontrolled hormonal fluctuations, irregular periods etc. It is often caused due to the lack of nutrients needed for healthy growth of cells and completion of pregnancy. Folic acid and iron are essential for pregnancy, while most women lack these due to junk foods and an insufficient diet.
Therefore, postpartum hair loss is usually not a result of fatal disease but merely a result of hormonal fluctuations and lack of nutrients.
To counteract postpartum hair loss, herbal hair loss treatments are often used to meet the nutrient requirements of the hair follicles and normalize severe hormonal fluctuations after pregnancy. These treatments are used topically twice or thrice a day for follicular nourishment.
Studies show postpartum or after pregnancy hair loss is totally normal and a part of regular hair growth life cycle. Your hair grows from hair follicles. Each follicle gives rise to a single hair shaft.
Each hair shaft undergoes a regular life cycle for its development and replacement with a new one. Anagen is the first phase of hair growth cycle in which it grows and takes 2 to 6 years. The longer the anagen phase, the longer the hair you will have.
Catagen is second phase starts just after ending of anagen. Catagen is intermittent or transitional phase lasting 2 to 3 weeks. During this phase, the hair shaft neither grows nor rests.
Telogen Phase is the third and last phase of the hair growth cycle. During this phase old hairs are lost and the hair enters an anagen phase again in order to maintain a normal hair growth cycle. It is this period when you notice hair in your comb and on your brush.
The duration of each phase is influenced by internal and external stimuli. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes uncontrolled hormonal fluctuations, irregular periods etc. It is often caused due to the lack of nutrients needed for healthy growth of cells and completion of pregnancy. Folic acid and iron are essential for pregnancy, while most women lack these due to junk foods and an insufficient diet.
Therefore, postpartum hair loss is usually not a result of fatal disease but merely a result of hormonal fluctuations and lack of nutrients.
To counteract postpartum hair loss, herbal hair loss treatments are often used to meet the nutrient requirements of the hair follicles and normalize severe hormonal fluctuations after pregnancy. These treatments are used topically twice or thrice a day for follicular nourishment.
Women Lose Their Hair Too
Hair loss in women is not uncommon. Studies have shown that it takes place in more than one-third of all women sometime during their life.
Although certainly not life threatening, it can have a significant emotional effect.
The most common type of hair loss in women is female pattern hair loss.
Although female pattern hair loss can take place at any age after puberty, it occurs more frequently in older individuals. By age 70, 38 percent of women experience female pattern hair loss. Typically, the hair loss occurs in the center of the scalp, although the sides can also be affected.
Other types of hair loss include the loss of hair that takes place after certain physical or emotional situations such as stress, surgery, a major illness, rapid weight loss, hormonal abnormalities and poor nutrition.
In these situations the hair loss usually doesn’t appear until two or three months after the onset of the problem. If the physical or emotional situation is corrected the hair frequently returns.
A variety of medications may also cause hair loss. Some of these medications are allopurinol, used to treat gout; catopril that treats high blood pressure; and tegretol used to manage seizures.
A less common cause of female hair loss is alopecia areata in which clumps of hair are lost. At times there can be complete loss of hair. Alopecia areata appears to be due to some type of immunological problem.
Treatment of female pattern baldness includes medications such as minoxidil. Studies have shown that minoxidil used twice a day results in minimal hair growth in 50 percent of the patients and moderate hair growth in 13 percent after eight months of treatment.
An increasing number of women are undergoing hair transplantation for this condition. Hair is taken from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the center of the scalp where the hair is sparse. Hair transplantation can be fairly expensive.
Although sometimes difficult to do, it is important to determine the cause of the hair loss so the most effective treatment can be started.
Although certainly not life threatening, it can have a significant emotional effect.
The most common type of hair loss in women is female pattern hair loss.
Although female pattern hair loss can take place at any age after puberty, it occurs more frequently in older individuals. By age 70, 38 percent of women experience female pattern hair loss. Typically, the hair loss occurs in the center of the scalp, although the sides can also be affected.
Other types of hair loss include the loss of hair that takes place after certain physical or emotional situations such as stress, surgery, a major illness, rapid weight loss, hormonal abnormalities and poor nutrition.
In these situations the hair loss usually doesn’t appear until two or three months after the onset of the problem. If the physical or emotional situation is corrected the hair frequently returns.
A variety of medications may also cause hair loss. Some of these medications are allopurinol, used to treat gout; catopril that treats high blood pressure; and tegretol used to manage seizures.
A less common cause of female hair loss is alopecia areata in which clumps of hair are lost. At times there can be complete loss of hair. Alopecia areata appears to be due to some type of immunological problem.
Treatment of female pattern baldness includes medications such as minoxidil. Studies have shown that minoxidil used twice a day results in minimal hair growth in 50 percent of the patients and moderate hair growth in 13 percent after eight months of treatment.
An increasing number of women are undergoing hair transplantation for this condition. Hair is taken from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the center of the scalp where the hair is sparse. Hair transplantation can be fairly expensive.
Although sometimes difficult to do, it is important to determine the cause of the hair loss so the most effective treatment can be started.
Mycotic infection
This is common in children and is caused by contact with a yeast or fungus, which invades the hair shaft and scalp. Symptoms include itching, hair breakage and often infection. The clinical features include circular patches where the hair has broken off with a very red, pruritic (itchy) area and weeping.
Follicultis decalvans
Folliculitis decalvans is a slowly spreading inflammation of the hair follicle, which leads to progressive scarring. It is distinguished by follicular plugging and multiple rounded or oval patches can be found on the scalp, each surrounded by crops of follicular pustules. There may be no other changes, but successive crops of pustules, each followed by the destruction of the affected follicles, produce the slow extension of the alopecia. The exact cause of this condition is still uncertain, but is most likely an abnormal 'host response' to various common bacteria.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles and is fairly common as it can be spread through the use of clippers that have not been sterilised correctly. Without treatment, this condition can also lead to diffuse hair loss as the inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding. Though your hair will regrow, it may not be as thick as it was before.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is characterised by the presence of red, raised patches covered by silvery-white scales, which is caused by an abnormally fast cell division rate in the epidermis layer of the skin and is a genetically determined disorder. This condition often leads to increased shedding of hairs in the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle and some reduction in hair density.
Acne necrotica millaris
This condition is recognised by pustules along the front hairline typically, although they can also occur elsewhere on the upper body. The pustules may be slightly painful and are often pruritic or itchy. When they involve the scalp the pustules may leave small patches of cicatricial (permanent) scarring as they have a central necrosis, which can destroy the hair follicle. This condition is considered to be of an unknown origin, although stress is often incriminated in precipitating occurrences
Pityriasis amiantacea
Pityriasis amiantacea begins with a swollen, discoloured and weeping scalp, which causes the hairs to stick to each other and to the scalp. Following the first stage, the scalp begins to produce a thick layer of silvery white or dull gray scales that pile up along the hair shafts. Although the patches may often be found next to a hair part, the back of the head is a common site. Rather than spreading to the rest of the scalp, a fine, branny scale appears over the unaffected area.
Pityriasis simplex (dandruff)
Pityriasis simplex is known more commonly as dandruff. It is characterised by the excessive shedding of the scalp's epidermal cells, which leads to visible flaking or scaling. These scales can accumulate on the surface of the scalp in localized patches or more diffusely. The exact cause is uncertain, although the bacteria pityrosporum ovale and increased sebaceous activity have been suggested as factors.
Seborrhoeic eczema
This condition is distinguished by redness and patches of scale on the scalp, usually near the ears and hairline as the oil glands become sensitive to the levels of male hormones or androgens in the system. Individuals have a genetically determined predisposition towards this condition and outbreaks can be triggered by stress at different ages in the sufferer.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
This condition is distinguished by redness and patches of scale on the scalp, usually near the ears and hairline as the oil glands become sensitive to the levels of male hormones or androgens in the system. The precise cause of seborrhoeic dermatitis is unknown, although a genetic factor is almost certainly implicated. Outbreaks can be triggered by stress and can often lead to a secondary bacterial infection.
Pseudopelade
Pseudopelade is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness). The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It is generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.
Telogen effluvium
This condition occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen phase, or growing phase, and the result is therefore diffuse thinning of the hair.
Diffuse thinning
Diffuse hair loss is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to a straightforward bald patch and is the most common cause of hair loss in women. The causes can be numerous and include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.
Late onset thinning (age-related)
This condition can be seen in diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction in overall density
Weathering (trichorrhexis nodosa)
Trichorrhexis nodosa can be a genetic weakness within the hair shaft or weakness and breakage due to weathering i.e. over use of heat during the drying process or manual trauma due to tension on the hair from tight ponytail clasps, rollers (particularly velcro) or smoothing irons. Ultra violet light, central heating and the wind can all exacerbate this further and the condition will become progressive without correct treatment.
Friction Alopecia
Friction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant rubbing on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of rubbing on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.
Traction alopecia
Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of pulling on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.
Alopecia totalis
Alopecia totalis is recognized by the loss of all scalp hair. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. It can also affect the sufferer's nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an autoimmune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.
Alopecia universalis
Alopecia universalis is recognized by the loss of all body hair. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. In its early stages, the usual ratio of hairs in anagen (growing) and telogen (resting) phases is disturbed and more hairs enter the telogen stage, leading to sudden hair loss in small patches, which gradually widen with time until the hair loss is total. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an autoimmune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.
Alopecia areata
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer's nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis.
Androgenetic thinning
Androgenetic alopecia has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
Androgenetic thinning
Androgenetic alopecia has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
Male hair loss products and treatments
For many men, losing hair is something will have to be faced as part of the aging process. Common hair loss can be treated with preventative hair loss treatments and products. Iif this is happening to you, you are not alone, as a simple walk down the street will show you. About 25 per cent of men begin losing hair before they reach 30 and two thirds before the age of 60. Sometimes men can begin losing hair in their teens and can reach their early twenties with very little, if any, hair left on the crown of their head. Usually, however, the hair loss is gradual, developing over a period of twenty to thirty years.
The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic:
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. The hair above the ears and at the nape of the neck is unaffected. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
If you are suffering from patchy hair loss you may be suffering from another form of alopecia:
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost this is known as alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.
Hair loss can also result from a scalp problem. Inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding and will lead to diffuse hair loss.
