Hair Loss
Photo by roger_mommaerts
As the “baby boom” generation ages and enjoys longer life expectancy, some of their vanity issues become medical and psychological issues. Hair loss, as common among women as men, tops the baby boomers’ list of medical complaints that contribute to depression and low self-esteem. Men naturally associate a full head of hair with peak potency, and women recognize their flowing tresses contribute to their appeal.
Although genetics may predispose some men and women to hair loss, hormonal changes trigger mid-life thinning and balding. Currently, androgenic alopecia or “male pattern baldness” is the most widespread form of hair loss. People suffering from this have significant and progressive thinning of hair, which continues for years before it slows or stops. Because of the hair commonly being lost in an “M” shape; it was called pattern baldness.
Standard Treatments for Hair Loss
According to medical researchers, excessive levels of androgenic hormone called “dihydrotestosterone” or DHT is the major cause of hair loss among men. Similar changes in the balance of androgens and estrogens in women triggers their hair loss. During puberty, DHT plays a vital role in the enhancement of male secondary sex traits. Women must have some DHT in their systems, too, because it contributes to their assertiveness and healthy libido. However, excess production of DHT causes follicular miniaturization: the hair shaft width decreases continuously, so that the hair gets thinner and thinner. DHT also acts on hair follicles, slowing or stopping hair’s growth.
In the last decade, prescription drugs–Finasteride (or Propecia) and Minoxidil—have become the most popular means of reversing or preventing hair loss. Both topical treatments correct male pattern baldness in approximately 90% of cases. In some extreme cases, these androgen-blocking medicines lead to serious side effects–erectile dysfunction, acne, gynecomastia and headache.
Natural Alternatives to Prescription Drugs
Luckily, researchers recently have discovered natural alternatives to Finasteride and Monoxidil. Using plant hormones, isoflavones, the natural remedies work as well as synthetic treatments, and they carry no risk of side effects. In double-blind clinical studies, more than 90% of men and women grew thicker, fuller, healthier hair when they applied plant-based remedies according to their doctors’ instructions. As long as they continued applying the medicines, the benefits persisted
Men Feel the Urgency of Preventing Hair Loss
Hair loss can be caused by stress, vitamin deficiency, thyroid medication goes over- or under- active, poor hair health, and autoimmune diseases. And because of this, it is very much significant for you to consult your doctor when you start seeing hair falling out from your head as it can be an indicative effect of a much worse medical problem. Genetics and biochemistry limit hair restoration treatments’ effectiveness in approximately 10% of men and women over forty. Dermatologists advise, however, proper hair care in your twenties and thirties can minimize your hair loss regardless of your chromosomes and chemicals. Men especially feel the importance of preventing or reversing hair loss, and many psychologists suggest hair restoration not only boosts mature men’s self-esteem and assertiveness but also sustains their potency.
Both men and women can limit their hair loss by eating a diet rich in vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids as these natural nutrients such as vitamin A, B and folic acid, magnesium and zinc, stimulates hair growth. Vitamin deficiencies and biochemical imbalances frequently cause patches of hair loss to appear on your head; left uncorrected, these deficiencies may result in compete baldness. Physicians and dermatologists emphasize that your hair keeps a biochemical record of all you ingest, imbibe, and inhale. A healthy diet in combination with moderate alcohol consumption and ordinary daily vitamins generally minimizes hair loss despite genetic predisposition.
When men and women use all-natural shampoos and conditioners enriched with essential botanticals, they significantly increase their chances of maintaining thick, full, healthy hair. Recent studies have proven Burdock’s and Bergamot’s special effectiveness in stopping and often reversing male-pattern balding. Specialists warn men and women of all ages to avoid soaps and shampoos that contain alcohol and stearates. Although both clean exceptionally well, they also leave hair stripped of its vital nutrients, and few conditioners can repair damage from harsh chemical shampoos
Women’s Styles May Increase Hair Loss
Women’s hair styling frequently takes a heavy toll on their tresses, and dermatologists recognize scalp damage from harsh hair-treatment chemicals accounts for a significant percentage of hair loss among mid-life women. Bleaches, dyes, and curling chemicals also thin and break hair, and they rob it of vital nutrients essential to its continued growth. A large body of mostly anecdotal research indicates “hampoo-in” hair dyes, which do not strip hair before tinting it, seem safest and least likely to contribute to hair loss later in life.
Photo by Dr_Alan_Bauman
Allergic reactions to harsh shampoos account for a significant percentage of women’s hair loss, sometimes burning tender scalp tissue and inflicting permanent damage. Worst among these scenarios, some extreme cases of hair and scalp injury result from men’s and women’s use of alcohol shampoos while they are taking prescription medication to control their alcohol use; the interaction sometimes causes permanent hair loss.
Ironically, some of the most popular hair conditioners make hair appear beautiful in the short term at the expense of its long-term health. One of the most popular products currently on the market is made-up of more than 50% silicone and waxes, both of which coat hair and make it resist both proper cleansing and healthy nourishment. In other words, these conditioners contain exactly the same active agent as the popular lubricant “WD40.”
Stylists also encourage you to shampoo in clean water heated only to lukewarm. Urban tapwater pours in as many chemicals and contaminants as shampoo washes away, so that you should filter your water if you can. If you are washing your hair with very hot water very frequently, it might be another cause of hair loss. It is generally suggested that you wash your hair around three times a week in lukewarm water with gentle shampoo and conditioner. Many stylists encourage their clients to mix their own shampoos and conditioners, suggesting they use pure glycerin cleansers and add lavender, chamomile, and aloe for cleansing and nourishing. The best stylists insist their clients use nothing but all-natural shampoos and conditioners enriched with essential oils to protect and nourish hair.s
