Archive for the ‘Hair Loss’ Category

Soya and Onions – Effective Home Remedies for Hair Loss?

Friday, October 10th, 2008

As the saying goes, “there is nothing more contemptible than a bald man who pretends to have hair.” True! Indeed it would really be shameful to style your hair in such a way that those empty areas would be hidden by the remaining strands of hair. No one would definitely want this to happen but truth is when a man reaches the age of 50, he has a shocking eighty percent chance of experiencing hair loss. Hair loss is pretty inevitable and to avoid the social stigma associated with hair loss, people have tried centuries old remedies for hair loss.

Hair loss is a very serious problem among males, especially for those who belong in the late adulthood and old age group. While many treatments like Minoxidil and Propecia are available in the market, these drugs may have harmful effects. More effective remedies such as hair transplants and scalp reduction are also available but these procedures would make a pretty big hole on one’s pocket.

To give more chance for alopecia-stricken men to rejuvenate their look, more and more researches have been carried out to determine the effectiveness of natural products in treating and preventing hair loss. One example is soya- which has been found out to counter alopecia.

Soya and other related soy products are known to contain isoflavones- an organic compound which yields a metabolite of the said compound called equol. Equol has been known to counter the effect of DHT or dihydrotestosterone- an androgenic hormone which restrains hair growth. Unlike other treatments which totally stop DHT formation, soya products only reacts specifically to stop its function in inhibiting hair loss.

Another natural remedy known to many is the use of onion. It is claimed that onion’s sulfuric property contributes to its effectiveness in preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth. Aside from promoting hair growth, sulfur is also known to promote proper blood circulation and a more smooth and flawless skin.

Using onion to treat hair loss and promote hair re-growth is by far the cheapest method available for many. Treating alopecia with onion is an easy process- all you need to do is chop some onion and rub directly to your scalp. Other complementary products are also used with onion such as a cup of rum, honey or simply mixing them with boiled water with the purpose of promoting a faster and more desirable effect.

Hair loss may be inevitable for a greater percentage of men in their later years but it can be treated with natural remedies which are at everyone’s reach. With studies about effective natural remedies for alopecia, there is a big promise for hair loss sufferers both men and women, of a better health and a less stigmatized social life.

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Understanding Women’s Hair Loss

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Many people believe the old wives tale that women are free from balding; after all, you would rarely see bald women. Balding is believed to happen only to men. Studies conducted on hair fall, however, contradicts this belief. According to the survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology, 30 million American women are plagued by hair loss concerns.

Hair loss is a self esteem lowering concern. Bald men would often be the butt of jokes. People are kinder to women with thinning hair as their baldness will not be commented on. However, the furtive glances and the whispered comments would be really nerve-racking and would make anyone feel insecure.

Coping with hair loss is harder on women than in men. This is due to the fact that women consider the hair as a basic and essential part in the achievement of overall beauty. Notice how infomercials regarding hair products would focus on women as the target consumer. It is therefore necessary to understand the causes of hair loss in women to be able to provide the most possible treatment.

In women, hair fall can be triggered by physical or emotional stress. Hair loss can also be due to an illness, a surgery or by undergoing a medical procedure such as radiation or chemotherapy. Hormonal change and ingesting some medications are also causes of hair fall. Moreover, a woman may notice excessive hair fall after giving birth. The good news about these causes of hair fall is that once the stress is dealt with, once the hormonal imbalance is corrected and once the person has stopped taking the medication, excessive hair fall will also stop.

Androgenic alopecia or female pattern baldness is typified when the hair slowly thins throughout the scalp. Hair loss will occur gradually over the years. Androgenic Alopecia can be treated with Rogaine, a drug used to treat high blood pressure. When applied to the scalp, the drug will stimulate hair growth and will slow hair loss. Propecia is also an oral medication for androgenic alopecia. Aside from the fact that only 60% of women who tried these medications were able to cure hair loss, these prescription drugs may have dangerous side effects especially to pregnant women. The drugs can cause deformities to the fetus.