These are just a few of the reasons for hair loss. It order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you have a diagnosis made as soon as possible by one of our experienced trichologists. Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.
The most common cause of hair loss in men is genetic:
Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) has a characteristic pattern of hair loss; it begins with a slight recession at the front hairline and is followed by thinning on the crown of the head. The hair above the ears and at the nape of the neck is unaffected. This hair loss results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be oversensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
If you are suffering from patchy hair loss you may be suffering from another form of alopecia:
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost this is known as alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.
Hair loss can also result from a scalp problem. Inflammation of the scalp leads to production of superoxide, which causes hair shedding and will lead to diffuse hair loss.
These are just a few of the reasons for hair loss. It order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you have a diagnosis made as soon as possible by one of our experienced trichologists. Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.
Female hair loss products and treatments
In today’s increasingly stressful world, the number of women suffering from hair loss is increasing. We all want to look our best and damage to a woman’s ‘crowning glory’ can be a uniquely upsetting affliction.
Hair loss in woman can generally be seen evenly across the scalp, without definite bald patches. If this is happening to you, the following conditions may be affecting you:
Diffuse hair loss is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to a straightforward bald patch and is the most common type of hair loss in women. The replacement of old hairs by new hairs is slowed down so that the hair becomes sparse and the scalp can be seen clearly through the hair. The causes can be numerous and include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.
Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness) in women is often linked to hormonal changes with the hair loss following events such as the menopause, childbirth or as a result of stopping or starting oral contraceptive pills. The hair loss is generally more uniform over the scalp than in the male counterpart, but also results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be over sensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen phase, or growing phase, and the result is diffuse thinning of the hair.
Pregnancy will also affect hair production. Hormone levels increase as the pregnancy begins and slow down the hair growth cycle. Hairs that should stop growing continue to grow beyond their usual life cycle. Often this means that the hair appears to grow thicker as more hairs are present than normal. Following the birth, hormone levels change very quickly and hairs that were growing beyond their normal lifespan enter the telogen phase at this time and begin to fall out. This can sometimes appear to happen all at once and can be very worrying to the new mother.
Late onset thinning can be seen in diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction in overall density.
If your hair loss is patchy you may be suffering from a form of alopecia:
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost this is known as alopecia totalis or as alopecia universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.
Pseudopelade is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness). The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It is generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.
Hair loss can also have traumatic origins:
Chemical trauma can be caused to the hair by bleaching, relaxing, perming or even dying the hair. The chemicals involved in these processes can damage the hair’s protein structure, making the hair dehydrated and brittle and often causing hair loss. As well as damaging the hair’s protein structure, these chemicals are also not good for the scalp and can irritate it.
Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of pulling on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.
Injury to the body or surgery and its associated anaesthetics and medications can also cause an interruption of the normal growth cycle. A relatively minor injury can result in disproportionably severe hair loss.
These are just a few of the reasons for hair loss. It order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you have a diagnosis made as soon as possible by one of our experienced trichologists. Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.
Hair loss in woman can generally be seen evenly across the scalp, without definite bald patches. If this is happening to you, the following conditions may be affecting you:
Diffuse hair loss is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to a straightforward bald patch and is the most common type of hair loss in women. The replacement of old hairs by new hairs is slowed down so that the hair becomes sparse and the scalp can be seen clearly through the hair. The causes can be numerous and include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.
Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness) in women is often linked to hormonal changes with the hair loss following events such as the menopause, childbirth or as a result of stopping or starting oral contraceptive pills. The hair loss is generally more uniform over the scalp than in the male counterpart, but also results from a complex chemical reaction when the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase converts the testosterone in the system into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be over sensitive to the DHT and become smaller and smaller with time, leading to the eventual hair loss.
Telogen Effluvium occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen phase, or growing phase, and the result is diffuse thinning of the hair.
Pregnancy will also affect hair production. Hormone levels increase as the pregnancy begins and slow down the hair growth cycle. Hairs that should stop growing continue to grow beyond their usual life cycle. Often this means that the hair appears to grow thicker as more hairs are present than normal. Following the birth, hormone levels change very quickly and hairs that were growing beyond their normal lifespan enter the telogen phase at this time and begin to fall out. This can sometimes appear to happen all at once and can be very worrying to the new mother.
Late onset thinning can be seen in diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction in overall density.
If your hair loss is patchy you may be suffering from a form of alopecia:
Alopecia Areata is an extremely common condition and will affect 1% to 2% of the population at some point in their lives. Most sufferers are children and young adults (below 40 years old), though it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridged or brittle appearance. The exact cause is still unknown, although current theories include an auto-immune disease, stress or suggest a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost this is known as alopecia totalis or as alopecia universalis if all the body hair is lost as well.
Pseudopelade is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness). The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It is generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.
Hair loss can also have traumatic origins:
Chemical trauma can be caused to the hair by bleaching, relaxing, perming or even dying the hair. The chemicals involved in these processes can damage the hair’s protein structure, making the hair dehydrated and brittle and often causing hair loss. As well as damaging the hair’s protein structure, these chemicals are also not good for the scalp and can irritate it.
Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair. The action of pulling on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer.
Injury to the body or surgery and its associated anaesthetics and medications can also cause an interruption of the normal growth cycle. A relatively minor injury can result in disproportionably severe hair loss.
These are just a few of the reasons for hair loss. It order to treat hair loss effectively we would recommend that you have a diagnosis made as soon as possible by one of our experienced trichologists. Stress can be an aggravator in almost all cases of hair loss and an accurate diagnosis will always, at the very least, take some of the stress away from you.
Coping skills
Chances are that the greatest challenge of losing your hair is coping with the change in your appearance. You may be frustrated or upset by other people's reactions or after trying various treatments with little success. If you're having difficulty coping with baldness caused by heredity, a medical condition or medical treatments, you may find some of the following suggestions helpful:
Learn about the cause of your baldness and treatment options. Be wary of alternative treatments that have no proven track record or may cause dangerous or unpleasant side effects.
Educate those near to you. Your family and friends can be more sympathetic if they understand the cause of your baldness or your concerns about your looks. You may also learn that they are less concerned about changes in your appearance than you are.
Consider joining a support group. While support groups aren't for everyone, they can be sources of information and comfort. Talking with people who experience the same challenges or medical conditions and learning how they cope can be reassuring.
Learn about the cause of your baldness and treatment options. Be wary of alternative treatments that have no proven track record or may cause dangerous or unpleasant side effects.
Educate those near to you. Your family and friends can be more sympathetic if they understand the cause of your baldness or your concerns about your looks. You may also learn that they are less concerned about changes in your appearance than you are.
Consider joining a support group. While support groups aren't for everyone, they can be sources of information and comfort. Talking with people who experience the same challenges or medical conditions and learning how they cope can be reassuring.
Hair loss. Treatment
Baldness, whether permanent or temporary, can't be cured. But treatments are available to help promote hair growth or hide hair loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume growth without any treatment.
Medications
The effectiveness of medications used to treat alopecia depends on the cause of hair loss, extent of the loss and individual response. Generally, treatment is less effective for more extensive cases of hair loss.
The types of drugs for treatment of alopecia that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration include:
Minoxidil (Rogaine). This over-the-counter medication is approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Minoxidil is a liquid that you rub into your scalp twice daily to regrow hair and to prevent further loss. Some people experience some hair regrowth or a slower rate of hair loss or both. Minoxidil is available in a 2 percent solution and in a 5 percent solution.
New hair resulting from minoxidil use may be thinner and shorter than previous hair. But there can be enough regrowth for some people to hide their bald spots and have it blend with existing hair. New hair stops growing soon after you discontinue the use of minoxidil. If you experience minimal results within six months, your doctor may recommend discontinuing use. Side effects can include irritation of the scalp.
Finasteride (Propecia). This prescription medication to treat male-pattern baldness is taken daily in pill form. Many people taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show some new hair growth. Positive results may take several months. Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles and is an important factor in male hair loss. Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function. As with minoxidil, the benefits of finasteride stop if you stop using it.
Finasteride is not approved for use by women. In fact, it poses significant danger to women of childbearing age. If you're a pregnant woman, don't even handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets because absorption of the drug may cause serious birth defects in male fetuses.
Corticosteroids. Injections of cortisone into the scalp can treat alopecia areata. Treatment is usually repeated monthly. Doctors sometimes prescribe corticosteroid pills for extensive hair loss due to alopecia areata. Ointments and creams can also be used, but they may be less effective than injections.
Anthralin (Drithocreme). Available as either a cream or an ointment, anthralin is a synthetic, tarry substance that you apply to your scalp and wash off daily. It's typically used to treat psoriasis, but doctors can prescribe it to treat other skin conditions. Anthralin may stimulate new hair growth for cases of alopecia areata.
Surgical procedures
Hair transplants and scalp reduction surgery are available to treat androgenetic alopecia when more conservative measures have failed. During transplantation a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon takes tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to several hairs, from the back or side of your scalp. The plugs are then implanted into the bald sections. Several transplant sessions may be needed as hereditary hair loss progresses with time.
Scalp reduction, as the name implies, means decreasing the area of bald skin on your head. Your scalp and the top part of your head may seem to have a snug fit. But the skin can become flexible and stretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. After hairless scalp is removed, the space is closed with hair-covered scalp. Doctors can also fold hair-bearing skin over an area of bald skin in a scalp reduction technique called a flap. Scalp reduction can be combined with hair transplantation to fashion a natural-looking hairline in those with more extensive hair loss.
Surgical procedures to treat baldness are expensive and can be painful. Possible risks include infection and scarring. If you're interested in these procedures, consider only board-certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons, and check local and state medical boards for a record of patient complaints before choosing a doctor. Consult with this doctor to confirm the cause of your hair loss and review all treatment options, including nonsurgical ones, before proceeding with plans for surgery.
Wigs and hairpieces
If you would like an alternative to medical treatment for your baldness or if you don't respond to treatment, you may want to consider wearing a wig or hairpiece. They can be used to cover either permanent or temporary hair loss. Quality, natural-looking wigs and hairpieces are available.
Medications
The effectiveness of medications used to treat alopecia depends on the cause of hair loss, extent of the loss and individual response. Generally, treatment is less effective for more extensive cases of hair loss.
