3 Strategic Methods of Alternative Hair Loss Treatment

Posted on May 3, 2012 by KATHLEEN

Image Credit: jupiterimages.com

For the past years, a number of hair loss treatment options have emerged in the market.

However, only two products for treating hair loss and hair thinning problems were recognized and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — minoxidil and finasteride.

Although there is no question that these products can help prevent androgenic alopecia or pattern hair loss from getting worse, the real question lies on the safety of the people who are using these medications.

Like other drugs for the treatment of certain conditions, both these products for hair loss have potential side effects that can harm the health of the users.

With that being said, most people still favour natural means to stop the progression of their hair loss and hair thinning conditions. You might be wondering why, but the answer is clear — natural or alternative hair loss treatment options offer safe and inexpensive means to stop hair loss and stimulate the growth of stronger and healthier hair follicles.

Indeed, unlike its commercialized hair loss treatment counterparts, an alternative treatment for hair loss provides a non-drug and risk-free approach to reverse the hair loss process at the same time encourage the production of thicker, fuller and healthier hair strands.

The following are three alternative methods of treating hair loss and hair thinning problems in both men and women:

1. Acupuncture. This alternative hair loss treatment works by manipulating thin, solid needles that are inserted into acupuncture points on the scalp.

The concept of treating baldness using acupuncture is to restore the normal flow of qi (energy) and blood in the scalp, encouraging proper growth of the hair follicles and thus producing healthier hair strands.

Etymology: The word acupuncture is from the Latin words acus which means ‘needle’ and puncture which means ‘to pierce’, ‘to break through’ or ‘to tear a hole’.

Example: Xuan Lu, the Suspended Skull — Acupuncture Point (GB-5)

This acupuncture point raises the qi to the scalp to treat premature hair loss. Its intersection points are the gall bladder channel along the triple energizer (central body cavity), large intestine and the stomach channel.

Its location is on the temporal region, the scalp area above the temples and at the midpoint of the curved line connecting the acupuncture points Qubin (GB7) and Touwei (ST8).

2. Aromatherapy. This alternative hair loss treatment makes use of aromatic oils taken from the barks, seeds, flowers, fruits, roots and leaves of various herbs.

This conventional science of treating hair loss helps nourish, moisturise and energize the scalp and the hair follicles, encouraging the growth of healthier hair strands.

Etymology: The word aromatherapy is taken from two Greek words, aroma and therapeia.  Aroma means ‘scent’, ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’ while therapeia means ‘care’, ‘healing’ or ‘treatment’.

Example: Aromatherapy for Hair Loss Prevention

Ingredients – cedarwood essential oil (5 drops), sandalwood essential oil (5 drops), lavender essential oil (5 drops) and rosemary essential oil (4 drops)

A mixture of the oils is then massaged on the scalp for 3–5 minutes.

3. Scalp Massage. This alternative hair loss treatment involves kneading and rubbing soft tissues to create a calming effect and to increase the blood circulation in the upper areas of the body such as the scalp.

Proper blood flow in the scalp helps deliver enough supply of oxygen and nutrients to the hair roots, promoting the growth of stronger, thicker, and healthier hair strands.

Etymology: The word massage is a French term which means ‘friction of kneading’. It can also mean ‘to touch, feel or handle’, which is taken from the Arabic word massa.

Example: Friction Massage

A type of scalp massage involving the use of vigorous rubbing movements using the thumb, fingertips and pads of the fingers.

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The Relationship between Hair Loss and Menopause

Posted on August 2, 2011 by admin

hair lossMenopause is the time in every woman’s life when her reproductive capacities come to an end. Commonly referred as ‘the change of life’, it is also a stage in which levels of the female hormone estrogen and progesterone fall which gives rise to symptoms like hair loss. Yes, it is not surprising that there is a direct link between hair loss in women and menopause.

When hair loss occurs to a menopausal woman, it not only becomes very stressful but the impact can be very devastating which can affect her physically, socially and psychologically. It may diminish her body image, thereby making way for lower self-esteem and altering her quality of life.

Some people view menopause as a disease or a health problem, but it is a natural cycle of the female lifespan which all women have to go through. Almost 50 percent of menopausal women suffer from hair loss and other symptoms including hot flushes, reduced libido, mood swings, extreme emotional outbursts, anxiety, and depression.

During the menopausal stage, it is common for many women to experience hair loss in varying degrees. This hair loss is usually caused by hormonal changes in the body.

The pre-menopausal women have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone which keep the small amount of testosterone at a minimal level. However, during the menopausal stage, the estrogen levels fall and the body starts to produce another type of hormone called 5-alpha reductase. When the 5-alpha reductase combines with a small amount of testosterone, then dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is produced.

When DHT is produced in larger amounts, it may clog the hair follicles causing them to shrink and produce finer and thinner hair. It slowly kills off hair follicles by attaching to its androgen receptors, inhibiting hair growth and coloration, thus resulting in the eventual loss of the hair. DHT is believed to be the culprit of 95 percent of hair loss in men and women.