Hair loss treatment for women therefore would bend towards surgical procedures. There are several hair transplantation procedures…all getting the desired result of making the hair denser to cover the balding spots. As with all surgical procedures, hair transplants are not guaranteed to be free from complications. It is therefore necessary to choose a skilled surgeon to perform the surgical procedure.

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Balding? Worry No More… Hair Transplant Is an Option

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Is your thinning hair causing more emotional problems? Are you continuously trying to find remedies that will solve this concern? Don’t fret too much…you are not alone. You and the rest of the 56 million men and women in United States are making the hair loss medication manufacturers richer day by day.

Hair loss is caused by various reasons. The hair loss can be attributed to hormonal change, to inherited genes and to aging. Medical procedures such as radiation and chemotherapy can also cause hair loss. In women, hair loss can be the result of the decrease in the production of estrogen. Some medications will effectively stop hair loss; others will slow down the hair fall. In some cases though, hair loss will not respond to any kind of treatment. In such instances, hair transplanting is the best option.

If you have opted for a hair transplant procedure, the surgeon will take bald resistant parts of the scalp to be transplanted to the bald areas. The donor areas are the sides and the back of the head where the hair grows profusely.

In a follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS), the hair will be shaved from the donor area and a narrow strip which contains the hair to be implanted will be removed. The incision is then sutured. The scar that would result will eventually be covered with hair. The harvested follicular units will then be implanted to the balding areas.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is another hair transplant procedure where follicular units are harvested from the donor area one at a time. A special tool is used to extract the hair. Harvested hair is then artistically implanted to the balding areas. This hair transplantation process is more favored as it has several advantages over FUSS. No blades and scalpels will be used. Since there is no incision, no visible scar will result. Bleeding will be less and recovery time is shorter. The major advantage though is that the hair would have a more natural look.

Scalp reduction is another hair restoration surgical procedure. Here, the balding area will be surgically removed and hair bearing scalp will be stretched to cover the area that was removed. This procedure however, is less favored as aside from being very costly, this can only be done to patients with loose scalps.

A hair transplant procedure is not an assurance that the hair coverage you once had will be brought back. These procedures will add more hair to the thinning areas but it is not an assurance that the hair loss problem will be totally eliminated.

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Kitchen Natural Remedies for Hair Loss

Friday, August 8th, 2008

Did you know that some people would chant magic spells to make the hair grow? Are you aware of the fact that people who are weighed down with hair loss problems would visit witches’ websites to get a hold of potions and spells that would make their hair grow? Which one would you rather use, herbal remedies or the witches’ potions?

Hair loss is really an ego deflating problem. It is often said that the hair is the crowning glory of a woman. A woman with healthy lustrous hair would always get second looks from the opposite sex in the same manner that the hair (and of course the woman) would get covetous glances from other women.

Herbal remedies for the treatment of hair loss are favored by a lot of people mostly because these herbs are easily available, inexpensive and proven to cure hair loss without any side effects unlike other OTC and prescription medications.

Aloe Vera is perhaps the most common hair loss remedy. The most common way is to rub the scalp with the sap of Aloe Vera every night to stimulate hair growth. Aloe Vera produces superoxide dismutane. This enzyme triggers the production of nitric oxide, the compound that is responsible for healthy hair follicles. Aside from restoring damaged scalp and promoting the growth of healthy hair, Aloe Vera also cleanses the blood and the skin.

Saw Palmetto (Seranoa repens) and stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) are favored by balding men as aside from stimulating hair follicles, it also protects the prostate. Saw palmetto and stinging nettle has the ability to impede the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) – the testosterone that stimulates hair loss as well as prostrate growth.

Green tea (Camellia Sinesis) is believed to have catechins, the flavonoid phytochemical compound that has considerable antioxidant power. Taking green tea in capsule form or drinking 3 to 5 cups of tea daily will restrain 5-alpha-reductase enzyme from converting the testosterone into DHT.

Oil extracts from arnica, rosemary and marigold can be massaged directly to the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Wash the hair daily with boiled rosemary, nettle and sage to fight dandruff. Dandruff is one of the causes of hair loss. Simmer stinging nettle and rosemary in a pan and mix the water with essential oils and use as rinse after shampooing to achieve a healthier scalp.

