The Shocking Truth About Female Hair Loss

When you talk about genetic hair loss most people think about the most common form of hair loss: male-pattern baldness. This is the type of hair loss that is passed on genetically to offspring from their mothers. Most often the recipients of this type of hair loss are men, but sometimes the gene can result in female hair loss.

While genetic baldness in men is identified by a receding hairline or balding crown, genetic hair loss in women is a bit different. In most cases, a woman will not lose her hair in spots only but will thin out evenly throughout the head. Sometimes, this thinning can be quite severe and result in the woman having to wear a wig to cover up her thinning tresses. While female hair loss almost never results in a completely bald head, it can be extreme enough to expose the scalp quite plainly.

For the woman facing this type of hair loss, there are a few hair loss treatment options that can be explored. They include shampoos, conditioners and topical treatments, such as Rogaine for women, which stimulate hair growth and prevent further hair loss; vitamin supplements; and stimulatory treatments such as massage and infra-red therapy. The most successful of these hair loss treatments are the topical treatments. While they are quite expensive, they produce the best results.

Hair loss due to chemical processes

No matter how healthy and strong your hair is today, you could experience severe hair loss after undergoing a harsh chemical process such as a perm or color. While almost all chemical hair fallout is due to operator error, the chance of it occurring is multiplied by chemical services that you perform on your hair at home. I've seen more than one case of female hair loss in clients who have bleached their hair at home, colored it over and then came to the salon for yet another bleaching. Not knowing this past history, the stylist used too strong a chemical, and the process resulted in hair loss.

Since most of these cases do not result in complete hair loss, the hair loss treatment options include protein treatments and other conditioning treatments to strengthen the remaining hair; a good hair cut that will remove most of the damage; and a gentle hair-care routine that will minimize further hair loss due to breakage. You should also refrain from using thermal styling tools and undergoing any further chemical procedures until the hair is completely grown out.

Hair loss due to stress

Cases of severe stress can literally cause handfuls of hair loss at a time. Women experiencing stressful conditions can experience female hair loss represented by thinning all over the head or in spots called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata means "Hair loss in spots or areas," and can result in bald circular patches on one or more spots of the scalp. While this type of hair loss is alarming, it is not permanent. After the stress is removed, most sufferers of this type of hair loss regrow all of the hair that they lost.

In most cases, the hair loss treatment for stress-related hair loss is minimal. After ruling out other causes of hair loss, your doctor will likely recommend changes in your diet or ideas to help alleviate your stress. Keep in mind that it can take months for your hair to grow back even after the stressors have been eliminated.

Hair loss due to illness

Any type of extended illness or surgery can result in hair loss. Medications taken to combat certain types of illnesses can also cause your hair to become brittle and break or fall out altogether. The most identifiable type of hair loss is the loss associated with chemotherapy treatments. In most cases, this hair loss is complete and affects all areas of the body.

While there is little that can be done to prevent this type of hair loss or promote growth during illness, surgery or chemotherapy treatments, this type of female hair loss is also temporary. In most cases, full recovery of hair is made after the illness is over.

You can promote hair growth after the illness by getting regular trims and using growth enhancing shampoos and conditioners. Vitamin supplements may also be beneficial.

As you may have already guessed, hair loss in women is more common than we might think. And many may be experiencing hair loss and dismiss it as a natural occurrence that comes along with age. A lot of these women fail to seek the necessary hair loss treatment that can help them keep their remaining hair and regrow new hair. So, if you are experiencing hair loss, do not think that it is just because you are getting older. There may be something that you can do to keep the hair on your head from clogging your drain.

Natural DHT Blockers

What we know as Dihydrotestosterone or DHT, is a hormone synthesized from male testosterone. Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Balding is indicated by an increased level of DHT in the scalp. This increase causes unsightly bald patches, increased hair fall, receding hairlines and other common signs of balding.

5-Alpha Reductase - an enzyme naturally produced in the human body, reacts with testosterone to produce DHT. Common Natural DHT Blockers or DHT Inhibitors like Procerin, Advecia, Avacor, are popular natural DHT Blockers and exhibit the capacity to block the synthesis of testosterone into DHT by inhibiting the 5-Aplha Reductase activity.

The only natural DHT Blocker specially suited for male pattern balding and hair loss in men is Procerin. Men of all ages and at all stages of hair loss can benefit from Procerin which has been tested and found to have no side effects. .

Other topical treatments like Revivogen, Crinagen, Progesterone Creams and Xandrox also lay claim to minimizing or blocking the amount of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production.

Procerin is for male hair loss. An exclusive natural DHT blocker for men it focuses on the reducing DHT in the scalp region where DHT binds with follicular tissue to inhibit hair regrowth and cause hair fall.

Procerin, with Saw Palmetto, Magnesium, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin B-6, Pyroxidine 5mg, CJ-11 Factor, CJ-9 Factor, and a proprietary blend of Gotu Kola, Nettles, Pumpkin seed meal, Siberian Ginseng, Yohimbe, Muira Puma Root, Uwa Ursi and more as its ingredients, is a mix of natural DHT blockers, vitamins and herbal/mineral supplements.

Procerin with its various vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts blocks DHT naturally and encourages hair regrowth as well.The factors responsible for hair loss in men, which generally starts around 18 years and goes well into the late thirties, could be either genetic, dietary, lifestyle oriented or due to medication.

