Treatments and Techniques to Restore Hair

It is quite natural to try to recover the lost hair from experiencing excessive shedding of hair while attaining adulthood. Apart from trying to look more attractive, they may see it as a step up in the business world, or it could be necessary for those employed in the entertainment business. Young women often connect their girlishness with having lustrous, natural hair. Regardless of the motives, which may be quite complex, the decision to restore one’s hair needs to be carefully considered as the most suitable hair restoration procedure must be chosen.

These days, there are numerous hair replacement clinics with safe procedures that are being used to disguise a receding hairline. Before, wigs and toupees were the only real hair replacement options that dealt with hair loss, and even now wigs are the first option for those with hair loss problems. However, the materials used to produce artificial wigs have improved dramatically over the last four decades. For a reasonable price, one can buy a fairly realistic hairpiece. Synthetic wigs and toupees require less care than hairpieces that are made from human hair, they don’t cost as much as they used to, and matching colors is much easier. Synthetic wigs are also easier and less expensive to customize.

Invigorating scalp massages will help to reduce hair loss and cause new growth. Massaging the scalp promotes blood circulation to the hair follicles, which will revitalize hair follicles. There is a vast range of scalp lotions and hair creams in stores to purchase; some are more suitable than others. Antifungal shampoos will eliminate dandruff and debris, which can clog the pores of the scalp. The active ingredient ketoconazole blocks DHT (dihydrotestosterone) from bonding with the hair follicles, therefore fighting against hair loss.

Saw palmetto extracts is widely used by herbalists as a DHT blocker. It comes in capsule form or as a topical preparation and is sometimes used in addition to other alternative treatments such as shampoos for hair loss.

Zinc has been proven effective in the fight against baldness. A zinc-based lotion can be applied directly to the hair and scalp, as well as being ingested in supplement form.

Most people in developed countries do not lack zinc or other minerals in their diet; however, certain individuals might not be getting enough zinc-fortified food. Those people who are confined to a meat-free diet need to take zinc supplements.

The most common hair loss treatments change the way that hormones perform. This is why males and females require individual prescriptions for hair loss medication. Women can suffer some hair loss during puberty although they are more liable to be affected during middle age and beyond.

When concerned by the grave symptoms of unexpected hair loss, you would be well advised to seek professional advice from a qualified practitioner, so that you can get treatment and correct the problem before the condition develops into a long-term affliction.

Pointers about Hair Loss

Worried about hair loss? Perhaps you shouldn’t fret as much. Knowing basic facts about baldness, hair loss, or alopecia can help you arrive at apt treatments for the condition. The following are pointers you can learn about hair loss:

Male-Pattern Baldness

To a degree, hair loss can be inherited from your mother’s or father’s genes. A high level of the male hormone testosterone in the blood is also largely to blame, so if you are losing your hair, you can also be extra confident, as it is an indication that you are virile. The main problem with male pattern baldness is not hair fall but new hair not growing. So it is important to look after what you have got.

Desalinated Water

Most countries rely heavily upon desalinated water to provide the water that comes from our taps. The problem with desalinated water is that it can damage the hair follicle causing it to break off. So what is often perceived as hair fall is in fact hair damage, and fortunately the hair will grow again. Use hair products containing Anti-Sal formulations to stop minerals from desalinated water drying and damaging your hair. To check if the hair fall is caused by desalinated water, look at the hair strand under a magnifying glass and if there is no hair bulb or root, then it is hair breakage probably caused by desalinated water.

Poor Diet

Hair cells grow quicker than practically any other cells in your body, and so they require a continuous supply of nutrients. But because hair is not an essential body organ, it is low down on your own body’s list of priorities and gets the nutrients last.

Protein for Healthy Hair

Hair is made up of protein called keratin and it is therefore important to have enough protein in your diet. Vegetarians must be especially careful to make sure that they have sufficient protein in their diet, as insufficient protein can cause thinning hair. The incidence of women who have thinning hair is very high among those who have crash diets.

Onions for Hair Loss, Odd yet Effective

In an age where scientists have discovered and manufactured vaccines that prevent diseases that claimed the lives of thousands of people centuries ago and developed treatments that can eliminate certain types of cancer, there is not yet a foolproof treatment for hair loss. Many people have admirably taken it upon themselves to experiment with their own formulas and homemade recipes to prevent hair loss. Onions, surprisingly, have been a main ingredient in some commercially manufactured hair loss treatments. While this sounds odd, you might be curious about the potential onions have for treating alopecia, or male pattern baldness.

Clinical Evidence

Many commercial non-FDA-approved hair loss treatments and formulas contain ingredients that have little to no scientific basis or have not undergone any legitimate clinical studies. Onions, however, have been used in a small study that suggests they could be useful in the treatment of a type of hair loss called alopecia areata. The study, conducted by Iraqi researchers and published in the June 2002 Journal of Dermatology, found that the group of hair loss patients that topically applied crude onion juice to their scalp experienced a significantly higher rate of hair regrowth than did the group of patients that received the placebo.

