Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Truth About Hair Loss: You Can Prevent Baldness

By David U. Goodman


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 men and women age some experience more hair loss, meaning that hair doesn't grow in as fast as it passes the resting phase and falls out. Some degree of this is normal and just a part of aging - it's called Androgenic Alopecia - and it accounts for 95% of all hair loss. But heredity or other factors can conspire against you and it can occur earlier than normal, or it can be more severe and noticeable than in other individuals. In men this 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 a big role in the onset of Androgenic Alopecia. Both men and women produce testosterone, which is converted to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the bloodstream. DHT causes hair follicles to shrink and tissue in the scalp to thicken, reducing blood flow to that area. Hair follicles begin to atrophy and as a result when hair falls out, it isn't replaced. Since men produce more testosterone than women, they usually experience more hair loss.

Androgenic Alopecia is the number one cause of hair loss in individuals, but there are other causes as well. Certain medications such as blood thinners, birth control pills and gout medication can cause hair loss. Medical conditions including fungal infections and hyperthyroidism can also lead to hair loss, as can sudden changes in diet, hormonal changes, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Pregnancy, surgery and stress are also implicated in hair loss. In cases where these types of physical or mental stress are involved the resulting hair loss usually occurs three to four months following the stress. This is because when the stress occurs an abnormal number of hair follicles enter the resting or dormant phase; when it terminates these hairs fall out and there is a gap in time until new hair replaces them. If the stress is continuous, the gap grows longer.

Placing undue manipulative stress on the hair itself can cause hair loss as well. Excessive brushing or combing, tight curlers or tight pigtails can irritate the scalp and eventually scar it causing permanent hair loss. Aggressive hair treatments such as multiple permanents or hot oil treatments can do the same thing.

Of all of the base causes of hair loss listed above, Androgenic Alopecia accounts for the vast majority of early onset hair loss cases. Fortunately it is often the most treatable cause. Treatment programs such as Provillus suppress the production of DHT in the body while also providing the nutrients necessary for healthy hair growth. Consequently hair regrowth usually results from consistent use over a period of several months. If you are one of the millions of men or women faced with premature hair loss you can avert the embarrassment and heartache that comes with hair loss by using a product like Provillus to preserve and care for your hair.

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