Friday, June 29, 2007

Your Quick Guide To Facts About Hair Loss And Its Remedies

By Helen Hecker


The typical average loss of hair amounts to about 100 strands a day. Male pattern baldness, also known as alopecia, is characterized by hair that is receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as a receding hairline; an additional bald patch may also develop on top of the head. The severity and nature of baldness can vary greatly; it includes male and female pattern baldness which is alopecia areata, which involves the loss of some of the hair from the head, and alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, to the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all the hair from the head and the body.
Hair loss can occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance; correcting the hormone imbalance can stop the hair loss. Some mycotic infections can sometimes cause massive hair loss. Traumas such as chemotherapy, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress may cause a little-known hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium.
In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from a person's maternal grandfather; and while there's some basis for this belief, both parents actually contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder, also known as "spot baldness", which can result in hair loss ranging from just one area to every hair on the body. Hair loss can occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.
Hypothyroidism can cause hair loss, may also induce localized baldness. Recognizing and treating infections early may help stop hair loss.
Propecia is available with a prescription; it comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it's working. There are natural home remedies and many recipes you can use for making mixtures to apply topically to the scalp. A wide range of products for hair loss include: shampoos, shampoos and conditioners, conditioners, lotions, creams, concealers, thinning hair shampoos, laser combs, laser brushes, the Lasertron Hair Growth Brush, herbal-based products, chemical-based pills or tablets, Nizoral shampoo, Neutrogena T-Gel, and many others.
Studies done on subjects of various ages suggest that weight training alone may increase levels of testosterone in studies where aerobic exercise only was compared to either weight training or a moderately sedentary life. Hair loss treatments and remedies range in price from free to expensive. Topical application of the chemical Ketoconazole, which is both an anti-fungal and a potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, is often used as a supplement to other approaches.
Regular aerobic exercise can help keep androgen levels naturally lower while maintaining overall good health, lowering stress and increasing SHBG. Stress reduction can be very helpful in slowing hair loss. Very little testing has been done regarding the long-term effects of Minoxidil on women.
Massage the scalp nightly with oil made from one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Try lying on a slant board with head down for 15 minutes a day, but get clearance from your doctor first. Try using double-strength herbal sage tea as a hair rinse or apply it to scalp every day as a tonic.
Some home remedies: Raw onion remedy for hair loss - take half a raw onion and massage the scalp with it; cover the head overnight, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Garlic oil remedy for hair loss - at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Also raw apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth.
Garlic as a hair loss remedy - an hour before bedtime, slice open a clove of garlic and rub it on the hair loss area, wait for an hour then massage the scalp with olive oil, put on a cap, go to bed, shampoo your hair in the morning, repeat for a few weeks, and hopefully hair will stop falling out and regrowth will appear. Make sure to test remedies on a very small area first and check with your hair loss doctor or skin doctor before trying any natural home remedy if it includes any irritating ingredients. Also try scalp massage every day to increase circulation to the area which is very important.
Resveratrol, from grape skins, is a lipase inhibitor and by decreasing the body's ability to absorb bad fats through the intestine walls, it reduces the total fat and calorie content of a person's diet. For an onion juice and honey remedy for hair loss: prepare a hair-growing elixir by combining 1/4 cup of onion juice with one tablespoon of honey; massage the scalp with the mixture every night.
Treating hair loss with chemicals from the inside or topically may or may not be the best treatment for you. Consider picking one of the least harmful, topical, natural home treatment remedies (the kind you whip up at home), and try it on your scalp for at least 30 days. Remember that regrowing hair is a slow process so don't look for results overnight for any home remedy or treatment you try.
For more information on hair loss remedies and hair loss products go to http://www.HairLossRemedy.us a nurse's website specializing in hair loss treatments, causes and resources for men, women and children including information on hair transplants and hair loss natural treatments

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Best Hair Loss Products

by Howard Weston


It is virtually impossible to know if you are someone who will suffer from hair loss in the future. It is not only a male problem, and women who experience balding patches have what is known as "pattern baldness". Most women wouldn't even dream of it until it actually starts happening to them! You couldn't imagine what it would be like to have no hair! No doubt if it was happening to us, we would be racing to see every hairdresser and hair loss specialist possible to attempt to grow it back again. There probably isn't a person on earth who would choose to permanently lose their hair, and even those who shave off their locks like to know they have other options! Our hair has been with us for so long, we don't even remember back to the time when we entered the world with nothing but tufts. There are so many people who check there hair everyday for signs of scalp peeping through, feeling like it is inevitable for them to go bald.
With so many products available on the market today, it can be hard to choose who to trust with your personal problem. Don't waste your time paying top notch hair salons to produce an impossible miracle; they may do the best cut and style in the country, but hair loss is a condition best addressed by a medical professional. A Trichologist is a specialist in all matters relating to the hair and scalp, and most people never hear the name in their life time unless they start going bald. Trichologists are up to date on the latest research and treatments, and can advise you as to what is the best program for your individual circumstances. They are qualified to do a transplant or hair plugs if that is an avenue you would like to explore, and those who can spare the cash usually do take that option.
There are a small select group of men who embrace their baldness without giving a second thought to products that claim to help. There are probably even some women who prefer their man to show a bit of skin so to speak, or maybe they think it makes them look worldly and sophisticated. Everyone is different, and where some men look great with their extended sideburns, baldness is a disaster for others. It can turn a handsome man to an unattractive one and an unattractive man to a handsome one! I say if you feel good you usually look good, and whether it's because of the products you use or the hair you lose, just bear in mind it is only vanity! Think of the time and money you can save on cuts, shampoo and styling!

