Hair Loss Facts: All about Alopecia

Alopecia is a term that means ‘loss of hair from the head or body’. Hair loss is one of those things that is embarrassing and many people get distressed from having it. In some cases, alopecia is due to underlying medical conditions, such as iron deficiency.

The good news is you are not alone. Over 330 people in the USA alone search for the term hair loss treatment on Google every day. People are looking for treatments, if any, for their embarrassing issue of hair loss.

What causes hair loss?

To choose the best hair loss treatment for you, you have to understand what causes hair loss in the first place. As I said before, there are so many causes of hair loss.

In male- and female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), the symptoms are that the time of hair growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs are less rooted and more easily fall out. More often than not, this is mainly a heredity problem.

A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.

Another case of hair loss is cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicles. This prevents new hair from growing. This condition can be seen in several skin conditions, including lupus erythematosus or lichen planus. What causes this inflammation is not known up until now.

Other causes of hair loss are poor nutrition, diseases, side effects of some medications, injuries, hair treatments, and hormonal changes.

Can hair loss be treated?

What is the best hair loss treatment out there? Will the so-called 'best hair loss treatment' work for me too? Such are the questions people ask themselves.

There are many different hair loss treatments. They depend on what causes the hair loss problem. If it is medicine that’s causing you hair loss, then your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognising and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Consider the fact that hair loss treatments may take up to 3 months, sometimes 6 months, for you to appreciate the effects. For some people, it doesn’t take much long, for some it does. So do not conclude too soon with any of the products that you buy.

Natural Hair Loss Treatments for Balding Men

The perception that over-the-counter and prescription drugs are the only means to successfully treat male hair loss is perpetuated by the lack of well-funded and publicized studies on the efficacy of natural treatments. However, as the understanding of the biological mechanism of male pattern baldness has become clear through a great body of research, the reality of an effective natural treatment regimen is at hand.

Circulation to the scalp is important. One patient reported that he used coconut oil on his hair and scalp for a year and during that time his hair became thicker and he had more of it on the top of his head where he had been receding a bit; good as a hair gel too. Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth.

Saw palmetto is also an herbal remedy for hair loss that is currently the treatment of choice of several men because of its capability to slow down hair loss and stimulate new hair growth. Tinctures and extracts from this herb block the receptor sites on hair follicles for dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the main cause of hair loss in many patients. Also, this herbal remedy for hair loss prevents the formation of DHT the way that FDA-approved hair loss treatment medication finasteride does. This ability makes saw palmetto an effective treatment for hair loss.

Diet is an important part of healthy hair and skin. Billions of dollars are spent on cosmetic products to improve the appearance of men’s and women’s hair when eating a healthier diet may be all that is necessary. Deficiencies in diet can contribute to unhealthy hair and hair loss. A healthier diet will not regrow hair that has already been lost, but it can help keep the hair that remains on your head healthy and strong.

Hair loss is sometimes caused by a deficiency of some vitamins and minerals. Some of the vitamins and minerals that may affect your hair are iron, copper, iodine, and B vitamins. So, the first home hair loss remedy you may want to try is as simple as making sure you eat a balanced diet that includes vegetables, fresh fruits, eggs, and milk among other nutrient-loaded foods.

To make their hair healthy, shiny, and smooth, the Greeks have utilized olive oil. They’ve also used it to massage their scalp. Olive oil contains antiseptic properties that clean out the scalp as well as encourage uninterrupted growth of hair. You can incorporate lemon grass and rosemary for best results.

Hair Growth: Remedies You Can Whip Up at Home

A healthy and glowing hair can definitely enhance a person’s overall appearance. However, loss of hair or poor growth is one of the most frequent cosmetic problems faced by both men and women. A healthy hair normally grows about half an inch every month and around 6 inches per year. Many factors, such as poor diet, pollution, stress, age, medical conditions, and some medications can affect healthy hair growth. Genetics also influences the growth of your hair. It has been noted that certain people are genetically inclined to develop a hair loss condition.

There are some simple and inexpensive home-made remedies for hair growth that can help your hair grow faster. Remember that what you eat determines the growth and health of your hair. Unhealthy hair may be a sign of poor nutrition or vitamin deficiency. Vitamins such as A, B3, B6, B12, C, and E are crucial for adequate hair growth. Add into your diet foods and supplements that contain these vitamins. Eat plenty of foods that are rich in proteins and nutrients like biotin and inositol to improve your hair growth process. Minerals like selenium, iodine, zinc, calcium, and magnesium also help stimulate the growth.

