At present only two medications have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss, namely finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine). While both of these continue to prove their worth to many patients, some individuals are disappointed with their results and seek other forms of treatment. Often they turn to drugs that have not been approved for the treatment of hair loss, but which have shown themselves over time to have a positive effect in dealing with this condition.

1. Avodart (dutasteride) - this is a new medication that is not yet approved for hair loss but which offers exciting possibilities for treating male patten baldness. It works in a similar way to Propecia which prevents one of two enzymes from converting testosterone into DHT thus blocking two thirds of DHT production. Avodart takes this process a stage further by blocking both enzymes thus reducing overall DHT production by 93%. It is currently approved for the treatment of enlarged prostates and should not under any circumstances be taken by women of child bearing age.

2. Proscar (finasteride) - Propecia has become a valued weapon in the fight against male pattern baldness but it began life in the form of Proscar. In fact, the active ingredient is identical with Proscar containing a higher dose of 5 mg compared with Propecia’s 1 mg. Many men therefore assume that the higher dose is more effective in preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT. The extent to which this is true is debatable although the basic facts do tell us Proscar blocks slightly more DHT formation. Some physicians feel its use is warranted in a small proportion of older men and women who previously have not responded to treatment with Propecia.

3. Tretinoin (Retin-A) - this is well known for the treatment of acne but medical studies have shown it also helps stimulate hair regrowth. Some experts argue that tretinoin enhances the absorption and penetration of minoxidil into the hair follicles. As a result, several formulas of tretinoin and minoxidil are available, generally only by prescription.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Treatments to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

Much has been said and written about modern day hair loss treatments but this tends to relate almost exclusively to men. Do these same treatments offer solutions to women suffering from hair loss or is there a completely different category of remedies available? It really depends on what is causing hair loss in the first place and as the most common causes of hair loss are the same as those that affect men, the treatments available are pretty similar.

In an earlier article we concluded that the three most common causes of hair loss in women are female pattern baldness, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. We’ll now look at each of these in turn and examine the best treatments available, bearing in mind the specific needs of women:

1. Treatments for female pattern baldness.

In most instances minoxidil (Rogaine) is the first treatment used. This is one of only two FDA approved hair loss treatments and it remains the only one approved for use by women. Minoxidil comes in the form of a topical solution that works by tackling the symptoms of hair loss and helping to generate new hair growth. It does not target the causes of hair loss and will not work for everyone. The women’s version of minoxidil is a 2% solution but the 5% version marketed for men can be used if necessary.

The most popular drug for treating male pattern baldness is of course finasteride (Propecia). Women of child bearing age should not use this drug due to the severely damaging effects it can have on unborn male fetuses. Any women considering using Propecia should discuss it first with their physician. In some cases your doctor may prescribe a different androgen blocker called spironolactone as a means of stopping the hormone activity that is causing hair loss. Spironolactone is normally used as a diuretic and results may be variable.

There is a bewildering range of commercial products available, most of which are aimed squarely at men but many are also suitable for women to use. Whether they work or not is another question but some products containing ingredients like saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pygeum and green tea have shown their value. You can find out more about these and other poential hair loss solutions by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

2. Treatments for telogen effluvium

This is a hair loss condition that generally does not require any specific treatment. Once the effects of the trauma that caused hair loss in the first place have subsided, the hair will regrow of its own accord. Some patients like to encourage the regrowth process by using minoxidil but this isn’t necessary. Implementing a good nutritional regime and supplementing with B-vitamins may help to create a hair friendly environment.

3. Treatments for alopecia areata.

This is another hair loss condition that may resolve itself spontaneously. In some cases one of the following treatments may prove useful:

- Daily application of minoxidil (Rogaine).

- Injection of cortisone into patchy areas of the scalp (this must be administered by a physician). Creams and lotions containing cortisone can also be used but results are variable.

- Dithranol can be applied to the scalp in mild or early cases.

- Application of 100% aloe vera gel.

- Massage the scalp with rosemary and lavender essential oils in a jojoba base.

- Use of a hair loss product containing the Chinese herb He Shou Wu.

- A product called Calosol has recently generated positive feedback.

Please note, however, that none of these is guaranteed to work due to the unpredictable nature of alopecia areata. It is this uncertainty that offers opportunities for scamsters to make outlandish claims. The fact remains, there are no miracle cures for advanced forms of alopecia areata so sufferers may wish to consider other options such as head coverings and wigs.

This does not mean that patients are without hope because, even in severe cases, hair can spontaneously start to grow again even after years of loss.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Treatments for Women to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

When you think of hair loss it’s natural to assume that it’s a condition that predominantly affects men. Some experts however suggest that as many as one in four women will experience hair loss at some time in their lives. So why don’t we see and hear more about it? Perhaps the answer has something to do with one or more of the following:

- Women are better at disguising hair loss.

- Women’s hair loss is generally less extensive in terms of severity.

- Women’s hair loss tends to be spread evenly over the head rather than concentrated in one or two spots.

