HAIR LOSS - NATURAL TREATMENT

                         IS BALDNESS A PROBLEM FOR YOU?              

                    HERE WE GO WITH CERTAIN NATURAL TREATMENT METHODS

Hair Loss

What is hair loss?

Alopecia, commonly known as baldness, typically refers to excessive loss of hair from the scalp, and is experienced by more than half of men and women in the U.S. at some point in their lives. In addition, nearly 30 percent of people suffer some kind of hair loss by age 30 and about 50 percent have it by age 50. In fact, hair loss is so common that it is often considered a normal sign of aging and not a disease.

What are the symptoms and how is it diagnosed?

Hair loss can be separated into two categories based on re-growth. Permanent hair loss typically falls under the classification of “pattern” or androgenetic alopecia, and occurs in both males and females. Male pattern baldness can begin quite early - sometimes even in the teens and early twenties - but more often develops after age 50. It is often characterized by balding at the top of the head with or without a receding hairline at the temples, the end result being partial or complete baldness. And hair loss isn't just a male problem. Many women experience female-pattern baldness, which manifests as progressive, thinning hair at the front, sides or top of the head. Complete hair loss is rarely experienced in women, who usually maintain their frontal hairline. Other permanent baldness can occur due to scarring or inflammation that damages follicles, causing hair to stop growing. This is rare, but if it does occur, it most often causes patchy hair loss that can itch and burn.

Other types of alopecia are temporary, and can involve the scalp or other parts of the body. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that attacks hair follicles causing hair on the head to fall out, usually in small patches about the size of a quarter. Most people don't lose all their hair, but some can. Essentially, this condition can cause baldness anywhere that hair grows, including eyebrows, eyelashes, the face, back, extremities and genitals. In a more severe form of the disease, people lose all the hair on their heads and everywhere else on their bodies (alopecia universalis). Unfortunately, autoimmune alopecia is unpredictable. Hair might come back, but if it does, it can fall out again. Some people continue to lose and re-grow hair for many years. Even among those who lose all their hair though, there's always a possibility that it can completely return.

Patchy hair loss can also occur as a result of certain hair styles that maintain pressure on hair or pull it tightly. This traction alopecia can come from wearing hair in braids, pigtails, cornrows, or using tight hair rollers. Hair loss occurs typically at the site where hair is pulled. With continued pulling, scarring and damage to hair roots can occur over time. This can cause hair loss to become permanent. Telogen effluvium is stress-related temporary condition that occurs suddenly and involves the loss of large amounts of hair after combing, washing or gentle pulling. This type of hair loss creates an overall thinning of the scalp as opposed to bald spots or patches.

What are the causes?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. A severe illness or major surgery may suddenly cause the loss of a large amount of hair. This is usually temporary and is often related to physical or emotional stress (Telogen effluvium).

Nutritional deficiencies and hormonal problems may also contribute to hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be reversed by normalizing levels of thyroid hormone. Hair loss may also occur if male or female hormones are out of balance. Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. It usually grows back, but can oftentimes be a different thickness or texture. Male pattern baldness develops when hair follicles are destroyed as a result of being exposed to too much dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a metabolite of the male sex hormone, testosterone. This is especially true when it runs in families.

Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause hair loss that most often improves when medications are stopped. These include blood thinners, birth control pills and some antidepressants, as well as medications used for gout, seizures, arthritis, heart problems, and high blood pressure. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation may cause temporary hair loss that typically re-grows when treatments are finished. Certain fungal infections of the scalp can cause patchy hair loss, especially in children. Hair loss may also occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus, diabetes or iron deficiency anemia.

Finally, certain hair treatments that use chemical dyes, bleaches, and straightening or curling agents, can damage hair and cause it to break off if used incorrectly or too often. Excessive brushing, combing or styling of hair can damage the hair shaft or roots, also causing it to fall out or break. Extreme twisting or pulling of hair can ultimately leave patches of baldness, especially when it becomes obsessive and uncontrolled.

What is the conventional treatment?

Conventional treatments focus on promoting hair growth or hiding hair loss. First priority should be to recognize and treat identifiable causes of hair loss, such as medications, infections, nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions or hormonal imbalances.

Certain drug treatments may help to slow or prevent the development of pattern baldness in men or women. Minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription and is used for pattern baldness and alopecia areata. It is directly applied as a liquid or foam to the scalp. New hair growth may be shorter and thinner than normal but sufficient enough to hide bald spots or blend with existing hair. It may take several weeks to notice an effect, and new hair growth slows down soon after you stop taking it. Another drug, finasteride (brand name: Propecia), is available by prescription only. It comes in pill form and is only indicated for men, as it poses a serious danger to women of child-bearing age - even skin contact can result in absorption of the drug and lead to birth defects in pregnant women. It works by stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT.

