Hair Loss
by: Richard Mitchell
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
About The Author
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss.
richard@myhairlossadvisor.com
Kiss Your Hair Loss Goodbye
All Men and Women Who Want To Keep a Full Head
of Hair, This Message Is For You!
How to Stop Your Hair Loss &
Grow Back Your Hair - Naturally!
Guaranteed!
This is The Greatest Goldmine of “Hair Secrets “
Ever Crammed Into One Report!
You will also learn powerful yet basic tips like:
- How to shampoo/wash your hair the right way. Yes there is a difference in how you wash your hair!
- Hair loss/Alopecia areata and the chronic skin condition called psoriasis: What they are and what you can do if you suffer from both.
- How hair loss caused by chemotherapy and what you need to know about growing it back.
- Is wearing a toupee bad for your hair? You need to know this when looking for one to wear (while you are growing back your hair).
- The types of fish you should avoid if you have weak hair (yes, most fish is good — but not all!)
- What are “structured hairpieces” and why you need to make sure you get a second opinion when a doctor recommends them to you (caution: some doctors will recommend it when for money even when you don’t need it!)
- All about Rogaine and Propecia type of drugs(Did you know that Propecia is the exact thing as “Proscar” - the depression drug! The only real difference is the smaller dosages.)
To Find Out More About “How To Have Healthy Hair At Any Age”
by: Rose Lenk
In many cases, hair loss is attributed to a physical condition, such as Thyroid disease, or the lack of proper nutrition. Certain medications can also strip your body of vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hair production and growth. In these cases, the proper vitamin and mineral regimen can significantly reduce hair loss and promote new hair growth.
After starting a vitamin and mineral supplement program, it can take up to 2 to 3 months to see results, but you will see results. So, do not become discouraged if your hair loss does not totally reverse itself after a few weeks of vitamin and mineral therapy.
The following is a guide to some of the more common vitamins and minerals that have been proven to be effective at promoting healthy hair growth. If you are going to start taking any of the listed supplements, be sure to consult with your doctor first and not to exceed the recommended dosage. Doing so can actually cause hair loss in some cases.
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps to produce healthy sebum (oil) in the scalp. You get Vitamin A by consuming foods such as fish liver oil, milk, meat, cheese, eggs, cabbage, carrots, spinach, broccoli, apricots and peaches. The daily recommended dosage of Vitamin A is 5,000 IU.
Vitamin C is another antioxidant that helps maintain healthy hair and skin. You get Vitamin C by consuming foods such as citrus fruits, kiwi, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables. The daily recommended dose is 60 mg.
Vitamin E increases scalp circulation which is vital for hair growth. You get Vitamin E by eating foods such as wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds ad nuts, dried beans and leafy green vegetables. The daily recommended dose is up to 400 IU.
Biotin is thought to help produce keratin, the building block of hair and nails. It is also thought that is vitamin may prevent graying. You get Biotin from eating foods such as whole grains, egg yolks, liver, rice and milk. The daily recommended dose is 150-300 mcg.
Vitamin B6 is thought to prevent hair loss and help create melanin, the pigment which gives hair its color. You get Vitamin B6 by eating foods such as liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolks. The daily recommended dose is 1.6 mg.
Calcium is essential for healthy hair growth. You get Calcium by eating foods such as dairy, fish, nuts, lentils and sesame seeds. The daily recommended dose is up to 1,500 mg.
Copper helps prevent hair loss and defects in hair color and structure. You get copper by eating foods such as shellfish, liver, green vegetables, eggs, chicken and beans. The daily recommended dost is up to 3 mg.
Iodine helps regulate thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is the number one cause of disease-related hair loss. You get Iodine from foods such as fish, seaweed, kelp, iodized salt and garlic. The recommended daily dose is 150 mcg.
Manganese prevents hair from growing too slowly. You get Manganese from foods such as eggs, whole grain cereals, avocados, beans, nuts, meat and chicken. The daily recommended dose is 3 to 9 mg.
