Hair today Gone Tommorrow

Balding is not something anyone would look forward to. Even though we are unable to stop aging we can help ourselves when it comes to hair loss.

Our hair does get thinner as we age and more for some than others but with today's medications and creams etc we may be able to slow this down.

I have looked into many hair loss remedies and have found some that are better than others in how they say the can slow down hair loss and some even say they will help your existing hair grow more and stronger. I do not know about that but have heard of some of the good some of them do.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Causes Of Thinning Hair In Women

By Jeremy Bohen

A lack of an adequate amount of protein in the diet, a negative reaction to medication, stress and a change in the balance of hormones can all cause thinning hair and hair loss. For most women with hair loss the first signs of thinning hair often occur around middle age. Also, it is reckoned that over 35% of women in the USA experience some form of hair loss or decrease in density in their lifetimes.

In the vast majority of cases though it is a change in hormones that causes thinning hair and hair loss in women. The major cause of thinning hair in females is similar to that of men and that is the hormone Dht. Dht is an offshoot of testosterone and attacks the hair follicle. Usually women have enough estrogen to counter the effect of Dht and effectively neutralize its damaging effects. However, as women age there is often a drop in estrogen levels, particularly after and during menopause. This drop in estrogen means that Dht becomes more powerful effectively and can damage hair as it does in cases of male pattern baldness. There is only one proven medication to counter the damaging effects of dht and hair loss and that is Minoxidil.

It is not entirely understood how minoxidil slows down the rate of thinning in hair but it is believed that the increase in blood flow resulting in using minoxidil might play a part. Hundreds and hundreds of other hair thickeners claim to be able to physically regrow and thicken hair. If one does decide to try such a product, the ingredients used in it and source of supplier should be thoroughly researched by the individual as to avoid any harmful reactions.

Cosmetic hair thickening products are also able to provide excellent option for some seeking to thicken hair. Of course they will not actually thicken hair or make it grow but they can provide the cosmetic appearance of thicker hair. There are many of these types of products but generally they are shampoos, sprays or lotions and pastes. They should be completely safe to use but as they are only a make up as such will need to be applied every time the user wants the appearance of thicker hair. Hair systems and wigs are also an alternative that some might consider. In the past decade these have come on a lot compared to the old systems. The best ones are virtually impossible to detect and allow the wearer to do all of the things they could do before, such as swimming, hiking etc... Finally, the right haircut can do wonders for women (and men) in providing volume and thickness to thinning hair.

It is strongly advisable to anyone thinking of thickening thinning hair cosmetically or otherwise to consider the financial as well as health implications.

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Causes Of Thinning Hair In Men

By Alan Clint

Over 80% of men will experience a form of hair loss and thinning hair in their lives. For some it will not be an issue, for others it can often become a bane and affect their confidence.

The reason that hair thins is because of an enzyme called Dht. Dht is produced by the male hormone testosterone. Dht is the number one enemy in hair loss, it attacks the hair follicle and makes is shrink and become thinner and thinner. Although other factors such as a poor diet and stress can cause thinning hair and hair loss in the vast majority of cases Dht is the culprit.

Of course there is a huge demand for products that thicken hair for the millions of people that suffer thinning hair and baldness. And there are literally thousands of products that promise to do this.

The FDA has approved just two types of medicine that claim to halt hair loss and thicken thinning hair, these are Finasteride and Minoxidil. Finasteride is taken as a tablet and disrupts something called Dht (an enzyme) that is known to shrink the hair follicle, leading to thinning hair. It can only be taken by men. It has been proven to regrow hair in some cases and slow down further hair loss and thinning, although these depend on the individual and there is no way of predicting how successful it will be. Minoxidil comes as a liquid and is applied to the hair and scalp two times per day. It can be used by both men and women though in different strengths. Men can use a maximum strength of 5 % whereas women can use up to 3 % strength. Again the results cannot be predicted and depend on the person. With both products, usage is ongoing or the results will be lost.

Besides Minoxidil and Finasteride hundreds of other products claim that they too can thicken hair, stop thinning and regrow hair. If you do decide to try anything else it is advised that you check out exactly what ingredients are in the other products and whether they are safe for you to use. Even organic products can contain ingredients that might not be safe for everyone.

Lastly, wigs and hairpieces might also be suitable for certain individuals and can result in the appearance of a full head of hair, the costs though must be taken into account as at the top end these can run into several thousand dollars and have ongoing maintenance charges.

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