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One of the most worrying aspects
of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many
people to seek solutions without first determining
what has caused their loss in the first place.
At best, sufferers may waste money
on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate
treatments that unfortunately are not suitable
for their particular needs. At worst, some people
may be risking their health by self-prescribing
powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a
problem with hair loss sufferers saving money
by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet,
but I feel strongly that they should at least
seek confirmation from their physician that a
given drug matches their individual needs.
Before examining the most common
causes of premature hair loss we need to understand
that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal.
Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs
in the skin designed to grow a single hair that
follows this repetitive cycle:
1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen
Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two
and seven years with an average growth rate of
six inches (15cm) each year.
2. Short transition period (Catagen
Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly
two to four weeks. During this phase the hair
shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within
the follicle.
3. Resting period (Telogen Stage)
- this phase lasts about three months allowing
the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.
At this point a new hair begins
to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair
growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can
interfere with the natural hair growth process
leading to forms of hair thinning or premature
baldness.
Androgenetic alopecia is the most
common cause of hair loss, probably accounting
for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both
men and women. It is usually associated with aging
and develops in predictable stages over varying
periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically
programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded
to remain active for a shorter time than others.
This results in the development of the hereditary
baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.
For this type of baldness to occur,
the following factors must be present:
1. A genetic predisposition for
hair loss to occur (as explained above).
2. The presence of male hormones.
3. Aging - in other words, enough
time for the first two factors to exert an influence.
All men and women produce male hormones
such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful
role to play in both sexes but obviously occur
in widely differing concentrations. It is the
higher levels of androgens found in males that
explains why this form of hair loss affects men
more than women.
In brief, these hormones affect
the hair growth cycle as follows:
1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase
enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle
and sebaceous glands.
2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone
into DHT.
3. DHT causes the terminal hairs
to miniaturize.
4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy
vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.
5. The growth phases gradually become
shorter until these hairs are lost for good.
Alopecia areata is thought to be
an immune system disorder that causes follicles
to stop producing hairs in patches on the head.
In severe cases it can advance to the stage where
all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis)
or even a complete absence of body hair results
(alopecia universalis).
In most cases the hair will reappear
on its own but until then, the condition can be
very distressing to sufferers particularly as
its cause can be difficult to determine. If you
feel you may be suffering from this form of hair
loss, seek the advice of your physician who will
carry out a physical examination and conduct blood
tests to help determine the cause.
Telogen effluvium is characterized
by a general thinning or shedding of hair over
a period of months and is most commonly found
in people who have recently experienced trauma.
Common causes include childbirth, major surgery,
severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy.
The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior
associated with telogen effluvium is temporary
and reversible.
There are numerous other less common
hair loss causes that need to be discounted before
a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia
is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually
as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can
result in thinning, often caused by excessive
styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally,
severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can
cause side effects that may include degrees of
hair loss.
I hope this brief article has gotten
across the message that diagnosing the real causes
of hair loss is not always a straightforward process.
Once you and your physician have identified a
cause, then you can work towards restoring your
hair to its former glory. And the good news is,
most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully.
The next article in this series will look at some
of the best hair loss treatments currently available.
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com
website that provides information and guidance
to those suffering from premature hair loss.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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