'Hair Loss Causes' Category Archive

Posted on Mar 7th, 2007

One key factor in maintaining a growing protein on a part of one’s biological body is obvious: one must maintain a healthy diet. Although certain factors have been definitely identified as contributors to hair loss, we must keep in mind that hair is part of the complete biological system of the human body. Being a system, dysfunctions in one part of the system can contribute to dysfunctions in other parts; chain reactions occur when one part of the body malfunctions, causing other parts within the system to falter. To maintain optimum health, it is best to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen.

Defining exactly what a healthy diet is when it comes to preventing hair loss can be a little more complex. Principally, the main vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that one must ingest in some form to maintain healthy hair are vitamin A, all B vitamins-particularly vitamins B-6 and B-12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, iron, zinc, iodine, protein of course, silica, essential fatty acids (EFA’s, formerly known as vitamin F) and last but not least one must consume water. There are also certain foods that may cause dysfunctions that will contribute to hair loss.

The best way to maintain a healthy vitamin and mineral intake is a good diet. It is not necessary or advisable to go out and buy a bunch of over-the-counter vitamin supplements in order to achieve your suggested nutritional levels. Many over-the-counter vitamins are chemically processed and are not completely absorbed into the system. It is also easy to overdose oneself with over the counter vitamins particularly when taking supplements of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals, causing toxicity and adverse reactions. The likelihood of doing this is far less with food; therefore it is always best to obtain the bulk of your vitamin and mineral requirements from whole foods.

More information on hair loss, prevention, and treatment can be found at http://www.HairLosshq.com

Posted on Mar 4th, 2007

Andropause and hair loss often go hand in hand. Imagine clumps of hair falling off your head, or observing strands of once healthy hair collecting in the shower drain. Maybe you run your hand through your hair and feel it thinning. It can feel daunting and quite scary. Typically, hair loss is a result of an imbalance of male testosterone hormone in the body.

Instead of infusing the hair with healthy testosterone, enzymes break it down to a simpler form known as dihydrotestosterone. An excess of this hormone has the effect of decreasing the size of hair follicles which eventually break down and make your hair fall off sporadically. The medical condition that is best associated with hair loss in Andropause sufferers is hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a by-product of decreasing levels of Human Growth Hormone, which is responsible for regulating our aging process.

Andropause sufferers’ hormones have a profound effect on the rate and consistency of hair loss. Dihydrotestosterone (considered by medical circles the strongest, most potent form of testosterone) is responsible for building and growing body hair in men (at normal levels - an excess causes hair degeneration.) This includes body hair, pubic hair, head hair, armpit hair – any hair. DHT is directly produced in the skin, made to work by supporting enzymes that break it down for distribution throughout the body.

DHT levels are present more in certain areas of the body than in others – explaining why we may have a full crop of hair on our heads and little bushes of hair on our chests and backs. Realize, women also have DHT in their bodies but produce less of it. That explains why women don’t have body hair. Case in point: an excess of DHT is prevalent in Andropause sufferers, explaining the reason for hair loss. The enzyme used to break down testosterone to dihydrotestosterone is ¨over activated¨ - working too hard and too fast. This is the primary cause for this Andropausal condition.

As aforementioned, dihydrotestosterone is present more in certain areas of the body than in others. For this reason, men’s hair can fall into funny patterns. You know, the balding train station clerk you might have seen with more hair on his scalp than the top of his head. The shrinking of hair follicles as a result of the production of DHT is attributed to this. How hair grows is a wondrous thing in itself that needs to be recognized. Typically, hair grows at a rate of a quarter inch every 2 weeks.

Andropause sufferers have their ¨hair growth cycles¨ disrupted when there is erratic growth of some hair strands where ¨new¨ hair pushed ¨old¨ hair out. Because Andropause is a period of hormonal imbalance, a lack of hormonal stability and poor homeostasis (holistic balance) in the body pushes things out of whack. If you want to maintain healthy strands of hair, one thing you can do is hit that stair climber machine fellas! Exercise reverses the aging process and may certainly reverse this symptom. There are also hair loss products that can help you recapture your hair.