Fortunately, hair loss during menopause is almost always temporary and there are some ways to reduce its effect. First, though menopausal stage brings about a symptom of anxiety and depression, you need to be very careful not to succumb to stress. If you become stressed during menopause, this would make things worse. Hence try not to become overly stressed and look for ways to deal with this.

Next, you can opt for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat the symptoms associated with menopause. HRT is a proven method that effectively relieves the symptom of menopause. HRT works by introducing estrogen into your body which then restores this hormone to its pre-menopause level. However, it is important to note that hair loss and other symptoms will resume if you stop with this treatment.

Finally, if you don’t want to have HRT, then a more low-key approach for hair loss treatment is to make a few changes in your lifestyle. Try eating more foods that contain estrogen, including rice, potatoes, wheat, yams, apples, alfalfa, and soy products. Regular exercises, yoga, meditation and scalp therapy will also help you to feel better, hence reducing your stress levels. Avoiding bad habits like smoking and excessive drinking can also help prevent hair loss.

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Hair Loss Remedy: The Myths and the Facts

Posted on July 18, 2011 by admin
hair loss remedy

Image taken from livestrong.com.

Our fixation on the search for the right hair loss remedy is not a new phenomenon.

Indeed, historical data prove that many years ago, we were in the hunt to find the best cure for hair loss. From the Egyptians of the 1300 BC who have tried to treat hair loss by applying fats from lions, ibex, snakes, geese, crocodiles, and hippos on their scalp to the hair loss treatment of the 12th century, where spells and incantations were believed to help regrow hair.

During the ancient times, many have tried to come up with the perfect hair loss remedy in an attempt to regrow their crowning glory. Some of them were promising and interesting; however, some were outlandish and bizzare methods that can surely raise a brow among many hair loss treatment skeptics of the present.

The lack of knowledge about the nature of the hair made way for assumptions and theories. Without scientific basis and proofs, myths and misconceptions about hair loss emerged. Below are some of them and why they’re not true:

Many believe that wearing tight hats causes hair loss.

False: This myth probably started in the military where young men entering the service were required to wear hats and soon showed signs of going bald, or at least of hair thinning. This is due to coincidental timing. The age that young men enter the military is also the same age that male pattern baldness begins. Pattern baldness is caused by too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT) buildup in the scalp and not merely by wearing tight hats.

Many people shave their head or trim their hair short when undergoing serious hair loss.

False:  Cutting or shaving your hair does not have any effect on hair loss. In fact, hair generally grows an average of half an inch per month with growth predetermined by a person’s genetic code.

Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus.

False: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.

Brushing your hair 100 strokes per day will make it healthier and grow faster.

False: The only thing brushing your hair 100 strokes per day will do, is to create breakage and more damage to your hair. Brushing hair that much can damage the hair follicles, thereby causing split ends.

Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases.

True: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools.

Hair loss is due to vitamin deficiencies.

True / False: In some instances, this very well may be the case. Certain vitamins are critical to the body’s ability to produce and maintain healthy hair growth. Taking vitamin supplements ‘alone’ however will not stop or prevent hair loss if the individual is already genetically predisposed to hair loss.

Diet is related to hair loss.

True: It’s important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. A proper diet ensures the intake of essential vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy head of hair. A good hair loss remedy is to eat the right kind of foods to keep your hair healthier and shinier.

Stress causes hair loss.

True: Severe stress can affect the hair’s normal growth cycle, causing large numbers of hair to shift from the growing to the resting phase. People typically notice sudden loss of hair from all over the scalp 3 to 6 months after the stressful event. In most cases, this loss is temporary.

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What You Need to Know about Surgical Hair Loss Treatment

Posted on July 18, 2011 by admin

surgical hair loss treatmentUp to 50% of hair loss has already occurred before it becomes apparent leaving most affected individuals unaware of the problem until it has reached an advanced stage. When hair loss is already in its advanced stage, some hair loss treatments no longer serve their purpose.

Surgical techniques such as hair transplantation, scalp lifts, flap surgeries, among others are recommended in restoring severe cases of hair loss.

The art of hair transplantation is as important as the mechanics of this surgical technique. As a surgical hair loss treatment, it is important to remember that every case varies from the other, and each procedure should be looked at with precision and on an individual basis.

In your first meeting, your hair transplant surgeon will evaluate your hair growth and loss, review your family history of hair loss and ask about any previous hair replacement surgery. Your surgeon will also ask you about your lifestyle and discuss your expectations and goals for this surgical hair loss treatment.

This surgical treatment is generally an all-day procedure performed under local anaesthesia and light sedation. During the procedure, patients rest comfortably, watch TV, or take a nap.

After the administration of the anaesthesia, the doctor removes the donor hair via a long, thin strip or through tiny round incisions. The strips (or extracted grafts) are placed under microscopes for further dissection into individual follicular units of 1-4 hairs each. After all the hair is harvested, tiny recipient sites (needle-size incisions) are made in balding areas of the scalp. The follicular unit grafts are then placed into these sites using very fine instruments. Once all the grafts are placed, the scalp is cleaned, a tennis-band dressing is applied and the patient is set to go home.

