Archive for October, 2006

Posted on Oct 31st, 2006

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

Posted on Oct 30th, 2006

Hair loss has been observed and studied for ages, and some interesting discoveries were made in ancient times. It was noticed that eunuchs:

* those males without genitals-never went bald

* men who were castrated as a result of accidents in battle also never went bald

This was the first sign that testosterone had something to do with hair loss. It has also been found that the more recessive the hair gene, the chances you have of becoming bald.

Androgens Testosterone and Adrenaline

What exactly are androgens? Androgens are sex hormones mainly produced by males. The main male androgen is testosterone. Androgens are produced by your adrenal glands – testosterone and adrenaline - which protect your body in stressful situations and give you the power to respond to dangerous situations.

When you are under constant stress, you have adrenals that are overactive. Under this stress, you are are producing both testosterone and adrenaline. The excess testosterone, you create can be a cause in your hair loss. Also if you constantly over eat fatty foods and red meat, this will cause an overactive adrenal gland.

Hair Loss and Prostate Gland

There is a definite connection between Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) and the prostate gland. The prostate gland is actually a cluster of small glands in males surrounding the urethra, located just below the bladder. There is not a lot known about all the functions of the prostate, except that it serves to squeeze seminal fluid into and through the urethra during ejaculation.

Prostate problems can cause serious problems with urination if it becomes enlarged, and sometimes the prostate becomes cancerous. Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

DHT is responsible for the division of cells in the prostate, and is normally expelled by the prostate. However, when the prostate fails to expel the DHT, it builds up and causes enlargement. It has been confirmed that typical North American and northern European diets lend to the perpetuation of BPH and prostate cancer, whereas these are uncommon phenomena in other lands and was even uncommon here in the past.

This is significant since the overproduction of DHT is responsible for BPH and prostate cancer, and is also responsible for MPB or androgenetic alopecia.

The findings in research for BPH cures have usually simultaneously produced benefits in hair growth.

So to minimize the genetic tendency for hair loss be aware of excess stress in your life and work on reducing it. Learn what kind of diet is necessary to keep your prostate healthy.

Two additional facts about hair loss are:

* If you are blond-haired, you have a greater tendency toward hair loss than darker-haired people. But if you are Caucasian, then you have a greater tendency toward hair loss than non-Caucasian people.

* Beyond the genetic tendency of certain people for hair loss, diet seems to play a factor in hair loss. This is good to know, since this is one additional you can make changes to you to your lifestyle.

Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. He writes a newsletter called “Natural Remedies That work.” For more information on hair loss go to: http://www.hair-loss-remedies.for–you.info You can subscribe to his newsletter and read some of the back issues, which give you information on how to have better health. Read his latest newsletter at: http://www.natural-remedies-thatwork.com/nl-118.html

Posted on Oct 29th, 2006

Iodine is vital to your hair growth. Sheep farmers long ago found that vegetation-lacking iodine due to iodine-depleted soil would adversely affect the growth of wool in their sheep. Likewise, to avoid hair loss, you need iodine. Iodine is synthetically added to table salt, however in this form it is not assimilated well into your body and can therefore cause iodine overload.

An excess of iodine in the body can adversely affect the thyroid. The lack of iodine can cause hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism, your cell metabolism slows down and body cells and hair cells don’t receive the energy they need to function properly. When you lack iodine, you will lose more hair than normal and may even lose eyebrow hair.

You can check your thyroid with a basal thermometer, not a digital thermometer, by placing it in your underarm first thing when you wake up. Then, don’t move for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, look at the temperature. The normal body temperature for good thyroid function is 97.8 to 98.2 degrees C. Take this measurement for 5-10 day. If your temperature is below 97.6 and lower, for the 5-10 days, you will want to consult your doctor or for more direction and information. You definitely have low thyroid function.

Menstruating women should start this 5-10 day check on the 3rd day of their cycle.