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

How To Stop Losing Hair

by AJ Stamp


Hair loss is a common annoyance for men and women. It's embarrassing, causes low self-esteem, and leaves us wondering how we can stop losing hair. In order to understand hair loss, we need to discuss some of the common reasons of why we lose our hair.
Stress is a common factor in hair loss for men and women. It is no surprise that there are many causes of stress in our lives these days. Finding ways to reduce the amount of stress can help you to stop losing hair, and keep you healthier in general. If you can't change anything in your life, try a stress-reducing exercise such as meditation or yoga.
Too many trips to the beauty salon can also cause hair loss. When hair is processed and dyed multiple times, it can cause your hair to become weak and break off. Use more gentle hair color and perms to cause less damage and stop losing hair. Weekly conditioner treatments can help repair damaged hair. To prevent your hair from breaking off, never brush it when it's wet, and don't tie it up more than a couple of days in a row.
Many people lose their hair a few months following major surgery. This is due to the extreme stress caused by the surgery and shouldn't cause need for concern. This type of hair loss is usually temporary, and you should stop losing hair quickly. When hair loss is due to medications for serious illnesses, you should expect to stop losing hair after you've completed your treatments.
Another important factor in hair loss is that hair loss can be hereditary. That doesn't mean that it is inevitable if there is baldness in your family, but you should take extra precautions if hair loss is impending. Take extra care with your hair and scalp, and try to keep stress to a minimum in your life. When hair loss is hereditary, there are fewer options for regrowth.
As you can see there are quite a few reasons for hair loss in men and women. What we didn't discuss are the remedies for hair loss and regrowth. You can find more information by visiting our website.

What Is The Most Common Cause Of Thinning Hair?

by Daniel J.Fox


Female Pattern Baldness
Female-pattern baldness starts with the replacement hairs becoming progressively finer and shorter. They can also become almost transparent. This is the typical case of thinning hair where hair becomes finer and finer till it eventually breaks off.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), commonly described as pattern thinning hair, is thought to be caused by a combination of factors including age, genetic susceptibility and hormones. Hair growth is also influenced by the hormonal milieu and consequently thinning hair has been associated with the beginning of menopause. This is mainly due to the changes in your hormones and subsequently causing your hair to become finer and finer.
Most Common Thinning Hair in Women
The most common type of thinning hair seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia. Alopecia means baldness, but just as in men, it does not have to be complete thinning hair. This is seen as hair thinning predominantly over the top and front of the head. It affects approximately one-third of all susceptible women, but is most commonly seen after menopause.
DHT - The Cause of Hair Loss
Noticeable pattern baldness in women usually starts after menopause when the production of the female hormone estrogen slows down dramatically. Before menopause, the high amounts of estrogen in a woman system protect her from the small amount of testosterone that women also produce. After menopause the testosterone produced combines with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase to create DHT, and DHT is responsible for female pattern baldness. DHT is a type of hormone produced by your own body which causes hair loss. Hair loss products has ingredients that will deter your body from creating these DHT hormones.
Hair Loss Patterns
Usually, the thinning hair is far less prominent than it is in men. It also occurs in a different pattern. Most women first experience hair thinning and thinning hair where they part their hair and on the top of the head, but don't have a receding hairline. This pattern in hair loss is mainly due to the different hormones in both the male and female gender.
Female Pattern Baldness Most Common Hair Loss
About 50 percent of women who experience thinning hair have female-pattern baldness. Unfortunately, it's often permanent just as in men. Not all hair thinning and loss must be permanent. There have been cases of perimenopausal women, for example, experiencing thinning and lost hair who, once their hormone levels become balanced, can experience the thickness of previously thinning and the regrowth of lost hair that occurred during the ebbing and flowing hormonal years.
Hormone Solution to Hair Loss
Oatstraw infusion tends to increase the activity of testosterone; increased levels of testosterone contribute to excess hair growth during menopause. It's a long shot, but avoiding oats, oatmeal, and oatstraw infusion may help eliminate or reduce those extra hairs. This is a typical hormone solution to hair loss, and this should be discussed with your doctor first.
Safe Hair Dyes
Natural hair dyes can cure the grey blahs. Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a plant that is easily purchased ready-to-use to change the color of your hair, and you are not limited to carrot-top red. So long as it is not overused (less than four times a year) henna is strengthening to the scalp and hair. Using herbal hair dyes can prevent hair loss because there are so many types of chemicals that our scalp are sensitive too. Also, if you want to try hair regrowth products, do start out with some Herbal Hair Regrowth products which are chemical free and thus less risk of damaging your hair.

