Hair Loss - Tips for Success
Billions of dollars will be spent on hair loss solutions this year. Much of this money will go to waste. Ineffective products and misleading advertising are only partially to blame. Many consumers are not using these hair loss products in an effective way. Fortunately there are a few simple ways that consumers can increase their chance of success. Following these guidelines will ensure that your money does not go to waste:
Start a Journal
People usually try several different hair loss products before they find something that works for them. Many use two or more products simultaneously. Keeping track of all this information can be frustrating and difficult. The best way to figure out what is working is to keep a journal detailing your progress. You should record all relevant information about the treatment process: when you started, the dosage, cost, and any side effects you experience. This documentation will tell you which products are effective, which ones are not, and allow you to make changes as you see fit.
Take Pictures
Noticing small changes in your hairline over time is extremely difficult. Taking pictures on a regular basis is the most effective ways to track your progress. Always photograph your head from the same angle, in similar lighting conditions. Use a digital camera for best results, most will automatically record the date and time for you. When combined with a treatment journal, these photos provide an invaluable tool that will allow you to judge the effectiveness of products you use.
Do Your Homework
The Internet is flooded with products claiming to cure and treat hair loss. Finding out which ones are legitimate can be a difficult task. When researching products online, beware of those that sound too good to be true. If the company has before and after pictures, examine them closely. If the images were shot from different angles, or in different lighting, be suspicious. These techniques are common camera tricks used to fool the eye, and the consumer. When a company claims their product has a "98% success rate", look for documentation of their clinical study. If the clinical information they provide is vague, or even missing altogether, be wary.
If you follow these steps during your treatment, your chances of success are excellent. One last tip - any successful regimen requires dedication. Whatever the treatment is, carefully follow the instructions from your doctor or the product manufacturer.
Hair Loss MythsNot surprisingly, hair loss myths are more well known than hair loss facts. Since hair loss is such a common and unwelcome condition, the public has been flooded with hair loss myths to promote sales of hair loss prevention products. Many companies have jumped on the hair loss bandwagon because of our own enormous desires to eliminate hair loss from our lives, not to mention the unlimited amount of money that we (the public) are willing to spend on this quest. This makes the hair loss market ripe for perpetuating myths that will increase sales. But, for the most part, they are just that, myths.
Some of the more common hair loss myths are as follows:
Male Pattern Baldness comes from the mother's side of the family and skips a generation. Not true. There is no one single gene that causes baldness. Most researches believe that MPB is a result of several different genes, inherited from both parents, interacting with each other to cause hair loss.
Hair loss myth #2:
Pattern baldness affects only men. Just ask any women suffering from pattern baldness, it's not true. In fact, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, it just usually occurs in a less virulent form and is easier to hide. Also, women's hair tends to thin out over the entire scalp area, whereas men's hair thins in patches and at the forehead.
Hair loss myth #3:
Poor blood flow to the scalp area causes hair loss. This is a misconception that has been perpetuated by companies selling hair loss products for years. Ask any dermatologist and they will tell you, bald scalps have just as much blood flow as scalps full of hair. It is because of this blood flow to the bald scalp that hair transplants work so well.
Hair loss myth #4:
If you haven't lost your hair by 40, you aren't going to. Again, not true. Age has nothing to do with it. If you are genetically predisposed to loose your hair, you are going to. Just be grateful you made it to 40 with your hair still intact.
Hair loss myth #5:
Stress makes your hair fall out. Okay, in some part, this is true, but it takes a very traumatic event to cause enough stress that your hair falls out. The common stress we experience on a daily basis will not make our hair fall out. In fact, some stress can actually increase the production of hair.
Okay, I could go on and on about hair loss myths and not run out of things to talk about. My point is this. Most of the facts we think we know about hair loss are actually hair loss myths. If you are suffering from hair loss, consult your doctor. Your physician will be able to give you a factual reason for your hair loss and advise you on what types of treatments would work in your specific case.
Some of the more common hair loss myths are as follows:
Male Pattern Baldness comes from the mother's side of the family and skips a generation. Not true. There is no one single gene that causes baldness. Most researches believe that MPB is a result of several different genes, inherited from both parents, interacting with each other to cause hair loss.
Hair loss myth #2:
Pattern baldness affects only men. Just ask any women suffering from pattern baldness, it's not true. In fact, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, it just usually occurs in a less virulent form and is easier to hide. Also, women's hair tends to thin out over the entire scalp area, whereas men's hair thins in patches and at the forehead.
Hair loss myth #3:
Poor blood flow to the scalp area causes hair loss. This is a misconception that has been perpetuated by companies selling hair loss products for years. Ask any dermatologist and they will tell you, bald scalps have just as much blood flow as scalps full of hair. It is because of this blood flow to the bald scalp that hair transplants work so well.
Hair loss myth #4:
If you haven't lost your hair by 40, you aren't going to. Again, not true. Age has nothing to do with it. If you are genetically predisposed to loose your hair, you are going to. Just be grateful you made it to 40 with your hair still intact.
