Hair Loss

Millions of Americans are affected by thinning hair and hair loss, called alopecia. Typically we think of men with the most common form of hair loss, male-pattern-baldness, as having a trait that is inherited from family members. But hair loss is not just a male problem. Hair loss can also affect women and children for a variety of reasons.

Hair Loss Causes

Thinning hair and sudden hair loss can be caused by any number of very different reasons. Stress related to illnesses can bring about a sudden change in one’s hair and even affect a temporary hair loss. Hormone imbalances due to illness, even pregnancy and childbirth can cause another temporary form of hair loss that typically lasts only a brief period of time and is rather characteristic. We all are familiar with hair loss from chemotherapy treatment, and there are other drugs related to hair loss, as well.

Male-pattern-baldness, the type we associate with familial ties, is typically blamed on the paternal lineage, but there is an increasing body of scientific evidence supporting the idea that this type of hereditary hair loss may in fact be a product of the maternal lineage. A complex array of hormonal issues is to blame for male baldness of this type.

Hair loss is best discussed with a physician who can work with you to determine the cause characteristic to your case and explore the various treatment options available.

Hair Replacement

A popular and very viable treatment option for hair loss, especially in men with male pattern baldness, is surgical hair replacement. Healthy hair follicles are literally harvested from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the hairline and top of the scalp. A good portion of this treatment is determined on a patient-by-patient basis and is part medicine, part artistry on the part of the physician.

Products

For many though, including women and children, hair loss may not be treatable with surgical replacement methods. In these cases, there are scads of products on the market, some viable, some downright hokey.

Rogaine, or minoxidil, was originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure. A documented side effect, though, was an increase in hair growth on various parts of the body. Since the drug was not very effective at treating its initial problem, researchers developed it instead as a treatment for hair loss. Taken in pill form, the brand name Rogaine has not been effective at replacing hair in totally bald areas of the scalp, but has been proven to thicken hair on other areas of the scalp where thinning has occurred.

The other mainstream product besides Rogaine is marketed under the brand name Propecia, or finasteride. Propecia was developed to treat prostate problems, but was observed to be more effective at stimulating hair growth, the same as monoxidil. The compounds in finasteride bind with a man’s testosterone and alter the hormonal makeup, allowing hair re-growth.

Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content manager for
http://www.stophairlossblog.com

Tags: stop hair loss, hairloss, hair loss, avoid hair loss, prevent hair loss

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There can be many different causes for hair loss in a woman. One such cause is stress. About three to four months after you have been ill or undergone major surgery, you could experience the loss of a large amount of hair. This hair loss is caused by the stress of the illness. The hair loss will be temporary, the hair growth returning after a period of time.

Other causes can be more difficult to identify and cure.

Hormones

Hormonal problem can cause hair loss in females. An over- or under-active thyroid gland could be the cause of your hair falling out. If this is the case, treating the thyroid disease can help put a halt to the hair loss.

Hair loss could also occur if the female and male hormones known as androgens and estrogens are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance could help you to curb the hair loss.

Hair loss in a woman can also happen about three months after you have had a baby. This is a cause of the hormone factor, since during pregnancy these hormones help retain hair which you would normally lose. When the hormones return to normal levels after pregnancy, the hair that wouldn’t fall out now will, as the cycle of hair growth and loss returns to normal.

Medications

There are certain medications which can also cause hair loss in a woman. This type of hair loss will only improve when you cease taking the medication that is causing the problem. Medications that can be responsible for hair loss in a woman include blood thinners, medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy, too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants.

There are certain infections which can cause hair loss in a woman. Fungal infections of the scalp could also cause children to experience hair loss. Once you treat the infection with antifungal medications you promote hair growth to return to normal.

Diseases

Last, but not least, hair loss in a woman can occur because of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Because hair loss canl often be an early sign of a disease appearing, it is important to find the cause as soon as possible so that you can regain your normal head of hair.

When examining the causes of hair loss in a woman, you will find that many of the problems are treatable or may even cure themselves in the fullness of time. If you have recently given birth and are losing your hair, you don’t have to worry. It is just your body returning to the normal process of shedding. However, if there exists no real reason for losing your hair, it may be an underlying disease that will need to be treated to correct the hair loss.

Discover more about female hair loss at http://www.best-hair-loss-answers.com/female-hair-loss.php

Tags: hair loss in a woman, female hair loss

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There are two nutrients that you have to make sure you have plenty of every day, if you want to minimize your hair loss. These nutrients are Vitamin A and the B vitamins. To digest and absorb these nutrients you cannot use antacids.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a key component to developing healthy cells, tissues in the body, and reducing hair loss. Additionally it works with silica and zinc to prevent drying and clogging of the sebaceous glands, the glands vital to producing sebum. Sebum is an important lubricant for the hair follicle.

Vitamin A deficiencies commonly cause thickening of the scalp, dry hair, and dandruff. Air pollution, smoking, extremely bright light, certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, laxatives, and aspirin are some known vitamin A inhibitors. Liver, fish oil, eggs, fortified milk, and red, yellow, and orange vegetables are good sources for vitamin A, as are some dark green leafy vegetables like spinach.

Be particularly careful if you take vitamin A supplements, as vitamin A is fat-soluble, allowing the body to store it and making it easy for the body to overdose on vitamin A. Vitamin A overdoses can cause excessively dry skin and inflamed hair follicles, and in some cases ironically can cause hair loss.

A safe dose of vitamin A is 10,000 IU or 25,000 IU. Most Vitamin supplements are sold in these quantities. Also take all supplements during meals unless you are working with a Nutritionist that recommends otherwise.

B-Vitamins

B-vitamins work interdependently and therefore all levels of B vitamins need to be sufficient in order to maintain proper health. Vitamins B-6, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B-12 are all key components in maintaining healthy hemoglobin levels in the blood, which is the iron-containing portion of red-blood cells.

Hemoglobin’s primary function is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body, so if these vitamins were deficient in your body, then hair and skin would suffer. Fortunately some of the tastiest foods contain these vitamins. Vitamin B-6 is found in protein rich foods, which is excellent because the body needs a sufficient amount of protein to maintain hair growth. Liver, chicken, fish, pork, kidney, and soybeans are good sources of B-6 and are relatively low in fat when they are not fried.

Folic acid is found in whole grains, cereals, nuts, green leafy vegetables, orange juice, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and liver again. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and other dairy products meanwhile provide healthy amounts of B-12.

Biotin deficiencies are rare unless there is a severe case of malnutrition or a serious intestinal disorder, since a healthy gut produces biotin through good bacteria found there.

There is one more important fact in making sure you are absorbing the B-vitamins. If you have heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD and are taking any antacids or drugs to reduce your stomach acid, you will reduce your ability to digest and absorb B-vitamins. Antacids make your stomach acid more alkaline, which does not support the digestion and adsorption of the B-vitamins.

If you are taking over the counter antacids, you decrease your ability to use the B-vitamins that you eat or take as supplements.

Rudy Silva has a degree in Physics and is a Natural Nutritionist. He is the author of Constipation, Acne, Hemorrhoid, and Fatty Acid ebooks. For information on constipation and other remedy ebooks go to: For more information on hair loss go to: http://www.hair-loss-remedies.for–you.info

Tags: hair loss, vitamin A, B-vitamins

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