So why do women lose hair - are the causes very different to those that result in male baldness? There are probably three common reasons for hair loss in women:

1. Female pattern baldness - believe it or not, most women affected by hair loss lose it for the same reasons as men. They suffer from androgenetic alopecia which is a reaction to male hormones in the body, specifically the conversion of testosterone into the hair-unfriendly DHT. In the case of women, pattern baldness may start later and the effects may be less extreme due to the influence of female hormones, but the condition is nonetheless the same as that found in male pattern baldness.

2. Telogen effluvium - this is regarded as the second most common cause of women’s hair loss and this is unsurprising given the nature of the condition. Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning of the hair and is usually brought about as a result of some traumatic event causing sufficient stress to interfere with the normal hair growth cycle. Given that pregnancy is a prime example of the type of event that can shock the hair growth cycle then perhaps the high incidence of telogen effluvium amongst women is only to be expected.

3. Alopecia areata - this is the third most common hair loss condition to affect women. It is characterized by patchy areas of hair loss on the head or it can be more widespread over the body. It is thought to be caused by deficiencies in the immune system but much is still not known about the condition. In many cases the hair regrows spontaneously after a variable period of time, but in a minority of cases the problem may be more severe and longstanding.

If you experience any form of hair loss arrange to visit your physician to discuss the treatments that may be suitable for your particular condition.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Go to Hair Loss Treatments for Women to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

Hair transplantation as a means of treating hair loss has been around for a long time. Unfortunately, some clinics today still use methods that are outdated and can cause pain, scarring and less than presentable results. This article highlights some of the hair transplant methods that you should avoid like the plague.

Round / square grafts - this is the original method that leaves patients with a scalp that resembles that of a plastic doll. It involves taking a number of smallish grafts with a hole-punch device and transplanting to the affected area. The result is a pluggy look that does not look natural and only becomes more ridiculous as time wears on.

Line grafts - this involves moving a short strip of donor hair from the side or back of the head, then transplanting the entire strip into a trench that is surgically cut into the receiving area of the scalp. The end result is a line of hair that looks unnatural.

Flap technique - this procedure involves moving a flap of skin with its tissue, hair strands and follicles from the side or back of the head to the front hairline by cutting it on three sides and stitching it to the bald area.This can cause serious problems including excessive scarring, infection, disfigurement in the forehead area and hair growing in the wrong direction.

Scalp reduction - in this procedure the bald area at the crown is cut away and the edges surrounding the wound are pulled together and sewn at the middle. This technique causes many problems including potentially hideous scarring, accelerated hair loss and infection.

You can learn more about the hair loss treatments currently available by visiting the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Solutions to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

One of the most common reasons why men and women lose their hair is due to poor cosmetic grooming. The unfortunate thing about this is the fact it is so preventable. Fortunately there are some steps you can take to put right some of the damage caused.

Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s 2004 summer conference, Dr Zoe Draelos offered a number of recommendations to improve the hair care regime:

1. Itching associated with seborrheic dermatitis can weaken and damage hair over a period of time so seek medical help if your scalp skin is itchy, red or scaly.

2. Long hair is more easily damaged. People with extensive hair damage should therefore consider a shorter style.

3. Hair growth slows with age and hair becomes thinner in texture. Older people should therefore ensure that only weaker chemicals are applied.

4. Take care when choosing grooming tools. Use a comb made from flexible plastic with smooth, rounded and coarse teeth. Use a brush with bristles that are smooth, ball-tipped, coarse and bendable. In addition brush as little as possible and avoid brushing wet hair.

5. Don’t use tight rubber bands for ponytails as these cause excessive trauma and breaking of hairs. Likewise use hair clips loosely.

6. Understand the nature of your hair and adjust the intensity of your grooming to match. For example, curly hair tends to crack more easily than straight hair so be careful.

7. Make sure the hair is always cut with sharp scissors as crushing the end of the hair will encourage split ends.

8. The less that is done to hair in terms of styling, the healthier it will be. It follows then that care should be taken not to over-style with cosmetic products.

9. Hair coloring and bleaching are damaging to hair. If you must change hair color, try to stay within three shades of the natural color to minimize damage.

10. Hair relaxing and permanent waving are both damaging to hair and should only be used on a very limited basis.

You can find out more about treating hair loss by visiting the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Solutions to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

The recent development of improved hair transplant techniques ensures that patients can now benefit from pain-free surgery.

Unlike the older techniques that could be painful and cause unsightly scarring, the Woods Technique of Follicular Relocation is minimally invasive, painless and leads to hair restoration that looks and feels completely natural.

Under this technique physicians transplant only the hair follicle and not the excess tissue that is common with other transplant techniques. This means that the transplant site only has to nourish the essential follicles resulting in a higher take rate and a lower risk of fallout caused by localized shock.

The creators of the technique have been perfecting it in Australia since 1989 during which time more than 2000 procedures have been performed with a high success rate. Interestingly, Drs Woods and Woods-Campbell have made the discovery that transplanted body hair can grow up to three times its length and assume the characteristics and qualities of scalp hair. This means that patients who have damaged or depleted donor areas can now benefit from the technique.

The good news for American patients is that the technique is now being introduced to the US with a training facility for doctors established at UCLA.