The types of drugs for treatment of alopecia that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration include:
Minoxidil (Rogaine). This over-the-counter medication is approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. Minoxidil is a liquid that you rub into your scalp twice daily to regrow hair and to prevent further loss. Some people experience some hair regrowth or a slower rate of hair loss or both. Minoxidil is available in a 2 percent solution and in a 5 percent solution.
New hair resulting from minoxidil use may be thinner and shorter than previous hair. But there can be enough regrowth for some people to hide their bald spots and have it blend with existing hair. New hair stops growing soon after you discontinue the use of minoxidil. If you experience minimal results within six months, your doctor may recommend discontinuing use. Side effects can include irritation of the scalp.
Finasteride (Propecia). This prescription medication to treat male-pattern baldness is taken daily in pill form. Many people taking finasteride experience a slowing of hair loss, and some may show some new hair growth. Positive results may take several months. Finasteride works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that shrinks hair follicles and is an important factor in male hair loss. Rare side effects of finasteride include diminished sex drive and sexual function. As with minoxidil, the benefits of finasteride stop if you stop using it.
Finasteride is not approved for use by women. In fact, it poses significant danger to women of childbearing age. If you're a pregnant woman, don't even handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets because absorption of the drug may cause serious birth defects in male fetuses.
Corticosteroids. Injections of cortisone into the scalp can treat alopecia areata. Treatment is usually repeated monthly. Doctors sometimes prescribe corticosteroid pills for extensive hair loss due to alopecia areata. Ointments and creams can also be used, but they may be less effective than injections.
Anthralin (Drithocreme). Available as either a cream or an ointment, anthralin is a synthetic, tarry substance that you apply to your scalp and wash off daily. It's typically used to treat psoriasis, but doctors can prescribe it to treat other skin conditions. Anthralin may stimulate new hair growth for cases of alopecia areata.
Surgical procedures
Hair transplants and scalp reduction surgery are available to treat androgenetic alopecia when more conservative measures have failed. During transplantation a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon takes tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to several hairs, from the back or side of your scalp. The plugs are then implanted into the bald sections. Several transplant sessions may be needed as hereditary hair loss progresses with time.
Scalp reduction, as the name implies, means decreasing the area of bald skin on your head. Your scalp and the top part of your head may seem to have a snug fit. But the skin can become flexible and stretched enough for some of it to be surgically removed. After hairless scalp is removed, the space is closed with hair-covered scalp. Doctors can also fold hair-bearing skin over an area of bald skin in a scalp reduction technique called a flap. Scalp reduction can be combined with hair transplantation to fashion a natural-looking hairline in those with more extensive hair loss.
Surgical procedures to treat baldness are expensive and can be painful. Possible risks include infection and scarring. If you're interested in these procedures, consider only board-certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons, and check local and state medical boards for a record of patient complaints before choosing a doctor. Consult with this doctor to confirm the cause of your hair loss and review all treatment options, including nonsurgical ones, before proceeding with plans for surgery.
Wigs and hairpieces
If you would like an alternative to medical treatment for your baldness or if you don't respond to treatment, you may want to consider wearing a wig or hairpiece. They can be used to cover either permanent or temporary hair loss. Quality, natural-looking wigs and hairpieces are available.
Hair loss. Causes
Causes
About 90 percent of the hair on most people's scalps is in a two- to six-year growth (anagen) stage at any given time. The other 10 percent is in a two- to three-month resting (telogen) phase, after which time it is shed. Most people shed 50 to 150 hairs a day. Once a hair is shed, the growth stage begins again as a new hair from the same follicle replaces the shed hair. New hair grows at a rate of approximately one-half inch each month.
Hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
What causes androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is caused by heredity. Although it's most common among men, it can also affect women. A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What causes alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop this type of baldness are generally in good health. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times.
Other causes of temporary hair loss include:
Disease. Diabetes, lupus and thyroid disorders can cause hair loss.
Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.
Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.
Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.
Recent high fever, severe flu or surgery. You may notice you have less hair three to four months after events such as an illness or surgery. These conditions cause hair to shift rapidly into a resting phase (telogen effluvium), meaning you'll see less new hair growth. A normal amount of hair typically will appear after the growth phase resumes.
Infancy. Newborns often lose hair during the first several months of life. This baby hair (vellus) is eventually replaced by more permanent hair. It's also common for babies to lose a patch of hair on the back of their heads from rubbing against mattresses, playpens and car seats. Hair will grow back once a baby begins to spend more time sitting up.
Childbirth. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby. This is because during pregnancy the hair is shifted into an active growth state that then goes back to baseline soon after delivery. This increased hair loss usually corrects itself.
Hair treatments. Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or perming can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly also can cause some hair loss. This is known as traction alopecia.
Scalp infection. Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally regrows. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral antifungal medication.
About 90 percent of the hair on most people's scalps is in a two- to six-year growth (anagen) stage at any given time. The other 10 percent is in a two- to three-month resting (telogen) phase, after which time it is shed. Most people shed 50 to 150 hairs a day. Once a hair is shed, the growth stage begins again as a new hair from the same follicle replaces the shed hair. New hair grows at a rate of approximately one-half inch each month.
Hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches.
What causes androgenetic alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia is caused by heredity. Although it's most common among men, it can also affect women. A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What causes alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop this type of baldness are generally in good health. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times.
Other causes of temporary hair loss include:
Disease. Diabetes, lupus and thyroid disorders can cause hair loss.
Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.
Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.
Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.
Recent high fever, severe flu or surgery. You may notice you have less hair three to four months after events such as an illness or surgery. These conditions cause hair to shift rapidly into a resting phase (telogen effluvium), meaning you'll see less new hair growth. A normal amount of hair typically will appear after the growth phase resumes.
Infancy. Newborns often lose hair during the first several months of life. This baby hair (vellus) is eventually replaced by more permanent hair. It's also common for babies to lose a patch of hair on the back of their heads from rubbing against mattresses, playpens and car seats. Hair will grow back once a baby begins to spend more time sitting up.
Childbirth. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby. This is because during pregnancy the hair is shifted into an active growth state that then goes back to baseline soon after delivery. This increased hair loss usually corrects itself.
Hair treatments. Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or perming can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly also can cause some hair loss. This is known as traction alopecia.
Scalp infection. Infections such as ringworm can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally regrows. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral antifungal medication.
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.
Signs and symptoms
Male-pattern baldness
Female-pattern baldness
Alopecia areata
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), the most common type of alopecia, affects roughly one-third of men and women. It's typically permanent. Another type of alopecia, alopecia areata, can be temporary. It can involve hair loss on your scalp or other parts of your body.
Androgenetic alopecia
Having androgenetic alopecia may mean you experience hair loss as early as during your teen years. For men, this type of baldness is typically characterized by hair loss that begins at the temples and crown. The end result may be partial or complete baldness. Women with androgenetic alopecia usually have hair loss limited to thinning at the front, sides or crown. Complete baldness rarely occurs in women.
Alopecia areata
With alopecia areata, baldness usually occurs in small, round, smooth patches. You may lose only scalp hair, or you may lose body hair as well.
Male-pattern baldness
Female-pattern baldness
Alopecia areata
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), the most common type of alopecia, affects roughly one-third of men and women. It's typically permanent. Another type of alopecia, alopecia areata, can be temporary. It can involve hair loss on your scalp or other parts of your body.
Androgenetic alopecia
Having androgenetic alopecia may mean you experience hair loss as early as during your teen years. For men, this type of baldness is typically characterized by hair loss that begins at the temples and crown. The end result may be partial or complete baldness. Women with androgenetic alopecia usually have hair loss limited to thinning at the front, sides or crown. Complete baldness rarely occurs in women.
Alopecia areata
With alopecia areata, baldness usually occurs in small, round, smooth patches. You may lose only scalp hair, or you may lose body hair as well.
Hair loss
Your hair loss may have started with a few extra hairs in the sink or in your comb. But now you can't look in the mirror without seeing more of your scalp.
Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. Anyone — men, women and children — can experience hair loss.
Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness. Before pursuing any of these treatment options, talk with your doctor about the cause of and best possible treatments for your hair loss.
Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp and can be the result of heredity, certain medications or an underlying medical condition. Anyone — men, women and children — can experience hair loss.
Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness. Before pursuing any of these treatment options, talk with your doctor about the cause of and best possible treatments for your hair loss.
Male pattern baldness
Male pattern baldness (also known as genetic hair loss or alopecia androgenetica) is the most common form of hair loss in men. It usually develops very gradually, typically involving the appearance of a bald spot on the crown of the scalp accompanied by thinning at the temples. Although this problem can strike any man at any time, many first become aware of it as they approach their thirties.
Hair Loss Solutions
hair loss treatment has been in use for over three thousand years in a variety of forms. This hair loss product was discovered in its crude form in the foothills of the Himalayas in India, being applied to scalps by the indigenous populations. Almost the entire populations of this area have a full, b, healthy head of hair. Statically, hair loss is a common universal problem; in a given population, at least 40% of men (and some women) are either bald or have thinning hair. This crude extract of herbs acted as a rejuvenator of hair and a cleanser of the scalp. The local populations apply the crude version of herbal extracts derived from leaves of rare plants that wildly grow on the higher peaks of the mountainous regions they live in. These people do not consciously use it as a hair loss treatment; instead, it is a part of daily regimen they found their fathers and forefathers going through and so they continue it. The result is thick, b and healthy head of hair, free of dandruff or related problems. This anti hair loss discovery was scientifically researched for seven years before getting approval from the Indian government to market it as a commercial hair loss treatment.
Hair Loss Treatment
If hair loss is caused by another illness, treatment of the illness is the best treatment for hair loss. If hair loss is the only problem, then there are many ways to treat it depending on how severe the loss is.
The most important consideration to make when deciding the type of treatment is how much your hair loss bothers you.
Treatment options include grooming techniques, wigs and hairpieces, medications, and surgery.
Styling hair to cover the areas with the most hair loss is effective for mild cases. Washing and styling the hair will not cause further hair loss.
For more severe hair loss, wigs and hairpieces can provide good results if you are willing to try them. Either of these options can be used in combination with medications or surgery if the results of styling or the hairpiece alone are not satisfying.
The most important consideration to make when deciding the type of treatment is how much your hair loss bothers you.
Treatment options include grooming techniques, wigs and hairpieces, medications, and surgery.
Styling hair to cover the areas with the most hair loss is effective for mild cases. Washing and styling the hair will not cause further hair loss.
