Hair Loss Prevention: Nourish the Body to Nourish the Hair

We treat it with care, brush it every day and hope it is by no means out of place. Nevertheless, when hair begins to shed and leaves our brush draped with locks, it may be time to think about a hair loss treatment.

You will find numerous elements which will result in hair loss, together with drugs (medical or recreational), improper care, poor vitamin intake, or illness. The lack of one’s hair might be an embarrassing occurrence for many. Having a proper prognosis, a dermatologist can advocate a personalized method and an effective hair loss treatment.

If you have used different natural methods to treat hair loss, but to no effect, then it may be really worth your time to learn about the Indian healing tradition, called Ayurveda. Even though you will find a few goods on the net and in shops for your hair, seeking a professional practitioner might be something you wish to complete if you’re serious about this.

The reason for this really is that the very best Ayurvedic therapy is personalized and requires your entire condition into account. An Ayurvedic doctor will suggest an entire diet and lifestyle for you personally, which can have many advantageous effects past your hair.

Nevertheless, if you do not wish to go this far, you can discover Ayurvedic treatments for the hair, which might include herbs, essential oils, organic shampoos and conditioners.

Hair loss can be prevented or perhaps even reversed if you make some changes to your diet. There are vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy hair growth.

Should you take vitamin supplements, be careful with the dosage having too much can cause damage to the hair and the body instead of providing nourishment.

Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables is good for your well being, and can also be very beneficial for your hair.

However, the abovementioned hair loss remedies might not work for everyone. While there are many possible causes of hair loss, there are also many ways to deal with it. Improvements inside your diet and lifestyle are helpful for your well being and might help prevent hair loss also.

A Closer Look at the Common Treatments for Male Pattern Baldness

Much to the delight of many men experiencing androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), various hair loss treatments that are truly effective have been mushrooming. However, a closer look of the most common treatments for male pattern hair loss is necessary to sort out the facts from the hype.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil appears to work for many men, showing a definite ability to reinvigorate hair follicles that have been rendered inactive through contamination by DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is the naturally produced substance that is responsible for causing androgenic alopecia. While this substance does cause noticeable hair growth in some — but not all — men who use it, it usually takes up to four months for visible results to show.

Many men have complained, however, that new hair associated with minoxidil is relatively thin and wispy and lacking in overall quality. Other complaints include hair regrowth occurring only in the crown area, as the area above the temples that is also affected by androgenic alopecia does not respond to the use of minoxidil.

This topical mixture is not inexpensive by any means, and once someone starts using it, they must keep using it forever or the new hair that has grown will fall out.

Finasteride

Taken in oral form, finasteride works internally to undermine the body’s system for manufacturing DHT, a derivative of testosterone that causes baldness as a side effect when it is produced in excessive amounts. The fact that it goes right to the root of the problem, whereas minoxidil only treats surface symptoms of this problem, probably explains why finasteride seems to be a more effective hair loss treatment than minoxidil.

However, just like minoxidil, it takes several months for finasteride to actually produce results — perhaps as many as 8–12 for some people; and also like minoxidil, it only produces new hair growth in the crown area of the head. Not surprisingly, given the fact that it is sold only by prescription, finasteride is even more expensive than minoxidil, and it also must be taken continuously and indefinitely for its results to be lasting.

Natural Supplements

Hair loss treatment supplements are available that combine several of these potent substances together to provide the body with what it needs to resist hair loss naturally and effectively.

One great bonus with supplements is that, because what is being used is harvested from nature instead of being produced artificially in a laboratory, the cost of these substances is only a fraction of what people have to pay for minoxidil and finasteride.

Hair Loss Treatment Hope

The main thing all hair loss treatments offer men experiencing premature hair loss is hope — hope that their condition can still get better, and hope that what has been lost can be regained.

Top 5 Questions about Hair Loss

Male pattern baldness is a topic near and dear to many men. Actually, it’s a topic that most men — specifically 85% of all men — will become familiar with at some point in their lives.

Unfortunately, however, it’s a topic that’s still shrouded in myth, misconception and misunderstanding. With so much confusion, it’s no wonder that many men lack answers to even the most basic questions regarding hair loss.

Here are the top 5 most common hair loss questions — and of course, their answers.

