The most common type of hair loss is that of male hair loss which may be the result of increased sensitivity to the male sex hormones that exist in certain areas of the scalp and may be passed from generation to generation. Once, baldness was perceived as being unfortunate as well as undesirable but attitudes to baldness have changed and a clean-shaven head in modern times is looked upon as fashionable as well as attractive.
In certain men, some portions of their scalp may be very sensitive to particular hormones that circulate in the blood. These hormones make the hair-growing follicles shrink which over time would make them incapable to replace lost hairs. Even though the follicles are still alive they are unable to perform the task of growing hair.
Receding Hairlines and U-Shapes
Men, aged between 25 and 30 years of age may see such conditions appear which may follow a typical pattern that begins with a hairline that starts to recede and over time. The hair on the top of the head begins thinning and the two balding areas meet to form a U-shape; even hair that remains tends to be thin and is slow to grow.
Male hair loss is usually passed on from parent to child and although there are medical treatments that may improve the condition, using them may result in having side effects. Male hair loss is quite widely prevalent and there are different reactions to how it is perceived. However, one should try and accept male hair loss as being a natural condition and not try to camouflage it with the use of wigs to hide the bald spots.
Male hair loss may be treated with medication, or with plastic surgery. Medications include Monoxidil lotion such as Rogaine regular and Rogaine extra strength and it can be applied twice a day to the scalp. To begin with, Monoxidil was invented primarily for treating high blood pressure and hair growth is only a side effect that has become useful for treating male hair loss. Plastic surgery can be a very effective means to treating male hair loss and there is constant improvement in the techniques used to restore hair growth.
Irrespective of which method you choose, weigh the costs and benefits f each treatment option and discuss it with your physician before you go ahead with it.
Filed under Hair Loss, Hair Loss Causes, Hair Loss Drugs, Hair Loss Help, Hair Loss Men, Hair Loss Natural Treatment, Hair Loss Options, Hair Loss Prevention, Hair Loss Resources, Hair Loss Shampoo, Hair Loss Solutions, Hair Loss Stress, Hair Loss Surgery, Hair Loss Thyroid, Hair Loss Tips, Hair Loss Treatment by on Jan 4th, 2008. 4 Comments. 
Discuss – Excessive salt intake can encourage hair loss because of its tendency to accumulate in tissue.
It wasn’t until his mid-fifties that my father started losing his hair. I remember the boxes of lotions, creams, heating massage pads that kept coming to his house (much to my stepmother’s chagrin). But his hairline kept receding and a decade later, only a well-greased tuft remained on the crown of his head.
Discuss – The myth – Rubbing curry over the scalp may stop hair loss.
Genetics had a lot to do with his situation. My older brother, almost 60 now, is showing the same pattern of thinning hair. But, unlike my father, he has a lot more treatment options at his disposal.
Causes for hair loss can run the gamut from genetics, medical treatments like chemotherapy, skin eczema or allergies, excessive stress, poor nutrition, hormonal changes like menopause and “andropause”, under-active thyroid, immune disorders to trichotillomania, a psychological disorder in which people are compelled to pull out their hair. A study in England has also shown a direct connection between smoking and hair loss. It also showed that smokers were 4 times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers.
Some conditions can be treated medically through drugs like minoxidil and corticosteroids. Others might require something more drastic, like follicular hair transplant, a form of surgical hair restoration that does provide lasting benefits. The cost, however, can be prohibitive.
Discuss – The last and least recommended female hair loss treatment is a hair transplantation surgery. Although there has been a significant improvement with the outcomes of those surgeries a severe risk still exists.
But for us normal folks in our 30′s, 40′s, even 50′s, who are just starting to notice our thinning hair, what preventative measures or supplementation can we take to minimize hair loss?
Because healthy hair is dependent on the health of the scalp (hair requires a plentiful supply of nutrient-rich blood to nourish the hair follicles in the scalp) it makes sense that eating nutritionally balanced meals will promote healthy follicles and healthy hair growth. In a recent interview, Dr. Shari Lieberman Ph.D CNS, a nutrition scientist and exercise physiologist at the University of Bridgeport, CT, claims that crash diets have been responsible for many cases of hair loss: “I’m seeing a lot of women not eating enough protein. A lot of them are eating vegetables; they’re eating carbs. They’ve really gone off a lot of protein and sometimes I’ll see hair loss in women for that.”
Discuss – A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).
