Browsing in Hair Loss

Hair LossAs the only FDA approved, over the counter hair loss treatment, Rogaine has become a household name. It has also been the subject of many scientific studies. But is it the right choice for you when you are experiencing thinning hair? Let’s look into the facts about Rogaine.

Rogaine has been shown to produce some hair growth in 33% of men. This was the result of a survey conducted by the makers of Rogaine. A fascinating point of the survey was that the placebo treatment (the fake treatment with no Rogaine) produced hair growth in 20% of those in the study. Does this mean that people will regrow hair when they believe that they will? Is hair loss partially controlled by our attitude? Who knows. But it is certainly interesting that Rogaine is only 13% more successful than the fake treatment.

So you’re interested. You’ve got a one in three chance of seeing some hair growth. The next thing to consider is the cost of Rogaine. Monthly, you’re looking at around $40-$50. Maybe less if you go for the generic Rogaine that some stores offer. So now you have to consider whether a yearly cost of over $500 for a 33% chance of some hair regrowth is worth it. Rogaine says it may take 2 years of treatment before you see your hair grow back. So that’s around $1000 for your one in three chance.

Let’s say you drop the grand and turn out to be that lucky one in three. Guess what? Rogaine only works as long as you keep using it. So you have to continue your $500 a year treatment to keep your hair going. But here’s the catch, Rogaine won’t work forever. You can get about two years of growth out of it before your hair resumes its thinning.

So before investing that first $50 into a bottle of Rogaine, consider the long term possibilities. Several thousand dollars for a one in three chance at two years of hair growth. Is it worth it? You have to decide for yourself, but make sure you are making an educated choice.

Hair LossHair, though often overlooked, plays an important role in our lives. Upon meeting someone, one of the first things you notice is their hair. Before a social engagement, our hair is one of the things we spend the most time on getting to look a certain way. Those affected by hair loss become aware of how important hair is in our social lives quickly. That is why hair loss provokes not only feelings of cosmetic concern, but also may provoke a loss of self-esteem and even identity problems.

Hair Loss, also referred to as balding, is caused by a variety of factors, the most important being heredity. Hair loss runs in the family and is not curable though someday, gene manipulation may lead scientists to a cure. Men with a genetic predisposition to hair loss have areas on their scalp that are especially sensitive to male sex hormones. As men age, these areas and the hair follicles that reside there suffer from a biological imbalance caused by a male hormone called DHT. Slowly, over a period of years, follicles wither and hair becomes thinner and shorter until it can’t be seen at all.

Though not curable yet, hair loss in the form of androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness described above) can be treated in various surgical and non-surgical ways. Shampoos like Rogaine work by stimulating the growth of hair, thus counteracting the effects of excessive hair loss. Pills like Propecia are DHT inhibitors, which help keep DHT levels normal so follicles are not flooded with it. There are a variety of other treatment options like transplant surgery, which involves taking follicles from the sides and back of the scalp that are not sensitive to hormones that cause hair loss and redistributing them to balding areas.

Hair LossThe desire to avoid hair loss is not confined to our time. In ancient Egypt, men used to rub fat from crocodiles, snakes, lions, and other animals on their head in hopes of preventing or treating hair loss. Julius Caesar and Napoleon also experienced hair loss and tried to conceal it by growing their hair long in the back and combing it forward over their heads. Today, this motivation to avoid balding is still evident.

There are many available hair loss remedies that include creams, vitamins, hormones, wigs, hairpieces, hair transplants, and scalp-reduction procedures. A report filed recently by the FDA stated that in a nine year time-span, about 300,000 hair loss treatment products claiming to help hair regrowth were investigated.

Non-surgical treatment options also include hair additions such as hair weaves, hairpieces and toupees. These devices are made of human hair, synthetic fibers or a combination of both. Constructed in a variety of ways, these hair loss aides can give you the look of having a full, natural head of hair without the expense of costly surgeries or expensive medicines.

If typical hair loss treatment products aimed to slow down or stop hair loss are ineffective and you have the time and money, there are surgical treatments for hair-loss. Hair transplant surgery is costly and sometimes painful. During surgery, healthy hair follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head and transplanted onto other areas of the scalp where they replace dead follicles. This treatment option typically takes from one to two years to be complete and can have mixed results. It is best to talk to and meet people treated by the doctor you are seeing so you can be sure the results are similar to your expectations before going through with the treatment.

Hair Loss. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:

- Eat a variety of foods.

- Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.

- Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.

- Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

- Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.

- High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.

- Dieting may affect nutrient levels.

- Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.

- Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

If you are unable or just do not have time to track what you eat, you could always look to using hair growth vitamins to save you the hassle.

Most people believe the only way to cure their hair loss problem is from the outside, by using a chemical treatment, shampoo or other topical treatment. These ways can work for you, but in recent medical studies the main cause of hair loss, at least 95% of the time, is either genetic and or hormonal. A hormonal by product, DHT, affects the hair follicles, making them thinner and shrink until nothing is left. Research found that balding men had increased levels of DHT in these areas.

How to solve the problem of increased DHT.

Simply, block it. Specific vitamins, minerals and herbs can block the DHT in your body. By taking these supplements orally, they block the DHT through the blood stream. The hair follicles beneath your scalp get all the nutrients they need to promote new healthy hair growth.

Supplements:

Biotin, part of the Vit B complex, helps with the skin condition of your scalp.

Other B vitamins, like B6, are essential for good health and hair growth.

Everyone knows Zinc helps your immume system, but it also is needed for cell division for the tissue of the hair, nails and skin.

Nettle Root blocks the 2 enzymes that produce DHT, now known to be the leading cause of hair loss.

Saw Palmetto also blocks one of the enzymes, 5 alpha-reductase, that produces DHT.

Gota Kola supports the integrity of hair growth, collagen and skin.

The oil extracted from pumpkin skins is also a natural hair loss remedy.

You can get all of the above and more in a caplet you only have to take twice per day? Yes, there is a hair loss solution from a pill! You can cure your hair loss problem from the inside out. Go to my web site to find out how: http://www.acne-and-hair-loss-solutions.com/.

Hair Loss Hair loss is a serious problem that affects thousands of people (men and women) across the world everyday. Is there a cure, a solution or treatment that really works? We will find out in our next few articles.