Alopecia Areata vs. Androgenic Alopecia

Alopecia areata is different from the traditional genetic baldness, which follows a distinct pattern. Alopecia areata involves random patches of hair falling out and not regrowing. Alopecia areata is significantly less common than androgenic alopecia, which is the primary type of hair loss for both men and women, according to the American Hair Loss Association. While androgenic alopecia is genetic and caused by the predominately male hormone, dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, the causes of alopecia areata are less certain. Doctors believe it is an autoimmune disease in which the body inappropriately attacks hair follicles. Unfortunately, there are no treatments that are particularly effective in treating alopecia areata.

Onion Juice Probably Not Effective for Common Hair Loss

Androgenic alopecia, which is due to genetics, is the type of hair loss in 95 percent of all hair loss cases in men. Genetic susceptibility to DHT is thought to be the main cause of hair loss in women but the percentage is likely not as high. Androgenic alopecia occurs when DHT attacks hair follicles that are genetically susceptible to hair loss, mainly hairs along the hairline and crown, and progressively shrinks them over time. The most effective treatment for combating androgenic alopecia is finasteride, which lowers the level of DHT in your body. Onion juice is not likely to be effective for most cases of hair loss because it does not address DHT. Hair restoration surgeon, Dr. William Rassman, senior member of the American Hair Loss Association, confirms this and believes there is no potential in onion juice as a hair loss treatment.

FDA-Approved Treatments

Although onion juice is unlikely to be an effective treatment for hair loss, there are two treatments that have been approved by the FDA and clinically proven to help prevent or slow hair loss. The first treatment is finasteride, which is for men only. It works by reducing the hormone DHT, the main cause of hair loss. The American Hair Loss Association considers finasteride to be the “first line of attack” to stop hair loss. The second treatment is topical minoxidil, which can be used by both men and women. Minoxidil is thought to work by increasing blood flow to your scalp. Minoxidil, unlike finasteride, is available over-the-counter. You should consult your doctor before you use either of these treatments or if you are noticing an abnormal rate of hair loss, well beyond 100 hairs a day.

Surgical Hair Restoration: Regain that Youthful Look

Hair loss is usually caused by the combination of aging, hormonal changes and genetics. If your hair loss is caused by burns or trauma, hair replacement surgery is considered as a reconstructive treatment and may be covered by your health insurance. If you are considering hair replacement surgery, you should acquire basic understanding about the variety of procedures involved. There are hair restoration clinics that offer a free consultation which will help you choose the type of hair transplant surgery that is best for you.

Surgical hair replacement will enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. The best patients for hair replacement are those who are having healthy hair growth at the back and sides of the head to serve as donor areas. Donor areas are the places on the head from which grafts and flaps are taken. Before getting hair surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. A number of techniques are used in hair replacement surgery. Sometimes two or more techniques are combined to achieve the best results. One of the more prominent techniques is the use of pinpoint hair replacement which is micro-follicular hair transplantation and is the newest type of hair replacement technique.

By using pinpoint hair restoration, hair restoration experts or hair transplant surgeons achieve the most natural hair restoration results for all patients regardless of their age or degree of hair loss. Look for surgeons who have extensive training and experience in hair replacement techniques.

Hair replacement surgeons will explain the hair replacement procedure in detail before the treatment starts and will answer any of your questions. It is important to make an informed decision about the hair replacement. You can do your own research online or speak with person who have undergone such surgery and try to gain helpful tips from them.

Side Effects of Drugs for Male Hair Loss

Guys, would you rather lose your hair or lose your sexual prowess? Sounds like a pretty rotten deal, but a new study shows that men who take medication for hair loss risk losing something particularly valuable in return.

The research, which was published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine this month, says that 5 to 23 percent of men who took the prescription drug finasteride may suffer impotence, low libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and an inability to orgasm.

While side effects are common to many drugs, these symptoms may persist for months after stopping treatment. Dr. Michael S. Irwig of George Washington University’s medical school interviewed 76 men aged 21 to 46 to find that their symptoms lingered for at least three months after they stopped taking the medication. Some even felt the effects for up to 10 years.

A number of participants developed problems after taking the medication for just a few days. On average, the men had been taking the drug for 28 months and experienced problems afterward for a mean of 40 months. The persistence of their symptoms is especially troubling giving the irony: once you stop taking the drug, you’ll soon start losing your hair again, but your libido may not be so quick to return.

In the UK and Sweden, the drug comes with a warning label for potential sexual dysfunction, but this hasn’t been the case in the US. But before you exchange your drugs for a toupee, we should note that the subjects weren’t completely random. The researchers selected them from a website especially for problems with finasteride.

Take it from us, though. We’d rather see our men bald than suffering from a loss of libido, so grab that razor and embrace the super-sexy Bruce Willis look.

