Hair Loss - Useful Hair Loss Articles

For many years now there has been a considerable amount of research into hair loss causes, and while there is still no definitive answer there are some tantalizing clues into just what causes common conditions like receding hairlines and male pattern baldness.

Knowing the leading hair loss causes, of course, is an important foundation to providing a cure for this embarrassing condition. While hair loss may not be a serious disease, it can cause many problems for the men and women who suffer from it, including problems in their personal lives and problems in their careers. Treating hair loss effectively requires a look at what caused the loss, so it is important to pay attention to the latest thinking in hair loss and baldness research.

Three things that are thought to play an important role in causing hair loss are insulin, androgen levels and metabolism. Usually the substance known as sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG, will bind the testosterone in the body and control the amount of the substance floating free in the bloodstream. When SHBG levels decline, there is more testosterone in the blood, and it is more likely to be converted to DHT. It is DHT that is thought to play a role in triggering hair loss.

The amount of SHBG in the body can be reduced by high levels of insulin, and there is often a relationship between high insulin levels and high levels of free testosterone. It is the level of free testosterone in the blood, not the total level of the hormone, that helps to determine the level of DHT present in the scalp.

Statistically speaking, those men who are bald or suffering from thinning hair are more likely to have insulin resistance, and also more likely to suffer from heart disease. There also seems to be a relationship between metabolic syndrome and baldness, and research into this and other hair loss causes is still ongoing.

In addition to these factors, stress and tension are thought to play an important role in the levels of androgen, and therefore stress and anxiety are thought to be possible hair loss causes in themselves. It has long been known that stress can lead to a number of serious medical conditions, and avoiding hair loss is one more reason to keep stress levels to a minimum.

No matter what hair loss causes are implicated in your own hair loss and baldness problems, it is important to treat a hair loss problem as quickly as possible. Starting treatment at the first sign of a problem can allow for a great many more choices when it comes to effective treatments. There are a great many different treatments that can help to arrest a problem with thinning hair or a receding hairline, but waiting until the problem with baldness is more advanced may reduce your choices for treatment and leave you with only serious surgical interventions or hair transplants to regain your full head of hair.

About The Author

Cordell Varney has been a hair stylist for more than 20 years; consequently, she has heard and researched many hair loss treatments suggested by her clients. She has recently taken up interest in writing about hair loss on her website. If you are suffering from this condition, you can benefit from Cordell’s site at http://www.fpdlab.com, by reading her break downs on the treatments that are available.

There may be some very good news for balding men and women who have been hoping for a "miracle cure for baldness". New research has unveiled a discovery of a special protein which actually dictates the formation and growth of new hair follicles, specifically, in the human body.

In other words, the key to causing new hair growth and making baldness "extinct" may be closer than we think. It's pretty exciting stuff, and it's really part of a larger body of research that has demonstrated we may have more power over cellular growth and manipulation than we thought.

You see, our genes produce proteins that go and "communicate" to our body as to where certain bodily attributes will grow, or originate, such as hair follicles. Scientists have identified one of the three proteins that tells the body to produce more hair follicles, making the manipulation of hair growth much closer than it ever was before, scientifically and realistically speaking.

Unfortunately, we all know how long new technology usually takes to actually morph into something that can be used by the general public.

This new technology, while promising, has not been manipulated in such a way that it can be used by people yet. It's only been tested on mice so far, and has proven successful in creating "furrier" mice.

We don't know how long it will be before this new technology makes it to market for human use, or if it is even safe for long term use, consumption, or topical application, whichever the method may be.

It will need to go through a lot more testing, as well as be approved for public human use by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, before it can be sold as either an over the counter hair loss and balding medication or treatment, or even a prescription treatment or medication for balding men and women.

Right now, we are still seeing a lot of natural hair loss remedies that can help you regrow your hair, mostly through nutritional additions to your diet that may be lacking, and can cause or contribute to hair loss in men and women.

There are also popular over the counter hair loss treatments with an ingredient called Rogaine, which is supposed to help promote the growth of healthy new hair and help repair damaged or unproductive hair follicles.

Until this new technology comes to fruition, those are our options, and some of them work very well on the people who try them!

Copyright 2006 Danna Schneider

About The Author

Danna Schneider contributes to http://www.herbal-therapeutics.com and http://www.maleenhancementmagazine.com , where you can find helpful information on male health supplements for comsetic purposes, longevity and sexual health.

It is easier to prevent healthy hair falling out than to regrow hair in already-dormant hair follicles.

Home Remedies

There are all kinds of home remedies for hair loss. Many of them can be dismissed as old wives tales—but some of them possibly help some people. Here are a few of the more promising home remedies for hair loss:

- Rinse hair with a solution of sage tea and apple cider vinegar

- Almond oil, castor oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and amla oil may have benefits when warmed and

massaged into the scalp

- Coconut milk or aloe vera gel massaged into the scalp may have a similar effect

- A masque of honey and egg yolk can be applied to the hair and scalp.

With the exception of the sage tea and apple cide vinegar all other applications should be shampooed out of the hair after use.

Herbal Remedies

Several herbal remedies make the claim of restoring hair growth and a number of herbal lotions as well as several nutritional supplements claim to be specifically formulated to deal with hair loss. A person with a preference for alternative treatments rather than chemically based treatments may benefit from a visit to a herbalist to discuss herbal hair loss remedies.