Silica prevents hair loss by strengthening the hair. You get Silica from eating foods such as seafood, soybeans, rice and green vegetables. The daily recommended dose is 55 mcg.
As was mentioned earlier, taking more than the recommended dosage of these vitamins and minerals can have devastating consequences to your health. In addition, some supplements are not recommended for people with certain health conditions or for persons taking certain medications. So, be sure to talk with your doctor before taking any supplements to prevent hair loss.
In addition to these few examples, there are myriads of vitamins and minerals that can help you promote hair growth and slow down the process of hair loss. To find out which ones meet your needs, talk to your doctor.
About The Author
Rose Lenk
For more hair care tips and articles visit me at http://www.haircaretoday.com.
by: Dave McCloskey
Hi All:
Today’s article is all about hair loss and home remedies. While there are a LOT of products on the market today that claim to slow, stop, prevent or reverse hair loss, there are many other ways to attack hair loss that don’t include using strong chemicals or prescription drugs. Granted, some are effective and some are not, but the only way to know for sure (just like using Propecia) is to try them for yourself. I’m going to list a few possible ways to treat hair loss and let you make up your own mind on their effectiveness. Just to remind you all…I am not advocating any type of hair loss treatment, simply because every person is different and what might work for you might not work for someone else!
Okay, the first type of home remedy can be categorized as “herbal”. Many folks, including myself, have begun using certain herbs to combat all sorts of problems…anything from aging skin to a lack of energy to, you guessed it, hair loss. Here are some of the more popular herbs pertaining to hair loss…
Stinging nettle: Also known as Urtica Diocia, this herb has the ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (DHT is often the cause of male hair loss). An optimum dose of 50-100mg per day in capsule form is recommended.
Ginkyo biloba: this herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. It is believed that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. A recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.
He Shou Wu: Also known as Polygonum Multiflorum, this herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss and can be taken in capsule form or as a tea.
Pygeum Africanum: This herb is derived from the bark of the evergreen tree and it works like green tea. It is used to treat male pattern baldness. You should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.
Saw Palmetto: Also known as Seranoa Repens, this is a favorite choice for many men due to its ability to slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. Many commercially prepared hair loss treatments use this herb as a base but it can easily be found in its pure form. A dose of 160mg twice each day is recommended, but be sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.
The second type of home remedy for attacking hair loss are external preparations that are applied to the hair and scalp directly. Some of these may sound odd, but you never know until you try, right?
Safflower Oil: Also known as Carthamus Tinctorious, 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.
Aloe Vera: You can rub Aloe Vera into your scalp each night. It’s believed that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutane. These two substances combined may stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern baldness.
Red Pepper: Also know as Capiscum, you can apply Red Pepper to the scalp as a poultice. It irritates the scalp and stimulates blood flow to the base of the hair, which may encourage renewed hair growth.
Onion: Yes, onions. Some believe that rubbing the scalp with an onion before shampooing may actually stimulate hair growth…your mileage may vary!
There are many more home remedies that may aid in hair growth or regrowth. I will talk about these in future articles. Thanks for reading and take care!
About The Author
Dave McCloskey is a long-time hair stylist who wants to share some of his knowledge with folks on the web. For more information on male hair loss: www.computtel.com/haircareblog
by: Mike Hammel
1. Number One- Eat and drink biotin. Biotin is a very essential vitamin that will aid in hair growth and you can get this in foods such as honey, milk and bananas. A great, healthy and tasty way to get biotin is to make a blended shake with these ingredients and yogurt.
2. Number Two- Stop stress! Stress is one of the leaders for hair loss reasons and the least amount of stress you allow in your life the better for your hair. Get a stress ball, get a massage and do whatever you can to release all the stress from your life.
