Women and hair thinning

If you are in this circumstance right now, you may be stuck to some questions as to why this is happening to you or you are not yet expecting it to happen just yet. Well, you are not alone. This is because the patterns are not really recognizable unlike that with men.

Women should not really be scared when they notice their hair thinning because it may be because of some illness or pregnancy that they experience this. If you judge the pattern like with men, you should remember that a man’s hair begins to thin earlier than a woman.

Women start hair loss at around 50, or even later.  But if you are really the kind of woman who fears that the hair loss you are experiencing is not normal, you should probably see a specialist to have an early diagnosis. It is recommended to see a specialist rather than doing a self exam because often times, self diagnosis is not accurate.

As discussed earlier, women do not shed hair like men, which have an obvious thinning of hair as they have a different hair loss pattern. There are different patterns that may consider as signs of “Androgenetic Alopecia”. If you see your hair thinning by the back and front of the scalp, it may suggest that you have Androgenetic Alopecia. Also, when the entire scalp seems to be thinning, well it is an obvious sign of the Androgenetic Alopecia.

Though it has been discussed that female pattern starts at 50, it may also be that it starts on the late teen years to the early 20s of women. That is why you have to see a specialist to diagnose the thinning.

There are also a few causes of hair loss in women that is not associated with the hair loss pattern. These include Trichotillomania, which is caused by hair pulling. Alopecia areata which may be a disorder that autoimmune. Triangular alopecia which is only a temporary loss. Scarring Alopecia, which involves the scarring of the area of the scalp. And lastly, Telogen effluvium, which is a hormonal or drug/stress associated cause.

For more information, visit provillus.com

Curing Hair Loss

Curing Hair Loss : Hair Like Samson (before he met Delilah)

A multi-millionaire will be made one day – the day a scientific researcher finds a simple, inexpensive, universally successful hair regrowth product.  And that day will come.  The amount of money being funneled into hair loss research is phenomenal, and as long as our society puts such great stock in appearance and beautiful heads of hair, the research will continue until that simple cure is found.

Until then, men and women must investigate and experiment with a variety of products which will have a variety of results, dependent upon the individual.  Each human body is unique, with unique levels of hormones, chemicals, and enzymes.  For this reason, to date, there is not a universal cure. 

Some people experience reduction in hair loss and solid regrowth, while others using the same product may not see the same results.For those who experience less than desired results from the variety of topicals, pills, herbs and hair products available, there are currently surgical “cures,” if they have the financial wherewithal to pursue them.  These involve a variety of transplant techniques and can be tedious and a bit painful.  Such cures are available for both men and women.

Transplants:  In transplants, a hair strip is taken from a donor area of the scalp, usually the back, because pattern baldness in both men and women usually does not affect the back of the head.  From these stips, individual follicles are extracted and then implanted into the bald area of the scalp. 

The “art” of this procedure is to get the follicle in so that the slant of the hair is correct for that part of the head.  There are usually 1-5 hairs in each follicle, so you can imagine how many transplants have to occur if someone wants a full thick head of hair to replace a completely bald spot.  The average cost of transplant, per follicle is $4 – $6.  The average cost of pattern baldness transplants is about $10,000.00 – a hefty bill for most of us.  For women who have overall balding events, the cost can be greater still.If you do not have $10,000 to spend at the moment and you must wait until regrowth products improve, you may have to be content with less preferable but effective methods like using Provillus available at www.provillus.com. 

There have been great advances in hair pieces for men, and wigs are as much a fashion accessory as jewelry for women.  If you select this route, buy a good one and go to a professional who is widely experienced in developing unique hair pieces for individual needs.  Generally, you get what you pay for.  Fit and ability to have confidence that wind and lots of movement will not move your hair piece are extremely important.  While not the permanent cure you really want, the embarrassment of societal reaction to your baldness is eliminated.

Keep abreast of research in the area of hair loss cures.  Scientists are close, and the answer could come any day.  In the meantime, do what makes you feel comfortable and confident, and use any product that helps you reduce the rate of your current hair loss.  Stress and anxiety over this condition will only make it worse.

For more information, visit provillus.com

Dramatics Of Hair Loss In Women

Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.

Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.

Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as a strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.

First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.

Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.

For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.

Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern and extent of your baldness.

What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.

A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.

Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall perception of ourselves.

A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establish place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.

It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.

In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.

Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the phycological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.

Causes Of Hair Loss In Women

As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self esteem.

Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.

Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.

When To Contact A Medical Professional

Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay attention.

Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.

Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as or hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.

A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.

Although medical research is on going, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.

Nutrition

Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.

Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.

The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.

Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.

Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss

Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.

Aloe

Arnica

Birch

Burdock

Catmint

Chamomile

Horsetail

Licorice

Marigold

Nettles

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Hair Care

Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth. Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of the scalp.

Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so handle with care.

Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the natural luster of your hair.

Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the scalp.

Healthy Lifestyle

Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are. I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at peace with who you are. Remember, that for some, hair grows back as mysteriously as it disappeared.

For more information, visit provillus.com

Author: Marlene Affeld

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/dramatics-of-hair-loss-in-women-589788.html

Causes of Hair Loss in Women

Causes of Hair Loss in Women: Help!  I Don’t Have to Tear My Hair Out Anymore – It’s All Over My Sink!

We lose hair everyday, 100-150 strands actually, simply from brushing and manipulating.  If you have long hair, this can look like a lot, but, considering the amount of hair on a head, it’s a tiny amount.  If hair is coming out in clumps, or you notice circular patches of balding spots, however, there is definitely a problem, and treatment will be based upon the specific cause.

The following causes should be investigated if you are experiencing more-than-normal hair loss:

1. Diet:  An unbalanced diet, especially one without enough protein, can cause temporary hair loss.  Women who are anemic often experience loss.

2. Menopause:  Because of the change in hormones during this period, hair loss can escalate, and, unfortunately, this can be permanent. 

3. Frequent Shampooing:  Shampoos contain a lathering ingredient called surfactant.  This can be irritating to the scalp and cause itching and scratching, thus increased hair loss.

4. Improper Care:  If you manipulate your hair too much, color and treat too much, blow dry and heat with curling irons and hot rollers too much, you will see increased hair loss.  You need only to look at your bathroom floor, sink and countertops to notice this.  Slow down!

5. Psychological/Physiological Stress:  Increased hair loss can occur with pregnancies, major surgery, or a major life event, such as a death or divorce.  These causes are temporary and hair growth will return to normal eventually.

6. Heredity:  Heredity plays a part and comes from both sides of the family.

7. Other Health Conditions:  Thyroid problems, lupus, and diabetes can accelerate hair loss.  Obviously, these need to be diagnosed by a physician.

8. Alopecia Areata:  This is an autoimmune condition characterized by circular patches of baldness.  Basically, the body is attacking the hair follicles.  Cortisone shots in the affected areas are required, and the earlier the better.

Take heart.  There’s a lot of research going on which may soon resolve most of the causes of hair loss in women. However, there is a great product that has been proven effective. It is called Provillus.

Provillus is an oral supplement, which works to block DHT, a form oftestosterone that is responsible for 95 percent of hair loss. It also works to stimulate the scalp and bring dead follicles back to life. You can use Provillus as a preventative tool, starting the program before  hair loss becomes severe, or you can use it after DHT has already begun to take hold of your hair and scalp.

For more information, visit provillus.com