It is normal to shed hair every day and the truth is we loose between 100 – 125 hairs on any given day. Hair that is shed falls out at the end of growth cycle. At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called a "resting phase" and after 2- 3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair loss than is normal.
As we get older, both men and women experience some hair loss. It's a normal part of the aging process. Called Androgenetic Alopecia, it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. Androgentic Alopecia often runs in families and affects some people more than others. In men it is often referred to as Male Pattern Baldness. It is characterized by a receding hair line and baldness on the top of head. Women, on the other hand, don't go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp.
Hormones play the dominant role when talking about Androgenetic Alopecia. Simple put, both men and women produce testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to dihydrotestosterone ( DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT shrinks hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp to thicken, become inelastic and restrict blood flow. This causes the hair follicles to atrophy. As a result, when a hair does fall out, it is not replaced.
Needless to say, men produce more testosterone than women and experience more hair loss.
While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation.
Emotional stress, pregnancy, or surgery can also cause our hair to fall out and is usually not noticed until 3-4 months after the stressful event has taken place. Stress can cause a slowing of new hair growth because a larger number of hair follicles enter into the resting phase and no new hair growth is experienced.
Another way in which individuals experience hair loss is due to mechanical stressors on the hair and scalp. Wearing pigtails, cornrows or tight rollers that end up pull on the hair can scar the scalp and cause permanent hair loss. Hair products such as hot oil treatments and chemicals used for permanents can cause inflammation to the hair follicles which can also result in scarring and hair loss.
For some, hair loss may be the early warning sign of a more serious disorder such as lupus or diabetes, so it is important to talk to your doctor. If you or someone you know is suffering from hair loss, here are some alternative health ideas that can help naturally.
Recommendations For Wellness
If you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss.
Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out.
Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels.
Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth.
If you are a women, have your female hormones tested. If they are imbalanced, talk to your health care provider about bio-identical hormone replacements.
If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure and stress on your hair and scalp.
If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the number of times you are using them.
Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair.
In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the formation of D HT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help prevent prostate enlargement.
Female hair loss strikes about twenty five percent of women . That is one out of every five women is touched by thinning hair. This is a very high percentage but is not common news . Most of the products advertised on TV and radio is directed at how to keep your hair long, keep it shinny and beautiful . Their is a very limited number of ads on TV which deal with female hair loss as it is not considered as beautiful .
Why am I losing My Hair?
Men and women share a common cause for hair loss. The condition is called androgenetic alopecia. The condition is hereditary and maybe passed on from generation to generation . There are other possible causes that include thyroid trouble, pregnancy or other medical conditions that disturb the balance of the hormones in the body.
Donning severe hairstyles that drag the hair can induce hair loss. Some serious hairstyles can stop the flow of blood to the hair follicles and cause your hairline to recede . Also, if you take prescribed medication this could cause hairloss . Diuretics, anti-depressants and cancer chemotherapy agent can cause temporary hair loss. If you are diabetic and take medication for this it is also recognised to cause female hair loss . You might have a unknown medical condition which could be the root cause of female hair loss .
You should not panic when you notice the first signs of thinning hair. Nevertheless, you ought to take action to prevent more thinning. First, determine what is causing your hair loss, is it a new diet or some pills you have started to have, perhaps you switched your shampoo . The solution may be as easy as altering a prescription or a hairstyle. Being able to annihilate the cause of the hair loss will make treatment for hair more efficient.
Cures for Hairloss
If androgenetic alopecia is the cause for your female hair loss than treatment are available for it . One Minoxidil (Rogaine) boosts blood flow to the hair follicles. This is not a miracle cure but does offer hope to women with a hair loss condition. Thinning hair is caused by the male hormone testosterone and dihydrotestosterone . The basic problem is the androgens that induce hair growth to stop.
The aim of Minoxidil is to resume your hair growth process . This is one of the most popular medications for male baldness . But, Minoxidil (Rogaine) can be applied by females. The cost of this treatment is not cheap and presently works out at roughly $50 per month . This product has been widely employed by women for female hair loss and has been discovered to slow down and, in some cases, even revert hair loss.
Men and women have different types of hair loss problems. Female hairloss pattern is totally different from those of men . Instead of getting a receding hairline, the female hair loss condition usually causes hair to thin over the entire head. If the hair is thinning in patches, the condition might be stimulated by an autoimmune disorder that inflames the hair follicles. This condition can be cared for by a dermatologist with an anti-inflammatory drug .
To fight female hair loss the first step would be to discover the root cause of the trouble . Then call your doctor or dermatologist to schedule a appointment for treatment.
Both Dr. Rita Louise & Wil Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr. Rita Louise has sinced written about articles on various topics from Types of Cancer, Alternative Medicine and Hair Care. Dr. Rita Louise, Ph D is a Naturopathic Physician and the founder of the . It is her unique gift as a medical intuitiv. Dr. Rita Louise's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
