Appropriate Ways to Grow Hair Back Naturally

There are a number of reasons why a person might suffer from hair loss. Poor health, stress, crash diets, deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals and poor hygiene can all lead to loss of hair. Once you have identified the cause of hair loss, you can take steps to prevent it. But how do you grow your hair back? There are many natural methods that you can employ to stimulate hair growth. Here are some methods that you can follow to grow your hair back.

Have an Iron Rich Diet

One of the major reason for hair loss is deficiency of iron in your diet. For strong and healthy hair, it is essential that you add iron to your diet. Green leafy vegetables, beans, red meat and tofu are all rich in iron. They also contain biotin and zinc, which are essential minerals that help in promoting hair growth.

Opt for Hair Massage

Hair massages are not only relaxing and rejuvenating, but they can help in stimulating hair growth. Regular massage with oil will boost blood circulation and helps to nourish and strengthen hair follicles and shaft. You can choose from olive oil, jojoba oil or coconut oil for such massage. Essential oils like rosemary, lavender and sage can be mixed with your regular hair oil and used for massage. For best results, warm the oil before massaging, and try to massage your scalp before going to bed. Shampoo your hair the next morning.

Use Herbs

There are many herbs which can be helpful in stimulating hair growth. These include chamomile, catnip and burdock. Catnip and burdock promotes hair growth and are generally found as an ingredient in shampoos and conditioners specially formulated for treating hair fall. If your hair loss is because of stress, then try chamomile herb. It is a good stress reliever which also improves hair growth.

Follow a Diet Rich in Vitamins

Vitamins A, E and B-complex are essential for healthy hair. Vitamin A is necessary for sebum production. Sebum deficiency can lead to hair loss as hair becomes brittle and dry. Vitamin E plays a vital role in repairing damaged hair follicles. Vitamin B-complex is responsible for the overall health and strength of hair. All these vitamins are found in fruits and green-leafy vegetables. So you should include them in your diet for strengthening your hair.

What are the Causes of Hair Loss

• A diet which is lacking in proteins, vitamins and essential minerals can result in loss of hair.
• Side effects of some medications that are prescribed for treating certain diseases like arthritis, gout, depression and hypertension can also cause hair loss.
• People who are anemic or who suffer from thyroid problems can also suffer from thinning hair.
• Hair treatments such as bleaching, dyeing, perming and permanent straightening can damage hair which will in turn lead to hair thinning and hair loss.
• Fungal infection of the scalp can lead to hair loss.
• Hair loss is associated with some diseases such as diabetes and lupus.
• Patients undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy generally suffer from hair loss.
• Hormonal changes are one of the common causes of hair loss in women. This occurs during pregnancy, menopause and after childbirth.
• Excessive use of styling products and over styling hair can also contribute to hair fall.
• Some hairstyles that involves tying hair tightly, like ponytails, braids and buns can cause traction and lead to hair fall.

If you are trying to combat hair fall, then refrain from excessive brushing and shampooing. Hair loss can be prevented by taking proper hair care and following a balanced diet.

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Iron Deficiency and Hair Loss

Hair loss or baldness is a hair problem, which is more common in men than women. Medically termed as alopecia, hair loss can occur on the scalp or any other part of the body like eyebrows, eyelashes, etc. However, a certain amount of hair loss is not a matter of worry and is normal. Moreover, research shows that a normal person sheds approximately 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. Daily shedding of hair is not necessarily a permanent hair loss as all hair have a life expectancy of 3 - 6 years, and most hair that we shed grow back.

Contraceptive pills, dandruff, stress, childbirth, emotional disorder, menopause, crash diets, etc. are some common reasons for hair loss in women. Besides these, one of the most common causes of hair loss in pre-menopausal women is iron deficiency. Hair loss in women can also be a result of certain illnesses like anemia, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, and sometimes cancer.

Iron Deficiency and Hair Loss

Ferritin is a protein found in the intestines, liver and spleen that store iron in the body. The concentration of ferritin in the blood is directly proportional to the amount of iron present in the blood. Moreover, in comparison to blood iron level that changes with diet, ferritin monitors the long term body iron status. Hence, iron deficiency is basically defined as having a ferritin level of less than 40 ng/ml.