Try to avoid too much use of synthetically-formulated shampoos and conditioners; combing or brushing the hair when wet; and excessive use of blow dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners. You should also avoid the direct exposure of your hair to the sun, chlorinated and salt water, and air pollutants.

Massaging your scalp and hair with coconut oil regularly is one of the effective home remedies for hair growth. Coconut oil has traditionally been used to facilitate hair growth. It provides your hair with moisture, glow and smoothness; prevents hair breakage; and promotes growth of thick, well-pigmented, and long hair shafts.

Mix a half cup of olive oil, an egg yolk, and a few drops of lemon juice together. Rub this mixture onto your head. Wait for at least fifteen minutes and then use a mild shampoo to rinse it off. This is a good natural conditioner.

Eggs, with their rich amounts of proteins and minerals, are another widely used home remedy for growth. Beat an egg and apply it to your head and scalp. Leave the egg on your head for fifteen minutes and wash it off with cool water. Never use hot water to remove the egg from your head.

Make a powder of parsley seeds and apply it to your hair before you go to bed. Next morning, brush your hair to remove it. This is considered as the one of the best home remedies for hair growth. Another effective way to grow your hair is to mix an egg yolk with lemon juice, put it on your hair, and use a shampoo to rinse it off after a few minutes. Otherwise, apply some extra virgin olive oil to your hair and scalp, leave it on your hair overnight, and then wash it off in the next morning.

Hair Loss in Women: The Crucial Step of Consulting a Doctor

No one likes losing their hair, especially women. When you think of hair loss, most people think of men, but women do suffer from losing hair as well.

It can be difficult for a woman to go through hair loss, and doing something to treat the condition is important.

The first thing you must do is understand why you are losing your hair. It is easier to treat hair loss if you know why you are losing your hair. Many medical conditions are some of the leading causes of hair loss in women.

You need to see your physician and talk to them about your problem. In some cases, an undiagnosed medical condition such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism is the causal factor of hair loss. Going to your doctor will help you better understand why you are losing your hair so you can begin treating the problem.

While talking to your doctor, you should ask if the prescription medicine you are taking could be causing your hair loss. Some of the side effects of prescription medicine include hair loss. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if the medicine you are taking could be causing you to excessively lose hair.

Next, you need to understand the two major types of hair loss in women. The first is androgenetic alopecia. This is a genetic condition where the hormone dihydrotestosterone is causing hair follicles to shrink and hair stops growing on them. The second is alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune disease that affects many women around the world.

Now, what are your treatment options? It is best to talk to your doctor if you suffer from androgenetic alopecia and they can recommend prescription medicine that will help. Because there are a variety of medical options — and variables like age and the extent of hair loss loss come in to play if you suffer from alopecia areata — you need to talk to your doctor prior to considering any type of hair loss treatment.

Pregnancy, surgery, and stress can cause temporary hair loss in women and will usually reverse themselves over time. It does not matter what you are suffering from or what treatment you need, going to your doctor is the best thing you can do!

Save Your Scalp from Hair Loss with the Right Shampoo

Certain hair-volumizing ingredients like panthenol that is found in many shampoos can help reduce the appearance of hair loss by temporarily increasing the density of your hair. Coupled with the right treatment for your hair loss condition, a good shampoo definitely complements and improves your odds in recovery.

One of the best kinds of hair loss shampoo that you can consider is an organic shampoo that is rich with vitamins and minerals that benefit your hair. A certified organic shampoo often contains none or the least of synthetic ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate; it is free from harsh chemicals that can do more harm than good to your hair in the long run.

If you are excessively losing hair, conventional shampoos are often more damaging because more scalp area is exposed to these chemicals. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can dry and damage your hair and scalp leading to many conditions like dandruff problems to hair follicle damage. So if you are looking for something that is gentle to your exposed scalp, choose an organic shampoo.

If you are already facing a certain scalp condition like folliculitis, dandruff or head lice infestation which can lead to temporary hair loss, you can start by choosing medicated shampoos for treating these conditions.

There are shampoos that contain antibacterial formulas like Salicylic Acid and Ketoconazole which are effective for treating such conditions. Your main priority is to control the condition that is potentially causing hair loss with these shampoos first. Once the condition and symptoms have been eradicated, you may go back to using a mild organic shampoo for daily use instead.

Please bear in mind that shampoos alone are not the sole determining factor for any major changes in your hair condition; rather, shampoos are complements of a hair loss treatment that conditions and cleans.