Monday, February 5, 2007

The Truth About Hair Loss

By: Dr. Rita Louise

It is normal to shed hair every day and the truth is we loose between 100 - 125 hairs on any given day. Hair that is shed falls out at the end of growth cycle. At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called a "resting phase" and after 2- 3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair loss than is normal. As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It's a normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. It is characterized by a receding hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand, don't go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp. Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a hair does fall out, it is not replaced. Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss. While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation. Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase and no new hair growth is experienced. Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows or tight rollers that end up pull on the hair can scar the scalp and cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss. For some, hair loss may be the early warning sign of a more serious disorder such as lupus or diabetes, so it is important to talk to your doctor. If you or someone you know is suffering from hair loss, here are some alternative health ideas that can help naturally. Recommendations For WellnessIf you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss. Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out. Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels. Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth. If you are a women, have your female hormones tested. If they are imbalanced, talk to your health care provider about bio-identical hormone replacements. If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure and stress on your hair and scalp. If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the number of times you are using them. Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair. In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the formation of D HT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help prevent prostate enlargement.

Author Bio: Dr. Rita Louise, Ph D is a Naturopathic Physician and the founder of the Institute Of Applied Energetics. Visit http://www.soulhealer.com or www.appliedenergeticsinstitute.com for more information.

What Type of Hair Brush Should I Use for Healthy Hair?

By: Rudy Silva


When you use the right kind of hair brush and keep it clean you will have strong, healthy, hair, which will not fall out in the future. Then by taking a Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid supplement, you can strengthen your hair.Hair care starts when you brush your hair. There are at least three things you need to know about how to brush your hair to bring more blood circulation to your scalp. Increasing the blood circulation to your scalp keeps your hair strong.A Natural Hair Brush Using a natural bristle like boar's hair is a good decision. The boar bristle hair brush bristles are similar to the keratin of your hair and absorb the dirt and oil just like your hair. In addition the tips of the boar hair brush are rounded and gently massage your scalp and hair.Kent hair brushes are available in boar hair. But avoid the Kent nylon hair brush if you want the best care for your hair.The nylon hair brush is not recommended since it is rougher on your scalp and is no where as good as the boar bristle hair brush. The nylon bristles are usually sharp and inflamed your follicles and break your hair when you use it.Brushing Your HairTo maintain good hair growth you need good circulation to your scalp. You need also need a clean scalp with little oil and dirt accumulating in your hair follicles. The boar hair brush helps you achieve this when you regularly brush your hair. Brush your hair when it is dry. This prevents breaking of your hair. When you brush, the gentle pulling of your hair stimulates your scalp bringing in more blood to feed your hair. Also the slight pulling stimulates the release of oil from your follicles which lubricates your hair.Brush your hair with a boar bristle hair brush twice a day for the best hair care - morning and night. For short hair brush for three minutes and for long hair brush five minutes.
By bending your head to the floor, when brushing, you will increase the blood circulation to your scalp. Now, brush from your neck forward to the front of your scalp, then, from sides to your crown. Lastly, brush from the front of your scalp to the neck.
Cleaning Your Boar Hair BrushIf possible, you should clean your brush every day. If you have two or more hair brushes then it will be easier to do this. Your boar bristle hair brush accumulates dirt and oils from hair when you brush. Without regular cleaning of your hair brush, this dirt and oil will redeposit onto your hair. Over time this added dirt and oil will plug up your hair follicles and lead to hair thinning or permanent hair loss.
You can clean your brush every day when you shower. Clean it with shampoo and scrub the bristles with your hand back and forth. After cleaning, you can dry the brush with a towel and let it sit until the next day. By the next day, it is ready to use and your other brush is ready to be cleaned.
Collagen SupplementOne super supplement to take to strengthen your hair is called Super Collagen + C. Take this supplement with Hyaluronic Acid. Both these nutrients provide collagen for your skin, hair, joints, and many other body areas.So, using a natural hair brush like the boar bristle hair brush is the best way to care for your hair. Gentle daily brushing stimulates your scalp and keeps you hair healthy. But don't forget to keep your hair brush clean, since your don't want to put the dirt and oil on your brush back onto your scalp.

Author Bio: Rudy Silva, Nutritionist, gives you more tips on healthy hair at: www.hair-loss-remedies.for--you.info, www.stophairloss-now.com and at www.hairlossinwomen.for--you.com

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Herbal Hair Loss Remedies That Offer Hope

By Richard Mitchell

Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body's natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers - there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer real hope to many people.
Let's examine the case for some of the more popular remedies to determine if they're worth trying.
Ginkyo biloba - this popular herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. The recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.
Green tea (Camellia sinesis) - it is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.
He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) - also known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) - derived from the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.
Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) - this is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.
Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) - this has long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.
You can learn more about these and other promising hair loss treatments by visiting 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.