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.

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

Much has been said and written about modern day hair loss treatments but this tends to relate almost exclusively to men.

Do these same treatments offer solutions to women suffering from hair loss or is there a completely different category of remedies available? It really depends on what is causing hair loss in the first place and as the most common causes of hair loss are the same as those that affect men, the treatments available are pretty similar.

In an earlier article we concluded that the three most common causes of hair loss in women are female pattern baldness, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. We’ll now look at each of these in turn and examine the best treatments available, bearing in mind the specific needs of women:

1. Treatments for female pattern baldness.

In most instances minoxidil (Rogaine) is the first treatment used. This is one of only two FDA approved hair loss treatments and it remains the only one approved for use by women.

Minoxidil comes in the form of a topical solution that works by tackling the symptoms of hair loss and helping to generate new hair growth. It does not target the causes of hair loss and will not work for everyone. The women’s version of minoxidil is a 2% solution but the 5% version marketed for men can be used if necessary.

The most popular drug for treating male pattern baldness is of course finasteride (Propecia). Women of child bearing age should not use this drug due to the severely damaging effects it can have on unborn male fetuses.

Any women considering using Propecia should discuss it first with their physician. In some cases your doctor may prescribe a different androgen blocker called spironolactone as a means of stopping the hormone activity that is causing hair loss. Spironolactone is normally used as a diuretic and results may be variable.

Discuss - The old theory was that the male hormone, testosterone, is converted to another hormone called dihydrotestosterone, that causes hair to grow darker and longer on the bodies, faces and sides of the head of men. Dihydrotestosterone also causes male pattern baldness by making hair on the top of the head thinner, lighter and shorter so you can’t see it.

There is a bewildering range of commercial products available, most of which are aimed squarely at men but many are also suitable for women to use. Whether they work or not is another question but some products containing ingredients like saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pygeum and green tea have shown their value. You can find out more about these and other poential hair loss solutions by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

2. Treatments for telogen effluvium

This is a hair loss condition that generally does not require any specific treatment. Once the effects of the trauma that caused hair loss in the first place have subsided, the hair will regrow of its own accord. Some patients like to encourage the regrowth process by using minoxidil but this isn’t necessary. Implementing a good nutritional regime and supplementing with B-vitamins may help to create a hair friendly environment.

Discuss - Don’t despair, there’s often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern-type baldness can be treated successfully for most people nowadays.

3. Treatments for alopecia areata.

This is another hair loss condition that may resolve itself spontaneously. In some cases one of the following treatments may prove useful:

- Daily application of minoxidil (Rogaine).

- Injection of cortisone into patchy areas of the scalp (this must be administered by a physician). Creams and lotions containing cortisone can also be used but results are variable.

- Dithranol can be applied to the scalp in mild or early cases.

- Application of 100% aloe vera gel.

- Massage the scalp with rosemary and lavender essential oils in a jojoba base.

- Use of a hair loss product containing the Chinese herb He Shou Wu.

Discuss - Using coconut milk on the scalp once in a week will also help in preventing hair loss and also keep the hair healthy and glowing.

- A product called Calosol has recently generated positive feedback.

Please note, however, that none of these is guaranteed to work due to the unpredictable nature of alopecia areata. It is this uncertainty that offers opportunities for scamsters to make outlandish claims. The fact remains, there are no miracle cures for advanced forms of alopecia areata so sufferers may wish to consider other options such as head coverings and wigs.

This does not mean that patients are without hope because, even in severe cases, hair can spontaneously start to grow again even after years of loss.

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 Hair Loss Treatments for Women to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

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Discuss - Vitamin B6: This vitamin basically helps in maintaining hair color and texture, thereby preventing any kind of hair loss. It can be easily found in cereals, yeast, organ meats and egg yolks.

When you think of hair loss it’s natural to assume that it’s a condition that predominantly affects men. Some experts however suggest that as many as one in four women will experience hair loss at some time in their lives. So why don’t we see and hear more about it? Perhaps the answer has something to do with one or more of the following:

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

- Women are better at disguising hair loss.

- Women’s hair loss is generally less extensive in terms of severity.

- Women’s hair loss tends to be spread evenly over the head rather than concentrated in one or two spots.

So why do women lose hair - are the causes very different to those that result in male baldness? There are probably three common reasons for hair loss in women:

1. 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. In the case of women, pattern baldness may start later and the effects may be less extreme due to the influence of female hormones, but the condition is nonetheless the same as that found in male pattern baldness.

Discuss - Wigs or hair thickeners � theses cosmetic female hair loss products may help you save a lot of time, money and discomfort using other kinds of products.

2. Telogen effluvium - this is regarded as the second most common cause of women’s hair loss and this is unsurprising given the nature of the condition. Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning of the hair and is usually brought about as a result of some traumatic event causing sufficient stress to interfere with the normal hair growth cycle. Given that pregnancy is a prime example of the type of event that can shock the hair growth cycle then perhaps the high incidence of telogen effluvium amongst women is only to be expected.

3. 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. It is thought to be caused by deficiencies in the immune system but much is still not known about the condition. In many cases the hair regrows spontaneously after a variable period of time, but in a minority of cases the problem may be more severe and longstanding.

If you experience any form of hair loss arrange to visit your physician to discuss the treatments that may be suitable for your particular condition.

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.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Go to Hair Loss Treatments for Women to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

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