Sunday, October 19, 2008

What is Female Hair Loss and What Causes It?

Women suffer from female hair loss, too. Old men are not the only ones who are plagued with depleted scalps, think again. Female hair loss is very much a reality.

Female Pattern Baldness

Female hair loss is what is commonly known as female pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia. Surprisingly it has been discovered that in America, the ratio of women who have it those who don't is 1:4. Although female hair loss can't kill in itself as a condition, it can be troubling.

Females have always been traditionally viewed by society as creatures who should have full heads of beautiful hair. A woman who has a condition of female hair loss would therefore be seen as unusual.

Normal Hair Cycle

Hair resting and growing phases characterizes a normal hair cycle. In the anagen or growing phase, the hair develops healthily for a couple of years. After this, it will enter the telogen phase in which it will begin to rest for a number of months before falling off. Normally, 80%-90% of the hair is in the anagen phase, leaving only a comparatively small fraction in the telogen and shedding phase.

For women with hair loss, it is obvious that a lot more than 10% of their hair strands are in the telogen phase. In female hair loss, something disturbs the normal cycle.

Cause of Female Hair Loss

- Hormonal Changes - Hormones play a big part in female hair loss. As some of us already know, both men and women have testosterone, a hormone which men normally have more of. In androgenetic alopecia, this hormone is acted upon by enzymes in the scalp that convert it into dihydrotestosteron (DHT).

The DHT causes the hair follicles to shrink, which eventually will result to loss of hair and inability to grow new strands. In women, the action of DHT is regulated by the hormone estrogen. Female hair loss therefore normally occurs when a woman is in a state of hormonal imbalance. This can happen when a woman is in the menopausal stage or when she has just given birth. The condition can also strike when a woman is receiving hormonal treatment for an illness.

Pattern of Hair Loss

Although there is a similarity in the reason behind male and female hair loss conditions, there is a marked difference in appearance. Men usually develop bald spots. We are very much familiar with men eventually losing all hair strands on a particular area such as the top of the scalp. Female hair loss however is different. Women usually only have diffuse balding. This means that there is an observed general thinning of the hair strands resulting in some parts of the scalp becoming more noticeable through the remaining strands. A woman who develops bald spots like men may have a more serious condition that deserves medical attention.

Hair Loss Solution

Female hair loss treatment products are now available. Now that you know what causes the condition, the best solution is to find a product that can provide extra nutritional support to the female scalp and hair. Nutrients that have been discovered to be good for female hair loss are vitamin B6, biotin and magnesium. Of course, it also makes sense to take care of your health through proper diet and good lifestyle habits.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

What’s With Hair Loss Products and Hair Growth Products From Hair Energizer?

The hair on the head has a major influence on how a person feels about oneself. In fact, hair can cause someone to feel insecure or to feel otherwise. People experiencing hair loss have a great deal of confidence issues. Most men, who may commonly experience baldness, can feel insecure once they are experiencing receding hairline. How much more for women, who consider their hair as their crown and a physical completion of womanhood? On the other hand, a person who has a beautiful shiny hair feels confident. It makes a person look pretty and it could be one of the assets that make the person look attractive.



For this reason, people spend considerable amount of money just to make their hair look good. They would go to hair salon once in a while or buy hair care products that they think will enhance the appearance of their hair. Some would go to hair parlors for special occasions while others would go there as frequently as possible to maintain a healthy looking hair or to change hairstyles. These all happen even if the person has no hair problems. How much more would it cost to someone who has hair loss problems?



One of the most common hair problems is hair loss. People who suffer hair loss are also on the lookout of new methods and products that can help them solve or at least hide the effects of hair loss. It’s a good thing that it is not hard to solve hair loss. Aside from the fact that there are hair replacement methods such as hair transplants and non-surgical hair replacement methods, there are safe and ready to use hair loss products available in the market.



Hair loss products of course promote hair growth. These products can be considered as a medication. They come as an oral medication or as topical medication. The hair loss products serve as a solution to hair loss by developing healthy growing natural hair. They come in a form of sprays, shampoos, hair kits, and topical bottles. Aside from these external hair growth products, there are also hair growth vitamins that can be taken orally. These vitamins are also hair growth products that solve vitamins deficiency that cause hair loss.