Minerals for Hair Care and Hair Growth

Your body needs minerals for a variety of reasons, including supporting your immune system, helping with cell development, building bones and maintaining healthy, strong hair. The average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs a day, but with a lack of minerals such as zinc and iron, you may end up losing a lot more than that.

Sulfur
Sulfur is an important mineral for human health. It may also help to regrow hair. You need sulfur for hair growth because your hair is naturally rich in this mineral. Often called the “beauty mineral,” sulfur can stimulate circulation and provide nutrients for not only your hair, but your nails and skin as well. According to HealWithFood.org, sulfur also works to help you metabolize B vitamins, including B-1, B-5 and B-7, all of which are important for healthy hair. Dry or weak hair or hair loss may be a result of a lack of sulfur. Be sure to eat foods such as nuts and vegetables, as well as meat and fish, to include sulfur in your diet.

Zinc
Getting just enough zinc is significant for healthy hair, as too little can result in hair loss and too much may prevent the absorption of other minerals. The 2009 US Food and Drug Administration’s DV, or daily value, is 15mg of zinc for a 2,000-calorie diet daily for children over the age of 4 and for adults. Zinc aids in hair growth by helping to secrete oil in the scalp, which in turn decreases dandruff or dry skin that could otherwise cause hair loss. Baldness-Cure.org explains that zinc is also needed for hair growth because it’s a crucial nutrient that allows signals to pass from one cell to another, including the signal that orders hair follicles to begin and to continue growing. Beans, beef and nuts like almonds and cashews contain zinc.

Iodine
Iodine is another crucial mineral for hair health. By supporting healthy thyroid glands, it supports healthy hair. One main job of your thyroid glands is to control the way your body’s cells metabolize nutrients. This ties in with your hair, because if you don’t get enough iodine, your thyroid glands will not properly operate. Then, metabolism in your cells will be hindered, which in turn slows down cell growth in tissues, including in your epithelial tissues, or hair follicles, which produce hair. The FDA’s recommendation for daily iodine is 150 µg or micrograms. You can find this mineral in foods such as seafood and eggs.

Iron
BBC Health lists iron deficiency anemia as one primary reason for baldness. KidsHealth.org explains that iron produces hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries and transports oxygen to cells around the body. A reduced amount of iron means a reduced amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells, which in turn decreases oxygen for the body and cells. This negatively affects proper functioning of tissues and cells, including your epithelial tissues. Meat and leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain iron. The FDA advises an intake of 18 mg daily.

Hair Loss: Sign of Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer

Men with prostate cancer may be twice more likely to have started showing signs of male pattern baldness at the age of 20 years than those without prostate cancer.

Until now there has been conflicting evidence about the link between balding and prostate cancer; this is the first study to suggest a link between going bald at the young age of 20 and the development of prostate cancer in later life.

Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) is very common, affecting about half of all men at some point in their lives. Its onset has previously been linked to the conversion of testosterone to androgenic hormones, and androgens have also been previously implicated in the onset and growth of prostate cancer. The drug finasteride—used to treat baldness—blocks the conversion of testosterone to an androgen thought to cause hair loss, and the drug has also been demonstrated to lower the incidence of prostate cancer.

To explore the possible connection between balding patterns and prostate cancer, researchers spent more than two years analyzing disease progression and hair loss patterns in 388 men with prostate cancer in Paris. The men were diagnosed between the ages of 46 and 84 years.

Starting in 2004, the study participants answered a questionnaire about their personal history of prostate cancer (if any) and to indicate on four pictures any balding patterns that they had at ages 20, 30 and 40. The pictures showed four stages of hair loss: no balding (stage I), frontal hair loss (receding hairline around the temples), vertex hair loss (a round bald patch at the top of the head), or a combination of both types of hair loss (stage IV). The men’s doctors were also asked to provide a medical history of their patients, including any diagnosis of prostate cancer, age at diagnosis, stage of the disease and treatment. Another 281 healthy men were enlisted in the study for comparison. The study ran for 28 months.

It was found that 37 of the prostate cancer patients (and 14 of the healthy men) had experienced some form of hair loss at the age of 20 years, ranging from a receding hairline to a bald patch at the top of the head, or a combination of both. Any form of hair loss at age 20 years was linked to a doubling of prostate cancer risk, the study authors reported.

Men who start losing their hair in their 30s or 40s did not appear to face a similar boost in prostate cancer risk. And those whose hair loss started in their 20s did not face a higher risk of developing the cancer at an early age or of developing more aggressive tumors. The study found no association between early hair loss and an earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer, nor was there any link between the pattern of hair loss and the development of cancer. Whether or not men who experience youthful hair loss may benefit from prostate cancer screening is yet to be determined.

The researchers cautioned, however, that it is premature to conclude that baldness and prostate cancer are, in fact, linked. Noting that androgens associated with hair loss are also associated with prostate cancer, the researchers called for more studies to see whether interventions might be appropriate for men with very early balding. Physicians need to know who could be targeted for screening and also considered for chemo-prevention using anti-androgenic drugs.