Secondary causes of hair loss in men suffering Andropause is stress. More specifically, stress raises the levels of cortisol and cortisone (known as stress hormones) in the body. Eating non-nutritional foods also speeds up hair loss. Pretty much any activity that speeds up the aging process will speed up your hair loss.

Stay away from caffeinated drinks, fast foods, and cigarette smoking to keep running your hands through your thick mane longer. Participate in recreational activities to reduce stress and light up your life with a proper exercise regimen. If you’re suffering from this condition, don’t let it affect you in the least bit! Andropause should not serve as a punishment – rather, a realization of a future for the better.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 25 years experience. She specializes in internet marketing, strategy and plan development, as well as management of communications and public relations programs for small business sectors. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creative-com@cox.net or by visiting http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com or http://www.everythingmenopause.com or http://www.internet-marketing-small-business.com

Posted on Mar 3rd, 2007

The hair care industry is a billion dollar industry. “A perm, relaxer or color ranges in price from $65 to over $100 and most women get their hair retouched every 2-3 months. That’s a lot of money spent per year!

The models that grace the pages of magazines and on television commercials shaking their heads to show off their fabulous locks is one of the major reasons that the industry is doing so well. Women want to look their best and will find any means to do so. Why wouldn’t anyone want to look fabulous! We see our favorite celebrities do it so why not us.

However, there is one area of the hair industry that is not publicized as much, and that is hair loss in women, which has become very common in many women. This can be an incredibly devastating experience for many women. The loss of hair can lead to feelings of embarrassment and shame.

A three-year study of women suffering from loss of hair in the late 1990’s had identified iron deficiency as the cause of hair loss in 72% of pre-menopausal women.

This loss of iron could lead to anemia. But women should not wait for their doctor to diagnose them with having anemia (defined as too little iron in the blood). They should focus on maintaining a healthy diet.

Here are some recommendations:

Try to get your recommended daily iron intake. Some women with iron deficiency have experienced many strands and sometimes handfuls of hair going down the drain when washing their hair and they were not pregnant (note: pregnancy can sometimes cause premature loss of hair).

So, your best bet is to avoid these nightmarish experiences and increase your iron intake on a daily basis. Make sure your diet contains enough meat, fish, eggs, cereals, peas and beans. Try eating more dried fruits, legumes and dark leafy greens, which are very high in iron content.

If you are experiencing hair loss, contact your doctor immediately. If you are taking any medications your doctor should be able to determine if this may be the cause. There are many factors which can cause hair loss – iron deficiency is only one of them.

If you want to find out more information on women’s hair loss, visit www.curlyhairsalon.com/hairloss.html

Janice Johnson is the founder of the http://www.CurlyHairSalon.com website. An online multi-ethnic curly hair magazine that offers information, tips and advice to care for curly hair.

Posted on Feb 21st, 2007

One a day will keep the depression away.

To many men (and women) today, the bathroom mirror is the mortal enemy. Every day, you stumble into the bathroom, yank the toothbrush out of its holder, and very reluctantly venture an eye into the mirror above the sink.

What you see devitalizes you. It devastates you. What once sprung so vivaciously from your head has now been replaced by a smooth, shiny surface. In just a couple of years, it seems, your looks have aged by ten years.

It’s a process that consumes you day by day, week by week. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it.

Yes, you are going bald.

However, as helpless as it may feel, not everybody is taking this seemingly inevitable fate sitting down.

Many Americans every day are opening up the medicine cabinet behind that mirror to pull out the tabulated form of salvation. It’s not the first product to treat hair loss and it certainly won’t be the last, but Propecia is certainly winning the race when it comes to foiling vanity’s worst nightmare.

At first, it looks a lot like your standard pain reliever or aspirin pill. The pain that Propecia will ease you from, however, is of a much different variety. As you probably know already, Propecia is the first pill that has been proven to fight the process of hair loss and in many cases, actually re-grow some hair.