It is best to buy hair loss products in exclusive stores so you will have plenty of choices that are suitable for your hair loss case. Buying hair growth products in any drugstore or supermarket will only give you few options and most likely you will not find the product that is suitable for your case. Besides, hair growth products found in any store may not be made up of quality products. With hair growth products in specialty stores, you will surely find everything for hair loss solutions and everything intended for different cases of hair loss.



One specialty store offering hair loss products is Hair Energizer. Hair Energizer offers all types of hair loss products including shampoos, conditioners, topical solutions, and hair loss vitamins. Products in Hair Energizer are intended to solve hair loss and promote not just hair growth but also shiny, healthy, strong, and self-repairing hair.



Generally, as an online hair care store, Hair Energizer does not focus on hair loss problems alone. Its products also solve other hair problems such as damaged hair, thinning hair, brittle hair, and dry hair. So if you are looking for basically any product for your hair problems, it is again best to look into specialty stores such as Hair Energizer and choose a hair care product that best suits your needs.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Discovering the Latest in Hair Loss Research Developments

Suffering from hair loss? If it's any consolation, this is truly a great age to be born in if you have the genetic predisposition for hair loss. That's because there are now a lot of research developments that will allow you to prevent and even re-grow your hair. Here's what you need to know about hair loss research.

Current Research

Current research developments have truly come up with effective solutions for hair loss. Unfortunately, solution scams have also multiplied. It is important to remember that in order for you to find real treatments for hair loss, you have to conduct your own hair loss research. Find out the real causes of hair loss, possible solutions for hair loss and scientific evidences that can support available solutions.

There are numerous studies that have been conducted about possible hair loss solutions. In a nutshell, here is what current hair loss research has to say about treating hair loss:

The Androgenetic Alopecia - There are different kinds of hair loss but the most common is androgenetic alopecia in which genes and hormones cause hair loss. In this condition, hair loss can be medically treated by taking medicine that can stimulate hair growth or one that can block the hormone that causes hair loss. There is one of each kind of medicine. Both are FDA approved but only one of them can be safely used by females.

Hair Loss Surgery - The other medical method borne out of hair loss research that can treat hair loss is surgery. One popular method is hair transplantation in which healthy hairs are taken from the back of the scalp and transplanted to the balding area. This method is expensive. Clients also lament the fact that there are limits to the amount of hair that can be transplanted. In other words, even after transplantation, hair rarely ever looks plentiful or full.

Saw Palmetto - Surprisingly, hair loss research has revealed that the herb saw palmetto has some potential in treating male hair loss. Although more hair loss research is needed, current research findings reveal that the herb that was originally studied for prostate health has some DHT blocking properties.

Future Hair Loss Treatment

The above mentioned solutions summarize the options you can take for hair loss remedy. There is however some hope for future developments in hair loss treatment. Given below are promising hair loss research studies being conducted:

The Genes - Gene therapy hair loss research is very much on everyone's mind but it is actually a method that is still being developed. Since genes are responsible for androgenetic alopecia, scientists believe that they may be able to remedy hair loss if they found a way to manipulate, modify or correct genes.

Replication of Hair Cells - There is now actually a patented method for replicating hair cells from hair samples and injecting the cells into the balding areas. Scientists are conducting more hair loss research on this technique.

DHT Blocking Drug - There is some evidence that a new drug is being developed that can hopefully block DHT better and more thoroughly than the currently available medicine.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Hair Loss Symptom: How to Recognize the Signs

Most people wouldn't want to have hair loss. Regardless of whether they admit it or not, a balding head greatly affects their self-esteem. You could take note of some symptoms if you're worried about possibly suffering from hair loss. Do remember though that a hair loss symptom will depend on the kind of hair loss condition you have.

Androgenetic Alopecia

95% of individuals who suffer from hair loss are known to have androgenetic alopecia. In this condition, it is the genes and hormones that are responsible for whatever hair loss symptom there is.