It is best to use non-iodized salt and get your iodine from natural foods. These include seaweed, salmon, seafood, lima beans, molasses, eggs, potatoes with the skin on, watercress and garlic.

Silica

One of the most difficult nutrients vital to your hair growth to get in your diet is trace mineral silica. Silica is a form of silicon and is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, second only to oxygen. The Earth provides everything we need for health, and with silicon being so abundant, it would seem that there would never be a problem with silica deficiency.

Unfortunately, trace minerals are rare in our diets because our food is processed and our soil depleted by chemical treatments. Silica provides strength to your hair, and although it will not necessarily stop your hair from falling out from the follicle, it will stop hair breakage.

Silica works by stimulating your cell metabolism and formation, which slows the aging process. Foods that are rich in silica are rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry, cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower, and swiss chard. Try to buy these vegetables from organic sources. Note that many of these foods, particularly rice, are a large part of Asian diets and Asians tend to have the strongest and healthiest hair.

For best results eat all your fruits and vegetables raw. For certain vegetables that need to be cooked, steam them for only a few minutes.

Be sure to test your thyroid even though doctor’s tests show you do not have a thyroid problem. The basal temperature test is sometimes more sensitive than blood tests taken by doctors. If you have hyperthyroidism, you will definitely have hair loss.

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, other remedy ebooks, and for more information on hair loss go to: http://www.hair-loss-remedies.for–you.info

Posted on Oct 28th, 2006

Epilady epilators are made with the woman in mind. Their wonderful epilators were created for the contours and curves of your body that will leave even those sensitive areas hair free for four to six weeks and remove the small ugly hairs that all women hate.

Epilady’s most popular new design is the New Discrette Compact. This is the smallest and most efficient epilator on the market today in my opinion. It is fast, smooth and quieter than others that you may have tried in the past. It really shows how epilators have improved over the years. The design is great for removing unwanted hair at practically any angle. You will be amazed at how this compact epilator will remove even the finest of hairs right from the root. The wide epilating head will remove hair smoothly and comfortably. It has two operating speeds, has an ergonomic design for easier handling, and come complete with its own carrying case, cleaning brush and power cord.

Many women I know prefer the Epilady Duet, 2-in-1 Epilator and Shaver. This 2 in 1 system gives you the ability to change from epilator to shaver by just flipping it over to the other side. This is the newest design that gives you all the hair removal system you will ever need in one handy design. It has 40 tweezer discs on the epilator head that will give you a faster and more efficient hair removal system. This system is safe to use all on your sensitive skin including face, legs, underarms and your bikini line. The ergonomic design provides a non-slip design hold to aid in the comfort of removing unwanted hair.

Keep watching Epilady for new designs for comfort and pain reducing ways to remove unwanted hair for longer periods of time. They are constantly finding new ways to improve these wonderful products so we can feel confident and wear anything we want without those ugly small hairs growing back quickly.

As a beauty consultant Nicola Kennedy is always evaluating new products. Visit her site at http://www.epilator.info for Epilator Resources, Views and Information to help you choose the Best Epilator for you.

Copyright © Epilator.info. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Posted on Oct 27th, 2006

If you have been shaving for a number of years you may be amazed when you hear claims that there is such a thing as painless hair removal that lasts. You will have tried everything for silky soft skin - shaving doesn’t last, electrolysis and laser hair removal are too painful.

What you need to try is the new breed of epilators which gently pulls the hair while holiding the skin firmly to ensure no pain.

Panasonic designs some unique and easy to use epilators that will make your day go so much easier. You will have the comfort of knowing that you will be hair free even in sensitive areas for up to 4 to 6 weeks with a Panasonic epilator.

The only most women are talking about is the Panasonic Skin Protector System Epilator. This awesome epilator holds down your skin while it gently pulls out the hair. The 32 tweezer discs will gently pull even the finest hair from the root and does not come in direct contact with your skin. The head of the Panasonic Epilator slides from side to side very smoothly to remove all the hair including ones that are around 0.5mm. This is one epilator that you are sure to use all the time. It can go cordless with its rechargeable battery or can also be used with the cord. To re-charge all you need to do is plug it in. I particularly recommend this epilator for very sensitive skin.

