Hair Loss Treatment Compare: The Popular Hair Loss Products of Today

Posted by Carol Green on May 11th, 2012
hair loss treatment compare

Hair loss is not a rare condition. Men and women are both affected by this phenomenon due to different potential factors.

Hair loss can tell the difference between how a 20-year-old looks from a 40-year-old. This is what makes hair loss truly disturbing, whether for man or a woman.

There is a myriad of hair loss treatments in the market today. Most of them are directed towards treating or reversing androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness, the most common hair loss condition. The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the main culprit of AA.

To find the best hair loss treatment compare the popular hair loss products being offered or made available in stores, online shops, and hair clinics.

Below is a comparison of the best hair loss treatments in the market today:

Product: Topical Minoxidil Laser Therapy
Treatment Type: Growth Stimulant Growth Stimulant
How It Works: Topical minoxidil works as a vasodilator. Expanding the small blood vessels in the follicles allows better blood circulation, and thus a proper delivery of food and nutrients for the follicles. Through which, hair growth is highly possible. Low-level laser therapy generates light of a single wavelength that renders photobiostimulation and vasodilation. Photo-biostimulation is the process by which cellular energy increases, thus encouraging hair growth.
Reported Side Effects: Nausea, allergic reactions, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness None

 

Product: Saw Palmetto Oral Finasteride
Treatment Type: DHT Inhibitor DHT Inhibitor
How It Works: Saw palmetto works as a DHT-inhibitor. It inhibits the 5-alpha reductase enzyme from converting testosterone into DHT, the hair loss–causing hormone. Finasteride is the man-made counterpart of saw palmetto. It can reduce DHT levels by significant levels.
Reported Side Effects: Gastrointestinal problems Loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and impotence

 

Product: Surgical Hair Restoration Hair Systems
Treatment Type: Hair replacement Non-surgical hair replacement
How It Works: Traditional hair transplantation involves the removal of bald-resistant hair follicles in the scalp. These donor follicles are transplanted into the balding regions of the scalp in the hope of regenerating new bald-resistant hair follicles. Hair replacement systems instantly conceal the baldness without being invasive
Reported Side Effects: Infections, shock loss, aesthetic complications, compromised blood supply, and accelerated hair loss after the first weeks since the surgery May accelerate hair loss as it increases production of excess sebum overtime

 

 

 

Health Conditions and Women’s Hair Loss Treatment: When Hair Loss Is More Than Just Hair Loss

Posted by Carol Green on May 4th, 2012
hair loss treatments

Women can best attest to what great and bad hair days are like. They love growing their hair long since it’s what makes up most of their charm. However, with hair loss marking the ultimate bad hair day, nothing could come out fine.

Hair loss is a shuddering sight to behold because hair can say a lot about a person’s health. Women know that hair is instrumental to exuding their reproductive potential, and hence, health. But that is just impossible to show off with hair loss in sight.

It is rare for women to suffer from permanent hair loss but when hair loss does occur, it may be a signal of a serious underlying health condition.

Nutritional Deficiency

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in women especially during pregnancy. Iron is an important mineral since it helps deliver food and oxygen to the brain and muscles. In turn, it is a common supplement taken as part of a hair loss treatment.

Besides fatigue, paleness of skin, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness, hair loss may ensue from iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can lead to the malnutrition of the hair follicles, the tube-like cavity that produces hair.

Vitamin D is one of the vitamins that we commonly do not get enough of. Today’s times have made it less important to go out and enjoy the sun. This would explain one of the reasons a woman can become deficient of vitamin D. Hair loss can signal the lack of this vitamin. Skin cells and tissues express the vitamin D receptor (VDR), hence the possibility of hair loss to occur.

The lack of omega 3-fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, can also cause hair loss in women. These essential fatty acids help generate cell membranes and acts with several hormones; hence, they are usually incorporated in a dietary hair loss treatment.

Traumatic Stress

Studies have it that women are prone to higher stress levels than are men because it is a woman’s caring nature to think about people other than herself. However, it is not only through this that women become very stressed. A traumatic childbirth, physical injury, severe illnesses, divorce, or a death of a relative can increase the production of stress hormones.

Stress factors compel the hair to enter the shedding (telogen) phase prematurely. It usually takes two to three months after the stressful event for hair loss to occur, although physical or emotional equilibrium can be overcome in due time.

When nutritional deficiency is the culprit, then correcting the diet is imperative. Hair loss treatment is rarely necessary when the condition is temporary. Nonetheless, it may still be necessary to consult a physician to rule out the serious health conditions. However, if the appearance is disturbing, then the patient can begin a treatment.

5 Excellent Natural Hair Loss Treatments

Posted by Carol Green on April 27th, 2012
natural hair loss treatments

Many of us are turning to natural means of living—from our clothing to our personal hygiene. In this way, we believe we can stay healthy while being close to nature.

Natural always sounds better than artificial regardless of anything. The problem with natural methods, however, is that they rarely receive the proper attention they deserve from mainstream science.

In the cases of hair loss treatments particularly, rare is the case wherein the Food and Drug Administration was enthusiastic about approving natural hair loss treatments. In fact, the agency never did approve anything natural-based.

Despite the fact, however, people with hair loss still prefer an all-natural or at least anything natural-based. In fact, some products for hair loss utilize natural essences from both herbs and animals, as their active ingredients.

What are the most common ingredients used in natural hair loss treatments and the most effective hair growth products? Find out below.

1. Saw Palmetto. Popularly known as the men’s herb, saw palmetto has always been compared with finasteride, the infamous hair loss drug for men with pattern baldness.

Both saw palmetto and finasteride inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the key to pattern baldness.

