The Truth About Hair Loss Treatment

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 pulling 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.
Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) is a genetic trait. It's called Androgenetic Alopecia. It's inherited from your family. If the men in your family are showing a bald spot on the crown, it's likely you will too. This is an issue men have been dealing with for centuries. According to legend, Julius Caesar invented the laurel leaf wreath to cover his receding hairline.
MPB results from genetic traits, and hormonal causes. Treatment can't change your genetic history, but it can help with the hormonal causes. DHT is the hormone involved in hair loss DHT (dihydrotestostrone) is derived from androgen, a male hormone. As the androgen circulates through the bloodstream, it is converted to DHT by the enzyme, 5-alpha reductase. DHT tends to bind to hair follicle receptors, causing the follicles to sprout thinner and thinner hairs until nothing regrows, and the follicles eventually wither away. The life cycle of normal hair growth
When excess DHT is in the bloodstream, it shortens the Anagen, or growth phase, and causes premature shrinkage of the follicles. Because the DHT is bound to the follicle, often the hair will not re-grow normally.
There are many all natural DHT blockers available, most of them without a prescription. DHT blockers are safer alternatives to prescription medications that can interfere with testosterone itself.
In many cases the problem of hair loss is hereditary. Anyone can inherit this hair loss problem from either side of the family, though there is some evidence that indicates that hair loss problems from the mother's side will be more likely to manifest themselves in their children. One of the more popular remedies for male hair loss and countering the effects of DHT can be found at www.cloudnineregrowth.com. For men and women everywhere that are looking for a safe, effective, all natural way to block DHT, visit ReGrowth for more information on how you can combat hair loss and find the confidence and great hair you were looking for.

Last updated on Sep 03 2010