Another recommended Panasonic Epilator is the ES119AC Progressions Cosmetic Groomer. This is one unique epilator that can be used by either a man or woman. It was designed especially for use on the face and neck. This cool epilator is battery operated, so there are never any cords in the way, so it is much easier to use. You will enjoy taking it with you as you travel or when you need to remove hair on the go. The stainless steel microfine blades will give you a comfortable and easy way to remove unwanted hair.

Once you have tried an epilator you will never rely on anything else.

As a beauty consultant Nicola Kennedy is always evaluating new products. Visit her site at http://www.epilator.info for Epilator Resources, Views and Information to help you choose the Best Epilator for you.

Copyright © Epilator.info. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Posted on Oct 26th, 2006

Hair loss in men

Hair loss and thinning hair have been sensitive issues for men throughout time. Recently, medical science has eventually identified the main cause of hair loss. At present, it’s a known medical fact that hair loss stems from both genetic and hormonal causes. Androgenetic Alopecia or even "male pattern hair loss" is implicated in ninety five percent of hair loss cases. The key is a hormonal byproduct called DHT (dihydrotestostrone). The even more DHT that gets put into your body, the even more your hair follicles turn into thinner and finer until the hair is permanently wasted.

DHT and hair loss

DHT is 1 of many male hormones in the body. DHT is developmentally vital early in a man’s life; however, it appears to be a cause of hair loss as men get older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces obvious hair.

Doctors believe that excess DHT is an apparent cause of hair loss The causes of hair loss aren’t well defined; however, researchers have uncovered that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Individual hair usually follows a cycle of expansion, falling out, and new expansion. However increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the expansion phase and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp.

Provillus blocks DHT (dihydrotestostrone) from getting to your body, which is 1 of the major causes of hair loss. The Breakthrough formula of Provillus was designed to block DHT and supply the proper foods to your body specifically tailored to block hair loss and to help you regrow hair naturally. Strong, sound hair begins with the proper nutritional building blocks. You do not have to hold off until there’s a problem to end it! Provillus supplements your body’s natural supply of these vitamins and lets the tiny follicles below your scalp receive exactly what they want to manufacture beautiful, full-bodied hair.

Active Ingredients For Hair Loss And Regrow Hair!

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that survives in 3 major chemical forms: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. It performs a wide kind of functions for your body and is essential for your fantastic health and hair expansion. For instance, vitamin B6 is needed for even more than one hundred enzymes involved in protein metabolism. It’s also essential for red blood cell metabolism. The nervous and resistant systems require vitamin B6 to function efficiently, and it’s also needed for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin.

Biotin is section of the Vitamin B complex and is a vitamin supplement necessary for sound hair, scalp and nails. Biotin will help with the condition of the hair and the scalp as well. Just put…Biotin is Hair Food.

Magnesium is an essential mineral and plays an crucial role in energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission bone structure and hair expansion.

Zinc is necessary for a fit body, and is also of apply in fighting skin problems like acne, boils and sore throats. It’s further needed for cell division, and is needed per tissue of the hair, nails and skin to be in top form. Zinc is further utilized in the expansion and maintenance of muscles.

Saw Palmetto acts by lowering DHT in the body and by blocking five alpha-reductase. Saw palmetto blocks the receptor sites on cell membranes that are expected for the absorption of DHT. Since Saw palmetto blocks the employ of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is a similar causative factor in Androgenetic Alopecia, it’s a powerful herb in this hair expansion formulation.

Nettle root blocks two enzymes, 5a-reductase, which makes the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and aromatase enzyme, which makes estrogens. Studies showed that nettle root extract was efficient in inhibiting these two enzymes which was a leading cause of hair loss.