For more severe hair loss, wigs and hairpieces can provide good results if you are willing to try them. Either of these options can be used in combination with medications or surgery if the results of styling or the hairpiece alone are not satisfying.
When to Seek Medical Care
If you have hair loss, you may want to see a doctor if you want to prevent balding.
See your doctor if you are losing large amounts of hair every day, and if you are not feeling well at the same time you are losing hair.
Most often hair loss occurs without other signs of illness.
If the following symptoms occur at the same time as hair loss, you may have a serious medical condition and you should see a doctor right away.
Confusion
Poor appetite
Constipation
Diarrhea
Trouble breathing
Weight loss
Vomiting
Fever
Pain
Skin problems
See your doctor if you are losing large amounts of hair every day, and if you are not feeling well at the same time you are losing hair.
Most often hair loss occurs without other signs of illness.
If the following symptoms occur at the same time as hair loss, you may have a serious medical condition and you should see a doctor right away.
Confusion
Poor appetite
Constipation
Diarrhea
Trouble breathing
Weight loss
Vomiting
Fever
Pain
Skin problems
Hair Loss Symptoms
Most people notice hair loss when looking at themselves in a mirror.
You may also find many hairs on your pillow in the morning or in your hairbrush or comb.
A woman may notice a decrease in the size of her ponytail.
Aside from the thinning hair itself, most people do not have other problems associated with hair loss.
You may also find many hairs on your pillow in the morning or in your hairbrush or comb.
A woman may notice a decrease in the size of her ponytail.
Aside from the thinning hair itself, most people do not have other problems associated with hair loss.
Hair Loss Causes
Common causes of hair loss
Male pattern baldness
Trauma
Chemicals
Medications such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) and warfarin (Coumadin)
Poor nutrition
Stress, for example, during a major illness
Uncommon causes of alopecia
Poor blood flow
Infections such as syphilis
Skin diseases such as lupus
Cancers
Hormone problems
Kidney failure
Liver failure
Male pattern baldness
Trauma
Chemicals
Medications such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) and warfarin (Coumadin)
Poor nutrition
Stress, for example, during a major illness
Uncommon causes of alopecia
Poor blood flow
Infections such as syphilis
Skin diseases such as lupus
Cancers
Hormone problems
Kidney failure
Liver failure
Hair Loss Overview
More than half of men and women in the United States experience hair loss. About 30% of people have hair loss by age 30 years, and about 50% have hair loss by age 50 years. Hair loss is so common that most of the time it is considered a normal variation and not a disease. Other animals closely related to humans, such as the chimpanzee, also lose their hair.
Forms of hair loss
Androgenic alopecia - The most common type of hair loss, also called male pattern baldness
Traumatic alopecia - Hair loss from hair being torn out
Drug-induced alopecia - Hair loss caused by one of many medications
Alopecia areata - Patchy, usually reversible, hair loss
Hair loss varies widely with race.
Japanese men develop baldness less commonly than whites do. On average they also develop balding about 10 years later.
Blacks are 4 times less likely to have abnormal hair loss than are whites.
Women develop hair loss as frequently as men do, but because of hormonal differences women don’t lose as much hair volume.
Differences in hair styling allow women to hide hair loss more effectively than men.
A woman may not notice hair loss itself but may notice that her ponytail or braid is getting thinner.
Women also have a different pattern of balding than men.
Hair loss has few medical complications, but several serious conditions can cause it. In addition, there are some psychological effects associated with going bald. People with hair loss may sometimes be more likely to have a negative body image than those without hair loss.
There are 3 cycles of hair growth–growing, resting, and shedding.
In most animals these cycles change with the season, and all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. This is why animals grow a thicker coat in the fall and shed most in the spring.
Unlike most animals, in humans each hair has its own pattern of growing, resting, and shedding.
Each person sheds hair and regrows hair every day.
When this balance is disturbed and more hairs are shed than are regrown, alopecia or hair loss results.
Forms of hair loss
Androgenic alopecia - The most common type of hair loss, also called male pattern baldness
Traumatic alopecia - Hair loss from hair being torn out
Drug-induced alopecia - Hair loss caused by one of many medications
Alopecia areata - Patchy, usually reversible, hair loss
Hair loss varies widely with race.
Japanese men develop baldness less commonly than whites do. On average they also develop balding about 10 years later.
Blacks are 4 times less likely to have abnormal hair loss than are whites.
Women develop hair loss as frequently as men do, but because of hormonal differences women don’t lose as much hair volume.
Differences in hair styling allow women to hide hair loss more effectively than men.
A woman may not notice hair loss itself but may notice that her ponytail or braid is getting thinner.
Women also have a different pattern of balding than men.
Hair loss has few medical complications, but several serious conditions can cause it. In addition, there are some psychological effects associated with going bald. People with hair loss may sometimes be more likely to have a negative body image than those without hair loss.
There are 3 cycles of hair growth–growing, resting, and shedding.
In most animals these cycles change with the season, and all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. This is why animals grow a thicker coat in the fall and shed most in the spring.
Unlike most animals, in humans each hair has its own pattern of growing, resting, and shedding.
Each person sheds hair and regrows hair every day.
When this balance is disturbed and more hairs are shed than are regrown, alopecia or hair loss results.
Catastrophic Hair Loss
What Can Doctors Do?
If you see a doctor about hair loss, he or she will check your scalp and, in some cases, may take hair samples. You may also be tested for certain medical conditions that can cause hair loss.
If medication is causing hair loss, ask the doctor if a different drug can be substituted. If your hair loss is due to an endocrine condition, like diabetes or thyroid disease, proper treatment and control of the underlying disorder is important to reduce or prevent hair loss. Using a product like minoxidil that can discourage hair loss and speed up hair growth also may be helpful. Alopecia areata can be helped by treatment with corticosteroids. And if a doctor finds that nutritional deficiencies are causing your hair loss, he or she may refer you to a dietitian or other nutrition expert.
Catastrophic Hair Loss
Hair loss can be the first outward sign that a person is sick, so it may feel scary. Teens who have cancer and lose their hair because of chemotherapy treatments go through a difficult time, especially girls.
It can help to feel like you have some control over your appearance when you're losing your hair. Try some of the many options for disguising hair loss — such as wearing wigs, hair wraps, hats, and baseball caps. For most teens who lose their hair, the hair does return — including after chemotherapy. And hair loss during chemotherapy is usually a sign that the treatment is working to destroy the cancer cells because you can see how it's working on the good cells (your hair!).
Taking Care of Your Hair
Eating a balanced, healthy diet is important for a lot of reasons, and it really benefits your hair. And don't forget to treat your hair well. For example, some doctors recommend using baby shampoo, shampooing no more than once a day, and lathering gently. Don't rub your hair too vigorously with a towel, either. Many hair experts suggest you consider putting away the blow-dryer and air drying your hair instead. If you can't live without your blow-dryer, try using it on a low heat setting.
Style your hair when it's dry or damp. Styling your hair while it's wet can cause it to stretch and break. And try to avoid teasing your hair, which can also cause damage. Finally, be careful when using chemicals — such as straighteners or color — on your hair.
If you see a doctor about hair loss, he or she will check your scalp and, in some cases, may take hair samples. You may also be tested for certain medical conditions that can cause hair loss.
If medication is causing hair loss, ask the doctor if a different drug can be substituted. If your hair loss is due to an endocrine condition, like diabetes or thyroid disease, proper treatment and control of the underlying disorder is important to reduce or prevent hair loss. Using a product like minoxidil that can discourage hair loss and speed up hair growth also may be helpful. Alopecia areata can be helped by treatment with corticosteroids. And if a doctor finds that nutritional deficiencies are causing your hair loss, he or she may refer you to a dietitian or other nutrition expert.
Catastrophic Hair Loss
Hair loss can be the first outward sign that a person is sick, so it may feel scary. Teens who have cancer and lose their hair because of chemotherapy treatments go through a difficult time, especially girls.
It can help to feel like you have some control over your appearance when you're losing your hair. Try some of the many options for disguising hair loss — such as wearing wigs, hair wraps, hats, and baseball caps. For most teens who lose their hair, the hair does return — including after chemotherapy. And hair loss during chemotherapy is usually a sign that the treatment is working to destroy the cancer cells because you can see how it's working on the good cells (your hair!).
Taking Care of Your Hair
Eating a balanced, healthy diet is important for a lot of reasons, and it really benefits your hair. And don't forget to treat your hair well. For example, some doctors recommend using baby shampoo, shampooing no more than once a day, and lathering gently. Don't rub your hair too vigorously with a towel, either. Many hair experts suggest you consider putting away the blow-dryer and air drying your hair instead. If you can't live without your blow-dryer, try using it on a low heat setting.
Style your hair when it's dry or damp. Styling your hair while it's wet can cause it to stretch and break. And try to avoid teasing your hair, which can also cause damage. Finally, be careful when using chemicals — such as straighteners or color — on your hair.
What Causes Hair Loss
Here are some of the things that can cause hair loss in teens:
Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair. The hormone imbalance that occurs in polycystic ovary syndrome can cause hair loss in teen girls as well as adult women.
Medications. Some medications that have hair loss as a side effect may be prescribed for teens. These include acne medicines like isotretinoin, and lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Diet pills that contain amphetamines can also cause hair loss. Chemotherapy drugs for cancer are probably the most well-known medications that cause hair loss, but some cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause hair loss even before treatment begins.
Alopecia areata (pronounced: air-ee-ah-tuh). This skin disease causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body. It affects 1.7% of the population, including more than 4 million people in the United States. Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the hair follicles are damaged by a person's own immune system. (In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs in a person's body.) Alopecia areata usually starts as one or more small, round bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total hair loss, although total hair loss only happens in a small number of cases. Both guys and girls can get it, and it often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 2 years, but not always.
Trichotillomania (pronounced: trik-o-til-uh-may-nee-uh). Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which people repeatedly pull their hair out, often leaving bald patches. It results in areas of baldness and damaged hairs of different lengths. People with trichotillomania usually need professional help from a therapist or other mental health professional before they can stop pulling their hair out.
Hair treatments and styling. Having your hair chemically treated, such as getting your hair colored, bleached, straightened, or permed, can cause damage that may make the hair break off or fall out temporarily. Another type of baldness that results from hair styling can actually be permanent: If a person wears his or her hair pulled so tightly that it places tension on the scalp, it can result in a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can be permanent if the style is worn for a long enough time that it damages the hair follicles.
