when the amount of hair lost grows higher than the normal hair fall that takes place due to the change in environment, increasing age or growth of new hairs, it is referred to as thinning hair problem that needs special care. Improper or poor diet, exposure to a lot of chemicals or cosmetics, hormonal imbalance, stress, anxiety and mental tension are some causes of thinning hair.

Hormones Rules

Our hormones govern the development of hair that appears after puberty. The male hormone, testosterone, governs beard, body hair and hair in the armpits. The female hormone, estrogen, generally prevents hair growth on the chin and encourages it to grow on the head. Occasionally women develop signs of thinning hair or baldness when estrogen levels drop. Treatment with estrogen has been successful in restoring hair growth and stopping of thinning hair.

Hair Loss IS Inherited!

It is your inherited DNA, passed on from EITHER parent, that will eventually determine your thinning hair. For the purpose of this article, you need only understand that with current technology, your genetic code is beyond your control, although that may change within the next ten to fifteen years. However, you should also be aware that today, like no other time in history, medical science is able to provide safe and effective treatment for thinning hair.

Thinning Hair Treatment: Rogaine

By far the most publicized medical treatment available for male pattern baldness is minoxidil (Rogaine). The idea of using minoxidil topically to grow hair was serendipitous. This drug was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and had the unanticipated side effect of stimulating hair growth, sometimes in unwanted areas. This observation led to the testing of topical minoxidil on balding areas of the scalp. Since its introduction in 1988, Upjohn, the manufacturer, sells about $150 million worth of the drug each year, even though its ability to grow back hair is, at best, modest.

Minoxidil 2% (Rogaine) solution for application to the scalp has been available for over 10 years and is now available without a prescription in the US. It can be used by both men and women who are experiencing thinning hair. Originally used for the treatment of high blood pressure, physicians noted that one of its side effects was promoting hair growth. Although its mechanism is not completely understood, it seems to work best to stop or slow further thinning hair and works more effectively on the crown than at the frontal hairline. A more potent concentration of Rogaine (Minoxidil 5%) is now available and has been shown to be more effective than the 2% solution. (see Rogaine)

Thinning Hair Remedies

1. Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it.

3. Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soya beans, whole grains and nuts.