samedi 19 mai 2007

Hair Loss: Know The Cause, Know The Cure

By: Daniel Loh
Don’t you envy those young men in the streets with full heads of hair? Hair has always been considered a man’s crowning glory, while hair loss has been regarded as signs of ageing and unattractiveness.

So, losing hair has always been a problem for many men.

Well, it no longer has to be a problem! If you know your hair problem, you can find out the cure easily. In this article, I hope to present to you the major causes of hair loss, and the things that you should do if you have such a problem.

Of course, you may also want to take a look at my book:
http://www.myhealthweekly.com/presents/hairloss/

Cause 1: Genetic Balding
This is seen in men and women alike, and this constitutes the majority of cases of hair loss. The most commonly used cure is treatment with 2% topical minoxidil. However, only around 30% of users show noticeable improvement, and stopping the use of the drug might result in loss of the newly grown hair. When 0.05% retinoic acid solution is added however, a higher percentage of users show moticeable improvement. Consult your doctor about using these drugs.

Cause 2: Fungal Infection
Fungal infection often causes patchy hair loss, and red scalp, scaling (dandruff) and pus is often seen. This type of infection can be easily treated with a few months’ course of anti-fungal agents, used simultaneously with anti-fungal shampoo.

Cause 3: Major illness/surgery
After you have undergone a major illness or surgery, you might experience this type of hair loss. This type of hair loss can also follow stress or childbirth. However, such hair loss is temporary, and hair will regrow in a matter of months.

Cause 4: Drugs
There are various drugs that can cause hair loss, such as vitamin A, chemotherapy, blood thinners, and thyroid medication. However, hair will also regrow soon after the discontinuation of the drug. Alternative medication can be prescribed by the doctor if this is the cause of hair loss.

In conclusion, hair loss, though distressful, is not life threatening. Medication provided by the doctor can solve most of the problems, and in severe cases, a local injection onto the scalp will cause hair to grow back.


About the author:
Daniel Loh is the Chief Editor at MyHealthWeekly.com, a free online health magazine published weekly. Sign-up for trustworthy and useful health information now!

http://www.myhealthweekly.com

Are all hair loss treatments just one big scam?

By: Richard Mitchell
The hair loss industry is not one that inspires great confidence in most people. I have to admit this is perfectly understandable given the damage caused by the many rogues and charlatans who have abused the trust of far too many vulnerable people - people who have received worthless and even dangerous products or advice in exchange for their hard earned cash. The end result is the prevalance of a stigma that the industry is hard pressed to shake off.

But is this perception really justified nowadays? Are there no genuine treatments that sufferers can turn to in a bid to treat the ravages of premature hair loss? The simple answer is YES, there are several safe, affordable, accessible and effective hair loss treatments currently available. Some have even been approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss conditions while others draw on natural remedies as the basis for commercially available products. Whether or not any of them are suitable for a given individual depends on a number of important factors.

First and foremost, every individual must determine the exact cause or causes of his or her hair loss. This may appear to be an over-simplistic statement but the truth is, most people undergoing a course of treatment for hair loss have proceeded on the basis of self-diagnosis. Given the fact that premature or excessive hair loss is often associated with underlying medical conditions, this is perhaps not the most sensible course of action.

My advice in all cases is to seek the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner because the consequences of not doing so may be serious in a small number of cases. Even where all the evidence points to the onset of hereditary male pattern baldness it would probably be best to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been properly diagnosed you will be in a position to choose a suitable form of treatment. This may range from the prescription of drugs aimed at balancing disrupted hormone levels to the topical application of minoxidil to reduce the symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Hair loss may be caused by many factors including changing hormone levels, illness, stress, overuse of strong chemicals, excessive traction, poor grooming practices, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system and the effects of aging. The good news is, all of these can be tackled with reasonable hope of success but only if you choose the right treatment.

The next article in this series will look closely at the various causes of excessive hair loss and outline suggested treatments that are both affordable and accessible. If you take only two things from this article, please take these suggestions on board:

1. Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

2. Don't despair, there's often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern-type baldness can be treated successfully for most people nowadays.
About the author:

The author is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com website where you can find out more about all aspects of treating premature hair loss.

What's with my Hair Falling Out !?