Poor nutrition. Poor eating can contribute to hair loss. This is why some people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia lose their hair: The body isn't getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to sustain hair growth. Some teens who are vegetarians also lose their hair if they don't get enough protein from non-meat sources. And some athletes are at higher risk for hair loss because they may be more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia.
Disruption of the hair growth cycle. Some major events can alter the hair's growth cycle temporarily. For example, delivering a baby, having surgery, or getting anesthesia can temporarily stop the hair growth cycle. (Because the hair we see on our heads has actually taken months to grow, a person may not notice any disruptions of the hair growth cycle until months after the event that caused it.) This type of hair loss corrects itself.
Male-pattern baldness. Among adults, particularly men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic (pronounced: an-druh-juh-neh-tik) alopecia, also called male-pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a combination of factors, including hormones called androgens and genetics. In some males, the hair loss can start as early as the mid-teen years. It can also occur in guys who take steroids like testosterone to build their bodies.
Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair. The hormone imbalance that occurs in polycystic ovary syndrome can cause hair loss in teen girls as well as adult women.
Medications. Some medications that have hair loss as a side effect may be prescribed for teens. These include acne medicines like isotretinoin, and lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Diet pills that contain amphetamines can also cause hair loss. Chemotherapy drugs for cancer are probably the most well-known medications that cause hair loss, but some cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause hair loss even before treatment begins.
Alopecia areata (pronounced: air-ee-ah-tuh). This skin disease causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body. It affects 1.7% of the population, including more than 4 million people in the United States. Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the hair follicles are damaged by a person's own immune system. (In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs in a person's body.) Alopecia areata usually starts as one or more small, round bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total hair loss, although total hair loss only happens in a small number of cases. Both guys and girls can get it, and it often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 2 years, but not always.
Trichotillomania (pronounced: trik-o-til-uh-may-nee-uh). Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which people repeatedly pull their hair out, often leaving bald patches. It results in areas of baldness and damaged hairs of different lengths. People with trichotillomania usually need professional help from a therapist or other mental health professional before they can stop pulling their hair out.
Hair treatments and styling. Having your hair chemically treated, such as getting your hair colored, bleached, straightened, or permed, can cause damage that may make the hair break off or fall out temporarily. Another type of baldness that results from hair styling can actually be permanent: If a person wears his or her hair pulled so tightly that it places tension on the scalp, it can result in a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can be permanent if the style is worn for a long enough time that it damages the hair follicles.
Poor nutrition. Poor eating can contribute to hair loss. This is why some people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia lose their hair: The body isn't getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to sustain hair growth. Some teens who are vegetarians also lose their hair if they don't get enough protein from non-meat sources. And some athletes are at higher risk for hair loss because they may be more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia.
Disruption of the hair growth cycle. Some major events can alter the hair's growth cycle temporarily. For example, delivering a baby, having surgery, or getting anesthesia can temporarily stop the hair growth cycle. (Because the hair we see on our heads has actually taken months to grow, a person may not notice any disruptions of the hair growth cycle until months after the event that caused it.) This type of hair loss corrects itself.
Male-pattern baldness. Among adults, particularly men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic (pronounced: an-druh-juh-neh-tik) alopecia, also called male-pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a combination of factors, including hormones called androgens and genetics. In some males, the hair loss can start as early as the mid-teen years. It can also occur in guys who take steroids like testosterone to build their bodies.
Baldness or hair loss
Baldness or hair loss is typically something only adults need to worry about. But in a few cases, teens lose their hair, too — and it may be a sign that something's going on. Hair loss during adolescence can mean a person's sick or maybe just not eating right. Some medications or medical treatments, like chemotherapy treatment for cancer, also cause people to lose their hair. And people can even lose their hair if they wear a hairstyle that pulls on their hair for a long time, such as braids.
Losing hair can be stressful during a time when appearance really matters, but the good news is that hair loss that happens during the teen years is often temporary. Once the problem that causes it is corrected, the hair usually grows back.
Hair Basics
Our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair's color pigment, or melanin, is produced.
Most people lose about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. These hairs are replaced — they grow back in the same follicle on your head. This amount of hair loss is totally normal and no cause for worry. If you're losing more than that, though, something may be wrong. The medical term for hair loss — losing enough hair that a person has visibly thin or balding patches — is alopecia.
If you have unusual hair loss and don't know what's causing it, it's a good idea to see your doctor. A doctor can determine why the hair is falling out and suggest a treatment that will correct the underlying problem, if necessary.
Losing hair can be stressful during a time when appearance really matters, but the good news is that hair loss that happens during the teen years is often temporary. Once the problem that causes it is corrected, the hair usually grows back.
Hair Basics
Our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair's color pigment, or melanin, is produced.
Most people lose about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. These hairs are replaced — they grow back in the same follicle on your head. This amount of hair loss is totally normal and no cause for worry. If you're losing more than that, though, something may be wrong. The medical term for hair loss — losing enough hair that a person has visibly thin or balding patches — is alopecia.
If you have unusual hair loss and don't know what's causing it, it's a good idea to see your doctor. A doctor can determine why the hair is falling out and suggest a treatment that will correct the underlying problem, if necessary.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Your guide to Perfect Hair Concealers
What do you do when you realize that you are loosing your hair every day, and that your hair loss is more than what you think it should be? Well you try to find solution. Yes that is an obvious solution. But in our minds we would want to HIDE our hair from being so visible to every one around us. And Hair Loss concealers do the job for us.
Hair loss concelaers are special products that can help you to look good, by stopping or concealing your hair loss. Many people consider hair concealers as an easy way to hide balding and thinning of hair.
Non surgical hair loss concealers
Before giving up the fight to hair loss concealers try using this: Minoxilil, which is commonly known as Rogain. Rogain is a famous over the counter drug used widely by people experiencing hair loss suddenly. Many men and women find it helpful in stopping further hair loss. However, it is recommended that women use only TWO percent solutions rather than the five percent solutionsAs is common with famous medicines, even this medicine is said to have side effects. Some such side effects might take a toll on your body and in some cases on your off spring too.
But if you think Rogain is not offering you help, then probably you need to consider some other methods. Hair restoration methods, hair pieces or even hair surgery help you in dealing with your hair loss. Though hair restoration methods need not be surgical, it could still be done with medicines on advice from professionals.
Generally, people suffering hair loss do not realize if they need professional help.However, if the person suffering from hair loss also faces problems with health (either physical or mental) it means that he/she needs professional help.Ofcourse the sooner he/she seeks help, the better it is for him.
The latest fad in non surgical hair loss concealers
'Micro-fibers' is the latest thing in non surgical hair loss concealers. Static electricity is used to bind these micro-fibers to hair (where there is hair loss). These micro-fibers stick to your hair for a certain period of time. As soon as they stick to your hair you will find more hair on your scalp. You will feel rejuvenated. Ofcourse you can use various other medicines which you want to use. Because micro-fibers are 100% external products, there are no side effects. And that is the reason why many people are running after it.
The surgical methods
To be very literal there are no surgical methods to conceal hair loss. However, the idea of a hair concealer is to grow hair (sooner or later) in a healthy and beautiful way. Hence hair restoration processes such as transplants and cloning can also be considered one of the hair concealers that are commonly in use.
Of all the hair loss concealers that are available online, only those concealers that give your hair strength are reliable. However the ones that give you instant results need not always be a safe bet to consider.
Hair loss concelaers are special products that can help you to look good, by stopping or concealing your hair loss. Many people consider hair concealers as an easy way to hide balding and thinning of hair.
Non surgical hair loss concealers
Before giving up the fight to hair loss concealers try using this: Minoxilil, which is commonly known as Rogain. Rogain is a famous over the counter drug used widely by people experiencing hair loss suddenly. Many men and women find it helpful in stopping further hair loss. However, it is recommended that women use only TWO percent solutions rather than the five percent solutionsAs is common with famous medicines, even this medicine is said to have side effects. Some such side effects might take a toll on your body and in some cases on your off spring too.
But if you think Rogain is not offering you help, then probably you need to consider some other methods. Hair restoration methods, hair pieces or even hair surgery help you in dealing with your hair loss. Though hair restoration methods need not be surgical, it could still be done with medicines on advice from professionals.
Generally, people suffering hair loss do not realize if they need professional help.However, if the person suffering from hair loss also faces problems with health (either physical or mental) it means that he/she needs professional help.Ofcourse the sooner he/she seeks help, the better it is for him.
The latest fad in non surgical hair loss concealers
'Micro-fibers' is the latest thing in non surgical hair loss concealers. Static electricity is used to bind these micro-fibers to hair (where there is hair loss). These micro-fibers stick to your hair for a certain period of time. As soon as they stick to your hair you will find more hair on your scalp. You will feel rejuvenated. Ofcourse you can use various other medicines which you want to use. Because micro-fibers are 100% external products, there are no side effects. And that is the reason why many people are running after it.
The surgical methods
To be very literal there are no surgical methods to conceal hair loss. However, the idea of a hair concealer is to grow hair (sooner or later) in a healthy and beautiful way. Hence hair restoration processes such as transplants and cloning can also be considered one of the hair concealers that are commonly in use.
Of all the hair loss concealers that are available online, only those concealers that give your hair strength are reliable. However the ones that give you instant results need not always be a safe bet to consider.
Trendy Hair Pieces for Your Hair
The origin of the hairpieces dates back to ancient civilizations. This goes onto explain that hair loss has been a problem that has caused not just debate but also worries. Though one can assume that these worries gave birth to hair pieces, the hidden instinct in men and women to be different from others is also one reason behind the birth of hair pieces.
Whatever the reason, hairpieces for both women and men are being developed not just to cover their losing hair, but also to meet the trends and fads of the day.
Wigs
The very first image that strikes anyones mind with the word wig is a typical comical scene wherein his/her falls off revealing his/her bald head. Though wig is generally associated with comedy scenes from Hollywood, it is imperative that one needs to appreciate the feelings of those who use wigs.
Apart from that, a wig needs loads of attention - doesn't matter whether it is on your head or not. One needs to take care of a wig as if it is a part of ones body. You need to wash it with a shampoo, apply oil, conditioner, comb it, dry it and the list continues.