Hair loss myth #5:
Stress makes your hair fall out. Okay, in some part, this is true, but it takes a very traumatic event to cause enough stress that your hair falls out. The common stress we experience on a daily basis will not make our hair fall out. In fact, some stress can actually increase the production of hair.
Okay, I could go on and on about hair loss myths and not run out of things to talk about. My point is this. Most of the facts we think we know about hair loss are actually hair loss myths. If you are suffering from hair loss, consult your doctor. Your physician will be able to give you a factual reason for your hair loss and advise you on what types of treatments would work in your specific case.
Understand Baldness and How You Can Reverse It
There is no magic potion that will instantly give you back a full crop of thick, lush hair. But if we look at the way advances in hair loss treatments have evolved recently, perhaps we're not far from it.
Hair loss can be caused by many factors, the most common being Pattern Baldness which affects more then 40% of the male population. Women also suffer from hair loss, although the causes can be quite different than in men. Baldness can be quite a degrading condition for millions of men and women, and can lead to psychological problems and feelings of self worthlessness. But the scientific discoveries in recent years have made the treatments for balding more effective, and like all medical conditions, if you act on the problem when it is in it's infancy, you've got a better chance of minimizing the effects, or even reversing the condition.
The causes for hair loss are many and varied. Genetic 'Pattern Baldness' is the most common, but there are other very common causes such as Hormonal Imbalance, Illness, Poor Diet, Poor Hygiene, Drug Abuse and Stress. These are just the core issues that contribute to the hair loss. To get a better understanding of exactly how the hair stops to reproduce entails a bit of a scientific look at how hair actually grows.
Hair grows in 3 stages. In the first stage (Anagen) a new hair is produced and this is the stage where most growth occurs. Next, in the Catagen (Regressive) stage, the hair has stopped growing but is yet to shed. In the final stage (Telogen) the hair is resting and eventually falls out, and a new one begins to grow. In Pattern Baldness, DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) miniaturizes hair follicles by shortening the Anagen (growth) stage and at the same time can also lengthen the Telogen (resting) stage. This is usually a gradual process, and the end result is an increase in the number of short, thin hairs which are barely visible above the scalp.
There is hope, because while any hair is growing then various treatments can be administered to re-balance/block the DHT and promote healthier hair growth once again. There is no single hair loss treatment that works for everyone. In fact, it would be quite amazing if somoene used a single baldness treatment that completely solved their problem. The best hair loss treatment is in fact a combination of the best known products in a way that is tailored to your individual circumstances.
Generally, the most effective regime for preventing/reversing hair loss is a combination of 3 or 4 products:
1) DHT Inhibitors - Work to inhibit the negative effects of DHT 2) Growth Stimulators - artificially stimulate growth in the hair follicle 3) Hair vitamins - these products actually provide all the clinical proven vitamins and minerals required to help hair grow to its fullest and thickest 4) Hair and Scalp Cleaners - these products provide proper hair and scalp hygiene and nutrition.
In all cases, the most effective hair loss treatment will involve a combination of the above options. That is because there is no single solution that tackles the cause and the effect of baldness in everyone
There is no magic potion that will instantly give you back a full crop of thick, lush hair. But if we look at the way advances in hair loss treatments have evolved recently, perhaps we're not far from it.
Hair loss can be caused by many factors, the most common being Pattern Baldness which affects more then 40% of the male population. Women also suffer from hair loss, although the causes can be quite different than in men. Baldness can be quite a degrading condition for millions of men and women, and can lead to psychological problems and feelings of self worthlessness. But the scientific discoveries in recent years have made the treatments for balding more effective, and like all medical conditions, if you act on the problem when it is in it's infancy, you've got a better chance of minimizing the effects, or even reversing the condition.
The causes for hair loss are many and varied. Genetic 'Pattern Baldness' is the most common, but there are other very common causes such as Hormonal Imbalance, Illness, Poor Diet, Poor Hygiene, Drug Abuse and Stress. These are just the core issues that contribute to the hair loss. To get a better understanding of exactly how the hair stops to reproduce entails a bit of a scientific look at how hair actually grows.
Hair grows in 3 stages. In the first stage (Anagen) a new hair is produced and this is the stage where most growth occurs. Next, in the Catagen (Regressive) stage, the hair has stopped growing but is yet to shed. In the final stage (Telogen) the hair is resting and eventually falls out, and a new one begins to grow. In Pattern Baldness, DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) miniaturizes hair follicles by shortening the Anagen (growth) stage and at the same time can also lengthen the Telogen (resting) stage. This is usually a gradual process, and the end result is an increase in the number of short, thin hairs which are barely visible above the scalp.
There is hope, because while any hair is growing then various treatments can be administered to re-balance/block the DHT and promote healthier hair growth once again. There is no single hair loss treatment that works for everyone. In fact, it would be quite amazing if somoene used a single baldness treatment that completely solved their problem. The best hair loss treatment is in fact a combination of the best known products in a way that is tailored to your individual circumstances.