Procerin, used early, ensures the best possible results. Procerin is an all natural hair regrowth supplement and a natural DHT Blocker which combines more than seventeen ingredients and is consumable as a pill form or applicable as a topical solution on the scalp.

New Revivogen independent test reveal it blocks DHT by 90%

An independent review conducted by BioAlternatives Laboratories on Revivogen solution concluded a 90% DHT inhibition, which is quite amazing considering that only Dutasteride came close to that mark under other laboratory tests, and were talking about an oral drug whether Revivigen is a topical product. The study was commissioned by Advanced Skin and Hair and conducted by an independent laboratory,

BIOalternatives (http://www.bioalternatives.com) that specializes on tests for pharmaceutical, nutracutical and cosmecuitcal products. "BIOalternatives is a service company offering cell-based assays to support drug and healthcare product development. With more than 10 years of experience, BIOalternatives provides customized informative biological solutions to >200 companies through 16 countries all over the world.

For this test BIOalternatives has developed a novel test to quantify the effects of any compound on Testosterone metabolism in living human skin tissue (reconstructed human epidermis) . The living skin tissues are given equal doses of Testosterone which under common metabolism is converted to DHT and other androgens. The quantity of DHT produced by the test tissue is measured for the control and all compounds being tested for correlation. Each compound is tested on three dissociate tissues to ensure the tests validity.

revivogen hair loss Resuming, Finasteride, when applied topically to an figurative human scalp (scientifically accepted equivilent) which had been infused in Testosterode and 5-alpha reductase, and had been allowed to eventually produce DHT .... was applied topically Finasteride, Dutasteride, and Revivogen.

Finasteride, after a period of time inhibited the presence of DHT by 67%.
Dutasteride, after a period of time inhibited the presence of DHT by 80% and 86% depending on dose.
The compounds in Revivogen inhibited the presence of DHT by 90%.

90% DHT blocking is great news for hair loss sufferers worldwide, Revivogen passed the studies now it has to pass the public test and that's where things get tougher.

Proven Products Combatting Hair Loss for Men and Women

Nowadays hair loss is not only a concern for males but also for females. Hair loss affects directly one’s self-confidence and also creates mental humiliation. Hence there are lots of really good hair loss products available on the market.

Hair growth products are available in many forms: natural essential oils, natural herbs, conventional drugs, shampoos, serums, lotions and conditioners. Nowadays there are so many hair loss products available on the market with the intention to stop or prevent hair loss. Finasteride, Minoxidil, and Rogainne are the commonly used best hair loss products. Finasteride is extensively used for treating hair loss and is sold in pharmacies as Propecia. This product should be used by men only.

Another very popular hair loss product is called Rogaine and is available at drugstores. Rogaine has to be applied twice daily for 3 to 4 months to get any positive results.

Minoxidil is very much used for hair loss among younger men. It is also considered to be a very effective hair loss product. But using hair loss products such as Minoxidil continually may lead to side effects such as a itchy scalp. There might be other complications if these products are used for hair loss treatment for a long time.

Dr.Proctor’s Hair re-growth shampoo is one of the best hair loss products made naturally without any chemical mixing. It has been widely used by hair loss sufferers due to its easy application. People around the world use re-growth shampoo for treating hair loss. There is another product called Life Extension Shampoo that supports healthy hair.

ViViscal shampoo, Thymuskin, and Hair genesis are some of the best hair loss products, which are used for hair treatment. Thymuskin is more effective (95%)) in female than male (67%) for treating hair loss. This hair loss shampoo clears the hair follicle from debris, dirt, oil and other waste. The main advantage of thymuskin is that it consists of thymus peptides that diffuse deep into the hair follicles to clean them.

Viviscal shampoo also helped a lot of people treating hair loss. This shampoo helps to maintain the hair hale and healthy. Apart from this, the shampoo treats hair loss and thinning of hair. Viviscal products are available in all forms including scalp lotion, conditioner and tablets. Hair genesis products are also available as conditioner, topical serum, oral supplements, and hair re growth shampoo. Hair genesis is especially favored by females. The main action of Hair Genesis is stopping the action of DHT blockers. Revivogen, Tricomin, and Nisim products are also available for treating hair loss.

Route To Healthier Hair: Hair Loss Remedy

Is your hair getting thinner month after month? Are you looking for ways to treat hair loss? If yes, then read the following article. The hair loss remedy mentioned below can prompt hair growth.

We loose around 20- 100 hair strands every day without knowing. Almost everyone is looking for the best hair care treatment either to get silky hair or to get rid of hair loss. Proper hair care treatment can give you thick, lustrous, beautiful and dandruff-free hair.

The growth of hair is governed by hormones that appear after puberty. The male hormone testosterone and female hormone estrogen governs body hair, hair in the armpits, beard, hair on chin etc. Usually when the level of estrogen drops in women signs of hair loss or baldness is seen. Following a proper hair loss remedy can help you to recover your lost hair such as:

•Eating a diet containing adequate amount of nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats etc.

•Drinking plenty of water.

•In order to compensate the copper deficiency, intake carrot juice, lettuce, capsicum and alfalfa. It is a good remedy for hair loss and prevents hair from graying.