Generally you can order or customize your wig necessities. That is the best part of buying a wig. You can get the style you want and the bulk you want. For some, a wig becomes an integral part of their lives so much so that, they might even call it as a part of their body.
However the worst part of story of a wig is that the costliest wigs require costly maintenance. Hence it is advised that people buy two wigs at a time rather than one. This makes buying wigs all the more costly. Ofcourse the effects of taking a dip in the water with a wig on the head also need to be considered.
Toupees
Lookswise a toupee is not different from wigs, except that it looks smaller. A toupee can be called a small wig. While the wigs cover the entire head, toupees are designed to fit a specific part of the head where there is more hair loss. In many cases, people give out their own hair to make a toupee out of it. This is designed to fit a certain part of the head.
But as the hair loss rate increases, it becomes very difficult for people who wear toupee to fit on to their scalps. Hence toupees only serve the user for certain periods of time only. Out of chance one can bath with his/her wig on. But it is not advised nor possible to bathe with the toupees on. Toupees can be used specifically for certain occasions. But one needs to get a new toupee for each such occasion.
Other types of hair pieces
Though varied types of hair pieces are available, they cannot be called hair pieces without some logic used. Hair weaving, hair bonding, hair fusion all make use of the same process with which wigs work - adding more hair on the head. However the methods such as weaving, bonding and artificial extensions function to add more hair to the body. Though a lot can be written about them, it is advised that one get a fair idea about these methods from doctors.
Whatever the reason, hairpieces for both women and men are being developed not just to cover their losing hair, but also to meet the trends and fads of the day.
Wigs
The very first image that strikes anyones mind with the word wig is a typical comical scene wherein his/her falls off revealing his/her bald head. Though wig is generally associated with comedy scenes from Hollywood, it is imperative that one needs to appreciate the feelings of those who use wigs.
Apart from that, a wig needs loads of attention - doesn't matter whether it is on your head or not. One needs to take care of a wig as if it is a part of ones body. You need to wash it with a shampoo, apply oil, conditioner, comb it, dry it and the list continues.
Generally you can order or customize your wig necessities. That is the best part of buying a wig. You can get the style you want and the bulk you want. For some, a wig becomes an integral part of their lives so much so that, they might even call it as a part of their body.
However the worst part of story of a wig is that the costliest wigs require costly maintenance. Hence it is advised that people buy two wigs at a time rather than one. This makes buying wigs all the more costly. Ofcourse the effects of taking a dip in the water with a wig on the head also need to be considered.
Toupees
Lookswise a toupee is not different from wigs, except that it looks smaller. A toupee can be called a small wig. While the wigs cover the entire head, toupees are designed to fit a specific part of the head where there is more hair loss. In many cases, people give out their own hair to make a toupee out of it. This is designed to fit a certain part of the head.
But as the hair loss rate increases, it becomes very difficult for people who wear toupee to fit on to their scalps. Hence toupees only serve the user for certain periods of time only. Out of chance one can bath with his/her wig on. But it is not advised nor possible to bathe with the toupees on. Toupees can be used specifically for certain occasions. But one needs to get a new toupee for each such occasion.
Other types of hair pieces
Though varied types of hair pieces are available, they cannot be called hair pieces without some logic used. Hair weaving, hair bonding, hair fusion all make use of the same process with which wigs work - adding more hair on the head. However the methods such as weaving, bonding and artificial extensions function to add more hair to the body. Though a lot can be written about them, it is advised that one get a fair idea about these methods from doctors.
Hairloss Products
Too many hair loss products rather hair growth products are available today. In fact, web sites dealing with hair loss get so many clicks that hair loss can be considered amongst the top ten most searched topic. No wonder you are confused. Well any one could be confused.
So what hair loss products should I choose?
Lets make it a point not to call these products hair loss products. We will call them hair growth products. So that gives a positive feel. There are too many products - wigs, pieces, concealers, shampoos, conditioners, sprays, oils, colors and what not. The very idea of having your hair done differently for an occasion should not send ripples down your skin (or your hair).
One important issue that people tend to ignore (carefully) is that hair loss products that give great results are all given by doctors. So what is our site doing here giving advice to you on the products? All we are trying to do is open up your mindset to the kind of products available in the market, while also giving you some tips on how to look for them.
Know Thy hair
Apart from knowing more about hair loss products it is very important that you try and know more about your hair. It is not just what type of hair you have, but more about how your hair behaves on a hairy day or on a dry cold day. Your eating habits also form a part of your hair. Did you ever realize this before?
If you are wondering what next. Well you have arrived. Now that you know that doctors advice needs to be taken while also knowing your hair you are ready to know which products help you and which don't.
Some tips to help you suitable hair growth products:
Do not assume that your problem will be solved over night. It will take more than that. In fact, in some extreme cases such products will need atleast six months.
Spend time on the net. That is the best way to find information. But also note that information on the net can also be deceptive. Spend considerable time before zeroing in on your hair growth product.
If a product does not meet such standards, you can complain such issues to the association. If a product does not meet such standards, you can complaint such issues to the association.
Do not try a product just because some one else, (either your friends or some one who expresses their happiness about a certain product on a web page) finds it good.
Try to get all the information possible about ingredients in the product. The more information you have the better product that you will be able to choose for yourself.
After concluding that you have chosen a certain product, ask the web site owners (or doctors associated with it) to advice you more about the product with reference to your problem.
No matter what, do not show haste in using the product. Try the product on a little part of the hair near or on the scalp. If there is any irritation because of the product, it will be small and can be controlled soon.
If the hair growth product irritates your skin even though the 'trial' didn't, don't panic. Call your doctor and tell them the problem.
Using the tips above should ensure a safe method of finding hair loss products (read hair growth products).
So what hair loss products should I choose?
Lets make it a point not to call these products hair loss products. We will call them hair growth products. So that gives a positive feel. There are too many products - wigs, pieces, concealers, shampoos, conditioners, sprays, oils, colors and what not. The very idea of having your hair done differently for an occasion should not send ripples down your skin (or your hair).
One important issue that people tend to ignore (carefully) is that hair loss products that give great results are all given by doctors. So what is our site doing here giving advice to you on the products? All we are trying to do is open up your mindset to the kind of products available in the market, while also giving you some tips on how to look for them.
Know Thy hair
Apart from knowing more about hair loss products it is very important that you try and know more about your hair. It is not just what type of hair you have, but more about how your hair behaves on a hairy day or on a dry cold day. Your eating habits also form a part of your hair. Did you ever realize this before?
If you are wondering what next. Well you have arrived. Now that you know that doctors advice needs to be taken while also knowing your hair you are ready to know which products help you and which don't.
Some tips to help you suitable hair growth products:
Do not assume that your problem will be solved over night. It will take more than that. In fact, in some extreme cases such products will need atleast six months.
Spend time on the net. That is the best way to find information. But also note that information on the net can also be deceptive. Spend considerable time before zeroing in on your hair growth product.
If a product does not meet such standards, you can complain such issues to the association. If a product does not meet such standards, you can complaint such issues to the association.
Do not try a product just because some one else, (either your friends or some one who expresses their happiness about a certain product on a web page) finds it good.
Try to get all the information possible about ingredients in the product. The more information you have the better product that you will be able to choose for yourself.
After concluding that you have chosen a certain product, ask the web site owners (or doctors associated with it) to advice you more about the product with reference to your problem.
No matter what, do not show haste in using the product. Try the product on a little part of the hair near or on the scalp. If there is any irritation because of the product, it will be small and can be controlled soon.
If the hair growth product irritates your skin even though the 'trial' didn't, don't panic. Call your doctor and tell them the problem.
Using the tips above should ensure a safe method of finding hair loss products (read hair growth products).
An Insight on Hair Restoration and Hair Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery is all about improving the state of baldness through surgery. This surgery involves taking hair follicles, cells and tissues from a thickly grown hair area and placing them on the bald area.
Most of the hair loss procedures involve hair restoration surgery under anesthesia. Patients do feel some pain during this surgery as it involves plucking of tissues, and then transplanting them to another portion of skin that lacks hair. Small needles are used in this procedure where the scalp is thoroughly cleaned before performing the operation.
Tiny holes are created on a patient's scalp so that the hair follicles can be transplanted firmly. These holes will help the re-growth of hair on the scalp after the tissues, cells and the follicles are transplanted. This procedure is very delicate and may involve transplanting hundreds and thousands of hair follicles, usually the bald head.
This hair transplant surgery is a very delicate procedure and involves hundreds and thousands of hair follicle in this area.
How does a hair loss transplant work?
Even baldest men have a small ring of hair around the back and side of their heads. In hair transplantation surgery a piece of this skin containing hair follicles is removed. The follicles are then extracted from the surrounding tissue and then are reinserted into the balding areas of the scalp.
Since the follicles are not affected by hormone DHT, they continue to grow hair even after they have been moved from one spot on the head to the other.
Unless patients use a drug like Propecia after having a transplant, they will continue to see an increase in hair loss in areas where there are no transplants. In this case additional transplant procedures may be performed to increase the density. Due to the limited amount of skin that can be removed at one time, 2,500 grafts is usually the most that can be done at one time.
It is impossible to have the same density that existed before the hair loss. However, with careful placement of the follicles by the doctor, an illusion of a full head of hair can be created.
Who is the right candidate for a hair transplant?
Youngsters, who are around the age of 18 to 25 are not the right candidates as they have just temporary hair loss, which most probably will not continue in the future. Getting a hair transplant done so early will result in the incorrect distribution of donor hair. The doctor can never exactly guess the exact amount of future hair loss. This might lead to the person being disappointed with the results.
Men have specified areas in which there is thinning and hair loss, while women have diffused thinning around the entire head. Women are not good candidates if there is diffused thinning. But, some women also have localized loss of hair, which make them ideal candidates. The amount of hair loss, hair type, density and scalp laxity all affect in choosing the right candidate for hair loss restoration.
Going with a Doc
Following questions should help in choosing a hair restoration specialist doctor:
How long have you been doing this procedure?
How many patients have you performed it on?
May I see pictures of your patients, apart from those in the brochures?
Are you board certified and which board certified you?
How many and what kind of procedures has the patient in the brochure had?
How long after surgery was the picture taken?
How many grafts are usually done in a session?
How many sessions will I need to achieve the look I want?
How much will the entire procedure cost?
Describe the procedure.