No. 1: What causes male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness (or androgenic alopecia) is largely a genetic disorder. It arises in some men because they are genetically predisposed to having higher levels of 5-alpha reductase in their bodies. 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme that converts the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT shrinks hair follicle cells over time resulting in thinner hair. As DHT accumulates, hair gradually thins until it is lost entirely in certain areas.

No. 2: Who did I get my hair loss genes from?

For decades, a myth has perpetuated that hair loss genes were only passed down from the mother’s side of the family. In truth, however, how we inherit our baldness from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family. We can’t just blame this one on mum, guys.

No. 3: What age will I start to lose my hair?

Because of the complex number of factors involved in male pattern baldness, the age at which it strikes will vary between men. Generally speaking, about 25% of men will begin balding before the age of 21. By the age of 35, about 66% of men will experience some degree of hair loss. Finally, by the age of 50, approximately 85% of men will have significantly thinning hair.

No. 4: How much hair will I lose?

The amount of hair you lose and where the hair is lost varies considerably from one guy to the next. The typical pattern of male baldness begins at the hairline. The hairline gradually recedes, forming an M-shaped pattern. Eventually the hair becomes finer, shorter and thinner, creating a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head. But, not all men will suffer severe hair loss. The amount you lose depends again on various genetic and environmental factors.

No. 5: Does stress influence hair loss?

Stress tends to influence a type of hair loss that is distinct from male pattern baldness. Severe emotional or physical stress, as well as chronic stress, may lead to a sudden and rapid shedding of the hair. Medically, this is known as telogen effluvium. Hair that is lost in this way will typically regrow in a few months, unlike hair that is lost due to traditional balding. Scientists are just now exploring whether acute or chronic stress influences male pattern baldness.

Alopecia: Common Causes and Basic Treatments

Hair loss is one of the problems affecting both men and women from different walks of life. However, there is no reason to freak out if you are one of those suffering from this. There are now many hair loss treatments that will surely work depending on the causes of the condition.

Before you take action to treat hair loss, you need to understand the condition itself. It is also important to know the causes of hair loss in order for you to deal with it appropriately. Most people suffering from hair loss start taking medications without even understanding the problem.

Normally, human hair grows on a phase lasting from two to six years. Scalp hair also undergoes a resting phase that usually lasts two to three months. After the resting phase, it normally goes through a shedding phase. Shedding about 50 to 100 hair strands a day is normal but beyond that is already a cause for alarm.

The problem is brought about by many different causes. Hence, treatment for such a condition also depends on the cause and degree of the problem. It is therefore important to seek professional help on this problem. You need to be cautious if you intend to undergo self-medication which could only worsen the problem. It is therefore not advisable to buy finasteride or any other hair loss medication without understanding the problem.

Among the common causes of hair loss are stress, iron insufficiency, infection and even improper medication. These should be predetermined so the problem can be treated appropriately and effectively at half the cost.

If the abnormal shedding of scalp hair is caused by stress or iron deficiency, it will eventually stop when stressful activities are minimized and iron supplements or iron food sources are taken. Hence, you need to take proper stance in addressing the main cause rather than treating the problem itself.

If it is caused by an infection, oral antibiotics or anti-fungal medicine will definitely treat it. Any other types of these causes for abnormal shedding of scalp hair should be treated as early as possible to ensure real efficient results.

There are also certain types of hair loss that cannot be treated like the ones caused by androgenic alopecia. But there are products to lessen this type of hair shedding. These prescription products usually work best for hair shedding at the top and back of the scalp, where there are still remaining strands.

Other than medication, hairstyles can also help to address this problem. Artificial hair is also recommended to effectively hide bald spots or patches. But, with the advent of modern technology, hair transplant is now gaining popularity to address severe hair loss.

Remedy Hair Loss by Eating the Right Foods

Many people don’t think much about the health of their hair — that is, until it starts thinning or shedding excessively. If you’re noticing a significant increase in the amount of hair strands lost (50–100) per day, you might take comfort in the fact that you are in good company: Hair loss affects about 35 million men and 21 million women in the United States alone.

This equates to two-thirds of the male population that will experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 35, and that number jumps to 85 per cent by the time they reach the age of 50.

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. One permanent cause is genetics, but most people don’t realise that there are other causes and which may result to temporary or reversible types of hair loss. Temporary hair loss may be caused by extreme stress, severe illness or childbirth; but the cause that is most easily treatable is a change in diet.