•Massaging scalp with warm almond or olive oil can help to stimulate the blood flow in the scalp. This in turn would strengthen hair follicles and prevent hair from falling.

•Avoid applying hair creams, gels and other chemicals in hair as they make them loose the moisture and make them brittle.

•Remove chlorine properly from hair after swimming.

•Make a hair pack by mixing Indian goose berry with egg. Apply it twice a week on hair to make them thick and glossy.

•Hot air and heat makes your hair dry. Always cover your head before going out in sun.

•Blow drying hair dehydrates the adequate moisture and aggravates hair loss. Try to air dry your hair. Stand under the fan and run your fingers gently within the hair making them dry.

•Do not use a brush on wet hair. Use a wide toothed comb instead.

•Stress is one of the major causes for hair loss. Regular yoga and meditation can relieve your worries thus preventing hair from falling.

A number of hair care products are available in the market. Shop around for the best product that can treat your hair right and help you get healthy and lustrous hair.

Hair determines a person’s beauty. It is an important aspect of your overall appearance. Follow the hair loss remedy and eliminate your hair loss upheavals effectively.

48% Of Women Have Thinning Hair!

How your hair grows

Your hair is made of keratin (KER-uh-tin), the same protein that makes up your nails and the outer layer of your skin. The part you see and style is called the hair shaft. It's actually dead tissue made by your hair follicles tiny bulb-like structures beneath your scalp's surface.

We have all heard of someone who has thinning hair problem, but do we really know how extensive this thinning hair problem is? Let us take a look at the figures here..

1. 70 million Americans Have Fine or Thin-looking Hair And it's Growing
2. 4 million more women and 4.7 million more men will have noticeably thin-looking hair by 2005
3. By age 65, 48% of all women report they have thinning hair and 75% of all men report they have noticeably thin-looking hair.
4. Research has shown that the problem of thin-looking hair can begin as early as age 17.
5. The problem will grow more extreme as our population ages.

How does hair loss start?

Hair loss is a normal symptom. 50 to 60 hairs are shed each day from a normal scalp. Losing more than 60 hairs a day is called excessive hair loss and leads to generalized thinning of the hair. Hair becomes fine in texture. Loss of hair in men is often determined by heredity or by the Allopetia Androgenetic hormone. Hair loss in women is often caused by pregnancy, stress, fatigue or medical treatment.

Can Thyroid Disease Cause Hair Loss?

An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause hair loss. One may get her thyroid numbers in order after beginning a regimen of thyroid medication. However, there have been reported cases of women experiencing hair loss FROM the thyroid medication.

Hot Tips!

Coloring: If you inherited a tendency for hair loss, you likely have very healthy hair overall. Therefore, your hair can benefit from permanent or semi-permanent color to give body and volume to hair.

Volumizing Products: Many volume-building hair products contain paraffin, which is beeswax. That's not good for hair, because it builds up and can make hair break.

However, volumizing products sold in salons do help. They won't weigh hair down, and they won't damage it. Mousse, for example, can be applied at the root area for support. Then, begin blow-drying the root area, applying tension with a brush to build volume. Use a light finishing spray to hold it.

What Is Normal About Hair Loss?

It is important to note that shedding of hairs is a natural process with anything from 100 to 300 hairs randomly shed each day. In this article we'll look at two distinct aspects of normal hair loss. Firstly, we'll examine what is actually involved in the hair growth cycle. Secondly, we'll assess the natural progression of hair loss over time.

Hair is composed of long, twisted keratin fibers that are protected by a coating of keratinized cells. Just below the surface of the skin lies a cluster of active cells known as the dermal papilla and it is from here that the hair grows into its follicle.

This growing fiber eventually hardens and grows out from the scalp. At this stage the hair fiber is dead with only the root tip containing living cells.

In a little more detail, the hair growth cycle, consists of three distinct stages:

1. Anagen stage - a phase of growth that can last between two and seven years. On average, each hair grows about six inches (15cm) per year.

2. Catagen stage - a phase of transition that lasts roughly two to four weeks. At this time the hair shaft detaches from the dermal papilla and moves up within a shrinking follicle.

3. Telogen stage - a resting period that lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself from the follicle before falling out. After this, the cycle repeats itself unless other factors intervene to prevent repetition of the cycle.

Clearly time has a role to play in the development of hair loss for both men and women. Humans are born with varying amounts of soft and fine body hair. Through time some of this hair becomes stronger and develops further characteristics such as colour and texture. Up to the onset of puberty the hairline is characterized by a low spread across the forehead. For men, this continues only for a few more years.

As men progress through their twenties the hairline takes on a more mature look typified by recessions to the frontal temporal regions and accompanied by slight thinning elsewhere. This concave appearance doesn't necessarily equate to premature balding as it is all a question of degree.

The Norwood Scale is an extremely useful tool in developing a hair growth strategy as it allows you to establish your own degree of hair loss in a way that is understood by physicians and other hair loss experts. More importantly, it can help to set your mind at rest and allow you to differentiate between normal hair loss that does not require remedial action and more extreme loss that calls for immediate action.

What Is Hormonal Hair Loss? Can It Be Controlled?

People lose hair for various reasons. Illness and medication, like chemotherapy to treat cancer, can cause hair loss. Hair loss can also be inherited from a parent. Often, hair thins because it is fine-textured, or because too many harsh chemicals have been used on it, so it breaks easily.