Hair Loss for Men - Among men, this condition may first be noticed in a thinning of the temple hair strands and a receding hair line. Eventually the most evident hair loss symptom will be the gradual formation of a horseshoe pattern. Men will develop a bald top area with hair remaining only at the back of the head and a little on the temples.

Hair Loss for Women - The hair loss symptom of women with the same condition is a little different. Women do not end up with bald patches or a bald top. The normal hair loss symptom is an overall diffuse thinning of the hair. Women will appear to have thinner hair with scalp areas becoming obvious through the remaining thin hair strands.

Alopecia Aratea

Alopecia Aratea is another cause for hair loss, albeit not as common as androgenetic alopecia. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system inexplicably attacks the hair follicles resulting in the loss of hair. The main hair loss symptom of this condition is the appearance of round patches or areas in the scalp without hair while the rest of the scalp may retain hair strands.

Telogen Effluvium

Hair Loss and Stress - This hair loss condition is believed to occur most among people who are subjected to a lot of physical, emotional or mental stress. In this condition, the hair loss symptom is a general increase in hair shedding. This happens because a lot of hair strands suddenly shift from the growing to the resting phase and fall off in approximately 3 months or so.

Traction Alopecia

Tight Hairstyles - This is the type of hair loss that is primarily caused by hairstyles that are too tight. These styles include braids, corn rolls and ponytails. When the hair is bound too tightly, the strands may get uprooted resulting in a hair loss symptom of small areas or without hair. The problem here is that if the damage is extensive, the scalp may begin to heal and the damage may eventually develop into scar tissue. This makes hair rehabilitation and further hair growth difficult, if not, impossible.

Others

Vitamin Deficiency - A hair loss symptom may also be obvious under other conditions or situations aside from those mentioned above. It has been discovered for example that individuals who are deficient in some vitamins and minerals like biotin, iron and vitamin B6 may suffer from hair loss.

Cancer Medication - In some cases, an obvious hair loss symptom may be noticed if a person is under medications like blood thinners, steroids and cancer medicines. A person could also suffer from hair loss due to very severe illness like thyroid disease, severe anemia, severe infection and lupus.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Hair Loss Remedies - Conquering Hair Loss in Natural Way

What Causes Hair Loss?

Many people suffer from hair loss - and there are several causes for hair loss. Alopecia is the general word that is used to refer to any type of hair loss. The most common type of hair loss is male or female pattern baldness - or androgenetic Alopecia - which is caused by genetics. A number of other circumstances - from environmental to medical can also cause hair loss.

Before you begin any treatment regimen, you should consult a dermatologist to determine the cause of your hair loss. Hair loss is a common symptom for hundreds of medical conditions - and determining whether or not your hair loss is a symptom of a medical condition will determine the route you need to take - your medical condition will need to be taken care of before treatment for hair loss. Knowing the cause of the hair loss is the first step to finding a successful hair loss remedy.

Hair Loss Remedies

Once you have determined the cause of your hair loss, you will find there are a variety of hair loss remedies - some natural, some medical, and some cosmetic. Your dermatologist can help you find the right solution. Over the past few years, medical treatment of hair loss has grown tremendously - in some cases, learning what causes the hair loss enables drugs to be made that can stop the hair loss before it happens.

Drug-related hair loss remedies do not work for everyone and the success of this type of hair loss treatment depends on the reason for the hair loss. Cosmetic remedies have also become a popular way for people to combat hair loss - and is sometimes an option for people who are not successful with other types of hair loss remedies. But, cosmetic hair replacement can be quite expensive.

Many people have found natural remedies for hair loss. The premise behind natural hair loss remedies is that hair loss is a natural condition and can, in some cases, be dramatically decreased by using natural remedies. There are many types of natural hair loss remedies including exercise to increase blood flow, massaging the scalp, and herbal hair loss remedies, which involve the use of natural herbs.

Herbal Remedies For Hair Loss

There are many types of herbal remedies for hair loss - some are used to stimulate hair growth and others are used to keep the hair and the scalp healthy in order to prevent hair loss. Let's explore some of these natural hair loss remedies.

1. Henna can be used to condition and maintain healthy hair - thus, decreasing the chances of hair loss. Henna is a traditional herb that has been used for a number of years to maintain healthy hair.