Gotu Kola is related to the and supports the integrity of hair expansion, collagen and skin. It can help heal minor wounds and skin irritations, help assure blood vessel integrity, and promote circulation throughout the body, including to the brain. A long-standing tonic rejuvenator, it’s said to help concentration and memory.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita Maxima) The oil extract from pumpkin seeds is also a natural hair loss remedy that is believed to effect levels of testosterone in the body. The beneficial effects of pumpkin seed extract as a hair loss guide are however under investigation. It’s believed that the extract infects the androgen levels of diseases and so might have an influence on the androgens that are responsible for hair loss.

Eleuthero Formerly Siberian Ginseng, (Glandular) is a member of the ginseng family, though it’s of a different genus than more popular ginsengs like the Panax kind. Along with more ginsengs, it’s an extended history of being utilized to help restore concentration, increase energy and promote fit hair and nail expansion.

Uva-Ursi soothes, strengthens, and tightens irritated & inflamed tissues. The herb neutralizes acidity in the urine, increasing urine flow, so reducing bloating & water retention, making it beneficial for hair expansion.

Muria Puama plays an significant role in energy metabolism, protein synthesis, neuromuscular transmission bone structure and hair expansion for both men and women. Also help with stress management, nervous system stimulation, virility, and overall health.

For more information about hair regrow and stop hair loss please visit Hair Regrow And Stop Hair Loss

Posted on Oct 25th, 2006

Experiments performed by the hair transplant surgeon Dr Seager in 1996 gave significant credence to the surgical technique of unit follicular hair transplant. Since these experiments had demonstrated that the survival rate of intact follicular unit was better than the single hair micro-grafts, the use of micro-grafts for hair transplant surgery was more or less dropped. Although the results of surgical hair restoration with the use of follicular unit transplants were sound and aesthetically pleasing, this form of hair transplant surgery suffered from drawback of requiring a long time period (6-8 hr) to complete a transplant session. It involved teams of highly skilled assistants for the hair transplant procedure of separating the follicular units. As the procedure required long time and much skill the procedure was proving to be very costly to the patient. The surgical damage caused to the follicle when two follicular units extremely close together were dissected apart, also started to affect the results of Hair Restoration Surgery.

A reduced success in follicular unit transplantation was more frequent in hair restoration surgeries that were being performed by hair transplant surgeons undertaking follicular unit transplant surgery only infrequently. The fact was of much concern to the professional hair transplant surgeon. The primary reason for a reduced success rate was that the assistants of the hair transplantation surgeon lacked the expertise and experience in correctly isolating single follicular units and dissecting them at a fast pace.

Ensuring that the follicular unit remains intact and is dissected and implanted into the scalp in the shortest possible is essential for increasing the chances of the hair follicles surviving the process and growing. But whenever an assistant was not able to take care of this important aspect, it affected the results.

For the above mentioned reasons, a technique that leaves the follicular unit intact but at the same time advocates the use of three and four-haired follicular groupings for surgical hair restoration was evolved by the innovative hair transplant surgeons. This procedure was found to have many advantages over follicular unit transplantation.

A single hair follicular unit does not necessarily comprise a single hair and may contain 2-4 hairs in a single hole. When the follicular units are found very close to each other in the donor skin sample it is not advisable to separate them as it can cause iatrogenic damage to them. Advantage of this fact is taken to form three-and four-haired groupings when 2 two-haired follicular units or a three haired unit and one-haired unit are naturally placed very close to each other. A group (of 1-4 follicular units naturally placed close to each other) transplanted as a single graft results in superior hair growth and at the same time lessens the surgical damage and trauma to the recipient site.

The hair transplant procedure of using natural groups for the hair transplant surgery has many advantages:

1. It results in much quicker hair transplant procedure as it saves time for separating each follicular unit and less time is required for their placement.