What if I have hormonal hair loss?
The following photos show typical female hormonal hair loss patterns.
Typical female baldness begins with a generalized thinning of the whole scalp. Contrary to male pattern baldness is that no receding hairlines or hair loss on the crown takes place.

A generalized thinning of the hair occurs. It is seldom that a man displays the same type of hair loss pattern as a woman

The thickened hair root prevents the hair bulb from returning back to its place in the skin. Because of this, new hair will be produced, but will not be able to settle. The growth phase will then be disrupted and the hair bulb will continuously produce new hair, which, instead of lasting the normal five years, will only become a few weeks or months old. Now you have constant hair loss!

Personally, I prefer products by L'Oreal, such as Excellence. It's easy on the hair. It never made my hair feel any thinner and adding some auburn highlights to my brown hair always makes me feel like a new person. Because my hair is fine, I never use the enclosed conditioners with hair color products. Hair conditioners often make fine hair feel thinner and unmanageable. On the other hand, if you do want to use some conditioner, use only a fraction of what's recommended! And never use conditioners on your scalp, just put some at the hair ends.

Another great product that I highly recommend is Rogaine. Rogaine has gained a reputation of being able to reverse the hair thinning process!

Bottom line: While we're feeling the way we do during the menopausal years, I think it's important to try anything to help ourselves feel and look better.

Now that you know a little more about what are the causes for hair loss, we urge you to find out more about how hair loss, or hair thinning can be prevented! Yes, it is true, there are many effective products on the market right now which has been proven to be truly effective in reversing thinning hair problems! Come! Find out more!

Ways Leading To Hairloss

All of us lose hair everyday, whether male or female, young or old. This is pretty obvious from the hair that is left in our brush or comb. Also, you can easily find fallen hair that collects near the drain pipe in your shower room.

Most of us lose hair every day; you only have to look at your hair brush or comb to see this is true. In fact, this may surprise you but every two to three months we may find we lose up to 10 percent of our hair.  It is a natural growth cycle that hair undergoes. New hair grows, and old hair falls out because they have reached the end of their life cycle which varies from between two and six years. What alerts someone to his hair loss is when he begins to suspect that more hair is lost than “normal” and that a balding scalp is beginning to form.

There are varying reasons as to why someone may lose more than the normal amounts of hair. It could be hormonal – relating to the thyroid or the male or female hormones may be out of balance. Sometimes people may lose hair some months after they have experienced an illness or major surgery. Sometimes after giving birth some women may experience more hair loss than normal – this is due to the hormones returning back to their normal levels.

Certain medications may also cause hair loss. These medicines include blood thinners (anticoagulants), those used to treat gout, chemotherapy, contraceptive pills and some antidepressants. Too much vitamin A can also lead to a loss of hair. Hair loss may also occur due to an underlying disease that may not have been diagnosed, such as Lupus or diabetes, so any unusual hair loss is always best to get checked out by your physician.

How a person takes care of his or her hair has an impact on hair loss. Hair loss can be more severe if hair is often tied up (pig tails or cornrows), or in tight hair rollers on a regular basis. The constant pulling on the hair can cause a type of scarring and in the long term could lead to permanent hair loss. Also, prolonged use of hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in perms may cause swelling of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and lead to hair loss.

Then of course, there are the more common or well known types of hair loss – male pattern baldness – brought about be genetic factors. This usually starts off with a receding hair line and baldness eventually appearing on top of the head.

While hair loss is more common in men, women are not spared totally either. Women may also suffer from the female version of this type of Alopecia whereby the hair becomes thin over their entire scalp.

In some of the forms of hair loss mentioned above, hair loss can be treated, either by changing medication, balancing hormones, and if temporary, letting nature take its course. Others though, such as male or female pattern baldness can be trickier to deal with. If you intend to sign up for a particular hair loss treatment course, be sure to do some research first before paying huge sums of money for it.

Understanding Hair Growth Cycles and Hair Loss

We all lose a certain amount of hair each day - anywhere from 50 to 100 to 125 hairs. True hair loss occurs when these hairs we lose don't grow back, or when the amount of hair we lose each day exceeds this normal range.

Hair loss can occur as a result of medications, such as chemotherapy treatments or blood thinners, which can damage the telogen hairs, or stop the natural cell division that then produces weakened hair that is susceptible to breaking. High doses of vitamin A can also lead to hair loss as well. The most common type of hair loss, however, is where more and more hair follicles enter what is called the resting phase (telogen phase) in the hair growth cycle.

Overall, hair grows continuously from the scalp, but it moves away from the scalp in 3 phases. Hair is not all uniformly in one phase. Different parts of the scalp will be in different phases, so at any one time you should have hair follicles in all 3 stages. Generally, most (90%) of the hair will be in the anagen phase, 10 to 14% of the hair will be in the telogen phase, and only 1 to 2% of hair in the catogen phase.

The first phase is the Anagen phase, which is the growth phase. This can last anywhere between 2 and 8 years. A shorter anagen phase will limit how long your hair can grow. Hair cells at the root divide rapidly, which lengthen the hair shaft.

In the next phase, the catagen phase, the outer root of the hair follicle shrinks and attaches to the root of the hair. Hair growth stops here. This phase lasts 1 to 2 weeks.