2. Aloe Vera is another traditional herb that has been used effectively in the prevention of hair loss. Native Americans, as well as people in the Caribbean and India have used Aloe Vera to maintain healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Combined with wheat germ oil and coconut milk, Aloe Vera can be made into a shampoo that cleanses and heals the scalp.

3. Jojoba Oil is an herbal remedy for hair loss that has been used successfully in people who suffer from skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and has been used successfully in the treatment of dandruff.

4. Aromatherapists use lavender and bay essential oils to massage the scalp and stimulate hair growth.

5. Horsetail can be used to stimulate hair follicles. This herb can be used to help conquer pattern baldness by strengthening weak hair and promoting hair growth.

6. Rosemary is another herbal remedy for hair loss that can be used in oil for massaging the scalp and stimulating hair growth.

7. Saw Palmetto can be used to block the hormone DHT, which is part of the cause of hair loss. Saw Palmetto can be used in oils, added to other formulas, or taken internally in capsule form.

8. Ginseng can be used as a stimulant and helps improve circulation. Ginseng can also be used to remove toxins clogging the hair follicles, increasing the chance of healthy hair growth. Like Saw Palmetto, Ginseng can be used as oil, added to other formulas, or taken internally in capsule form.

These are just a few of the many herbal remedies for hair loss. Other herbs used to prevent hair loss or stimulate hair growth include green tea, ginkgo biloba, licorice, nettles, and sage. There are many other herbs that can be used for the prevention and treatment of hair loss in many combinations of shampoos and oils - some even used as teas to stimulate blood flow, thus stimulating the natural growth of hair. As with any treatment, be sure to check with your dermatologist to find the cause of the hair loss so that you can make an informed decision on the right hair loss remedy for you.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Hair Loss: Causes, Prevention & Treatments

Beautiful shining hair is akin to beauty & health. However, many people experience unjustified loss of hair loss, which negatively affects their social life and self perception. Hair loss can be attributed to several reasons including hormone changes, dandruff, exposure to chemicals, side effects of strong medications, side effects of radiation, etc. Sometimes hair loss can be the most visible aspect of some serious diseases, inadequate nutrition, or serious physical conditions.

Causes of Hair Loss

Stress & associated hormone changes
Side effects of some medicines
Ill health of liver, kidney and other internal organs
Radiation
Dandruff & other skin diseases
Incomplete nutrition – lack of proteins, minerals (like zinc) & vitamins
Exposure to chemicals
Excess use of shampoo, soap
Application of too much or too little oil

Kinds of Hair Loss

Hair loss can be classified into different kinds according to the nature of hair loss.

Alopecia areata is characterized by loss of hair in circles. This is mainly induced by stress and mental trauma. Certain physical conditions like Systematic Lupas Erythematosus (SLE) can also be a cause of this condition.

Alopecia totalis is characterized by total loss of hair from the head, leaving behind a bald head and even barren eyebrows. The skin of head turns smooth.

Diffuse alopecia condition has unhealthy, thin and short hair.

Trichotillomania is another condition, prevalent among children, characterized by the children pulling their hair and eating it. Children do this without their conscious knowledge and the hair they eat can remain in the stomach as a ball of hair, leading to pain.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss found among men. This is caused by excess activity of androgen, a hormone. Women too can suffer from this problem.

Holistic Food to Prevent Hair Loss

Every nutrient that helps in normal body functioning is also required for proper hair growth. Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fat), minerals and vitamins play important roles in body functioning and hair growth as well. Inadequate nutrition also first reflects on the hair.

The Essential Food Items to Take to Prevent Hair Loss

Include in your diet a good mixture of everything listed below. Take a mix of everything in moderation. Curcuma longa, cumin seed, etc are good spices to prepare food. Similarly, gooseberry (Embellica officinale), dried grapes, pea (small green pea), etc also promote good physical health and hair growth.

Green and colored vegetables
Wholegrain rice and wheat
Carbohydrate rich root items – tapioca, sweet potato, etc
Egg
Milk and dairy products
Fruits – especially orange, grapes, and other slightly sour fruits

However, the quality of the atmosphere, ground, etc under which the plants grow also affect the quality of the food you take. Food crops grown with excess use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc have very limited quality.