3. Number Three: Massage your scalp every time you shampoo your hair. Massaging your head in the shower not only cleanses your scalp but it also increases the blood flow and circulation within your head. This is even more important as you age because circulation slows down the older you get and you should keep circulation in mind.
4. Number Four: Sleep! Sleep cures a lot of problems and it is vital to keeping the entire body in sync and healthy. Your hair is only one of the things that will benefit from getting proper sleep (7 to 9 hours of sleep per night consistently).
5. Number Five: Get Vitamin B in your everyday foods and supplements. Vitamin B is one of the most essential vitamins you can get and Vitamin B6 a key to healthy hair. If you don’t feel that you are getting enough Vitamin B in your foods everyday then you should look into getting a good vitamin supplement to go with your daily regimen.
While baldness is largely a hereditary issue, that does not mean you can’t prevent it and fight against it. Once again, the best time to begin the hair loss prevention time is in your late teens to early 20s. Getting a head start on your hair loss potential is a good idea and will pay off in large ways as you get older and your hair thins out.
About The Author
by: Eric V. Allen
The overall cause of male pattern baldness is now well-known: this type of hair loss seen in about a third of the male population is mediated by the androgenic metabolite of testosterone known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The production of this now-infamous hormone increases later in life for many men, along with changes with the receptors for this hormone at the hair follicles.
In general, the pertinent hair follicles shrink with continued exposure to the androgenic hormone, some forming only small, villus hairs, while others eventually die completely. Some sources claim these follicles are still getting an adequate blood supply, while others note a waxy buildup or scar-like tissue surrounding the follicles, preventing adequate nutrient delivery. Thus, the localized cause of hair loss, at the follicle level, is still being researched. This does not mean there has been success in discovery of natural hair loss remedies!
Whether using a pharmaceutical, natural, or combination regimen to re-grow hair, genetically-related hair loss should be addressed on two fronts: reducing the production and effects of DHT, and stimulating the hair follicles themselves back into action.
Prescription drugs such as Finasteride and Dutasteride are available which lower blood levels of DHT, and have been used to improve hair loss conditions. There are now several well-known natural, plant-based products which either reduce testosterone’s conversion to DHT (via the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme system), block the binding of DHT to receptor sites, or both. Most common, and most important are Saw Palmetto Berry extract and Stinging Nettle Root extract. These to herbs work in combination to both block the conversion of testosterone to DHT and prevent it’s binding to receptor sites in the scalp. Other herbs employed with similar functions include pygeum africanum and pumpkin seed oil, both used to bring into balance the testosterone/DHT ratio; lastly, the plant sterol Beta-Sitosterol is often used successfully to treat prostate enlargement, which has similar causes to male pattern baldness - whether it will support hair growth is not yet known, but it likely won’t hurt!. Finally, getting an adequate supply of Zinc is also important in maintaining this hormonal balance. The entire androgen hormone regulation system is fairly complex; just remember these items: Saw Palmetto, Nettle Root (not leaf!), Pygeum, Zinc, and Beta-Sitosterol. By the way, if using a prostate formula for these nutrients, they should be taken in gel cap form - they are better absorbed this way than in plain powder, and hence more effective.
In addition to these herbs, which are also commonly used around the world for blocking the creation and effects of DHT, Procyanidins, or Polyphenols, have been shown to inhibit DHT systemically, AND can stimulate hair growth when applied topically. These anti-oxidant compounds first became renown with the discovery of the amazing action of grape seed extract and it’s powerful ability as a free-radical scavenger. More recently, Japanese researchers went through the effort of testing HUNDREDS of compounds in the laboratory for their effect on the stimulation of hair growth, and they found the compounds of grape seed extract grew hair at a greater rate than the pharmaceutical preparation Minixodil. With further testing, using variations of the polyphenols, they discovered those found in apple skin polyphenols to be even more effective, nearly twice effective as Rogaine. Further, with the addition of Forskolin, another herbal extract, the effect was even greater. Exciting news! The interesting thing is that these compounds actually stimulated the hair follicles to become active, whereas it seems Rogaine works by lowering blood pressure in the scalp, thereby increasing blood flow to the follicles. And these compounds did not produce an initial ’shedding’ as Rogaine has been known to do.