The telogen phase is the resting phase. This lasts from 5 to 6 weeks in normal hair. Hair doesn't grow in this phase, but it stays firmly rooted in the scalp as long as the follicle stays in a resting phase below it. New growth begins at the end of the resting phase, and this is when natural hair shedding will happen, as the new growth pushes the old hair out.

In male pattern baldness, more hairs enter the telogen phase. This effects of this are an increase in hair shedding. Hair gradually becomes thinner and shorter, and in the end, the hair follicles shut down.

Understanding and Preventing Hair Loss

Noticed more fallen hair collecting on the drain stopper in your shower room?

Or do you suspect that more hair has been left in your brush than is normally the case?

Been sweeping up more strands of hair all over your house?

Getting worried? Although hair is not essential for survival, the lack of hair can affect one’s self confidence in today’s environment. And no wonder! We are bombarded with a constant stream of advertisements sponsored by beauty salons, hair care products and hair loss treatments on looking good through a crop of beautiful hair.  So if we start to lose hair, we can become really self conscious about our looks.

Our hair become stressed with over exposure to the sun, frequent hair blow drying and repeated perming, rebonding and hair colour treatments.  The hair becomes dry and brittle and break off very easily. Tying hair too tightly can also cause hair breakage.  Illnesses like low thyroid hormones are additional factors resulting in hair loss.

Hair loss is also known as alopecia.  About 100 strands of hair out of a normal scalp of 100,000 hairs are lost daily.  Any hair loss of more than 100 strands of hair per day warrants a case for concern.

The lifespan of a single hair strand is about 5 years.  Genetic baldness is caused when the body fails to replace hair that has fallen off. Familial history may determine if hair loss is going to occur and women’s hair does thin with age as well. Temporary hair loss in post-pregnancy cases and lifestyle changes are additional explanations for hair loss.

A hair loss remedy can be through taking oral pills or through hair loss products applied directly to the hair. Other hair loss solutions include vitamin supplements, herbal cures, scalp treatments and hair transplants.  A good understanding of what causes the hair loss in the first place can help us decide what best solution to take.

In the meantime, if you have a family history of balding genes, take preventive hair loss measures.  Simple procedures like using a mild shampoo and conditioner, and gentle brushing or combing would really help for good hair structure and a healthier crop!

Understand Baldness and How You Can Reverse It

There is no magic potion that will instantly give you back a full crop of thick, lush hair. But if we look at the way advances in hair loss treatments have evolved recently, perhaps we're not far from it.

Hair loss can be caused by many factors, the most common being Pattern Baldness which affects more then 40% of the male population. Women also suffer from hair loss, although the causes can be quite different than in men. Baldness can be quite a degrading condition for millions of men and women, and can lead to psychological problems and feelings of self worthlessness. But the scientific discoveries in recent years have made the treatments for balding more effective, and like all medical conditions, if you act on the problem when it is in it's infancy, you've got a better chance of minimizing the effects, or even reversing the condition.

The causes for hair loss are many and varied. Genetic 'Pattern Baldness' is the most common, but there are other very common causes such as Hormonal Imbalance, Illness, Poor Diet, Poor Hygiene, Drug Abuse and Stress. These are just the core issues that contribute to the hair loss. To get a better understanding of exactly how the hair stops to reproduce entails a bit of a scientific look at how hair actually grows .....

Hair grows in 3 stages. In the first stage (Anagen) a new hair is produced and this is the stage where most growth occurs. Next, in the Catagen (Regressive) stage, the hair has stopped growing but is yet to shed. In the final stage (Telogen) the hair is resting and eventually falls out, and a new one begins to grow. In Pattern Baldness, DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) miniaturizes hair follicles by shortening the Anagen (growth) stage and at the same time can also lengthen the Telogen (resting) stage. This is usually a gradual process, and the end result is an increase in the number of short, thin hairs which are barely visible above the scalp.

There is hope, because while any hair is growing then various treatments can be administered to re-balance/block the DHT and promote healthier hair growth once again. There is no single hair loss treatment that works for everyone. In fact, it would be quite amazing if somoene used a single baldness treatment that completely solved their problem. The best hair loss treatment is in fact a combination of the best known products in a way that is tailored to your individual circumstances.

Generally, the most effective regime for preventing/reversing hair loss is a combination of 3 or 4  products:

1) DHT Inhibitors - Work to inhibit the negative effects of DHT
2) Growth Stimulators - artificially stimulate growth in the hair follicle
3) Hair vitamins - these products actually provide all the clinical proven vitamins and minerals required to help hair grow to its fullest and thickest
4) Hair and Scalp Cleaners - these products provide proper hair and scalp hygiene and nutrition.

In all cases, the most effective hair loss treatment will involve a combination of the above options. That is because there is no single solution that tackles the cause and the effect of baldness in everyone.

Types Of Hair Loss Treatment Available To Sufferers

The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.

This article will focus on four basic approaches:

1. A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.

2. A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.

3. A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.

4. A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.

It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications. Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine (minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.

The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and more research! Many useful products are available on the market but none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly most popular, commercially available products are those containing natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".

It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can be achieved by:

- eating adequate amounts of protein.

- eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates.

- achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Treatments that offer hope to hair loss sufferers

Many people experiencing premature hair loss simply resign themselves to a process that is as inevitable as growing old. This is a positive and healthy reaction to what is a natural process for many. But for others the onset of premature balding or excessive hair loss represents a traumatic development that causes untold worry and suffering. This too is a legitimate reaction regardless of whether the hair loss is caused by hereditary factors or some other more complex cause.

Should these sufferers just grin and bear it? No, they should not because there are a number of potentially effective treatments they could utilize, depending on the nature of their hair loss. In this article I will outline some of the most popular hair loss treatments currently available in order to reinforce the fact that hair loss can be treated. The next article in the series will look closely at the treatment regimes best suited to specific ailments such as alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.

At present only two medications have been approved as hair loss treatments by the FDA. These are minoxidil, better known as Rogaine, and finasteride, better known as Propecia. Several other drugs have proven to be effective in combating hair loss, dutasteride for example, but have not yet been approved for this particular use.

Finasteride was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate conditions but a low dose version was subsequently approved for the treatment of hair loss in men. It tackles the causes of male pattern baldness by preventing the conversion of 5-alpha-reductase into DHT. Given that DHT is the main male hormone linked to hair loss, reducing its production by two thirds has a major impact on controlling this type of baldness.

Research has shown that 83% of men studied were able to maintain their hair count and 64% experienced regrowth by the end of a two year period. It should be noted that finasteride is approved for use by men only as the drug can have serious effects on unborn male fetuses. Women should therefore only consider using this drug under the strict supervision of a physician.

Dutasteride (Avodart) is a new medication for use in treating prostate conditions and, although not yet approved for the treatment of hair loss, it does offer exciting possibilities. It works in a similar way to finasteride but reputedly reduces overall DHT production by over 93%. As is the case with finasteride, women should consult their physician before using dutasteride.

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is the other hair loss treatment approved by the FDA and it is the only anti-baldness drug approved for women. Applied topically, its main benefit is its ability to stimulate regrowth thus reversing the effects of pattern baldness. Many users combine the application of minoxidil with other hair loss treatments like Propecia to achieve maximal results, but others experience satisfactory outcomes using minoxidil on its own.

Several studies have shown that certain non-drug products promote hair regrowth but none have yet been approved by the FDA. This is partly due to the prohibitive costs involved in conducting trials to prove that the products are effective for the purpose of marketing them as hair loss treatments. Many individuals and dermatologists nonetheless recommend use of certain non-drug treatments as an alternative or complement to drug therapy.

In many instances the treatments are based on natural ingredients that stimulate similar responses to those of the prescribed drugs but without the side effects. The information provided here presents a sample of products that have been subjected to testing or at least have had their effectiveness supported by independent feedback.

One such product is Arcon Tisane which has become Europe's top selling natural supplement for hair loss. It comes as a capsule and sub-lingual spray containing saw palmetto and fenugreek stimulating a response similar to that of finasteride by inhibiting the production of DHT. Arcon Tisane has been clinically tested and has received widespread media coverage of its success in combating hair loss.

Calosol is a relatively new product aimed at helping alopecia areata sufferers. It consists of a shampoo and an accelerator applied daily in order to stimulate hair roots, reduce hair loss and promote healthy hair. Early indications suggest that Calosol can contribute significantly to easing this distressing and difficult to treat condition.

Fabao 101 is a treatment that comes in varying formats, each designed to tackle a particular form of hair loss. The common factor to each product is their derivation from natural plant sources. It was developed by a dermatologist and has received many international awards.

Folligen copper peptide products are designed to help create an environment that improves scalp health, reduces hair loss and stimulates hair regrowth. It can be used by both men and women. Studies at over 30 leading universities and medical research institutes have established the effectiveness of the technology utilized in Folligen products.

Tricomin is another treatment that targets the delivery of copper to the base of the hair follicle and it too has been clinically proven as an effective treatment for stopping hair loss and stimulating regrowth. It can be used safely with other hair loss treatments and can be especially useful in complementing the effects of finasteride and minoxidil.

Revivogen is an all-natural hair loss treatment that reduces DHT production, blocks the androgen receptors and stimulates hair growth. It is used topically and has no known side effects.

Shen Min is another natural hair loss treatment designed to restore and regrow all types and stages of hair loss. It is safe for both men and women. Shen Min contains a blend of Chinese herbs and comes in various forms to suit most people.

ThymuSkin was developed by German scientists to fight hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Due to the high success rates the product was developed for use by the general public to combat all types of hair loss. Clinical studies conducted in Europe show that ThymuSkin hair loss treatments could help to stop baldness and regrow hair for 67% of men and 95% of women.

Hopefully this article has demonstrated that many treatment options are available to hair loss sufferers. The next article in this series will develop the theme further by examining the treatment regimes that have proven effective in tackling specific forms of hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.

Top Nutritional Tips to Support Healthy Hair Growth

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:

- Eat a variety of foods.

- Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.

- Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.

- Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

- Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.

- High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.

- Dieting may affect nutrient levels.

- Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.

- Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

Three Factors that Cause Hair Loss

Most of us have heard that too much hat-wearing or poor circulation to the scalp can cause hair loss. Theses causes all have been proven to be myths, and the real causes of hair loss are stress, health, and hormones.