By: Dr. Thomas S. Lee, NMD

“Yeeee gads! My hair is falling out!” This is a cry that can affect your whole family for long, awkward moments. What is it with your hair? Is it gone forever?

Let's clear up some confusion and try to notch down some panic about this kind of a look in the mirror.

About Hair
==========
Healthy hair simply looks good. The healthier your scalp and hair follicles, the better your hair will look. If you're starting to experience some hair loss and a general decline in the overall health of your hair and scalp, it has probably been deteriorating for a while, and you're only now seeing the effects.

Hair grows in a cycle of three phases. Each individual hair is in a growth phase (anagen phase) for 2-6 years, before it enters a transition phase (catagen phase) for 1-2 weeks, and then a resting phase (telogen phase) for 5-6 weeks. After that, the hair dies and falls out. Then the follicle returns to the growth phase, and a new hair begins to grow.

In normal, healthy adults, the approximate percentages of hairs in these three different phases are:

· 84% in the growth (anagen) phase
· 0-1% in the transition (catagen) phase
· 14-15% in the resting (telogen) phase

Returning your hair follicles to the anagen growth cycle is the objective of any plan to regrow healthier hair.

DHT Effects On the Hair Follicle
================================
The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. This is defined as a state where 20% or more of a person's hairs are in the telogen (resting) phase.

In cases of alopecia, the hair growth cycle has been altered so that the anagen (growth) phase is shortened. This results in an increased percentage of hairs in the catagen and telogen phases.

The enzyme conversion of testosterone creates a compound called Di-Hydro Testosterone (DHT). The effect of DHT on the hair follicles and oil glands of the scalp can be detrimental to the anagen phase that you want to lengthen.

In areas of hair thinning or loss, the follicles have more sites to which DHT can attach, and more DHT at those sites. This buildup of DHT near the follicles can shorten their growth phase and increase the numbers of hairs in the transition and resting phases. A continuation in this buildup of DHT will actually shrink the hair follicles, which causes their hairs to become thinner, weaker, and look less healthy.

Reality Check: No product known today will grow a hair without a viable hair follicle. Only a healthy hair follicle can grow a hair.

A healthy hair follicle can resist the negative effects of DHT buildup and continue in a normal growth cycle longer than an unhealthy one can. Hair care products that seek to lessen DHT work by binding to the same sites on the hair follicle to which DHT attaches. This blocks the abnormal response of the follicle to DHT, so it blocks the harm that is causing the weakening and loss of the hair.

The nutritional supplements recommended by a naturopathic physician work by helping the body to normalize its hormone levels, while increasing the circulation of nutrients and elimination of waste products from the hair follicle. This increases the strength of the follicle and protects it from further damage.

The amounts of the conversion enzymes that create DHT from testosterone, as well as the amounts of testosterone or cortisol, are thought to be genetically determined. This is why some people tend to have less of a problem with DHT than others.

The good news is that a person's genetic expression (i.e., how their body is now) can be changed by what that person does in the upcoming weeks, months, and years, as well as how they do it. With advances in the scientific understandings of these physical events, you can arm yourself with the right information and learn to make the changes necessary to stop a hair loss problem. We'll next explain how.

Hair Loss
=========
A variety of health conditions and environmental factors can cause hair loss. Likewise, many different approaches can be taken to stop hair loss and even grow hair back.

Certainly, having great hair is important to us, but the body has many other important things to do on a continuous basis. Some are higher priorities than maintaining lustrous hair — things like breathing, eliminating waste, absorbing food, protecting itself from infections, fleeing from danger, and so forth. If the body has a limited budget of energy, nutrients, and strength, it starts to redirect its resources to the tasks it deems most important. This is fortunate for us.

If stressful events occur to lower that 'budget,' the body may find it necessary to prioritize other functions more highly than hair growth.

For example, if a person undergoes a series of radiation treatments to kill cancer, the treatments incur a major stress on the body. The body's first priority then becomes to live and breathe to grow nice hair another day. As a result, hair loss is often the consequence of radiation treatments. Hair regrowth after this type of trauma is possible, however, depending on the state of the hair follicles and the person's overall capacity to return to health. Naturopathic doctors call this their "vital force.”