Hair needs many vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy. Among them are protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A, but not too much; excess vitamin A can actually cause hair loss, according to researchers.

If you think diet may be the cause of your hair-related woes, try adding some of these hair-healthy foods to your recipes:

• Beans – Great source of iron, zinc and biotin

• Almonds, pecans and cashews – Rich in zinc

• Dark leafy greens (such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard) – Contain vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum (to condition hair)

• Carrots – Another good source of vitamin A

• Walnuts and salmon – Both rich in omega-3 fatty acids

• Brazil nuts – High in selenium (promotes scalp health)

How to Manage Hair Loss Due to Menopause

Hair loss can be a problem around the age of menopause and it is a common reason women visit trichologists, dermatologists, or hair loss experts.

Diminishing oestrogen levels gradually lead to a heavier shedding rate of hair and/or a noticeable reduction in thickness. There’s also an increase of androgens — male hormones that women have too — weakening scalp hair and triggering more facial and body hair. There’s no miracle cure, but the following measures can help; allow several months to see a difference.

Eat protein

Because hair is essentially protein, make sure you eat high-quality meat, oily fish, poultry or eggs at breakfast (when energy levels to hair follicles are at their lowest) and also at lunch.

Up your iron intake

Iron deficiency is common (a third of women aged 51–64 are below par). If you don’t eat much red meat, try a supplement.

Pep up a sluggish digestion

This can lead to limp, oily hair, so eat lots of fresh vegetables and drink water to keep the strands hydrated. Nutritionists advise plenty of live yoghurt, olive oil, nuts and seeds. Reduce dairy foods, caffeine, sugar and salt.

Consider supplements

Pharmacists suggest Saw Palmetto, which helps counteract androgenic activity, plus Silica for healthy hair.

Give hair TLC

Shampoo and condition it often — taking time first to massage the scalp all over using your fingertips (with a little borage or wheat germ oil) to aid blood and nutrient flow to the follicles.

Apply weekly masks

Massage in a scalp mask for five minutes, then follow with a hair mask.

A topical drug may help

Minoxidil is licensed for pattern baldness in women too. It works better in younger women but the effect is slight (about 20 per cent of women aged 20 to 54 see moderate hair growth) and it’s expensive because you have to keep using it or the newly grown hair will fall out.

Obtain Healthy Hair Regrowth Right at Home

Ditch all the miraculous cosmetics that can damage your strands for the following home remedies for hair growth. Use hair-friendly ingredients to rule out the chance of allergic reactions.

In order to boost the process of hair growth, it is important to strengthen the roots and provide the hair shafts with vitamins and minerals. Discover the positive impact of organic ingredients on your locks.

There’s no need to empty your pockets to have cascading tresses. You can also save some money and energy with time-tested treatments that help you rock the transition from chemical to organic hair care with ease.

The following home remedies for hair growth provide you with pocket-friendly methods to have strong and glossy tresses:

Lavender Oil

Boost the process of hair growth with this natural treatment. Use diluted lavender oil to massage your scalp and increase the blood flow in this area. When repeated more times per week, this beauty ritual can contribute to the strengthening of hair shafts and roots.

Sage and Rosemary

Combine these two ingredients to treat baldness and boost hair growth. Cleanse your scalp from free radicals with this natural treatment. In a medium bowl, mix 4 drops of sage and rosemary with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Massage your scalp with this mixture for 4–5 minutes. Keep on practicing this ritual at least once a day for 2 weeks and enjoy the fabulous results of your hair spa routine.

Lemon Juice and Egg

Use this natural treatment to increase hair growth. In a bowl, beat an egg and add 1 tsp of lemon juice. After you’ve obtained the right texture, apply it on your locks.

Leave the treatment on for 30 minutes before you wash it off with shampoo and tepid water. Embed this ritual into your hair care routine for dazzling results.

Arnica

Arnica is a popular herb used to treat various skin disorders. This ingredient can be also used in treating hair loss. Create a hair rinse by mixing some Arnica tincture with warm water. Use a cotton pad to massage the lotion into your scalp. Arnica is the perfect solution to increase blood circulation on your scalp and contribute to quicker hair growth.

Jojoba Oil

Use this essential oil to treat hair loss. Dilute a few drops of jojoba with warm water and dip a cotton pad into this lotion. Massage the treatment into your scalp to increase local blood circulation. The results of a regular 2-week beauty session will be simply amazing.