Stress can cause your hair to literally fall out. Usually the hair loss occurs 3 months after you`ve gone through the stressful period. Then you will need another 3 months after you begin losing hair for your hair growth to begin again ( if the stress has been diffused ). Your bodies built in healing process considers your emotional problem so important, that it ignores your hair putting it into a resting phase. This resting phase is known as Telogen Effluvium. Stress can also trigger genetic hair loss. If your already losing hair stress will cause you to lose hair even faster. So stress plays a big role in hair loss, keep your blood pressure down!

Health is also a factor in hair loss. Damaged blood vessel linings can inhibit your hair growth. This is because these blood vessel linings normaly produce endothelium-derived relaxing factor (E.D.R.F.) or nitric oxide (N.O.). Studies also show that there is a strong relationship between people with heart disease experienceing hair loss. Also, diabetics have a higher risk of experiencing hair loss.

Lastly, male hormones called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is known to be the most common reason for male pattern hair loss. DHT is produced from testosterone which is produced by the enzyme 5-apha reductase. DHT has a very high affinity being up to ten times more potent than testosterone. Your DHT hormones can be balanced which medication, these medications will resurrect your hair follicles bringing them out of their resting phase and your hair will begin to grow again. The most popular hair loss medication is Propecia, Propecia can be bought through the online pharmacy I will link to at the bottom of this article. An inbalance of DHT triggers and autoimmune response in pattern loss, which initiates an attack on your hair follices. Gradually your hair follices will become inflammed putting your hair in a resting phase which causes hair to only fall out not grow.

Half of the men and women in just the U.S. suffer from hair loss. The good news is hair loss is no longer something you have to live with. There are many treatments out there, some will correct the inbalance of DHT in your body to allow you to grow your own hair again, some simply need patience or counseling, and of course you can turn to expensive hair transplant surgery. But why get to this point, just know the three factors that cause hair loss and your chances of having a full head of hair, go way up!

There are Many Choices for Female Hair Loss Treatment

The Causes of Female Hair Loss

There any many different reasons women might suffer from hair loss.  One main cause is when a womans body makes more testosterone than it normally does, or maybe certain medical conditions involving their hormanes could cause baldness to occur.

The causes between womens and mens baldness are much different in lots of ways.  For example, hair loss in women can happen at any age and mens typically occur when they get older.  It is also a unique type of hair loss when it comes to women.  Womens baldness can occur all over the head, while the mens hairloss usually happens at the top.

 

Hormones Also Can Have An Effect

If a womens thyroid gland is very active, it might result in temporary hairloss.  This is just one of the many hormonal problems that may occur.  This form can be helped with treating the disease.  Hair loss can also happen if the womans hormones are out of balance.

Hair loss in a woman may occur about 3 months after you give birth.  This results because of the hormonal factor, since during pregnancy the hormones help you to keep hair you would normally lose.  When the hormones return to the normal levels of before pregnancy, the hair that wouldn’t fall out, could now will fall out, and the normal cycle of hair growth and loss will return. 

Some Important Things To Think About

It is very imporant for a woman who is suffering from hair loss to be checked out by a physician.  Conditions like a sluggish thyroid can and will lead to more serious health problems if they are not treated within a reasonable time perioid.  It is also important to try and not find a hair loss treatment before first knowing why it is you are losing your hair.  There are many different reasons for hair loss and certain treatments may not apply to you. 

Possible Treatments for Female Hair Loss

Once you have ruled out that there are no serious health conditions, you can start looking for some hair loss treatments to improve your hairs apperance.  One popular option women choose is a hair transplant.  Another method is to take a DHT blocker, which works the same way in women as in men.  It simply helps prevent testosterone in their bodies from changing into DHT and having an effect on the hair folliciles.

The Truth On Hair Loss Myths...

You might be surprised to learn that many people are unable to untangle fact from fiction when it comes to hair loss. Some of the blame lies with the many companies and individuals exploiting hair loss myths in order to sell bogus hair products. Other myths may linger because people with hair loss, particularly women, are reluctant to talk about an issue that remains sensitive and sometimes emotional. The timing and pattern of pattern baldness is also different in men and women.

While men tend to start losing hair in the 30s and 40s, hair loss begins in the 40s or 50s in women, though it can occur as early as the 20s. And while men first lose hair in the front and at the top of the head, women’s hair thins diffusely throughout the scalp.

Until recently, women have been reluctant to seek treatment, but hair restoration surgeons say that women make up more and more of their practices. In reality, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, though the degree of loss tends to vary by gender. ‘By the age of 50, over 50 percent of men have significant hair loss.’ Dr. McAndrews says.

‘For women, about 25 percent have significant hair loss by the age of 50, though it may be less apparent because women are more conscientious about hiding it than men are.’ For most people, hair loss is a result of a genetic predisposition. For some, however, hair loss may result from a condition called telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is a condition where a lot of hair may fall out in a relatively short period of time.

The most common causes are childbirth, high fever, severe illness and even high stress. In most cases this type of hair loss is temporary. Other common causes are like inadequate protein or iron in your diet, or poor nourishment caused by fad diets or an eating disorder. Chemicals used for dying, bleaching, straightening or perming hair as well as excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tight can also cause gradual hair loss.

The Top 3 Reasons for losing your hair

According to scientists, there are three causes of alopecia in either men or women. 