Major Causes of Hair Loss
=========================
Hair loss might also be caused by various types of injury to the scalp, such as burns, radiation, acid spills, or scrapes. If the follicles are destroyed and replaced by smooth skin or scar tissue, a lotion or vitamin routine won't very likely restore hair growth. At this point, it may be time for an implant, a weave, a wig, or a toupee. Or maybe it's just time to accept the reality of a lack of hair. Bald can be beautiful, too.

Furthermore, various diseases, genetic tendencies, and auto-immune disorders can direct the body to neglect the health of the hair follicle, or even attack it directly. Some of these attacks might be triggered by environmental toxins, the side-effects of drugs, nutrient deficiencies, irregularities of hormone metabolism, or poor elimination of wastes. Here, we could discuss lifestyle choices and explanations of natural sciences such as nutrition, physiology, and biochemistry until your eyes glaze over.

If you have been taking anti-depressive medications like Zoloft or Paxil, you should be aware that the known side-effects of these types of drugs can include hair loss. The vicious cycle of compounding one's depression by having to deal with hair loss makes these drugs a thing worth trying to avoid. Work with your doctor and be smart about your use of any medications, because many drugs have negative effects on hair growth.

If you are a "stress puppy,” and the slightest disruption in your plans tears you to pieces for hours or days at a time, your body's response to those stress hormones can be yet another factor in hair loss and graying. Some training in stress management or anger resolution would be your best bet, while treating the resultant hair loss with physical medicines and lotions.

Sudden Hair Loss
================
Sudden hair loss can occur after severe psycho-physical stresses like illness, childbirth, menopause, losing a job, or loss of a loved one. This type of hair loss appears within a few weeks or a month of the trauma, depending on its severity. It is often reversible with time, emotional healing, and the principles of physical support described here.

Hair Loss in Women
==================
Women seldom lose their hair for reasons of genetic predisposition. They do, however, experience hair loss from the other causes we've already mentioned. In addition, women are more commonly the consumers of hair treatments which are known to damage the hair and cause breakage and thinning. Rough handling, harsh commercial shampoos, perms, hair color, bleach, and cosmetics all can damage the hair follicles. Hormone fluctuations through life events of men or women also contribute to stress on the physical condition of the hair follicle.

Factors to Consider
===================
What does your body need to keep your hair looking good? Factors include good nutrition, effective elimination of wastes, exercise affecting the circulation, a good attitude, use of safe non-toxic products, and sensible protections from injury. These contribute to healthy glandular functions, especially of the thyroid, adrenals, gonads, and liver. If the links in this chain of hormone functions are weak or broken, your hair will probably be the least of your problems. It might just be the most visible one in your mirror, though.

Before you spend significant amounts of money on lotions or supplements to treat hair loss, try to figure out what is causing your hair to fall out, and change what you can about that underlying situation.

Enlist the help of your doctor to figure out any internal causes. Have your hormone levels tested for thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and functions of the ovaries or testes. Make sure your nutritional intake and digestive functions are up to par. Again, this is a complex issue. It may take some study about the lotions and natural medicines available to find a plan that works for you, but the benefits to your health and appearance will be worth the effort.

For a detailed description of Dr. Lee's treatment recommendations, visit
http://www.naturodoc.com/hair_comeback.htm.

Dr. Thomas S. Lee holds a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine (NMD/ND) from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. He has practiced and taught natural medicine in Arizona since 1986. His company, NaturoDoc LLC, is online at http://www.naturodoc.com, where you can find an extensive library of information on natural health approaches, as well as worldwide access to physician's-quality health products that support these concepts.

How To Nip The Problem In The Bud... Prevent Hair Loss

By: Rachel Stepsen

Hair loss is universal problem and millions of people
worldwide are suffering from some degree of hair loss.
There are several cures for hair loss.

However, they do not work on all. Some types of hair loss
or baldness do not respond to the treatments. Nevertheless,
hair loss is preventable and good care and regular
maintenance of hair can go a long way in preventing hair
loss. Here are some tips to take care of your mane -

#1 Keep it Clean

Dirt and excess oil in the scalp can clog the pores, making
it difficult for the hair root to receive nutrition and
grow. This is a major reason for hair loss. Frequently
shampoo your hair and use clean combs. Trimming of split
ends is essential to prevent major hair damage.