You can find out more about these techniques by visiting the sites listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. To find out more about this technique please visit The Woods Technique

Most hair loss sufferers seek solutions from Western medicine or turn to remedies derived from local traditions. Some experts however argue that the ayurvedic system of medicine has much to offer in dealing with hair loss conditions.

Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine practiced in India and Sri Lanka. It is a complete approach to health care designed to promote a way of life rather than an occasional treatment. As a holistic system of medicine ayurveda focuses on our uniqueness and takes into account our mental attitude, lifestyle and spirit which should not be treated in isolation from each other.

According to ayurveda, the following principles are beneficial to healthy and plentiful hair:

- The scalp must be kept cool, so protection from sun and washing in cold or lukewarm water are paramount.

- Sound nutrition is key, so a hair-friendly diet should emphasize proteins, iron, zinc, sulfur, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-Complex and essential fatty acids.

- Use should be made of hair analysis to ascertain toxicity levels and nutritional deficiencies.

- Oils, for example sesame and coconut, should be applied to the scalp to nourish, lubricate and strengthen the roots. This will also improve circulation to the head.

You can find out more about alternative hair loss treatments by visiting the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Hair Loss Solutions to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

Minoxidil is one of only two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss and is the only anti-baldness drug approved for women. Originally introduced as a medicine to treat high blood pressure, it was noticed that users began to grow extra hair. It is now available without prescription as a topically applied liquid in solutions like Rogaine, but cheaper generic versions are also available. A 2% solution is marketed as a treatment for both men and women, but a 5% version is approved only for men.

The main benefit of minoxidil is its ability to stimulate hair growth - it does not tackle the causes of hair loss, but simply overrides the symptoms. Some uncertainty surrounds the reasons why it works, but it has proven to be a very effective hair loss treatment with minimal risk of side effects.

It is particularly useful when used to reverse the effects of male pattern baldness but it has also shown positive results in the treatment of less severe forms of alopecia areata. Its usefulness in helping other forms of hair loss appears limited.

Minoxidil is better known as Rogaine but other generic products deliver the same results for much less cost. It can be safely used with other hair loss treatments and is especially effective when used in conjunction with Propecia to tackle male pattern baldness.

You can find out more about minoxidil and other hair loss treatments at the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Minoxidil to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

Finasteride was initially marketed to treat prostate conditions under the name Proscar in 5mg pills. It was known to inhibit the formation of DHT, a major contributor to both prostate cancer and male pattern hair loss.

Subsequent research showed that a 1mg daily dose of the same drug was sufficient to control hair loss for 83% of men after two years of treatment. Since 1998 this version has been marketed under the brand name Propecia and it remains the only prescription drug approved by the FDA specifically to treat hair loss. This approval extends only to men’s hair loss because of the dangers finasteride presents to unborn male fetuses. Women of child bearing age should therefore consult with their physician before considering the use of this drug.

The main purpose of Propecia is to halt hair loss and maintain what hair coverage is left. It is therefore popular with younger men who want to control hair loss at an early stage. Men of all ages use it in combination with minoxidil to achieve a hair loss strategy that both halts hair loss and encourages new growth.

Propecia works by interfering with the process of androgenetic hair loss which usually follows this process:

1. High levels of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase occur in cells of the hair follicle.

2. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes miniaturization of robust terminal hairs.

4. This results in fine, soft vellus hairs that provide limited scalp coverage.

5. The growth phase gradually shortens until these hairs are lost permanently.

Propecia inhibits the formation of DHT and over a period of several months reduces levels of DHT sufficiently to minimize its effects on the hair follicle.

As with any drug, finasteride can cause side effects to a minority of users. The FDA trials reported a 2% incidence of varying side effects but these tended to lessen as the body adjusted to the drug over a period of months. Although Propecia or cheaper generic versions are easily obtained on the internet it is strongly recommended that you seek the advice of your doctor, at least in the first instance.

You can find out more about Propecia and other hair loss treatments at the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Propecia to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

Telogen effluvium is a hair loss condition that is characterized by a general thinning of the hair over a period of months. It is usually found in people who have recently experienced trauma with common causes including childbirth, major surgery and severe illness.

It occurs when one or more factors interfere with the normal growth cycle and manifests when large numbers of hairs are prematurely pushed from the growth (anagen) phase into the resting (telogen) phase. The telogen hairs are loosely attached at the roots and fall out easily. Fortunately, this unnatural growth behavior is only temporary and completely reversible.

Diagnosis of telogen effluvium involves a three step process:

1. Assess the type of hair loss suffered - generally telogen effluvium is typified by a rapid thinning throughout the scalp rather than the localized loss evident in most other conditions.

2. Review life events over the previous six months - typically some sort of traumatic event will have occurred.

3. Undergo a hormone test to rule out other abnormalities.

As far as treatment is concerned, telogen effluvium usually disappears as the effects of the trauma previously experienced begin to wear off. Consequently, there are no treatments specific to this condition although a product such as minoxidil (Rogaine) may help to accelerate the regrowth process.

You can find out more about telogen effluvium and other forms of hair loss at the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com, website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Telogen Effluvium to learn more about the issues covered in this article.