For most hair transplant patients, the result of the procedure is a “doll’s hair” look. This is usually the result of work using grafts that are too large, either performed years earlier or more recently with outmoded techniques. Hair transplants can appear unnatural also for such reasons as improper angling of grafts, improper hairline placement, or scarring of the donor site and transplant areas.

The transplant is visible for about a week to ten days after the procedure. Some patients cover the area with their existing hair and others choose to wear a hat when they are in public. Patients can resume normal activities the second day following their hair restoration surgery, although there are some restrictions on certain exercises and in smoking and drinking. New hair growth starts to appear 2 to 3 months after the hair transplant and the hair restoration is usually fully grown out in about a year.

Surgical hair loss treatment involves the highest risk and often the highest costs especially that hair loss is a chronic problem. These entail a great deal of time and money as a hair loss surgery needs to be done upwards of 3 sessions to cover continuing hair loss.

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Effective Ways to Regrow Hair Using Organic Hair Loss Treatments

Posted on July 15, 2011 by admin

hair loss treatmentsMost people are curious about the benefits of using essential oils as a part of routine hair care.

The truth is that good hair oil works as an excellent hair conditioner, giving you soft, shiny healthy hair. It also penetrates the hair shaft making the hair more flexible and silky.

For those whose hair is thinning or balding, the application of essential oils promotes hair regrowth. These essential oils are organic treatments that promote hair regrowth and prevent or stop hair loss.

Tea tree oil is one of the most versatile essential oils for hair regrowth when it comes to hair loss treatments. This oil moisturizes the hair and minimizes oil production of the scalp, preventing greasy-looking hair and leaving the scalp clean and dandruff-free. A few drops of tea tree oil can be added to olive oil for a mild but effective weekly treatment to deal with dandruff problems.

The healing properties of jojoba oil are useful for extremely damaged or breaking hair. This is truly one of the finest essential oils for hair loss due to breakage. Apply the oil to towel-dried hair and leave on for at least half an hour.

Basil is a beneficial herb that promotes and stimulates hair regrowth. One can easily make basil hair oil to massage into the scalp. This massage promotes healing, health, and improves blood circulation in the scalp which, in turn, promotes hair regrowth. Basil is good when used together with ivy burdock and fenugreek herbs.

Other natural hair loss treatments include essential oils of southern wood and cedar wood. Dilute 3 drops of each oil in 1 teaspoon of base oil then massage onto the scalp. These oils are beneficial for those looking for effective hair loss treatments.

Burdock essential oil is good for the scalp. It also encourages hair regrowth. It stimulates blood flow to the root of the hair, thus help with the problem of hair loss.

Rosemary and castor oil are two of the finest natural hair loss treatments. Mix 2 tablespoons of castor oil to 4 drops of essential oil of rosemary. Massage the warmed oils onto the scalp and hair, cover and leave overnight. Wash the next day using a mild shampoo. This is a healing conditioner to prevent hair loss after illness.

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Pregnancy and Hair Loss in Women

Posted on July 13, 2011 by admin

hair loss in womenHair loss in women who just gave birth is a natural occurrence that women have to ready themselves for. When a woman gives birth to a child, it gives way to a temporary hair loss condition due to hormonal changes in the woman’s body.

The estrogen levels of a woman’s body after childbirth is very low and the decreased level of estrogen is one of the major causes of hair loss occurrences especially in women.

Sure it is a very noble thing to give birth to a new life in this world. Every woman dreams of having a child or two but then pregnancy is another story. It could be a tough process as new things happen inside the woman’s body. A sigh of relief is not exactly that easy to let out even after delivery because the processes and changes still continue and the results could even be more drastic.

When a woman gets pregnant, the chemistry and hormones of her body would also change. Pregnant women have this heightened level of progesterones and estrogens. Upon delivery, the levels of these hormones suddenly drop and this causes the hair to slip into the resting or telogen stage. After childbirth, the hair shafts inside resting hair follicles would start to fall out. The most common times that hair loss after pregnancy occurs are between three and six months after the pregnancy.

Also, women who are using birth control pills or oral contraceptives are prone to hair loss. This association of hair loss and pregnancy happens because women who are planning on their pregnancy or those who are using the oral contraceptive method are taking in pills that control the hormones. If one discontinues the usage of the pill, the hormones would also change and this is when hair loss happens. But of course it is not really the pregnancy itself but the act of discontinued pill intake that is responsible for the hair loss.

If you are experiencing hair loss after childbirth, then you have to be aware that there is no cure for this type of hair loss. You have to know that in most cases, hair loss in women who have given birth naturally occurs and the hair is expected to grow back naturally as well. Eventually, the old hair will be shed and new hair will grow in its place, therefore remedying the condition itself.

You have to be more careful about your choices as well. Even if the baby is already out, your product choices could still affect him or her especially if you are a lactating mother. Some chemical-based products have harsh ingredients that could potentially harm the baby when it is taken in when you are breast-feeding.

Before you purchase and try on whatever product to remedy hair loss in women, you must first consult a doctor. Aside from expert insights regarding your condition, the doctor is the only person who could advise you regarding products that could not harm the baby.

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