Propecia is a tablet that is taken daily, with a month’s supply generally running between $50 and $55.

And the fact that Propecia actually works, they’re saying, is much more than just hair-say.

The facts are out. Granted, this study was done over the course of two years of Propecia use, but 83 percent of balding men between the ages of 18 and 41 maintained their hair count during the experiment, while 66 percent of the group actually grew back a considerable amount of hair.

The difference between Propecia and other products, like Rogaine, for instance, is that Propecia grows back thicker, natural hair as opposed to the limp “peach fuzz.” We won’t even mention that fishy smell that Rogaine users often complain of.

And here’s a bit of good news for that receding hairline. While Propecia has been widely believed to work the crown and vertex exclusively, studies out of the University of Pennsylvania are now confirming that the drug will also stimulate frontal hair growth. While re-growth along the temples has yet to be proven, steady growth in the middle of the front has been proven through extensive experimenting.

Most hair doctors will tell you that Propecia takes a good three to four months before kicking in, so if you’re waiting for immediate results, you may as well grab a Snickers Bar. But if you don’t see any positive results after a year of taking Propecia, chances are that you’re not only wasting you time, you’re wasting your money as well.

Now comes the bad news.

For you ladies who are seeing dread atop the head, Propecia is not for you. It is a drug designed exclusively for men.

Also, Propecia, like many other prescription medications, is not free of unfortunate side effects. Under extensive experimenting, a small number of subjects (2 percent, to be exact) were effected with such conditions as diminished sex drive, inadequate erections, and a decrease in semen.

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Posted on Feb 19th, 2007

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/

Posted on Feb 11th, 2007

The normal cycle of hair growth and loss means that some amount of hair loss will occur in every individual’s life. It is said that at any given point in time, about 10% of the hair on our scalp is in a resting phase which sheds after a couple of months, giving way to new hair growth. This growing phase lasts for 2 to 6 years when each hair grows about 1 centimeter per month. Hence, almost 90 percent of the hair is growing at any one time. Regular hair shedding is part of this cycle; however, some people experience excessive hair loss.

Excessive hair loss, however, is cause for concern. A number of reasons may lead to excessive hair loss. Any major illness, fungal infections or surgery may be major reasons. Hormonal problems like hypo or hyper thyroidism or male (androgens) or female (estrogens) hormones imbalance leads to hair loss. Post pregnancy hair loss is also common as a hormone imbalance occurs at this time as well.

Medicines for ailments like diabetes, chemotherapy, lupus, gout, blood coagulation, birth control and anti-depressants can cause hair loss too. Improper hair care can also lead to hair loss. Excessive use of chemicals or blow-drying for hair styling leads to hair loss as it scars the scalp, sometimes leading to permanent damage.

Common baldness usually refers to male-pattern baldness. It is the most common type of inherited hair loss trait in men where hair loss typically results in a receding hairline and baldness on the top of the head. Female-pattern baldness in women leads to hair thinning over the entire scalp.

It is important to determine the exact reason for your hair loss. Check on your diet first. Switch over to a healthy diet of fruits, green vegetables and fibers to be washed down with at least 2 liters of water each day. Cut down on fried and fatty food. Follow a hair care regimen of hot oil treatment, massage, conditioning and shampooing on a regular basis. If you’re a woman, check the regularity of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy status and menopause.

The only way to deal with hair loss is to learn the causes, look for the right remedy, then come to a decision on what you want to do, and go for it. One should also take steps to prevent hair loss from recurring in future.

*You have permission to reprint what you just read. Use it in your ezine, at your website or in your newsletter. The only requirement is including the following footer with it…

Lana Hampton is the webmaster of http://www.hairlossbulletin.com. Visit her site today for the latest hair loss information, treatments and product reviews. Reprinting this article is permitted with this footer included.

Posted on Jan 14th, 2007

Hair loss is widely accepted as a man’s problem and it is quite common to see bald men. However, hair loss in women is just as common, but it is more devastating for the individual when it does happen. The psychological impact of hair loss in women is much greater because many women see their hair as the main part of their beauty and take great pride in their appearance. However, this problem does not usually result in total hairloss as it does in men.