Food Items to Avoid

If you care about your hair and physical health, avoid the following items.

Soft drinks
Fast food
Overly cooked food
Processed food (canned, packaged)

Agreed, these items are good for your tongue. However, what is good for your tongue may not be good for your body, blood and hair.

Hair Care Precautions

Note the following points to take good care of your hair.

Gently dry your hair with a clean towel after bathing
Always use a clean comb
Don't comb wet hair
Don't comb your hair too often
Comb your hair in the direction of its growth and not against it
Don't use shampoos that contain chemicals – better option is natural shampoos prepared from hibiscus leaves, henna, grounded small green pea, etc
Apply enough oil on hair 30 minutes before bathing – coconut oil, sesame oil, etc are enough

Be gentle on your hair. Don't rub your hair violently and use hair dryer sparingly. Shampoos that contain chemicals actively destabilize your hair. You can prepare natural herbal shampoo from materials available from your backyard itself and it is better than any shampoo that you pay big prices for.

Ayurvedic Means of Hair Care and Hair Growth Measures

Ayurveda suggests different hair oils for healthy hair growth. Amalaki (Emblica officinale) is a major component of Ayurvedic hair oils. Massage your scalp with these oils and you can see healthier hair growth.

Treatments for Hair Loss

Allopathy medicine has quite a few treatments for hair loss, which are listed below.

1. Minoxidil – this medicine prescribed for blood pressure is prescribed for hair loss too. Apply the medicine on your scalp. Effectiveness is 10-20%. Hair loss will come back once you stop using the medicine.

2. Finasteride – this medicine usually prescribed for prostrate enlargement is handy treatment against hair loss. Temporary loss of libido and lowered quality of semen are the usual side effects of using this medicine. Women shall not use this, as it can cause the women to give birth to handicapped child.

3. Hair transplantation – hair from one part of the head is transplanted to other parts of scanty hair growth. Strip incision, laser grafting, punch grafts, etc are the main types of hair transplantation treatments. The possibility of hair fall in two-three years and the scars at the areas where hair is taken are to be taken care of.

4. Scalp Reduction – a kind of plastic surgery, where skin of hairless area is removed and the skin from hairy area is stretched. The success depends on hairless area of head and the elasticity of skin.

5. Hairpiece or toupee – wigs are attached to the skin, without being noticed. Can wear and tear in the long run.

In case of hair loss, cure is almost impossible and even prevention is difficult. Put your focus on better physical and mental health than worrying about lost hair. Follow

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Best Vitamins for Hair Loss

You like some people (like myself once) suffer from hair loss for a long time unaware that there is much you can do about it. If you understand what causes hair loss (and itchy weepy scalp), are willing to adjust or add a few things to your diet and hair care regimen, it is possible to have thick shiny healthy hair and a balanced scalp.

We all know that stress takes its toll on our body leading to mineral and vitamin deficiency induced hair loss. Yes - a common sign of stress is hair thinning & hair loss. This can be due to a mineral or vitamin deficiency of which hair loss vitamins nutrients are included.
Female Hair Loss Nutrients- Women Vitamin Deficiency & Thinning Hair:

For women, stress also plays havoc with your hormones affecting us more than men. Female hair loss in women due to a vitamin deficiency is further exacerbated by hormonal changes. Drinking Rasberry leaf tea can help to alleviate this. Other minerals to help restore balance are: Red clover and Black Cohosh (particulary for women over 35).

The more stressful your life, the more important it is that you are taking vitamins, eating a healthy diet and even taking nutrient supplements that will help you in preventing hair loss.

What You Need To Know About Hair Loss Vitamins Nutrients & Which Are the Best Vitamins For Hair Loss?

There are few and they all play a different but important part of cell building processes:

*Vitamin A is an essential vitamin to help you with hair loss and thinning hair. However, be careful not to take over 25,000 IU a day … doing so can be detrimental leading to more hair loss and other problems as will taking any vitamins in large doses.

*Vitamin C and E are two antioxidants vitamins that are important for keeping your hair, looking fuller and shinier, and scalp healthy. You can find Vitamin C in several vegetables and fruit, particularly in citrus fruits.

*Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, deficiencies are associated with an increased production of sebum (oil produced by the hair follicles). However, too much B2 and increased sebum production may result in reduced strength of the hair shaft.

*Vitamin B3, niacin - can produce a skin "flush", an uncomfortable feeing, or "hot flash". If you do decide to take this, take the minimum and see how your body reacts first.

*Sources of B2 are derived from grains, or breads and cereals, meat including poultry, and fish, milk and milk products.

*Niacin (B3) food sources include brewer's yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat.

*Sources of B12 include chicken, fish, eggs and milk.

*Vitamin B6, pyridoxine hydrochloride - studies have shown B6 to help with healthy hair growth. B6 is found in brewer's yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk.

*Vitamin B12

*Vitamin E is known to help with circulation in your scalp area. This is found in various beans, as well as oils.

*Folic acid is known for its importance in healthy cellular activity, proper cell division, and proper hair growth.

*Biotin – aids the body in producing keratin (what hair is largely made from) and as well as preventing hair loss may help prevent graying. Biotin is found in yeast, grains, liver, rice, milk, egg yolk, liver, kidney, soy and barley.

*Inositol – helps to keep hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. Foods rich in inositol are whole grains, yeast, liver, citrus fruits, eggs, rice, and milk. With the addition of inositol, you will be able to promote hair growth beneath the scalp and produce stronger healthier hair.

Obviously including foods rich is these hair vitamins will help to slow hair loss & thicken hair. This combined with a daily intake of a good quality vitamin supplement with high B vitamin content will aid hair growth.

Mineral deficiencies are a commonly overlooked source of hair loss – again stress can cause you to lose minerals just like vitamins, Minerals help our bodies absorb and assimilate vitamins so it is as if important if not more so to ensure you are getting enough minerals. Silica, Zinc and Selenium are all important in building good hair structure. Drinking oatstraw tea is also very good as a hair loss vitamin alternative or to accompany other treatments because it’s loaded with minerals. Other secondary minerals good for hair are Iron, Copper, Manganese, Sulphur, Iodine & Calcium. (Too much copper can cause greying though).
...And lastly, supplement such as saw palmetto and zinc are very helpful for those looking for natural ways to help with hair loss

Saw palmetto is a type of fruit that is legendary in helping to solve problems with baldness and prostate health in the U.S. and throughout Europe.

Zinc is best known to effect hair loss and fingernail growth when deficient in this mineral. Zinc deficiency not only produces problems with hair loss, but also with changes in the scalp. The scalp may become too dry or flaky and may often times be irritated because of the lack of nutrients. Zinc and copper (where there has been a deficiency) have been known to be effective in preventing hair from turning gray.

Taking a liquid mineral supplement is a good way to absorb minerals and using Celtic sea salt instead of usual salt is a very good option. Celtic sea salt contains many more minerals in natural form (and it tastes nicer too).

Brands like Fortisalt are in liquid form so can be sprayed onto food when cooked.
Natural Oils for Hair Growth:

You can use essential oils to help stimulate hair growth such as Lavender, Rosemary and Ginger.

An alternative to this is to make your garden remedies like lavender rosemary and ginger boiled in a saucepan with water then applied to your scalp daily. This “detoxes” your scalp and stimulates follicles. You can use this in conjunction with taking a supplement.

Some shampoos contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate – an aggressive foaming agent which can corrode hair follicles and cause scalp rashes and/or dandruff. So be wary of shampoos claiming to grow hair. Make sure they don’t contain ingredients to counteract the good they do.

Lastly there are hair growth shampoos like HairGenesis or Revivogen (more for men than women) to help regrow hair. I have done research on these – and both show great results. Hair Genesis is very effective in my opinion because it tackles hair growth from several angles giving you the highest likelihood of success.

Learn more about what causes hair loss, dandruff and other scalp conditions plus the secrets to “Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp” here

Its really not that hard to give your hair a boost and a kick start in growing back thicker and healthier. By understanding what environmental factors (like shampoo ingredients) cause follicle damage and what you can do both externally (natural oils) and internally (diet and supplementation) you can regrow your hair.