Agonizing Over Hair Loss
by Paul Rodgers
Agonizing over their hair loss, they try to hide it with make-up, creative hairstyles, or sometimes even hair
extensions, which can actually further damage already stressed-out hair.
In fact, it is a very common and natural part of our bodily cycles, taking place daily to ensure the removal of older
hairs and allow for the growth of newer, fresh hairs in our scalps. Under normal conditions, scalp hairs live for about
three years (the anagen, or growing, phase); they then enter the telogen, or resting, phase. Following the telogen phase,
the growth phase begins again -- new hairs grow and push out the old hair shafts.
It is normal to lose about 100 hairs every day, more of them on days when shampooing loosens the hairs that are ready
to fall out. Normal shampooing can continue, because this only loosens hairs that were going to come out anyway. However,
traumatic experience,such as a major operation, or old age, or the presence of certain medical conditions can hinder the
rate of growth and cause excess shedding of older hairs, resulting in baldness and thinning hair.
Hair Growth Rhythm
There are several circumstances that produce a "shock to the system" that alters the hair growth rhythm. When hair loss
is a side effect of a medication, hair growth usually returns to normal once the drug is stopped. The trigger for this
type of baldness (called androgenetic alopecia) is DHT, a powerful sex hormone, body, and facial hair growth promoter that
can adversely affect the hair on the head as well as the prostate. Fifty milligrams of silica a day is thought to
encourage hair growth in young men with alopecia. Copper and zinc have been shown to inhibit growth of the enzyme that
causes DHT production.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
DHT is the male hormone in the body. It is one of the main causes of hair loss. The disorder is thought to be caused by
a genetic predisposition that triggers the production of certain enzymes which convert testosterone into the hormone
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes male hair loss by shortening the growth, or anagen, phase of the hair cycle, causing
miniaturization (decreased size) of the follicles, and producing progressively shorter, finer hairs. Theoretically, if a
drug can be targeted to halt the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the scalp region only, it could stop hair from
falling out. For one, Propecia works by decreasing the levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in men by blocking the enzyme 5
alpha reductase. Saw palmetto is also thought to stop DHT production, and pygeum influences testosterone production.
Treatments
Millions are interested in new treatments to prevent hair loss and regrow hair. Several treatments have been
investigated as possible ways to prevent hair loss, but none has been absolutely effective, including: Scalp hypothermia
(cryotherapy). Treatment may include:certain medications to promote hair growth (such as minoxidil and finasteride),
corticosteroid injections (when treating alopecia areata), treating any underlying condition or disease hair transplants
scalp reduction skin lifts and grafts. As a general rule, it is easier to maintain remaining hair than it is to regrow;
however, the treatments mentioned will help some of the users suffering from Androgenetic alopecia, and there are new
technologies in cosmetic transplant surgery and hair replacement systems that can be completely undetectable.
Minoxidil
If your doctor recommends it, a product like minoxidil that can speed up hair growth also might be helpful. In men,
minoxidil may work better in areas with higher concentrations of miniaturized hairs, and its efficacy may be increased by
the synergistic use of once-daily tretinoin (Retin-A) applied at separate times during the day. For hair loss due to
heredity, age, hormones or certain medical conditions, the topical medication minoxidil (Rogaine) can help regrow hair or
prevent more hair loss.
Currently, if you want to regrow hair, topical minoxidil is the only approved way to go. To be effective, minoxidil
must be used twice a day. That doesn't mean minoxidil is by any means the panacea that men have been searching for since
at least 1150 B. While Minoxidil is a vasodilator and is speculated to work, in part, by increasing blood flow to hair
follicles, there is no evidence that standing on one's head can alleviate baldness.
One supplement that does just this is NISIM - Biofactors. Not only does NISIM - Biofactors prevent hair loss, it also stimulates the regrowth of healthy hair. Provillus is an effective, painless and noninvasive way to treat male pattern baldness.
To learn more visit NISIM - Biofactors
Additional Readings :
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