#2 Take Care Of Diet

Ultimately, the hair, like any other body part, requires
nutrition to stay healthy and grow. Malnutrition and
imbalanced diet can be a major reason for hair loss.
Include vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium,
chromium, iodine, potassium, zinc and Vitamin A in your
diet.

There is no need to take mega doses because they can at
times be counterproductive. Evidence suggests that excess
of Vitamins A and E can actually contribute to hair loss.

#3 Do Not Overdo It

Excessive exposure to heat and chemicals such as hair
colors, styling products, hot iron and blow dryers can
cause damage to hair and result in severe hair loss. You
should use these products sparingly.

Instead of blow dryers, make time to allow your hair to dry
naturally. Get your hair styled in a manner that does not
require any of the above-mentioned procedures.

#4 Give Yourself A Head Massage

A gentle head massage with a hair oil helps to improve
blood circulation to the hair roots and prevent hair loss.
Aromatherapy recommends creating hair oil using equivalent
parts of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.

#5 Avoid Stress

Stress is damaging for the hair. Get adequate sleep and
follow stress reduction techniques to prevent hair loss.

#6 Be Careful Of Medication

Certain medications such as anti-depressants, some drugs
taken for epilepsy, cancer have hair loss as a side effect.
Consult with your doctor before taking medication to
prevent hair loss.

#7 Hormone Tests

Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Get hormone tests
for thyroid on a regular basis.

It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. By
adopting the above-mentioned methods, you can prevent hair
loss and maintain good health of your hair.
===========================================================
Find out what causes hair loss, and discover latest
techniques and ideas for effective hair loss treatment.
For lots of valuable information and articles, click
http://www.hair-loss-treatment-101.com/

Why do people suffer from Hair Loss?

By: Rachel Stepsen

You do not usually end life with the same bunch of hair that you grew up with when you were born. Unlike the eyes or nose, your hair keeps regenerating, shedding and growing.

As you turn older, you start experiencing hair loss. This natural process of ageing starts when you turn 50. However, for some people the process starts much earlier. This article examines the various causes of hair loss in men and women.

#1 Stress and Lifestyle

The fast and hurried lifestyles of today make many compromises on your diet. Emotional upheavals can cause health complications that have an adverse impact on the quality of your hair. Lack of cleanliness of the scalp and excessive dandruff problems can also cause hair loss.

#2 Hormonal imbalances

Hair growth and health depends on hormones such as thyroid and pituitary glands. Any disorders in these glands can cause hair loss. The excessive presence of a component of the male hormone - DHT can also cause hair loss. This is a genetic predisposition.

#3 Genetic factors

Inherited causes of hair loss effect the unlucky that have a family history of premature balding. In men, it is called Male Pattern Baldness, in which the hair starts receding first at the temples in a classic 'M' shape. In women, it is called Female Pattern Baldness. This is less common. It starts at age 30 and is characterized by overall thinning of hair.

#4 Side effects

Certain drugs taken for other purposes can cause hair loss as a side effect. The following is a possible list of medicines and drugs that could cause hair loss.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs Ulcer drugs
Anticoagulants
Agents for gout
Drugs derived from Vitamin A Anticonvulsants taken for epilepsy Antidepressants
Blood thinners
Anabolic steroids
Chemotherapy Drugs

However, not all prescription drugs under these categories have hair loss as a side effect. This has to be checked with the doctor.

#5 Other factors

Research is being continuously conducted on the causes and solutions for hair loss. Recently, Japanese scientists concluded from studies that excessive sebum could clog the hair roots and cause hair loss. An excessive intake of some nutrients such as Vitamins A and E can actually promote hair loss.

There is no dearth of solutions, prescriptions and treatments available for hair loss. Every once in a while, a new 'wonder' drug such as Rogaine will enter the market. Not every solution will cure hair loss. The correct diagnosis has to be made before deciding on a course of action for hair loss.
=========================================================== Find out what causes hair loss, and discover latest techniques and ideas for effective hair loss treatment. For lots of valuable information and articles, click http://www.hair-loss-treatment-101.com/

Do You Know About These Remedies for Hair Loss?

By: Rachel Stepsen

Millions of the people worldwide suffer from hair loss and this is the reason why hair loss remedies are a billion dollar industry.

The answer to the million-dollar question of how to get hair back is to know how you lost it in the first place. You can determine the correct remedy for hair loss only after you know the exact cause of hair loss.

