HEALTH - 8

Understanding and Prevent Your Hair Loss

At any one time, 10 percent of our hair is at a resting phase while the other 90 percent grows at about 1 cm a month. After about two or three months, the rested hair will fall out to be replaced by new hair.

The most usual type of hair loss alopecia affects a majority of men and a smaller percentage of women from age 35. In men, the typical hair loss can be seen by receding hairlines towards the back of the head. Subsequently large patches of hair loss may leave a horseshoe-shaped tuft of hair.

In women, typical alopecia hair loss is seen in the thinning of hair all over the scalp, but more visibly over the top of the head. Hair loss in children are not usual, but a majority cases of alopecia in children will see restoration over time.

About 50~150 strands of hair drop daily is quite common. Taking into account that we have about 100,000 strands of hair on our head, this amount is not a great loss. But disproportionate hair loss without being replaced as quickly may cause some concerns. When this happens, we should best sit up and take notice and do something about it.

Causes of Hair Loss

The causes of hair loss aren't well defined; however, researchers have uncovered that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Individual hair usually follows a cycle of expansion, falling out, and new expansion. However increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the expansion phase and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp.

Other common cause of hair loss is lack of certain essential fatty acids, proper essential nutrition over a prolonged period, especially iron, vitamin B, C and an amino acid called lysine which can found in many common beans.

Months that follow after a trauma, a surgery or a major illness may also cause loss of a large amount of hair. This kind of hair loss is temporary and will be restored when your health is restored. Proper nutrition can help expedite recovery.

An over or under-active thyroid gland can cause excessive hair loss. Hormonal imbalance and hormonal changes after a woman's pregnancy may see plenty of hair loss too.

Another culprit is drugs or prescribed medication. These include use of anti-coagulants, drugs used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, anti-depressants, contraceptive pills and overdose of vitamin A. Hair are usually restored when medications are stopped and proper nutrition takes over.

Other causes are fungal infections and various diseases. In fact, hair loss could also be a symptom of underlying diseases. So, seek medical attention if you cannot easily realize the cause of your hair loss.

Other hair problems: Oily hair occurs because of vitamin B deficiency. Dry or brittle hair other than caused by too much chemical put on the hair?is a sign of essential fats deficiency. Poor hair growth and loss of color is a result of zinc deficiency.

Prevention Suggestions

Some medical treatment like provillus blocks DHT (dihydrotestostrone) from getting to your body, which is 1 of the major causes of hair loss. The Breakthrough formula of Provillus was designed to block DHT and supply the proper foods to your body specifically tailored to block hair loss and to help you regrow hair naturally. Strong, sound hair begins with the proper nutritional building blocks. You do not have to hold off until there's a problem to end it! Provillus supplements your body's natural supply of these vitamins and lets the tiny follicles below your scalp receive exactly what they want to manufacture beautiful, full-bodied hair.

There are a few things you can do externally to improve the blood circulation to the scalp. Massaging the scalp, hanging upside down or doing headstands all can contribute somewhat to lessen hair loss. But of course, it would be absurd to be hanging upside down and doing headstands all the time!

Other measures you can take is to wash your hair with high-quality shampoo suitable for your hair type, reduce use of hair dryer, heated rollers and curling wands.

To prevent more hair loss, cut back on processed foods and carbonated drinks which can acidify the blood, causing mineral loss from your hair. Avoid unhealthy diet fads that make you lose weight too quickly. For, along with the loss of weight, you lose your precious hair.

Sulfur is a necessary mineral for beautiful hair growth. This mineral can be found in high protein foods like fish, legumes, nuts, eggs, beans, and most vegetables. When cooking, add in onion and garlic where possible. But don't just use them for cooking, eat them!

And finally, the wrong kinds of fats that cause hair loss needs to be eliminated and replaced with sufficient amounts of EFAs like omega 3.

There are many more possible reasons why you are losing hair excessively. In fact, almost every system in your body can affect the health of your hair. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to consult a specialist to detect the cause so that it can be treated at an early stage.


II. Hair Loss Solutions - How To Help Stop Hair Loss And Regrow Hair


Hair loss and male-pattern baldness is an misery suffered by thousands of men, and can be a true source of lack of confidence and embarrassment for those not prepared to lose their hair or shave their head. Even worse, and more dreadful are the younger cases where the hair loss progression begins long before a man even reaches his thirtieth birthday. So what are your options if you are one of these men, non stop losing your hair before your time?

Well, you can do what many others do - cut off your head for the sake of evenness. Lots of men look fantastic with a bald head - it just fits their personality and style, and they seem comfortable that way. For individuals reluctant to give up on their hair, there are hairpieces or plugs, neither of which have been perfected to the point of being undetectable, and both having a societal stigma as being a bit vulgar and undesirable.

The other alternative, of course, is to attempt one of the hair loss products that some decent manufacturers now offer, both in prescription and nonprescription type. As there is still no "magic pill" that can daringly promise every man (and woman) who takes it will re-grow their hair, there are some very hopeful and effective hair loss products and treatments currently on the market and also in development.

Provillus, Hair genesis, Rogaine (Monoxadil) and Proxiphen are just a few of the top prescription and nonprescription hair loss products on the market today, and they've all had varying degrees of success in re-growing their client's hair. As the demand for hair loss products is so great, there have been many non-prescription hair loss alternatives lately introduced in an effort to offer men (and women) a more economical and convenient alternative to re-grow hair and prevent more hair loss.

There are also some vitamins that have been specially formulated both for thinning hair and to elevate the speedy growth of healthy, shiny hair. Vitamins for thinning hair and faster hair growth and re-growth are generally a varying combination of several key amino acids, biotin, vitamins B6 and E, and zinc. Many who take vitamins of this nature do report thicker, more lustrous and healthy hair, but if your objective is to actually re-grow hair and not only thicken thinning hair, then you would perhaps like to consider a more significant hair loss supplement or treatment that specifically targets balding and hair loss.

Here's a small hint to help promote hair growth - massage the scalp. This is an age-old hairstylist tip to help stimulate the hair follicles, unclog any blocked oil glands in the scalp, and help promote a healthy scalp and new, healthy hair growth. Plus, it's relaxing and it feels good, so it's not such a chore!

Hair loss supplements can range from pricey to reasonable, tested and untested, and clinically proven vs. not clinically proven. You have to use good judgment and do a little homework on the internet, or by reading consumer reviews, testimonials and surveys to see what actually should work best for your situation. Some even offer money back guarantees or some sort or money back for unused portions.

Now, let's talk about being practical in preventing future hair loss. Many times, the primary cause for premature hair loss and male pattern balding is genetic, but it can also be brought on by a hormonal imbalance of the male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens. Correcting a hormonal imbalance many times can stop hair loss. This example can be seen in women who detect hair loss in a moment after they've had a baby. The cause for this is a fall in hormones that kept much more hair on the head than normal during pregnancy because the levels of this hormone are abnormally high at this time.

Some medications can also cause or worsen hair loss. Typically these medications are blood thinners, gout medication, chemotherapy medications for cancer, too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants. Avoid tight or "pulling" hairstyles like high or tight ponytails and cornrows, and also stay away from harsh chemical treatments such as perms and other potentially volatile, damaging hair treatments.

Typical hair loss treatments, prescription and nonprescription, usually take about six months before you can tell they are working, so patience is a must. There is no overnight fix to hair loss unfortunately. As long as you are comfortable with your chosen hair loss remedy, and have planned a preventative and maintenance course of action, that's really all that matters.