But how iron deficiency can result in hair loss? In the human body, iron helps in the production of hemoglobin (the substance that carries oxygen within red blood cells) and myoglobin. Apart from this, iron also plays an important role in the oxygenation of red blood cells in the body. Hence, we can say that levels of iron play a vital role in many bodily functions, and so is essential for the normal growth and maintenance of hair. Besides being a dominant cause for hair loss, low ferritin level or iron deficiency is also an underlying cause for slow thinning of hair over a few months or even years.

Prevention of Iron Deficiency

The most simplest way to prevent iron deficiency and women's hair loss, is to keep the balance of iron in the body adequate. Basically when the concentration of dietary iron absorbed by the body is inadequate, it results in negative iron imbalance. As a result iron stores are called upon to make up the deficit. Hair loss due to iron deficiency can be easily resolved by making some healthy modifications in one's diet, i.e. including foods like red meat, dried fruit, broccoli, raisins, shellfish, egg yolk, clams, oysters, and spinach which are not only rich in iron but also in vitamins.

Apart from these, one should avoid drinking tea at least for an hour after eating as it contains tannin which can affect the iron absorption in the body. Iron supplement pills and the amino acid l-lysine (15 mg for women and 18 mg for men), can also help to overcome iron deficiency. Hair loss in men and women can also be treated by drinking up to 64 ounces or eight, 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Since water plays a vital role in transporting vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and many other nutrients in the body, keeping yourself hydrated can promote healthy hair growth.

I hope the information given above on iron deficiency proves to be helpful. In case you experience excessive hair loss and the aforementioned prevention methods are not helpful, consult a dermatologist to elucidate the case.

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Vitamin D Deficiency Causing Hair Loss

Staring at the mirror if the person across with thinning hair is really you? It is a common practice to hunt for wrinkles, thinning hair, etc., first thing in the mirror every morning, and hair fall might just be one reason for your worry wrinkles. A majority of us suffer from hair fall. Losing some hair everyday is normal, but if you are losing more than average hair everyday that is visible, it is time to get into thought for the reasons and hair loss solutions.

There are many reasons for hair fall, right from unhealthy lifestyles to dietary deficiencies, besides others. Everybody has their own perceptions on hair loss. While some blame it on the genes, but the fact is that hair fall issues never get acquired only through genes, it has many possible reasons and causes. There is a lot of research and experiment on the exact cause for hair fall, but studies show that dietary and vitamin deficiencies are among the top contenders.

Findings show a high amount of vitamin D recipients in the hair follicles, but their exact function is not known and proved, yet it is evident that this vitamin helps in the growth and maturation of the hair follicle. Even though a definite conclusion cannot be drawn for hair loss due to vitamin D deficiency, it is observed that this deficiency is one of the contributing factors for hair loss.

About Vitamin D

The sunshine vitamin is a fat soluble vitamin that maintains calcium metabolism. It is also known as Calciferol, you can rather nickname it as the sunshine vitamin. Your body naturally produces this vitamin. This pro-hormone, fat soluble vitamin, helps in absorption of calcium and phosphorous. A little exposure to sunlight will produce vitamin D in your body. It is also found in certain foods. Almost 80 - 90% of this vitamin is produced due to sun exposure by synthesis in the skin. The two forms of vitamin D important for the human body are, vitamins D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol).

Hair Loss and Vitamin D

A lot of vitamins keeps your body functions and appearance healthy and working. In the case of hair, it is more or less the same. A lot of vitamins contribute to strong and healthy looking hair, specially vitamins for hair loss. Scientists and researchers are underway to understand the role of Vitamin D in hair loss. Study is done on a type of mice that are genetically programmed to be hairless.

The study results showed that when vitamin D3 was given to these mice, they showed improvement in hair growth with stimulation in the hair follicles. There is much more to do however in this research. Finding how will it affect the human genes, and would it really curb hair fall in people with low Vitamin D, needs more research. The right amount is required for good hair growth.

People who have been taking supplements with vitamin D have experienced a gradual decrease in the hair fall. Vitamin D helps in the development and growth of healthy hair and maturity of hair follicles. Certain fatty acids in this vitamin help in eliminating dandruff, scalp psoriasis, and also hair loss by regulating the flow of oils that nourish the collagen (a tissue that holds your hair beneath the skin). It helps in absorption of calcium, which is also important for hair growth.