What risks are associated with this kind of procedure?
Are you board certified and which board certified you?
What is your specialty?
What part of the surgery do you yourself perform and what part is performed by your technicians?
How many surgeries do you perform a day?
Do you currently have any pending lawsuits against you by unhappy patients?
Most of the hair loss procedures involve hair restoration surgery under anesthesia. Patients do feel some pain during this surgery as it involves plucking of tissues, and then transplanting them to another portion of skin that lacks hair. Small needles are used in this procedure where the scalp is thoroughly cleaned before performing the operation.
Tiny holes are created on a patient's scalp so that the hair follicles can be transplanted firmly. These holes will help the re-growth of hair on the scalp after the tissues, cells and the follicles are transplanted. This procedure is very delicate and may involve transplanting hundreds and thousands of hair follicles, usually the bald head.
This hair transplant surgery is a very delicate procedure and involves hundreds and thousands of hair follicle in this area.
How does a hair loss transplant work?
Even baldest men have a small ring of hair around the back and side of their heads. In hair transplantation surgery a piece of this skin containing hair follicles is removed. The follicles are then extracted from the surrounding tissue and then are reinserted into the balding areas of the scalp.
Since the follicles are not affected by hormone DHT, they continue to grow hair even after they have been moved from one spot on the head to the other.
Unless patients use a drug like Propecia after having a transplant, they will continue to see an increase in hair loss in areas where there are no transplants. In this case additional transplant procedures may be performed to increase the density. Due to the limited amount of skin that can be removed at one time, 2,500 grafts is usually the most that can be done at one time.
It is impossible to have the same density that existed before the hair loss. However, with careful placement of the follicles by the doctor, an illusion of a full head of hair can be created.
Who is the right candidate for a hair transplant?
Youngsters, who are around the age of 18 to 25 are not the right candidates as they have just temporary hair loss, which most probably will not continue in the future. Getting a hair transplant done so early will result in the incorrect distribution of donor hair. The doctor can never exactly guess the exact amount of future hair loss. This might lead to the person being disappointed with the results.
Men have specified areas in which there is thinning and hair loss, while women have diffused thinning around the entire head. Women are not good candidates if there is diffused thinning. But, some women also have localized loss of hair, which make them ideal candidates. The amount of hair loss, hair type, density and scalp laxity all affect in choosing the right candidate for hair loss restoration.
Going with a Doc
Following questions should help in choosing a hair restoration specialist doctor:
How long have you been doing this procedure?
How many patients have you performed it on?
May I see pictures of your patients, apart from those in the brochures?
Are you board certified and which board certified you?
How many and what kind of procedures has the patient in the brochure had?
How long after surgery was the picture taken?
How many grafts are usually done in a session?
How many sessions will I need to achieve the look I want?
How much will the entire procedure cost?
Describe the procedure.
What risks are associated with this kind of procedure?
Are you board certified and which board certified you?
What is your specialty?
What part of the surgery do you yourself perform and what part is performed by your technicians?
How many surgeries do you perform a day?
Do you currently have any pending lawsuits against you by unhappy patients?
Hair Cloning
Hair cloning is one of the most exciting developments in the search to find better solutions for hair loss. Popularly known as follicle cloning or multiplication, hair cloning involves taking a sample of one's hair follicle cells, multiplying these cells in a lab and injecting the multiplied cells back into the scalp. The basic use of hair cloning is to create natural hair regrowth without the use of an invasive surgery.
How hair cloning works?
Hair cloning helps in hair re-growth by harvesting healthy follicle stem cells. Instead of transplanting the hair follicles right away, hair specialists learned how to multiply the stem cells or seeds.
First of all new follicle stem cells will be grown in laboratory cultures. They will be attached to tiny skin-cell scaffolds. Then they will be implanted into bald areas of your scalp. The idea here is - taking these follicle stem cells from bulb of the hair and growing them together. After getting more number of hair seeds they will be injected into the scalp. First you can start with a small number of hairs. Later you can come back with larger number of hair seeds. Then you can inject them into one area and create brand-new hair follicles.
Hair specialists discovered the fact that some follicle cells can do more than regenerating. They can give off chemical signals which make the nearby follicle cells - that have shrunk during aging process - respond positively to these signals and regenerate, making healthy hair.
What are the obstacles that hinder Hair cloning?
Unfortunately, hair cloning is not yet possible. But still lot of research is getting done to perfect it. Current predictions indicate that it may take another ten years for hair cloning to become available for the public use.
Anyway the name of the process itself is a little misleading. In reality it refers to cell therapy rather than cell cloning. Research is being dedicated to work on this process with just a small sample of tissue from scalp. Once this process achieves perfection, one can develop several hundred thousand hair follicles.
The following are the major obstacles that have to be overcome:
Still there is no certainty that the multiplied cells will develop into hairs.
There is no certainty that the new hairs developed in the process grow to same thickness, color or direction like the existing hair coverage.
There is no certainty that the cloned cells will not cause any serious health problems like the growth of cancerous tumors.
Clearly hair cloning will offer exciting possibilities for hair loss treatment in the future. But for the time being, you have to make use of the more limited treatments currently available.
How hair cloning works?
Hair cloning helps in hair re-growth by harvesting healthy follicle stem cells. Instead of transplanting the hair follicles right away, hair specialists learned how to multiply the stem cells or seeds.
First of all new follicle stem cells will be grown in laboratory cultures. They will be attached to tiny skin-cell scaffolds. Then they will be implanted into bald areas of your scalp. The idea here is - taking these follicle stem cells from bulb of the hair and growing them together. After getting more number of hair seeds they will be injected into the scalp. First you can start with a small number of hairs. Later you can come back with larger number of hair seeds. Then you can inject them into one area and create brand-new hair follicles.
Hair specialists discovered the fact that some follicle cells can do more than regenerating. They can give off chemical signals which make the nearby follicle cells - that have shrunk during aging process - respond positively to these signals and regenerate, making healthy hair.
What are the obstacles that hinder Hair cloning?
Unfortunately, hair cloning is not yet possible. But still lot of research is getting done to perfect it. Current predictions indicate that it may take another ten years for hair cloning to become available for the public use.
Anyway the name of the process itself is a little misleading. In reality it refers to cell therapy rather than cell cloning. Research is being dedicated to work on this process with just a small sample of tissue from scalp. Once this process achieves perfection, one can develop several hundred thousand hair follicles.
The following are the major obstacles that have to be overcome:
Still there is no certainty that the multiplied cells will develop into hairs.
There is no certainty that the new hairs developed in the process grow to same thickness, color or direction like the existing hair coverage.
There is no certainty that the cloned cells will not cause any serious health problems like the growth of cancerous tumors.
Clearly hair cloning will offer exciting possibilities for hair loss treatment in the future. But for the time being, you have to make use of the more limited treatments currently available.
Hair Restoration and Hair Transplants Surgery Options
Thanks to medical science, women and men now have other truly good surgical and medical options that can restore their lost hair. Studies are proving that some medications are truly effective and safe like Finasteride for men or Minoxidil spray, as stand-alone options or along with surgery.
Hair restoration - Finasteride
Finasteride a patented product from Merck is a prescription drug and was introduced as the first oral medicine for male pattern hair loss. This drug is not for women.
Finasteride works by reducing the formation of DHT from testosterone by blocking an enzyme in the body. It decreases the amount of DHT. Thin wispy hair is produced by the affected follicles, which usually bounce back and produce a more thicker and longer hair. It takes around six to 12 months to show the results. Finasteride was originally devised to treat men having enlarged prostates, and has proved to be safe.
Hair restoration - Minoxidil
Both men and women who are suffering hair loss can use Minoxidil solution that can be applied to the scalp. Originally devised for treatment of blood pressure, doctors observed one side effect is good hair growth. It works to stop or slow down further hair loss. However, discontinuation of minoxidil results in the shedding of hair within a very short period of time.
Hair Transplants
Hair transplants are the best alternative for those who prefer a surgical solution. Sometimes simple multi-vitamins help too. Know more.Hair restoration with the use of surgery involves removal of hair-bearing permanent skin. This is then made into micro grafts (each containing 1-3 hairs) and minigrafts (containing 3-8 hairs). Today hair transplants are done with the latest techniques and produces a hairline that looks very natural. This doesn't cause any visible scarring and get covered by the transplanted hair. The hair that is grafted continues to grow and will not fall out.
If you are rapidly losing your hair, then keep a check on your diet and take medical help from a physician. Zinc and Biotin are very good for hair growth. Sometimes a simple multivitamin like One A Day or Centrum are enough to compensate for any nutrients that are lost. Sometimes you may need a larger dose but consult the doctor before you take them.
There is an increase in hormone production like estrogen and decrease in sebum production during pregnancy. Post pregnancy, there is hair loss in about 50% of the women. This condition is called as, post-partum alopecia. The symptoms start around 10 - 14 weeks after the pregnancy, and usually last for around three months. Afterwards the this stage the hair comes back normally.
Hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners affect the condition of the hair that you have, and the manageability of that hair, or to be precise, the way you look and feel. Environmental and emotional stress can lead to a sudden onset of hair thinning or patchy hair loss. The remedy is: reduce stress if you can, or seek medical help.
Hair restoration - Finasteride
Finasteride a patented product from Merck is a prescription drug and was introduced as the first oral medicine for male pattern hair loss. This drug is not for women.
Finasteride works by reducing the formation of DHT from testosterone by blocking an enzyme in the body. It decreases the amount of DHT. Thin wispy hair is produced by the affected follicles, which usually bounce back and produce a more thicker and longer hair. It takes around six to 12 months to show the results. Finasteride was originally devised to treat men having enlarged prostates, and has proved to be safe.
Hair restoration - Minoxidil
Both men and women who are suffering hair loss can use Minoxidil solution that can be applied to the scalp. Originally devised for treatment of blood pressure, doctors observed one side effect is good hair growth. It works to stop or slow down further hair loss. However, discontinuation of minoxidil results in the shedding of hair within a very short period of time.
Hair Transplants
Hair transplants are the best alternative for those who prefer a surgical solution. Sometimes simple multi-vitamins help too. Know more.Hair restoration with the use of surgery involves removal of hair-bearing permanent skin. This is then made into micro grafts (each containing 1-3 hairs) and minigrafts (containing 3-8 hairs). Today hair transplants are done with the latest techniques and produces a hairline that looks very natural. This doesn't cause any visible scarring and get covered by the transplanted hair. The hair that is grafted continues to grow and will not fall out.