There is no doubt that a daily diet rich in protein, good carbs and essential fats is important for hair health. Hair is very sensitive to vitamin or mineral imbalances in the body. A flaky scalp can be caused by too little vitamin A; however, too much vitamin A can also bring about hair loss. Supplements, when taken on a consistent basis, at the average or standard dosage suggested below or at a dosage recommended by your physician, can be a strong deterrent to premature hair loss. Consider the following:
a) Evening Primrose Oil and Flaxseed Oil. Both of these are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for strong, healthy hair. Evening primrose oil contains a special fat called gamma-linolenic acid( GLA) which the body converts to hormonelike compounds called prostaglandins. The GLA in evening primrose oil is directly converted to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins which are effective against eczema and skin allergies. Taking evening primrose oil (1000mg 3 times a day) will prevent hair loss that is caused by excess flaking and shedding of skin on the scalp.
b) Flaxseed Oil (14 g a day) provides substances called lignans which may help fight cancer, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Flaxseed oil boosts the health of hair and nail and speeds the healing of scalp lesions that may contribute to hair loss. A recent study involving 10 men between the ages of 20 and 70 in varying stages of male pattern baldness ( AGA) showed that 8 of the subjects reported modest improvement of their hair loss condition, one reported much improvement and one subject reported no effect. Throughout the study, the daily numbers of hair loss decreased and 50 percent of the subjects noticed a decrease in oil secretion in their scalp.
Discuss – Female pattern baldness – believe it or not, most women affected by hair loss lose it for the same reasons as men. They suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is a reaction to male hormones in the body, specifically the conversion of testosterone into the hair-unfriendly DHT.
c) Zinc (30mg) can boost thyroid function and reduce hair loss that comes from an underactive thyroid. Zinc must be taken with its companion Copper (2 mg a day) in order to maintain proper mineral balance in the body. Copper also contains melanin, the pigment that colors hair and skin and can help reverse or delay premature graying. Zinc can also affect the levels of androgens, the hormones involved in some form of genetic hair loss.
d) Biotin (1000 mcg a day) and Vitamin B-50 Complex (1 tablet twice a day) can also reduce the oiliness and flakiness of the scalp and strengthen the condition of the hair.
Other preventative procedures could include a weekly scalp massage to stimulate blood flow and reduce stress which can contribute to hair loss, wearing a hat to protect hair and scalp from sun damage and avoiding abrasive hair treatment like permanents or coloring.
Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers
|
A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://www.greatbodyproteinpower.com Discuss – Genetics: The most common cause of hair loss is rooted in your genes also known as androgenetic alopecia, hereditary hair loss can begin any time after puberty, but usually sets in before the age of forty and may accelerate around the time you reach menopause. |
Filed under Hair Loss Natural Remedy, Hair Loss Natural Treatment by on Oct 4th, 2010. Comment.
Discuss – Alopecia areata – this is the third most common hair loss condition to affect women. It is characterized by patchy areas of hair loss on the head or it can be more widespread over the body.
In a separate article in this series we looked at some of the most popular herbal hair loss remedies for ingestion. Here we’ll expand that theme to include some potentially useful herbal remedies for external use.
Aloe vera – some Indian tribes of Mexico attribute their thick, healthy hair to regular use of aloe vera gel which they rub into the scalp and hair each night. Herbalists believe that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme known as superoxide dismutane. Some experts feel that these two substances combine to stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern type baldness.
Onion (Allium cepa) – this has a high sulfur content that is believed to have hair-healing properties. Some herbalists believe that rubbing the scalp with half an onion before washing hair encourages hair growth.
Red pepper (Capiscum) – a popular folk remedy that involves the application of a red pepper poultice to the scalp to act as a skin irritant. This draws blood and nutrients to the scalp and encourages the release of histimines to stimulate cell division and hair regrowth.
Discuss – Female pattern baldness – believe it or not, most women affected by hair loss lose it for the same reasons as men. They suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is a reaction to male hormones in the body, specifically the conversion of testosterone into the hair-unfriendly DHT.
Safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorious) – Eastern health practitioners believe that safflower oil applied to the scalp acts as a vasolidator that dilates blood vessels. This allows more blood to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle thus creating an environment conducive to hair regrowth.
To find out more about these and other herbal hair loss remedies, please visit the site listed below.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Herbal Hair Loss Remedies to find out more about the issues covered in this article.
Filed under Hair Loss Natural Treatment by on Jul 21st, 2010. Comment.