Too much DHT

Pseudo-oestrogen chemicals

Lack of vital nutrients

DHT

Free testosterone is broken down into DHT (a more potent form of testosterone). This chemical binds to the hair follicle receptors blocking vital nutrients from accessing the hair. The hair becomes miniaturized and thin and eventually dies. It is what’s called the “peach fuzz” look on young men with hair loss.

This is why eunuchs never had any hair loss which got Plato wondering. It is also why only men get male pattern baldness and women don’t. Hair loss in women is more evenly distributed with a thinning over the whole scalp. Also, effective DHT inhibiting treatment was only effective on young men with hair loss and not older men or women. Excessive DHT is therefore not the only reason for losing your hair.

PSEUDO-OESTROGEN CHEMICALS

It is normally unheard of for women in China to get hair loss at any age. Over the last 20 years increasing number of Chinese women in the industrialized areas of China are experiencing hair loss. This has been put down to chemicals form the industrial process which mimic the chemical effects of oestrogen. These pseudo-oestrogen chemicals bind tighter to the hair follicle receptors than normal oestrogen does, starving the hair follicle of vital nutrients, similar to the way DHT does. 

Also, this seems to the reason for hair loss in obese men. Fat cells in obese and balding men contain more of the enzyme aromatase (responsible for converting testosterone into oestrogen). Also bacteria in fat cells produce oestrogen-like chemicals.

LACK OF VITAL NUTRIENTS

The hair needs a variety of nutrients to sustain itself. The theory is that both DHT and estrogen-like chemicals block the hair follicle by binding to it too tightly. Even without these chemicals, a person lacking in these nutrients will experience hair loss. 

There have been experiments on mice which show the effect of a deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals. Scientists knocked out the genes in mice responsible for the regulation of the hair and scalp. These genes are in turn normally regulated by vitamin D. The result was rickets and hair loss with dermal cysts appearing quite early on. When scientists injected naturally “nude” mice with vitamin D, they started sprouting hair at an alarming rate.

It has been shown that copper and zinc, if lacking together, increase a loss of hair. In fact, a copper peptide was shown to induce hair growth in the skin around the wound of a person. The copper peptide was first used as healing accelerant. 

For women, a lack of iron and the essential amino acid L-lysine has been associated with losing one’s hair. This therapy has proven to be very beneficial for women who are losing their hair.

The Path To Hair Restoration

Normal hair loss is a common occurrence. At any given time, approximately 10% of your hair is dormant and susceptible to normal shedding. The problem is when the shedding is excessive. It is when thinning hair becomes obvious that most people become concerned with hair restoration options.

Some of the reasons of abnormal hair loss may include:

+ Health concerns such as major illness, fungal infections, hypo or hyper thyroidism, and hormone imbalances;

+ Reaction to medications used to treat cancer, diabetes, lupus, gout, birth control, and anti-depressants;

+ Improper hair care, including excessive use of chemicals and blow-drying;

+ Genetics;

+ Poor diet, including too much fried and fatty foods, a lack of fruits or green vegetables, and dehydration.

What are the options?

While an estimated 95% of all excessive hair loss is generic, there is a chance a family doctor or a professional hairstylist can provide the quickest and least expense answer to hair restoration. A medical doctor can do a full physical, do the appropriate blood work, and review medications and diet. He can recommend changes that may help with hair regrowth. The hairstylist can look at the condition of the hair and work up a hair care routine that may correct the damage. This routine may include hot oil treatments, scalp massage, and a change of conditioner and shampoo. The stylist may also recommend a haircut to reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

In the event the doctor or hairstylist is unable to assist in reducing the hair loss back to normal levels, topical minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine, was the first FDA approved method of regrowing hair. To be effective, minoxidil is applied to the scalp twice a day. It works best for those who are young and have only recently begun to experience abnormal hair loss, according to Pharmacia & Upjohn. Skeptics question whether the product actually promotes as much new growth as it does reduce the amount of loss.

Also available to sufferers of hair loss is the FDA-approved finasteride, which is marketed as Propecia. Propecia works best on male pattern baldness. Not only has it been proven to restore hair growth, it also improves the thickness and strength of each hair strand.

Often, Propecia, Rogaine, or a combination of both is used in conjunction with hair transplants to optimize the hair restoration process. The process of hair transplants involves removing hair from the densely covered areas of the head and, using a needle, implant those hairs to the thinning section of the head.

Those suffering from male-pattern baldness may also choose a scalp reduction. A scalp reduction is the surgical process of removing large sections of the bald scalp, then the skin from the densely haired sections of the head are stretched to replace the area of scalp that is removed.

If medications and surgery seem too extreme, those suffering from abnormal hair loss still have the option of wearing a hairpiece. While no two toupees, or hairpieces, are created equally, a toupee can look natural. Many who opt for the hairpiece option join a "hair club," which offer members service that will keep their hairpieces cleaned, colored, and offering the optimal fit.

Remember, all medications and surgical procedures involve a certain amount of risk, and no hair restoration solution is guaranteed to work. Before agreeing to a hair restoration regime, consult with a doctor and know your risks.

Making the right hair restoration decision

Deciding whether hair restoration is right for you is a personal decision. Some people are more concerned than others with hair loss. Deciding which hair restoration method will work best for you is something to discuss with a doctor who specializes in treating hair loss. Many issues such as health, habits, budget, and tolerance to pain will need to be considered before creating a plan of action.