Hair loss in women has various different causes. It could be hereditary, but this is very rare. Also, the hair loss treatment for women is different from that of men because many of these treatments cause hair to grow on other parts of the body such as the face, back and chest. For hairloss in women, many doctors prescribe treatments of estrogen, but there are no proven studies that show that a lack of estrogen does lead to hair loss in women.

Androgenic alopecia is a condition that affects about 2% of the population, resulting in total hair loss all over the body. There is no cure for hairloss in women or men who have this condition, but doctors can prescribe treatments to help lessen the symptoms. Some of these hair loss treatments for women include glucocorticoids, topical treatments, of which Minoxodil is the only one recommended for women, or anthralin. Mild cases of hair loss in women respond better to these treatments than more severe cases.

Patterns of hairloss in women are different than in men. Rather than experiencing total hairloss, women usually have small patches of baldness and the hair thins only in those areas. Such things as severe stress, an illness or even surgery can cause sudden hair loss in women. Many women experience hair loss following giving birth and some medicines can also bring this on. In these cases, once the situation is resolved the hair follicles start to grow again and the hairloss process is reversed.

When a woman consults her doctor about a hair loss problem, the doctor will look for the root causes. Once the cause is identified then he/she will be able to prescribe the proper hair loss treatment for women.

Hair loss in women is more common than you may realise, but can often be treated.

For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter’s Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Hair Loss Treatments as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss.

Posted on Jan 9th, 2007

Two of the leading causes of sudden hair loss are genes and stress. Hairloss may be inherited, but this is usually not sudden, but happens over time. What is sudden about it is that you notice large clumps of hair staying on the brush or comb when you do your hair each morning. Although this is common in males, it does happen to females as well. Severe stress has also been identified as a cause of sudden hair loss because it interferes with the inner workings of the body’s hormones. This can be psychological stress or trauma to the body following an accident or major surgery.

People that experience sudden hair loss contact their doctor immediately to try to find the causes of sudden hair loss. If there is no underlying stress or side effects from medication, sudden hair loss could be a warning sign of the early onset of a disease such as diabetes or lupus or even an infection of the scalp.

Some people who experience sudden hair loss realize that the problem is caused by DHT. This is usually what causes rapid hair loss due to genetic causes. The doctor can prescribe a DHT blocker as a shampoo or a topical solution that will help to slow the effects of thinning hair and help some of the hair to grow back. Of course every case is different. What works well for one person may not work for another.

One of the more serious hair loss causes is a condition called alopecia. There are several forms of this condition, but there is no cure for it. The forms of alopecia are:

· Alopecia areata – in this form of the condition patients experience sudden hair loss in patches that leave bald spots in different parts of the scalp

· Alopecia totalis – this results in total hair loss on all of the scalp

· Alopecia universalis – this is total hairloss all over the body

When doctors are trying to find the causes of rapid hair loss, the first tests will be blood tests to determine whether there is an infection, a deficiency or a hormone problem. Sudden hair loss in itself is a traumatic experience and people often rush out and purchase all manner of products to try to get their hair to grow back. These products will probably not work unless you have identified the underlying causes of sudden hair loss. It is important to so this first rather than waste your money on products that will not do anything for you or your hair.

Sudden hair loss is not common, but happens. Find out the cause first before doing anything else.

For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter’s Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Hair Transplant Surgery as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss

Posted on Jan 8th, 2007

Hair loss causes range from simple to complex. Some of the simple causes of hair loss include recovery from major surgery. Such invasive medical treatments cause trauma to the hair follicles and large clumps of hair often come out when you are grooming your hair. Your doctor will advise you that this is normal and your hair growth will return to normal, but it could take 3 or 4 months. Since you know it is only temporary, these hair loss causes should not be a major cause for alarm.