If you are rapidly losing your hair, then keep a check on your diet and take medical help from a physician. Zinc and Biotin are very good for hair growth. Sometimes a simple multivitamin like One A Day or Centrum are enough to compensate for any nutrients that are lost. Sometimes you may need a larger dose but consult the doctor before you take them.
There is an increase in hormone production like estrogen and decrease in sebum production during pregnancy. Post pregnancy, there is hair loss in about 50% of the women. This condition is called as, post-partum alopecia. The symptoms start around 10 - 14 weeks after the pregnancy, and usually last for around three months. Afterwards the this stage the hair comes back normally.
Hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners affect the condition of the hair that you have, and the manageability of that hair, or to be precise, the way you look and feel. Environmental and emotional stress can lead to a sudden onset of hair thinning or patchy hair loss. The remedy is: reduce stress if you can, or seek medical help.
Your Guide to Healthy Hair
Generally, there is a wrong perception among many that it is only men that lose hair and not women. But, in reality hair loss is a common problem for many irrespective of their gender and region. Though hair loss is major worry for men, in case of women it is more than just a worry.
Hair loss affects your social activities in many ways. It is found in many studies that many women left their jobs when they found themselves losing their hair and getting bald. Hair loss and getting baldness may have a little effect on men compared to women. Men may be less concerned about this. But it will also have wrong effects on them psychologically. Especially it will be a great worry if you are the only bald man in your office.
But, do you know this interesting fact?Women are getting attracted to bald men more than they used to. Some dating agencies even started promoting the date among their members in a different way. Some agencies have opened a section only for bald men to help women find the one they like. So baldness is always not a curse. But we don't want you to become bald just for getting a date. So, here we tell you the exact causes of hair loss, how to stop it and grow healthy hair.
Causes of hair loss
There are many factors that cause hair loss. So never think that hair loss is caused just because of one factor. In some cases, it may be only one factor that causes hair loss. In other situations it may be a combination of various factors.
One or few of the following factors may cause hair loss:
Hereditary predisposition
Prescribed drug therapies
Skin disorders
Severe stress
Pregnancy
Bacterial infections
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Excessive androgen production
In addition to the above factors, health specialists suggest that women will experience hair loss during menopause. During this period, a woman has to pass through a phase where there will be decrease in the production of hormones. This hormonal imbalance not only affects their general health, but also causes hair loss.
How to prevent hair loss and get healthy hair?
The best ways for hair loss prevention would be - keeping healthy daily habits, taking a healthy diet and doing physical exercise regularly. These will definitely help you to decrease the levels of stress, which is found to be major cause of hair loss.
It will be really difficult to know who will experience hair loss and who will not. Anyway there are some ways to avoid hair loss and further baldness or delay the age when it happens. Here are some tips to stop hair loss and get healthy hair:
Take a diet rich in proteins
Avoid using drugs unnecessarily
Maintain hygienic habits
Avoid hormonal drugs therapy
There are other ways also to help women prevent hair loss and get healthy hair. It will be pretty effective if women follow prescribed treatment along with natural therapies. Some herbs given below help a lot:
Sage - it works well for weak hair
Rosemary - it enhances dark hair
Chamomile - it helps in promoting healthy hair growth
Burdock root - it prevents hair fall
It's important to note that although natural treatments are effective, you should not replace them with prescribed treatments.
Hair loss affects your social activities in many ways. It is found in many studies that many women left their jobs when they found themselves losing their hair and getting bald. Hair loss and getting baldness may have a little effect on men compared to women. Men may be less concerned about this. But it will also have wrong effects on them psychologically. Especially it will be a great worry if you are the only bald man in your office.
But, do you know this interesting fact?Women are getting attracted to bald men more than they used to. Some dating agencies even started promoting the date among their members in a different way. Some agencies have opened a section only for bald men to help women find the one they like. So baldness is always not a curse. But we don't want you to become bald just for getting a date. So, here we tell you the exact causes of hair loss, how to stop it and grow healthy hair.
Causes of hair loss
There are many factors that cause hair loss. So never think that hair loss is caused just because of one factor. In some cases, it may be only one factor that causes hair loss. In other situations it may be a combination of various factors.
One or few of the following factors may cause hair loss:
Hereditary predisposition
Prescribed drug therapies
Skin disorders
Severe stress
Pregnancy
Bacterial infections
Radiation
Chemotherapy
Excessive androgen production
In addition to the above factors, health specialists suggest that women will experience hair loss during menopause. During this period, a woman has to pass through a phase where there will be decrease in the production of hormones. This hormonal imbalance not only affects their general health, but also causes hair loss.
How to prevent hair loss and get healthy hair?
The best ways for hair loss prevention would be - keeping healthy daily habits, taking a healthy diet and doing physical exercise regularly. These will definitely help you to decrease the levels of stress, which is found to be major cause of hair loss.
It will be really difficult to know who will experience hair loss and who will not. Anyway there are some ways to avoid hair loss and further baldness or delay the age when it happens. Here are some tips to stop hair loss and get healthy hair:
Take a diet rich in proteins
Avoid using drugs unnecessarily
Maintain hygienic habits
Avoid hormonal drugs therapy
There are other ways also to help women prevent hair loss and get healthy hair. It will be pretty effective if women follow prescribed treatment along with natural therapies. Some herbs given below help a lot:
Sage - it works well for weak hair
Rosemary - it enhances dark hair
Chamomile - it helps in promoting healthy hair growth
Burdock root - it prevents hair fall
It's important to note that although natural treatments are effective, you should not replace them with prescribed treatments.
Stop Hair Loss Naturally
Costly and surgical treatments for hairloss may cause some harmful side effects. The safest method to treat hair loss is natural hair loss treatment, which can be done by healthy dieting, exercise, herbal remedies and proper hair care techniques. Oily hair may be a result of vitamin B deficiency, while brittle or dry hair means essential fats deficiency. Dull hair color and poor hair growth may mean zinc deficiency and hair loss means lack of vitamin C, iron, vitamin B1 and lysine.
Though there are certain types of medicine to stop hair loss and help in hair re-growth, natural hair loss treatment gives benefits that general medications fail to give. Usually people prefer to treat hair loss with various medications or surgery. But these are costly and cause some harmful side effects. The safest method to treat hair loss is natural hair loss treatment, which can be done by healthy dieting, exercise, herbal remedies and proper hair care techniques.
Healthy dieting
The foods good for your health are also good for your hair. Hair loss may be the cause of various factors, but lack of proper nutrition always plays a vital role. Foods rich in proteins, low in carbohydrates and low in fat content can give healthier hair and prevent hair loss. Essential fatty acids that can be found in spinach, soy, walnuts, tuna, sunflower seeds, sardines and canola oil help in keeping your hair healthy. The omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties necessary for maintaining healthy hair. Insufficient levels of these cause quicker hair loss.
Organic whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, beans and seeds contain essential nutrients necessary for healthy hair. Also, do these things: take meals regularly; reduce salt, sugar, chocolate, tea and coffee intake; avoid stress; comb your hair gently. Do not use strong chemicals like perms and color treatments on your hair. Vegetarians may suffer from hair loss as their diet lacks important nutrients, vitamin B12, lysine and iron. So they have to properly supplement their diet.
Herbal remedies
Several natural herbs are very good in prevention and treatment of hair loss. These herbs are safe, don't give harmful side effects, and are also cost effective. Nettles, usually taken in form of Nettle Root Extract, are found to be effective in hair loss prevention and treatment. Nettles contain vitamins A and C that inhibit DHT production and promote hair growth. Other traditional herbs like green tea, horsetail, liquorices extract, ginger, apple cider vinegar, psoralea seeds, rosemary and sage tea are also very useful.
Natural Supplements for hair loss
The following supplements also help in preventing hair loss.
B complex
Evening primrose oil
Fish oil
Kelp
Lysine
Multivitamins and multiminerals
Vitamin C
If you are battling with hair loss it would be clever to get treatment from your day to day items instead of spending a lot on medical remedies that cause harmful side effects. Natural remedies are safe, reliable and cost effective. All you need is having the right knowledge about them.
Though there are certain types of medicine to stop hair loss and help in hair re-growth, natural hair loss treatment gives benefits that general medications fail to give. Usually people prefer to treat hair loss with various medications or surgery. But these are costly and cause some harmful side effects. The safest method to treat hair loss is natural hair loss treatment, which can be done by healthy dieting, exercise, herbal remedies and proper hair care techniques.
Healthy dieting
The foods good for your health are also good for your hair. Hair loss may be the cause of various factors, but lack of proper nutrition always plays a vital role. Foods rich in proteins, low in carbohydrates and low in fat content can give healthier hair and prevent hair loss. Essential fatty acids that can be found in spinach, soy, walnuts, tuna, sunflower seeds, sardines and canola oil help in keeping your hair healthy. The omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties necessary for maintaining healthy hair. Insufficient levels of these cause quicker hair loss.
Organic whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, beans and seeds contain essential nutrients necessary for healthy hair. Also, do these things: take meals regularly; reduce salt, sugar, chocolate, tea and coffee intake; avoid stress; comb your hair gently. Do not use strong chemicals like perms and color treatments on your hair. Vegetarians may suffer from hair loss as their diet lacks important nutrients, vitamin B12, lysine and iron. So they have to properly supplement their diet.
Herbal remedies
Several natural herbs are very good in prevention and treatment of hair loss. These herbs are safe, don't give harmful side effects, and are also cost effective. Nettles, usually taken in form of Nettle Root Extract, are found to be effective in hair loss prevention and treatment. Nettles contain vitamins A and C that inhibit DHT production and promote hair growth. Other traditional herbs like green tea, horsetail, liquorices extract, ginger, apple cider vinegar, psoralea seeds, rosemary and sage tea are also very useful.
Natural Supplements for hair loss
The following supplements also help in preventing hair loss.
B complex
Evening primrose oil
Fish oil
Kelp
Lysine
Multivitamins and multiminerals
Vitamin C
If you are battling with hair loss it would be clever to get treatment from your day to day items instead of spending a lot on medical remedies that cause harmful side effects. Natural remedies are safe, reliable and cost effective. All you need is having the right knowledge about them.
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