Other Deficiencies and Causes for Hair Fall

As we discussed earlier, losing certain amount of hair is normal and is not a serious issue of hair fall. Human beings generally lose 50 - 70 strands of hair everyday. How will you check what amount of hair you lose? Simple, just take a 'pull test'. That is take about 60 - 80 strands of hair in your fingers, now gently but firmly pull the hair. Usually 5 - 10 strands will come out. Anything more than about 12 - 15 hair is not normal, and you may be suffering from hair loss.

Some of the common factors for reasons are, genetics, hormonal imbalance, stress (both emotional and physical), thyroid disorders, sudden weight loss due to crash or liquid protein diet, chemotherapy, harsh hair treatments, disease and disorders of the skin, certain medicines and surgery, vitamin deficiencies like vitamin A, vitamin D, dietary deficiencies like that of proteins, iron, copper, L-lysine, and zinc.

Sources of Vitamin D

The question that does vitamin D deficiency cause hair loss is well answered by all these facts. Now you know what to look out for when dealing with hair fall. A healthy diet and lifestyle, and adequate amount of vitamin D is essential. This vitamin can be found in cow's milk and soy milk, sardines, pink salmon, tuna fish, egg, liver, beef, cheese, ready-to-eat cereals fortified with DV for vitamin D, and pure cod liver oil. The most important is sunlight, so bask in the sunlight for 5-10 minutes (preferably between 9 - 11 in the morning) to get your dose of vitamin D. It is recommended to first take medical advice before taking supplements or medications for hair loss.

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Hair Loss Treatment - Why Hair Laser Therapy Can Stop Hair Loss

An effective hair loss treatment has to address the underlying causes of hair loss to which it is being directed. While it is easy to believe that hair loss, especially in men, is just a natural occurrence due to genetic factors, modern research is showing that there are various factors at play.

These factors include hormones, nutrient deficiencies and excesses, side effects from medicines, stress, tight scalp and the latest theory targeting research into a minscule demodicid parasite.

Hormones play a role in hair loss by their effect upon hair follicles. Androgens & estrogens are the male and female hormones and correcting an imbalance can be an effective hair loss treatment. So why would hair laser therapy be an effective treatment and can it actually stop you losing hair? Let's look at DHT.

DHT-DiHydroTestosterone Testosterone combines with an enzyme (5a-reductase) to form DHT which, upon reaching the hair follicles cause them to shrink (due to affecting blood supply), thus producing finer hair. This is referred to as hair follicle miniaturization, the main process behind male pattern baldness. Drugs which decrease the levels of available 5a-reductase (and therefore DHT) are being used as a hair loss treatment but unfortunately can have undesirable side effects such as impotence, decreased libido, decreased ejaculate volume and in some cases, man boobs! Whilst there are a number of safer herbal preparations that can also reduce DHT, there is a perfectly safe and effective hair loss treatment known as hair laser therapy showing remarkable outcomes for both men & women.

Hair Laser Therapy In 1967 a researcher doing skin cancer experiments with laser light upon mice discovered that the shaven areas grew back fuller & thicker hair on laser treated mice than on the untreated control specimens. The accidental discovery spawned a new industry in treatment for those seeking a hair loss cure & it has since been shown that low power (5 milliwatts) lasers with a wavelength of 650 nanometres (in the red spectrum) is most effective. Advances in industry have enabled portable laser hair therapy devices to be available to anyone wishing to purchase one for their own home use.

How Lasers Stimulate Hair Growth There are two theories.

1.  The coherent light energy of a laser is absorbed by the hair follicle and transfers energy into the follicle in a similar way that light helps a plant grow.
2. The light stimulates & improves the blood circulation around the hair follicle, flushing away the DHT; however it has been shown that even shaved areas (nothing to do with DHT) grow back thicker and fuller hair after laser treatment.

Interesting Fact The average hair shaft is only one tenth of a millimetre in diameter and the capillaries that nourish them are less than a tenth of that again! Whereas the skin follicle base may be as deep as 4mm on fleshy parts of the skin, the skull may have as little as 1mm of total skin thickness on the top of the head. Go on, feel for yourself! It is pretty obvious why the top of your head is the first place to lose hair. The pharmaceutical companies never seem to mention that.

Laser light can penetrate millimeters into the skin, a fact easily proven by observing the glow of a fingertip held over a laser. When faced with losing hair it is now easy to realize how fragile the supporting structure truly is.