#1 Get Your Hormones Checked

Specific problems with the hormones such as thyroid and pituitary is a cause of hair loss. Consult your doctor to conduct relevant tests and rule out this possibility. If a hormonal imbalance were the reason for hair loss, the doctor would recommend a course of appropriate drugs to solve the problem.

#2 Anti - Androgenic Therapy

Excessive amount of DHT (which is a component of the male hormone) causes hair loss and baldness. If DHT were the problem and causing hair loss, the doctor would put you on drugs that form a part of antiandrogen therapy. In women, the treatment is called CPA (cyproterone acetate) with ethinyl-estradiol. The therapy typically lasts for a period of one year.

#3 Some Wonder Drugs - Over the years, researchers have invented certain drugs that work very successfully for hair loss. This includes minoxidil (more popularly known as Rogaine) and finasteride. However, finasteride is not for good for hair loss among women.

#4 Keep the Scalp Clean

Clean the scalp of dirt, dandruff and excess oil can help prevent hair loss.

#5 Hair Transplant

Hair transplant is surgical method to treat hair loss. It involves operations that extract parts of the scalp from the sides and back of the head where the hair grows well. It is then implanted on those regions of the head that are going bald.

Hair re-growth is possible because the hair follicles in the side and the back of the head are immune to the hair loss problems. However, It is an expensive procedure. It costs approximately $15,000 and takes 1-2 years to complete.

#6 Hair Weaving

Hair weaving is not a surgical method for hair loss. This cosmetic procedure attaches extensions of natural or synthetic hair.

#7 Tissue Expansion

In this procedure, silicone bags are inserted beneath hair- bearing skin to expand the tissues. This is then transferred to the areas with a hair loss or baldness.

#8 Other Solutions

Some other solutions camouflage the hair loss or baldness problem. These include using wigs or toupees and getting a smart haircut to hide thinning hair or bald patches. For this process, you need the services of a skilled barber. =========================================================== Find out what causes hair loss, and discover latest techniques and ideas for effective hair loss treatment. For lots of valuable information and articles, click http://www.hair-loss-treatment-101.com/male-hair-loss.html

Facts About Hair Loss

By: Kelly Gillis
Alopecia. A dreaded word for any man, or woman, who know it's true meaning and who have experienced it first hand. I'm talking about hair loss. Although alopecia, or hair loss, can occur anywhere on the body, it is most upsetting when it happens on the scalp where the loss can be embarrassing and difficult to cover up.

Any number of factors can be attributed to excessive hair loss such as an illness or major surgery, or the stress related to these. Some medications can contribute to hair loss. For women, hormone fluctuations, such as pregnancy can cause hair loss. Hair loss attributed to any of these causes is generally only temporary.

Most female hair loss occurs over the entire scalp. Women's hair loss generally begins at any age through 50, or later, and may not have any hereditary association. If you are a woman experiencing hair loss it is best to seek advice from a professional in hair restoration. Be aware that sometimes hair loss can be a sign of illness.

For some women, improper care, or being "hard" on the hair can cause hair loss. This would be most common for women who wear their hair in pigtails or tight cornrows. The pulling and tugging can cause hair loss and can promote scarring of the scalp. If the pulling and tugging are stopped hair will usually grow back normally. Years of this type of abuse can cause permanent scarring which can prevent regrowth of hair.

It is believed that approximately 35 million men in the United States suffer from hair loss that is called male pattern hair loss. This hair loss usually starts at an early age and develops into more extensive baldness. This is an inherited trait. This hair loss in men is caused by what is called DHT, which is a hormone in men that causes the hair follicle to shrink.

There are many, many treatments that claim to help with hair loss. Natural shampoos with natural algae and botanicals, shampoo with natural DHT inhibitors and nutrients, and some treatments that combine essential oils with a pulsed electromagnetic field. Minoxidil is a cream that is applied directly to the scalp several times a day. Propecia is a pill taken once daily which is advertised to be safe and effective for male pattern hair loss. This is one of the hair loss remedies that claims to halt the effects of DHT - dihydrotestosterone - the reason men have thinning and hair loss. Another of these products is Avodart.

When looking through the treatments and remedies available it is important to remember that hair loss in men and women are caused by different factors and to choose accordingly.

About the author:
This article courtesy of http://www.hair-loss-answers.net