It has been suggested that the following herbal remedies may be of assistance in hair loss:

- ginko biloba

- green tea

- polygonum multiflorum, a traditional Chinese herb

- pygeum

- aloe vera

- saw palmetto (serenoa repens)

- stinging nettle

- resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in grape skins

Some of these are taken in tablet form and some are made into preparations that you massage into your scalp. Some, for example stinging nettle, can cause an allergic reaction, so all herbal preparations should be used with care.

It is claimed that saw palmetto - a herbal DHT inbibitor - has fewer side effects and is cheaper that finasteride (sold in the US as Propecia) and works in a similar manner

Minoxidil (Rogain®)

Many people have confidence in this product for restoring hair growth. It’s available at any pharmacy without a prescription and it appears to work for a lot of people. Minoxidil is useful for both men and women to assist in regrowing hair. Treatment needs to be continuous, however, because ceasing treatment with Minoxidil will cause the hair to again begin falling out.

Finasteride (Propecia®)

Finasteride in an antiandrogen 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, marketed under the names Propecia, Proscar, Finacar and others. It is a prescription medication and may be the best hair loss product for some people. A visit to a doctor is required to get a prescrption, but that in itself is not a bad thing because the doctor will check to see if there is some underlying cause for the hair loss that may require treatment. There are some known side effects with Finesteride, including erectile dysfuntion, that affect a small number of users of the preparation.

Ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is an anti-fungal and potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that is often used as a topically applied supplement to other hair loss treatments.

It is interesting to note that placebo treatments often have reasonable success rates (and similar side effects) in studies, although the success rate tends not to be as high as with the product being tested.

Concealing Baldness

There are times when the best hair loss product is a cover up of some kind. This is especially true when the hair loss is temporary, such as when hair falls out during chemotherapy. Several organizations produce hats or caps for cancer sufferers.

Other methods of hiding hair loss include the comb over which involves combing the remaining hair over the bald spot. This ceases to be effective as balness increases. A wig or a hairpiece is another option but in the end, embracing baldness - especially for men - can be the simplest, cheapest and often the best option.

About The Author

Alison Stevens in an online author and publisher and manages the websites http://www.redwinepublications.com and http://new-hair-loss-treatment.com.

Hair loss treatment can be done inexpensively by doing it the natural way. You may not have the money to afford any surgery. Simply pay attention to your diet and make use of natural plants for hair loss treatment.

Your Diet Matters in Hair Loss Treatment

You may have forgotten that the hair is composed of protein therefore it is a must that you take in sufficient protein in order to maintain a healthy hair. To be able to sustain a healthy hair growth, nutrients are needed as they do take care of the hair and the scalp. The numerous nutrients which you need to take in are protein, B-complex, Vitamins A and C, omega-3 fatty acids, and cysteine, which is another amino acid. Any deficiency with these nutrients is likely to cause hair loss. Vegetarians should not forget that they should integrate foods rich in protein in their diets such as the beans, wheat, brown rice, corn, nuts, or seeds. The cysteine is another amino acid which makes up the protein. It can be found in foods rich in sulfur like the meat, fish, egg yolks, onion, nuts, garlic, kale, raspberries, and cabbage. This amino acid is also a renowned detoxifier.

The vitamin B, most especially the biotin, aids in maintaining the health of hair. Among the best sources of the vitamin are the egg yolks, milk, meat, brewer’s yeast, soybeans, saltwater fish, and whole grains. You should remember that taking in the uncooked egg whites deplete the biotin content in the body so therefore eating it must be avoided. The use of saccharin which is commonly found in most toothpastes and taking in of antibiotics also produce an adverse effect on your body’s biotin absorption.

Then, make sure you take in enough Vitamin A. The best sources are broccoli, carrots, pumpkin, fish liver oil, yellow squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, peaches, and cantaloupes. Vitamin C is another very important component that ensures a healthy hair. It can be found from the citrus fruits, green vegetables, and berries.

The Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for a good circulation that will feed the hair roots. It also supplies the body with enough motivation to get on with the production of the hormones. Its best sources are the tuna, salmon, and flaxseed.

Plants that Help out with the Hair Loss Treatment

Among nature’s components which help out in hair loss treatments are the aloe vera, jojoba, henna, capsicum, lemongrass, and Dong Quai. What are these? What good do they bring as hair loss treatments?

The aloe vera promotes the balancing of the scalp’s Ph and then heals from the inside. It also cleans the pores. The jojoba treats eczema, dandruff, seborrhea, and psoriasis. It works well as a moisturizer so hair loss can be minimized. The henna works as a natural conditioner, repairs, stops hair breakage, and restores the silkiness and shine of the hair. The capsicum treats hair loss by as much as 50% and heightens the flow of blood. The lemongrass stabilizes the oil in the scalp and gives out enough nourishment for the hair. The Dong Quai possesses phytoestrogens that minimizes the buildup of the DHT.

It never fails to secure the natural hair loss treatments via the use of herbal plants and maintaining a proper diet. Your hair is your crowning glory. Hence, learn to take care of it.

About The Author

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of InsideHairLoss.com. Visit Jeanette's website to learn more about http://www.insidehairloss.com!.