Steroid injections are sometimes used as a suppressive treatment for patches of alopecia areata. Ointments and creams can also be used, but aren't as effective. Another topical treatment consists of using Anthralin ointment, a synthetic substance made from tar used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, that may stimulate hair growth in those with autoimmune hair loss. Surgical treatments involving hair transplantation or scalp reduction are often a last resort but may be effective in the right candidate, although they can be expensive.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for hair loss?

The good news is there are some changes you can make that may help prevent further loss of hair and encourage re-growth. Try the following:

• Dietary changes: Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Try to eat salmon (preferable wild Alaskan salmon), sardines, herring or mackerel two or three times a week. Or, sprinkle two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds per day on your cereal or salads, or eat walnuts.
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• Mind/Body: If the hair loss is autoimmune in nature, as several noted above are, mind-body treatments such as hypnosis, psychotherapy and guided imagery therapy may be useful.
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• Supplements: Try the essential fatty acid called GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) in the form of black currant oil or evening primrose oil, available in capsules or soft gels at health food stores. Take 500 mg of either twice a day. Be patient. You won't see results for six to eight weeks. Dr. Weil has also read a few reports that the herb saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can promote hair growth in men. He thinks the effect, if any, is modest. However, James A. Duke, Ph.D., a leading authority on healing herbs and author of The Green Pharmacy, explains that saw palmetto may indeed promote hair growth since it inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) not unlike Propecia. The recommended dose is 160 mg of an extract standardized to 85-95% total fatty acids twice daily.
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• Also: Handle your hair gently, allowing it to air-dry whenever possible. Avoid hairstyles that create unnecessary tension on hair such as braids, buns, ponytails or cornrows, as well as compulsively twisting or pulling your hair. If adequate treatment is not available, you may consider different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement that helps to minimize the effects of balding.

Hormone Sensitivity, Inflammation, and Nizoral

Male Pattern Baldness is hormonal and genetic. A sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which develops in the scalp. This sensitivity can cause tingling, inflammation, itching, and scalp pain. Controlling both the DHT sensitivity and calming the scalp are critical to successfully treating hair loss.

This is why no matter what treatment regimen you use, Nizoral shampoo absolutely must be included. Though it is marketed as an anti-dandruff shampoo, it effectively handles both the hormonal and inflammation-related causes of hair loss. It is the only shampoo that can do this.

In fact, your first order of business is to go out and get Nizoral today, whether or not you have any current itching. Use it once every 3 days, and let it soak for the duration of your shower. No legitimate treatment (below) will work without it.

Four Types of Hair Loss Treatments

Expect your doctor to only know about Propecia and Rogaine. These two make up the backbone of a scientifically backed treatment regimen. However, there is a myriad of other potentially helpful treatments which can be used to enhance your results. Let's take a look at the four types of treatments which help stop hair loss:

• DHT Inhibitors - These work to reduce levels of DHT, by inhibiting its creation. The result is less DHT in your scalp, and relief for your follicles from the damaging effects it can bring. DHT inhibitors are found in products like Propecia, and Revivogen. DHT inhibitors are equated with "stopping the cause of hair loss", and are the foundational component to treating it.
  
  
  
  
• Growth Stimulants - These include products like Rogaine Foam and Tricomin. There is a good side and a bad side to growth stimulants. While they create new hair growth, they do nothing to stop the cause, or further progression. Using only a growth stimulant can be an uphill battle. Two steps forward, one step back. Many guys combine DHT inhibitors with growth stimulants for a beautifully synergistic effect. Both stopping the cause, and stimulating new growth.
  
  
  
  
• Antiandrogens - The king of antiandrogens is Topical , or S5 Cream. Whereas DHT inhibitors eliminate DHT, Antiandrogens like Topical Spi block DHT from reaching the follicle. This enables men to avoid systemic side effects of lowered DHT levels, and it is a phenomenally effective way of stopping the whole "hormonal" process from another angle. If you really want to go crazy, you can combine a DHT inhibitor, a growth stimulant, and an Antiandrogen for a complete, multifaceted approach.
  
  
  
• Anti-Inflammatories - These treatments work to reduce inflammation, itching, redness, and flaking caused by the hormonal and immune system reactions going on in your scalp. Without an anti-inflammatory, your treatments will not work. We strongly believe that the best Anti-inflammatory on the market today is SHAMPOO, and should be included in every regimen. Use once every 3 days, allow to soak for the duration of your shower, and rotate with any other shampoo of choice