2. Hair transplant procedure prevents iatrogenic injury to follicular units during the dissection phase.

3. It lessens iatrogenic injury during placement phase because follicular groupings are not as fragile as follicular units because of more tissue attached to them.

4. As this hair transplant procedure proceeds at a faster rate, it allows the grafts to be left out of the body for a shorter period of time and increases their survival rates.

5. The last but not the least important advantage of this hair transplant procedure is that it reduces the cost of hair transplant surgery and is there for affordable to the patient.

Besides the above mentioned advantages, the technique of grouping of hair follicles can serve as a crucial tool in an expert hair transplant surgeon’s hands to create wonders through the hair restoration surgery! Success and a natural looking hair transplant requires strategic planning! The grouping technique does not undermine the importance of a unit follicular hair transplant but actually compliments it by conserving more single-haired follicular units for the defining the hair line. The 2-haired follicular groups can be used for gradation in the area immediately posterior to the hair line and use of denser, but not bigger, 3 haired groups to provide the hair-density to the bald scalp behind. Besides saving the hair in the donor area for the future hair transplants this innovative technique of hair restoration surgery provides you the results which are just wondrous!

Have you found the above article interesting? You can get more hair transplant information to read on the topic by logging on to the website hairtransplantadvice.com

The author is a hair restoration surgeon and runs a renowned hair restoration clinic

Posted on Oct 24th, 2006

Hair Removal For A Man may sound very odd. I mean we always picture men with beard and moustache and hairy bodies. Not any more! The smooth, shiny and clean man is the new fashion icon. You will never find a ‘hairy’ body builder nor will you ever see the man in the underwear advertisement as anything but clean and smooth. Hair Removal For A Man! Yes, it’s here to stay.

Health, fitness and bodybuilding have primarily remained the top three concerns of any man trying to look good. With ’smooth skin’ being added to this list, Hair Removal For A Man is something no body conscious male can ignore. So, welcome to the world of wax, depilatory creams and sugar pastes.

Hair Removal For A Man could include all the options that a woman normally has. He could wax, (well, you can already see that face twitch with pain), or sugar (Oh! dear! That pains too!) Or shave (at least that is something they are familiar with). And if you are really required to look smooth all the time, go for electrolysis or a laser treatment.

Waxing may not be the ideal method of Hair Removal For A Man. Applying a sticky messy solution on those hairy legs and pulling them away with strips of clothes in the direction opposite to that of your hair growth definitely sounds painful. More so when you think of the large amount of hair men have on their bodies. Lets check out the other options of Hair Removal For A Man.

Sugaring is very similar to waxing and can be considered only for men of the tolerating kind. Here the only difference is that instead of wax, one uses a sugar paste (I guess, men had rather eat them!). Shaving is a good option of Hair Removal For A Man. However, it would only make them pokier as lovers with all that stubble and rough skin. We can narrow down Hair Removal For A Man to Lasers and Electrolysis.

If you are man enough and are not scared of needles, go for Electrolysis. They may be the ideal answer to Hair Removal For Man. Electrolysis involves destroying the hair follicles when they are at the peak of their growing cycle. That sounds more exciting, doesn’t it? But wait till you listen to how one does it? Well, they will pierce needles into your hair follicles and sent electric currents right to the root of your problem. Of course, in the process a non-sterile needle could give you AIDS or you could get yourself electrocuted if your technician is a novice.

The last option of Hair Removal For A Man is the Laser. Similar to electrolysis, laser treatment uses laser beams instead of electricity to pulse through your skin and kill those follicles. They are cheaper than Electrolysis. Permanent options are better for Hair Removal For A Man though they are expensive and time consuming. But if you are looking for short-term answers, go for the regular creams, wax and razors.