In addition to the polyphenols, certain essential oils alone and in combination can be effective at hair growth stimulation. In a Scottish study on alopecia areata patients, a blend of Lavender, Thyme, Cedarwood and Rosemary oils based in Jojoba and Grapeseed was found to significantly enhance the regrowth of hair compared to an application of just the base oils alone. Many essential oils, including lavender and rosemary, contain ‘ketones’, molecules that have been found to cause the skin to regenerate. Further, these oils could be enhanced with the addition of Rosehip Seed oil, which contains compounds similar to Retin-A, a pharmaceutical which has been used in combination with Rogaine for faster effects.
Given all this wonderful information, how does one combine them into an effective regimen? The best thing to do is keep it simple - the more simple it is, the more likely it is you’ll stay with it for the several months it will take to see significant effects. So, for the systemic DHT suppression and inhibition, look at formulas either designed specifically for hair, or those for the support of the Prostate gland - they will contain almost the exact same ingredients. Look for a high-quality supplement, with standardized Saw Palmetto extract, Nettle Root extract, and Pygeum extract. Do not take the un-extracted herbs, they will not likely be strong enough in doses you are willing to consume. Saw Palmetto can be consumed in doses between 160 and 320mg daily, Nettle Root a bit more, and Pygeum significantly less. They should be in a gel cap, preferably in Pumpkin seed oil. Take a separate Beta Sitosterol supplement, around 400mg daily, if it is not included already. This is typically found in dry capsules, and there have not been reports of the importance of consuming this in an oil-based capsule, though you can take it with fatty food if you want to be sure (this may help the absorption). Add an oral supplement of Green Tea extract, Grape Seed extract, or Apple Polyphenol extract if you like, along with a good multivitamin.
For the topical application, one can find natural hair care products on the internet using apple polyphenols, or you can make your own for less cost. Apple polyphenols are just now becoming available in bulk and in capsules. You can create your own topical blend by mixing these into water or an alcohol/water solution at 1-3% by weight (1 ounce of water weighs about 30 grams, so 1 gram of apple polyphenols in one ounce of water will produce about a 3% solution - more is not better here, as there was a drop-off in effectiveness with higher concentrations in the laboratory). An herbal extract of Forskolin can also be added to enhance the effects. Finally, this can all be made in Nettle Root tea as the base, adding a DHT inhibitor to the blend. Try applying 2 - 3 times daily.
For the essential oils, the recipe used in the scientific study was as follows: 3 drops of essential oil of thyme, 3 drops of essential oil of lavender, 3 drops of essential oil of rosemary 3 drops of essential oil of cedarwood based in 1/8 cup of grapeseed oil and 1/8 cup of jojoba oil. Apply during the day some time, massaging into the scalp, and leaving in for 20 minutes to an hour, then wash out, or apply before going to bed. This will give enough time for the oils to penetrate the skin and have their effect. If you wish to further enhance this blend, you may squeeze some of the gel caps of Saw Palmetto et. al. into the oil, which can reduce the effects of DHT topically, in addition to the systemic effect of the oral supplements.
So there it is, the roundup of the more well-known and tested natural remedies for male pattern baldness. While Rogaine for growth stimulation, and Finasteride or Dutasteride for DHT inhibition are completely reasonable ways to go, their costs are high and the effects of their long term use are not well known. And then there are some folks that would prefer to stay away from chemically manufactured medicines altogether - hopefully this bit of information will help. There is much more research available on the internet, though hopefully this is enough information to get you confidently started.
About The Author
Eric V. Allen is a consultant to Ananda Apothecary, a resource for http://www.anandaapothecary.com and http://www.anandaapothecary.com/bach-flower-essence-remedy.html.