However, saw palmetto differs from finasteride in terms of producing side effects. Finasteride has been linked to a number of potentially permanent side effects in the sexual function, fertility, and prostate glands whereas these side effects were rarely linked to saw palmetto.

Saw palmetto can come in liquid extracts, tablets, capsules, and in shampoos or topical hair regrowth products (i.e., Leimo).

2. Rosemary Extracts. In aromatherapy, rosemary oil is popularly used as one of the natural hair loss treatments. Even general practitioners would recommend the use of rosemary extracts to stimulate hair regrowth.

Rosemary extracts are high in antioxidants (rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, rosmanol, epirosmanol, carnosol) and makes an excellent vasodilator, which means that it can help improve nutrient flow en route to the hair follicles in the scalp. Besides that, it also helps treat dandruff and regulate oil production.

3. Nettles. While there is little literature suggesting that stinging nettles can promote hair growth, many patients can attest the efficacy of nettle extracts in treating hair loss.

Like saw palmetto, nettles have been used to relieve the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia. For this reason, it has been assumed to be an effective hair loss treatment as well. It is rich in beta-sitosterols that reduce the production of DHT.

4. Grape Seed Extracts. When it comes to health and cosmetic benefits, grape seeds are better than the grape itself. Grape seed extracts contain procyanidin oligomers that have been found effective in inhibiting DHT production in significant levels.

Grape seed extracts also have powerful antioxidants, thus keeping the hair follicle cells from free radical damage.

5. Camellia Oil. Camellia oil is derived from camellia seeds, which contain powerful moisturizers, antioxidants, proteins, and essential fatty acids (e.g., linoleic acid and oleic acid).

Camellia oil stimulates hair regrowth, as it is a good vasodilator. It also keeps hair from damage by the sun’s UV rays.

Evolution of Hair Transplant: Japanese Study Discovers a Possible Baldness Cure

Posted by Carol Green on April 23rd, 2012
Image Credit: huffingtonpost.com

Japanese scientists succeeded in reversing baldness in hairless mice, sparking new hope for balding men and women.

In the new attempt to use stem cell therapy for hair restoration, researchers from the Tokyo University of Science bioengineered follicle tissues from mouse cells called hair follicle germs and implanted them into the skin of naturally bald mice.

Surprisingly, the experiment worked. The creatures grew hair in the hair transplant site and continued regenerating as is in the normal hair growth cycle after degenerating.

Scientists used two different types of stem cells, which gradually developed immature hair follicles that could be ready for transplantation into the skin of bald mice. A typical stem cell is usually extracted from its embryo before being developed into tissues or organs.

However, the hair follicles used in the study can be grown with adult stem cells. The better news is that researchers also used human stem cells for the hair transplant technique, and which interestingly produced the same results.

Furthermore, the color and density of the hair can be modified by making use of another type of cells for transplantation. The researchers additionally indicated that “our current study thus demonstrates the potential for not only hair regeneration therapy but also the realization of bioengineered organ replacement using adult somatic stem cells.”

With the many failed attempts as well as the ongoing developments in the search for a baldness cure, patients could only hope that this technique is the real deal. According to the study published online in the journal Nature Communications, these findings suggest that with the new and existing resources, hair restoration through this hair transplant technique in humans is possible, that is, by using their own stem cells to grow hair again.

However, Takashi Tsuji, senior researcher, says, “Administering a precise cellular operation such as this is only currently possible by our team.” According to researcher Koh-ei Toyoshima, “We would like to start clinical research within three to five years, so that an actual treatment to general patients can start within a decade.”

Nutritional Solutions for Hair Loss

Posted by Carol Green on April 2nd, 2012
solutions for hair loss

To say that hair is important is an understatement. You can just ask men who spend thousands of dollars a year on laser therapy in an effort to reverse their baldness or women who regularly visit the salon to get a hair job.

This explains why hair loss is such a catastrophe. There are different reasons one could lose his or her hair. Regardless of the cause, nutritional supplementation is essential to help aid failing hair follicles.

Here are nutritional solutions for hair loss especially when associated with nutritional deficiencies:

  • Inositol and Choline

A water-soluble vitamin B complex, inositol can help promote hair growth in some cases with non-scarring types of baldness.

Natural sources of inositol include citrus fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, and whole grains. For supplements, take 200 mg twice a day.

Inositol supplementation should be coupled with choline since both of them act together. Take an equal amount of choline.

  • Silica and Zinc

The combination of silica and zinc ensures normal hair growth and provides strength to the hair. These minerals are mostly used as solutions for hair loss.

A daily dose of 100 or 250 milligrams of silica and 15 milligrams of zinc should provide the benefit. These supplements should be taken with a full stomach.

Doubling your dosage of zinc would require you to take 2 milligrams of copper since zinc can offset copper levels.

  • Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps grow new capillaries. With sufficient blood vessels, the follicles will not lack essential nutrition. Vitamin E, therefore, would promote healthy hair follicles.

Choose supplements with tocopherols or d-alpha-tocopherol. The general recommended daily dosage for vitamin E is 200 IU to 400 IU.

Taking selenium would help to properly assimilate vitamin E. Consume 100 to 200 mcg of selenium supplements every day.

There are precautions to observe if you are also taking anticoagulants. Seek advice from your GP.

Ensuring Maximum Absorption of Nutrients

All the above-mentioned nutritional solutions for hair loss may prove less effective when not absorbed properly. Taking digestive enzyme supplements ensure the proper and maximum absorption of nutrients. Take 4,000 IU of lipase, 2,000 IU of amylase, and 300 IU of protease.

They can be taken in between meals or during or after a meal. Also include 500 to 1,000 milligrams of pancreatin with each meal. Prolonged consumption of pancreatin however may inhibit the production of important enzymes.

It is best to ask help from your GP in regard to pancreatin supplementation.

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