Other hair loss causes from medical treatments include the effects of chemotherapy and the side effects of many antibiotics. The fact that you will lose your hair with many of these drugs is common knowledge and once the regimen of treatment is finished, your hair will start to grow back. Thinning hair causes, for people who are not taking medications, can include a lack or the proper nutrients, lack of sleep and not taking proper care of your hair.

Hormones are also thinning hair causes as well. An underactive or overactive thyroid gland can cause hair loss, but once again these hair loss causes respond well to the proper medication. If your male or female hormones become unbalanced, this can also lead to thinning hair or loss of hair. Once you contact your doctor to find out what is happening and you start a regular hormone treatment, you will start to regain your full head of hair. Having a baby is also one of the leading hair loss causes for women, especially if the birth process was traumatic. Pregnancy causes changes in the body’s hormones and once they return to normal following birth, the hair growth process returns to normal as well.

Some of the medicines that have been identified as thinning hair causes include: · Blood thinners for heart disease
· Medication for gout
· Too much Vitamin A
· Anti-depressants
· Birth control pills

Infections, especially in children, are also possible hair loss causes. Many children get fungal infections of the scalp and they cause the hair to start thinning and falling out. The doctor can prescribe anti-fungal medications to help clear up the infection and prevent further hair thinning and loss. Diabetes and lupus are also diseases that cause hair loss. Since hair loss is often a warning sign of a disease, it is important to contact your doctor to find out the reason and what you can do to keep it under control. People look at their hair as their most important asset and should do everything they can to protect it.

Hair loss causes can be many and varied. If you are suffering then you need to find out the cause of your hair loss before you consider doing anything else.

For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter’s Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Hair Transplant Surgery as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss

Posted on Jan 3rd, 2007

Trying to find out what causes hair to fall out is often very hard to do. This is because there are so many different causes of hair loss, there is no one common denominator that one can look to. Causes of hair loss range from heredity, an anti-immune condition, stress, hormonal changes, diet, rest and hair care. In order to find out what is causing your hair loss, you should first visit your doctor. He/She will do a series of test to try to find the cause and discuss the possible treatments for your particular hairloss.

If the causes of hair loss have to do with medication, such as chemotherapy or certain antibiotics, then your hair will start to grow back once you complete the regimen of treatment. There is no need to consider any hair regrowth systems because the hair loss situation is only temporary. What many people do not realize is that diet plays a big part in healthy hair. Research has shown that a diet low in certain B vitamins is one of the causes of hair loss. You can watch your diet and increase the foods that contain these essential elements or you can take a vitamin supplement. While this is a healthy practice in itself, taking too many vitamins for hair regrowth could have the opposite effect and also cause hair loss.

If you have a condition known as alopecia, then there are no hair regrowth systems that will help you regrow your natural hair. There is no cure for this condition, although many advertised products would have you believe there is. Many of the commercial products that claim to be able to regrow hair, and while they do work for some customers there is no guarantee that they will work for you. If the doctor determines that the cause of hair loss in your case is not medical, then you can try some of the hair regrowth systems on the market.

One of the surgical hair regrowth systems that men and women commonly use is the hair transplant. Older methods of this system meant taking patches of skin containing hair, dissecting it into hair grafts and then grafting it back on to the scalp so that it would grow together as a normal head of hair. There are also more modern methods of this system, such as gluing synthetic hair onto the scalp – almost like wearing a permanent wig. This method is also one of the causes of hairloss because when you pull if off, you also take hairs off your head.

Another of the hair regrowth systems is the hair weave. With this system, as with all others, the surgeon has to make sure you have had a regular check up to make sure there are no underlying medical causes of hairloss. With the hair weave, the foundation fabric of a hair piece is actually woven underneath your existing hair. This does tend to come loose and will have to be retightened every few months, which will cost you money. However, having this done at regular intervals is no more expensive than going to the hairdresser every week.

There are many causes of hair loss, if you are worried about your hair loss the first step is to find out what is causing yours.

For a website totally devoted to hair loss and hair replacement visit Peter’s Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about Hair Loss Treatments as well as Hair Restoration and more, including Male Hair Loss and Female Hair Loss.

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