If you are interested in your health and well being then you will find some great health related articles at: Find Health Articles

Posted on Oct 23rd, 2006

Hair loss is not the end of your sex appeal. Think about it. Many women really love some famous men who are as bald as can be: Kojack (Telly Savalas), Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), or even Detective Vick Mackey (Michael Chiklis). And even more fabulously sexy actors are losing their hair: Sean Connery and other famous men have the infamous receding hairline and women still swoon. In fact, some men voluntarily shave their heads completely bald by choice. So what’s the problem?

Losing your own hair can be a challenge. Your whole image of yourself is changing. You’re not used to seeing yourself that way. It’s an adjustment. Do you like the new guy in the mirror? Is he more than just his hairline? Or is there a lot of self-identity wrapped up in your full head of hair?

Do you know that in India and also among the American Indians, hair is seen as holding the memory of your life? They see it as containing a kind of imprint of what you have been through. While both cultures see it this way, they respond differently. To some American Indian tribes, hair is sacred, a source of strength that should never be cut, much like the story of Samson in the Bible. In India, the shaving of the hair is thought to release one from karma or the cause-effect of our actions.

Of course, if you don’t manage to begin to feel as sexy as Telly Savalas or Patrick Stewart, and you have no connection to the Indian rituals of shaving the head for purification, there are lots of treatments on the market. Some of them are snake oil and some of them work to one degree or another for different people.

Toupees are an option, but usually it’s obvious that you’re wearing a wig. Then there are creams and ointments and diet plans. There’s also hair replacement therapy. If you choose one of these routes, do some thorough research both into the method and into the practitioner offering you the treatment. Find out what has worked for others. Get more than one opinion. And if it doesn’t work, remember, you are still one sexy guy!

About the author

Ross Mettarod is bald as an eagle and just as proud. He is grandfather to two wonderful children and lives in Minnesota and works with the postal service. You can read more articles on hair loss at Hairloss Club

Posted on Oct 22nd, 2006

Rogaine is perhaps the best known balding solution. It’s scientific name is Minoxidi, Rogaine is the brand name produced by the company Upjohn. In studies, Rogaine has been shown to stimulate hair growth in about one third of those experiencing male balding.

Rogaine is a liquid and is applied topically to the balding areas on your scalp. It comes with a dropper as well as a spray for those who have experienced significant balding. You apply it twice daily to your scalp every day. One bottle of this balding solutions costs $50-$60 and is supposed to last for a month.

I tried Rogaine in the first year I realized I was experiencing male balding. My efforts were not consistent or long lasting enough to warrant a judgment on Rogaine as a balding solution, but what I experienced was enough to make me stop using it. There are several characteristics of Rogaine that I never read about, and I’d like to share them with you so you can make a better decision.

First, Rogaine is pretty expensive. Especially for me, $55 is a lot to spend on something every month. I was buying it as a college student and really had some trouble justifying the cost. But perhaps $55 a month isn’t a big deal for you. Just realize that you’ll be spending that every month for the rest of your life if you want to keep using Rogaine.

Once I started using Rogaine, I discovered that it has a very unpleasant smell and feel to it. I would drop it into my balding areas after showering as instructed and would immediately feel itchy and slimy. Since it is a liquid, it drips down your scalp too and I would often feel it sliding down my neck or across my scalp.

Then, once Rogaine dried, my scalp would get very itchy. The balding solution formed a flaky mess on my head, making it appear that I had a terrible case of dandruff. I guess it makes sense, but I had no idea this would be happening. It caused a couple embarrassing moments at parties when people would ask what was in my hair (thanks Rogaine for drawing more attention to my balding head). Rogaine also gets in your hair and dries, sort of like an unwanted hair gel.

I don’t really know if Rogaine caused my hair loss to slow down. You are supposed to use it for at least six months before you see any effects and a year may be more realistic depending on how long you have been balding. For me, the cost of this treatment combined with the uncomfortable effects that came along with it convinced me that I didn’t want to continue treatment. I know Rogaine has been successful with many men and women, but for me it just wasn’t worth it.

Ian Byrd runs a website dedicated to Balding Solutions. Please visit to learn more about Rogain.

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