Losing hair is normal; it is part of the hair growth cycle. The hair growth phase lasts two to six years, and roughly 90% of the hair on your head is in this phase. The other 10% of your hair is in a dormant phase that can last from two to six months. After the dormant phase comes to an end, the hair is discarded. The hair follicles then begin to grow new hair, during an average growth cycle much hair is shed or discarded. It is quite normal to loose fifty to one-hundred hairs everyday! This is no reason to be alarmed. When thinning of the hair becomes noticeable, this is an indication of the beginnings of hair loss or balding. As it stands hair loss and balding are not life threatening conditions, however, many people experience emotional distress.
The most common causes of hair loss are aging, heredity, thyroid imbalance, eating disorders, illness, pregnancy, or menopause, and prescription medications. Most people are familiar with the most common cause of hair loss, which is a hereditary condition. This is called androgenetic alopecia, and it is passed on through genetics.
Androgenetic alopecia occurs when hair follicles begin to shrink gradually over time, causing a shortening of the life cycle of the hair. As a result of the growth phase of the hair, the newer hair growth is shorter and thinner. This shortening and thinning of the hair continues until hair growth stops entirely. The important thing to remember is that hair-thinning conditions are treatable! The idea is to keep the hair you have and strengthen the existing follicle.
One of the major hormones that cause hair loss in men and women is DHT. DHT stands for Dihydrotestosterone. DHT is caused by a reaction between the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (which is found in the skin and scalp) and the hormone testosterone. DHT related hair loss is caused when DHT binds to receptor sites on the scalp and hair follicles. This binding of chemicals causes interruption and interaction of the normal chain of events that regulates normal, healthy, hair growth.
If this sounds complicated, let’s put it a way that everyone can understand, DHT hair loss occurs when DHT takes control of the receptor cell. The receptor cell is located on the hair follicle which binds to DHT. When this bonding happens, false signals are sent to the cells whose job it is to maintain proper hair growth. The place that men lose hair first is the temporal area; following is hair loss in the crown, and lastly, the top of the scalp. The concentration of sweat glands located in these regions cause heavy accumulation of DHT. In women hair loss happens differently, they will usually experience diffusion of hair evenly throughout their scalp.
There are many procedures available to treat hair loss today. One of the keys to preventing hair loss is a healthy daily diet. A diet low in fat and high in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables can have a major effect on stopping genetic and age related hair loss. In Asia where daily diets consist of vegetables, hair loss rarely occurs. Botanical nutrients may keep hair follicles from going dormant permanently.
Perhaps the easiest way to stop hair loss is to notice the early stages of hair follicle dormancy. By taking action to treat thinning hair before balding occurs, you can strengthen the hair follicles to prevent further destruction by DHT. One way to treat thinning hair is by taking supplements that contain ingredients such as Saw Palmetto and Green Tea Extract. These all natural ingredients have been found to help maintain hair follicle health. One product that is designed to help block DHT is Hair Rx, which contains a balanced blend of Saw Palmetto along with other important herbs to help you keep the hair you have and strengthen your hair follicles from the inside out!
Steven Johnson is dedicated to helping people achieve healthy and effective lifestyles. For more information on hair loss products along with other life enhancing nutrients please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements.
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