Ginkgo Biloba is believed to improve circulation of the blood to the brain and to the skin thus more nutrients will be delivered to the hair follicle thereby inducing hair growth. It is recommended to take a daily dose of 120-160 mg of dry Ginkgo Biloba extract.

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The Effective Use of Aromatherapy for Hair Loss

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Don’t be alarmed if you see several strands of hair in your brush. It is normal for an adult to lose about 100 hairs daily. However, it would be another matter if excessive hair would fall every time you brush your hair. This may be a case of diffuse hair loss. Male pattern baldness is another hair loss problem. The hair loss would result to receding hair line and baldness on top of the head. Alopecia areata is typified by hairless patches in the scalp. If the hair loss worsens and affects the entire scalp, the hair loss condition develops into Alopecia totalis.

Hair loss problems can be the result of hair maltreatment. Excessive use of chemical treatments like hair coloring, shampoos and conditioner containing harsh ingredients as well as too much use of curling and hair irons. Hair loss can also be attributed to hormonal fluctuations.

Hair, just like the skin would reflect the state of health of a person. A healthy individual would naturally have glowing skin and lustrous hair. Needless to say, hair loss would be a result of poor health. Aromatherapy is proven to be effective in curing hair loss. A lot of people with hair loss problem have turned to this treatment after all other hair loss remedies have failed.

Aromatherapy is an alternative form of medicine which makes use of essential oils to attain relief for minor aches and pains. Aromatherapy is gaining public acceptance as evidenced by the increase in the number of salons and spas that offers aromatherapy services. Aromatherapy is proven effective in relaxing the mind as well as the body. This alternative form of medicine is now considered to be one of the most effective cures for hair loss. Roots, leaves and flowers go through the process of condensation to produce essential oils. These essential oils when massaged to the scalp would stimulate hair growth by increasing the blood flow to the hair follicles.

To treat hair loss, mix 3 drops each of rosemary and lavender, 2 drops each of thyme and cedar wood, 4 teaspoons grape seed oil and ½ teaspoon jojoba oil. Mix ingredients thoroughly and massage into scalp for about two minutes. Wrap the head with a plastic shower cap first and then wrap the head with warm towel. Leave it on overnight and wash and shampoo hair in the morning. Repeat the process every night and after a couple of months, you will notice less hair fall. Moreover you will notice new growth of healthy hair.

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Use Aloe Vera Gel to Stop Hair Loss

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

Hair loss can be a very severe problem to some people. As a matter of fact most men in their middle ages are suffering from this problem. There are also various studies and researches on the medical treatment of the problem. It is shown from these researches that using aloe vera gel to stop hair loss can be beneficial.

First of all, you may want to know what aloe vera really is. It is a kind of plant under the umbrella of Asphodelaceae family. It can be found in various parts of the world. It has been used for the health of hair and prevention of hair loss for centuries.

In fact, aloe vera is shown to be beneficial to keep hair healthy. It can help to heal the hair if there are any damages. It also acts as an agent of balancing the PH level of hair. As discussed, it is certainly a good idea to use aloe vera gel to stop hair loss. And probably the most important benefit of aloe vera to our hair is that it possesses the ability of reducing seborrhoea.

You may be curious what seborrhoea is. When sebaceous secretion and dirt on your hair are combined. Scales will be form on the head skin and the will prevent the nutrition of hair. Regarding the causes of seborrhoea, it can be due to various reasons. Things such as stress and pollutions can be the cause of it. And if is really severe, seborrhoea can lead to baldness!

If you are going for the idea of using aloe vera gel to stop hair loss, you have to remember that you need to use it twice a day. In most cases you will need to do it for a few months. Besides the treatment, you should also try your best to keep your hair clean and dry before applying the aloe vera.

On the other hand, if you would like to make your hair thinner, you can use it two to three times a week. Aloe Vera will certainly help!

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Do You Know the Causes of Baldness and Hair Loss?

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

There are 100,000 hair follicles estimated to be in your head. Each of these follicles grows to an average of 20 individual hairs throughout your lifetime. It is a normal occurrence to lose around 100 strands a day. If you are experiencing more than this, you may be suffering from excessive hair loss that can lead to baldness. (more…)

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