Executive summary By: Robert D Hawkins
Let's face it, most us will experience some degree of hair loss at some time in our lives. The question is will it be permanent or temporary? In this informational article titled "Self Help for Hair Loss" we will briefly cover the causes of hair loss and present eight helpful ideas that just might help you keep your hair for a very long time.
The human scalp is filled with approximately 100,000 hairs with the average hair replacement cycle lasting five years or so. Each day over 100 hairs are lost and then replaced. The problem with balding occurs when the number of hair lost becomes more than can be replaced; the bigger the gap, the faster the thinning or balding.
In many cases the imbalance is exasperated by things we do such as crash weight loss programs, stress, taking certain medications, certain oral contraceptive, bleaching, excessive shampooing, blow drying or nutritional deficiencies. In other instances balding is brought about by events or conditions out of our control such as hormones, genetics, autoimmune disorders, an underactive thyroid gland or a high fever. The vast majority of incidences of thinning are known in medical terms as toxic alopecia. In other words you are doing something or have a temporary condition that is damaging your hair or interrupting the natural hair replacement cycle.
In most cases self help for hair loss is not a complicated subject. Once the cause of your rapidly thinning scalp is identified and eliminated a healthy replacement cycle can begin. In other instances the answer is not so clear. This is indeed the case with genetics and hormones, and the bad news is that this powerful combination accounts for approximately 90% of all balding.
The medical term for this condition is androgenic alopecia and it affects both men and women in different ways. Women experience a general thinning process which is evenly distributed with very little indication of a receding hair line, while men recognize this condition by balding on top of the head, thinning on the crown, and a receding hair line. The culprit in both cases is dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Androgenic alopecia will not reverse itself and steps must be taken to either block DHT or control the amount of this hormone being produced.
Self Help Strategies:
*Good nutrition: Give your hair the tools it needs to grow. Would you plant your garden in an area that had poor soil? Both anecdotal evidence and research studies suggest that Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, and biotin play essential roles.
*Exercise: Blood supplies your scalp with the nutrients needed for a health hair replacement cycle.
*Topical natural oils: There are a number of topical natural oils such as nut oil and pumpkinseed oil that have gained some recognition as hair growth stimulants. While these products are readily available, affordable, and are worth a try, their results are unpredictable.
*Avoid lathering shampoos - The more lather generally the harsher the shampoo.
*Coloring and heat: We all want to look our best and often times hair coloring and curling irons play a vital role. My best suggestion here is to limit their use when possible.
*Reduce stress: Find ways to reduce the stress in your busy life, your hair will thank you.
*Males and females are different: When searching for helpful regrowth products make sure to pick one that is gender specific.
*Don't wait: Especially with androgenic alopecia it is difficult to reverse the condition if too much damage has been done.
The human scalp is filled with approximately 100,000 hairs with the average hair replacement cycle lasting five years or so. Each day over 100 hairs are lost and then replaced. The problem with balding occurs when the number of hair lost becomes more than can be replaced; the bigger the gap, the faster the thinning or balding.
In many cases the imbalance is exasperated by things we do such as crash weight loss programs, stress, taking certain medications, certain oral contraceptive, bleaching, excessive shampooing, blow drying or nutritional deficiencies. In other instances balding is brought about by events or conditions out of our control such as hormones, genetics, autoimmune disorders, an underactive thyroid gland or a high fever. The vast majority of incidences of thinning are known in medical terms as toxic alopecia. In other words you are doing something or have a temporary condition that is damaging your hair or interrupting the natural hair replacement cycle.
In most cases self help for hair loss is not a complicated subject. Once the cause of your rapidly thinning scalp is identified and eliminated a healthy replacement cycle can begin. In other instances the answer is not so clear. This is indeed the case with genetics and hormones, and the bad news is that this powerful combination accounts for approximately 90% of all balding.
The medical term for this condition is androgenic alopecia and it affects both men and women in different ways. Women experience a general thinning process which is evenly distributed with very little indication of a receding hair line, while men recognize this condition by balding on top of the head, thinning on the crown, and a receding hair line. The culprit in both cases is dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Androgenic alopecia will not reverse itself and steps must be taken to either block DHT or control the amount of this hormone being produced.
Self Help Strategies:
*Good nutrition: Give your hair the tools it needs to grow. Would you plant your garden in an area that had poor soil? Both anecdotal evidence and research studies suggest that Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, and biotin play essential roles.
*Exercise: Blood supplies your scalp with the nutrients needed for a health hair replacement cycle.
*Topical natural oils: There are a number of topical natural oils such as nut oil and pumpkinseed oil that have gained some recognition as hair growth stimulants. While these products are readily available, affordable, and are worth a try, their results are unpredictable.
*Avoid lathering shampoos - The more lather generally the harsher the shampoo.
*Coloring and heat: We all want to look our best and often times hair coloring and curling irons play a vital role. My best suggestion here is to limit their use when possible.
*Reduce stress: Find ways to reduce the stress in your busy life, your hair will thank you.
*Males and females are different: When searching for helpful regrowth products make sure to pick one that is gender specific.
*Don't wait: Especially with androgenic alopecia it is difficult to reverse the condition if too much damage has been done.
Additionally, there are a number of excellent options for help for hair loss especially in the area of male and female pattern baldness that are worth considering. These products are designed specifically to block DHT, stimulate growth, and supply your scalp with the nutrition needed to maximize results. Remember, procrastination can be the difference between success and failure.