Generally, the most effective regime for preventing/reversing hair loss is a combination of 3 or 4 products:
1) DHT Inhibitors - Work to inhibit the negative effects of DHT 2) Growth Stimulators - artificially stimulate growth in the hair follicle 3) Hair vitamins - these products actually provide all the clinical proven vitamins and minerals required to help hair grow to its fullest and thickest 4) Hair and Scalp Cleaners - these products provide proper hair and scalp hygiene and nutrition.
In all cases, the most effective hair loss treatment will involve a combination of the above options. That is because there is no single solution that tackles the cause and the effect of baldness in everyone
Balding Cures - Scams or Not
If you're one of the millions of men and women who are balding, you're probably paying an incredible amount of attention to the many companies touting products that will end your problems. Before you rush out to pay for the miracle cure, take a minute to evaluate the products and the companies.
One of the most important things to remember is your mom's advice - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have eight hairs left on your entire head, a can of spray paint isn't going to make those eight look like a full head of hair. While there's some merit to the idea (mascara works roughly on the same principal and women with thinner eyelashes continue to use that product), use your common sense before you decide that this is going to be the answer to your balding problem.
Another point is to understand exactly what it is that you're buying. If you pay close attention to some of the advertisements, you still end the session knowing that the company is touting a cure for balding but have no idea what that cure is. If you hear an advertisement that catches your interest, be sure you know some details about the product. If you don't understand, ask. Any company that isn't willing to answer your questions is probably in the midst of a scam that won't work anyway. Also, don't settle for techno-babble as an answer. Be sure you understand. Don't be afraid of sounding stupid when searching for answers. It's going to be worse if you pay $99.95 for this product that turns out to be tufts of hair and a bottle of super glue.
Surgery for balding is a pretty dramatic step. If you're thinking of taking that step, find a reputable company to perform the procedure. The process has come a long way over the past few years, but you don't want to pay for a transplant only to end up with tiny rows of hair that look like a doll's head.
There's no doubt that balding can be detrimental to self-esteem. Confidence can plummet with balding and finding a product that helps reverse that is vital to some people. The important part of this equation is to figure out why you want to address the problem and the lengths to which you're willing to go. With some careful evaluation of the products and procedures available, you're sure to find something that works with your lifestyle. But for some people, finding the self-confidence to simply go on is the more viable solution to balding.
Author Bio
If you're one of the millions of men and women who are balding, you're probably paying an incredible amount of attention to the many companies touting products that will end your problems. Before you rush out to pay for the miracle cure, take a minute to evaluate the products and the companies.
One of the most important things to remember is your mom's advice - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have eight hairs left on your entire head, a can of spray paint isn't going to make those eight look like a full head of hair. While there's some merit to the idea (mascara works roughly on the same principal and women with thinner eyelashes continue to use that product), use your common sense before you decide that this is going to be the answer to your balding problem.
Another point is to understand exactly what it is that you're buying. If you pay close attention to some of the advertisements, you still end the session knowing that the company is touting a cure for balding but have no idea what that cure is. If you hear an advertisement that catches your interest, be sure you know some details about the product. If you don't understand, ask. Any company that isn't willing to answer your questions is probably in the midst of a scam that won't work anyway. Also, don't settle for techno-babble as an answer. Be sure you understand. Don't be afraid of sounding stupid when searching for answers. It's going to be worse if you pay $99.95 for this product that turns out to be tufts of hair and a bottle of super glue.
Surgery for balding is a pretty dramatic step. If you're thinking of taking that step, find a reputable company to perform the procedure. The process has come a long way over the past few years, but you don't want to pay for a transplant only to end up with tiny rows of hair that look like a doll's head.
There's no doubt that balding can be detrimental to self-esteem. Confidence can plummet with balding and finding a product that helps reverse that is vital to some people. The important part of this equation is to figure out why you want to address the problem and the lengths to which you're willing to go. With some careful evaluation of the products and procedures available, you're sure to find something that works with your lifestyle. But for some people, finding the self-confidence to simply go on is the more viable solution to balding.
Author Bio
Types Of Hair Loss Treatment Available
The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.
This article will focus on four basic approaches:
1. A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.
2. A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.
3. A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.
4. A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.
It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications. Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine (minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.
The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and more research! Many useful products are available on the market but none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly most popular, commercially available products are those containing natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.
Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".
It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can be achieved by:
* eating adequate amounts of protein
* eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates
* achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats
The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.
This article will focus on four basic approaches:
1. A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.
2. A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.
3. A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.
4. A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.
It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications. Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine (minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.
The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and more research! Many useful products are available on the market but none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly most popular, commercially available products are those containing natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.
Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".
It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can be achieved by:
* eating adequate amounts of protein
* eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates
* achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats
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