Researching Male Pattern Baldness

By: Marlene Baliss

Are you suffering from thinning hair, and do you worry where it might lead? Well, millions of other men also have hair loss problems, and there are many reasons for its occurrence. Male pattern baldness is one of the most well-known types of hair loss.

If you are male and you are trying to learn how to care for your hair, being educated about male pattern baldness and its causes can help you find the right remedies for keeping a full head of hair. Male pattern baldness is a problem that begins with a receding hairline. Over time, the middle of the head will also begin to lose hair. As one ages, men may find that their hair continues to thin and completely vacates their scalp. This results in eventual baldness.

In the early stages of male pattern baldness, you can assume there are a variety of potential causes. Though not every cause has a corresponding solution, it can help to learn more about the problem in any case.

Genetics is the most common cause of male pattern baldness. Male or female genes are passed down to you from your ancestors, and that leads to this situation. A common culprit is dihyrdo-testosterone (DHT), which can interact negatively with your hormones. As you age, these compounds react more with each other, and lead to increased thinning of the hair, followed by baldness.

Testosterone changes as we age, and although scientists have not completely sorted out all of the specific cause and effect relationships between hormones and baldness, they continue to work on the problem. Our bodies normally produce enzymes that help hair grow. However, as we age, and as testosterone changes in composition, it can interact with these enzymes, leading to negative effect on hair growth.

Some men find that their hair is falling out in chunks, or that thinning is taking place more rapidly than expected. Please consult a doctor if this is happening to you, as these things are not normal for male pattern baldness, but rather indicate a more serious health problem. There are many diseases or disorders that can be the source of this, so the only way to determine the problem is to talk to a health professional as soon as possible.

However, if your situation is more indicative of normal male pattern baldness, then there are fewer potential causes -- and solutions. Do some research into potential products and other solutions that are available. Some of them do slow thinning of hair, or encourage hair growth. But others have little effect. Digging around a little will help you to determine whether an effective treatment might fit your situation. Millions of men are in your same position, so there are plenty of companies that make claims about solutions for male pattern baldness.

But be warned that there is a long history of charlatans and cheats operating in the hair loss treatment industry. So be careful about accepting claims of unknown products or companies. Check with friends or family members who have experience with male pattern baldness, and tread carefully.




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Marlene Baliss enjoys writing for various web sites, on family health and hair loss product themes.
This and other unique content hair loss articles are available with free reprint rights.

Women and Hair Loss

Women and Hair Loss: What You Should Know
By: James Briggs

Although many people think of hair thinning as a male problem, the truth is that an estimated 25 percent of women experience some type of hair growth problems during their lifetimes.

Women dealing with thinning or balding hair often experience diminished confidence in their appearance as well as anxiety as to why the problem is occurring.

There are a variety of reasons why women lose hair, and determining the problem is the first step towards successfully treating it. Let's take a look at some of the most common causes of female balding:

Causes of Hair Growth Problems in Women

Genetics is one of the most common causes of thinning hair in women. If a woman's mother and/or grandmother experienced thinning or balding, there is a possibility she will as well.

The most common form of hereditary hair loss in women is female pattern baldness, which as its name suggests means the balding follows a predictable pattern. Then there's telogen effluvium, a condition in which the natural growth and loss cycle is disrupted due to severe physical or emotional stress or hormonal imbalance.

The postpartum period is a perfect example of this kind of hair loss. Other causes of hair loss in women include nutritional deficiencies and certain medical conditions.

Treatment Options to Consider

There are various ways to treat female pattern baldness. For hair thinning due to poor diet or a medical condition, treating the problem at its source is the key. But for genetic hair loss, the problem is a bit trickier.

Many women use topical monoxodil products such as Rogaine. Rogaine comes in two strengths and is available over the counter at your local drugstore or supermarket. It may take several months for noticeable results to occur, and the application of the Rogaine must be continued indefinitely for results to continue.

In addition to or instead of Rogaine, some women try massaging the scalp with essential oils to stimulate growth. You can blend your own combination of rejuvenating oils in a carrier oil such as jojoba, or purchase a ready-made blend specifically designed for hair loss.

A daily massage before or after shampooing can be soothing and might even help speed regrowth. Whether you choose Rogaine, oil massage or both, you will need to be patient while waiting for results.

While You're Waiting for Regrowth

To improve the appearance of your hair and help you feel more confident, try using one of the clever concealment products on the market today.

There are a variety of powders and creams which are applied to the scalp to give the illusion of thicker hair. Today's products are much improved over those used in the past.

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Conventional And Natural Treatment

Hair Loss Remedies - Conventional And Natural Treatment
By:

Male pattern baldness, also called alopecia, is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as a receding hairline; an additional bald patch may develop on top. It's much easier to prevent the falling out of healthy hairs than to regrow hair in follicles that are already dormant. Baldness is simply the state of lacking hair where it usually grows, especially on the head.

Many women notice hair loss about three months after they've had a baby; during pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out and when the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts up again. If the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, hair may fall out; treating thyroid disease will help remedy this. Poor digestion, parasites and nutrient deficiencies such as iron or biotin deficiency shouldn't be overlooked as possible causes.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss ranging from just one area to every hair on the entire body. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine or you may find you really don't need the medicine at all. About 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you can suddenly temporarily lose a large amount of hair; this hair loss is related to the stress of the illness.

Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from a person's maternal grandfather; while there's some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Tumors and skin growths can also induce localized baldness.

There are prescription drugs, herbal remedies and topical applications for hair loss. Go a more natural way with treatment if possible; taking hair loss drugs require many months of exposure to chemicals. There are natural home remedies and many recipes for making mixtures to apply topically to the scalp.

Please be aware there are side effects and serious side effects sometimes with the drugs that are commonly used for hair loss. Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this therapy questionable. Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss.

Minoxidil is a drug that's used daily to prevent hair loss but may create heart problems; the hair it grows is very fine, only on the top of the head and may fall out again soon after the drug is stopped. Minoxidil is a very expensive drug, costing about one hundred dollars per month for daily treatment. Propecia is available with a prescription; comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working.

Onion juice and honey remedy for hair loss: prepare a hair-growing elixir by combining 1/4 cup of onion juice with one tablespoon of honey; massage the scalp with the mixture every day. Massage the scalp nightly with an oil mixture made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Asian remedy for hair loss - rub sesame oil on your scalp every night, cover with a cap or old towel; in the morning wash with an herbal shampoo, rinse with a solution of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one quart of water.

Olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap and shampoo in the morning. Garlic oil remedy for hair loss - at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Try using double-strength herbal sage tea as a hair rinse or apply to scalp every day as a tonic.

Rub vitamin E oil into the scalp nightly. Try scalp massage every day. Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss; whether the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be questionable.

Circulation to the scalp is important. One patient reported that he used coconut oil on his hair and scalp for a year and during that time his hair became thicker and he hade more of it on the top of his head where he had been receding a bit; good as a hair gel too. Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth.

Remember that regrowing hair is a slow process, so don't look for results overnight for any remedy or treatment you try. Remember that any drugs you take for hair loss will be a long term commitment; consider the risks to your health before doing this. Keep in mind that hair loss should be continually treated, preferably natural however, even after it stops.

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For more information on hair loss remedies and hair loss products go to www.HairLossRemedy.us a nurse's website specializing in hair loss treatments, causes and resources for men, women and children including information on hair transplants and hair loss natural treatments