Therefore, if you're in the unfortunate position of trying to stop losing hair and looking for a safe alternative, hair laser therapy should definitely be a part of your hair gain treatment strategy.

Considering the importance of increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles in any hair loss treatment, the purchase of a tested low dose laser device is a logical choice for any male or female trying to arrest the process of losing their hair and looking for the best tools available to provide a safe and natural, hair loss treatment.

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Thinning Hair in Women: Warning Sign of Underlying Health Issues

Hair is probably a woman's most important feature. Signs of thinning hair can take the sail out of almost any woman's day. It may seem vain to pay so much attention to hair, but signs of thinning hair are really the first signals of such conditions as hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, excessive stress or poor nutrition, all symptoms of declining health status. Paying attention to hair can reveal developing conditions before they get out of control. When you have restored your hair to a full head of vibrant healthy strands, chances are the rest of your body will also exhibit vibrant health.

Nutritional deficiencies may be signaled by thinning hair

Your hair loss may be caused by vitamin D deficiency. Studies show that a large segment of the American population is deficient in this essential nutrient, with hair loss being one of the primary symptoms of this deficiency.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in numerous cells and tissues of the body, including the skin. Studies of mice and humans lacking these functional receptors have demonstrated that absence of the VDR leads to the development of alopecia, a fancy word for hair loss. Hair loss may be an early warning that you are at risk of other maladies linked to a deficiency of vitamin D. The list includes diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, depression, multiple sclerosis, gum disease, seasonal influenza and tuberculosis.

Lack of exposure to the sun almost guarantees vitamin D deficiency. Researchers have mapped the U.S. and found that the farther north a person lives, the more likely she is to have vitamin D deficiency. If access to the sun is not an option, supplementing vitamin D with cod liver oil, or capsules of D3 will help. It is now suggested that women receive a minimum of 2,000 units of vitamin D per day. Many cutting edge practioners advocate 10,000 units per day, the amount obtained from a day wearing a bathing suit in the summer sun.

Omega 3 fatty acids affect the biological process of vitamin D. They are responsible for producing cholesterol and at the same time for removing its excess, as well as for most other bodily functions. In order to manufacture vitamin D, the body needs cholesterol. If the diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids, the body can't produce its own vitamin D. In addition to containing usable vitamin D, cod liver oil also provides omega 3 fatty acids.

Hair loss may also be the result of deficiencies of the amino acid lysine, copper, and zinc. However, if your diet is comprised of a wide selection of whole foods including daily servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, this may not be the cause of your hair loss, especially if you are getting enough protein. Hair stands are composed of protein, but if the diet is short on it, the wisdom of the body will divert its use from making hair to sustaining more necessary bodily functions. Taking a whole food supplement such as bee pollen, spirulina or chlorella will help with getting and assimilating needed amounts of the full spectrum of nutrients.

Thinning hair may reflect hormonal imbalance

A woman's hormones can begin to decline and lose balance as early as the 30's. One of the most shocking examples of this imbalance is hair growth appearing on the upper lip or chin, or a coarsening of hair on the rest of the body while the hair on the head thins. This is most likely the result of excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) conversion. Although estrogen is the primary hormone of women, they also produce testosterone and other androgens such as DHEA. As the body ages women may begin to convert these androgens to DHT just as men do. Women with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to have higher levels of testosterone and DHT than other women, and may be more susceptible to this excessive conversion.

To find out if hormonal imbalance is causing hair loss, full range hormone testing can be done. Physicians who administer bio-identical hormones can provide this testing, as well as physicians who specialize in anti-aging medicine. If this is not an option, there are reliable laboratories available online that receive specimens of saliva by mail and provide complete hormone testing results.

Supplements of saw palmetto prevent the excessive conversion of androgens to DHT. It is an herb that comes from the flowers of a beautiful palm tree known as saw palmetto or sabal palm. A dosage of one 160 mg. capsule daily should effectively block this conversion and get the hair back on head and off the face. Saw palmetto has been demonstrated to be safe for prolonged use. If hormone testing is not an option, another way to find out if excessive DHT conversion is causing hair loss is to take a saw palmetto supplement for a period of three months. If hair loss stops where you don't want it and starts where you do want it, your question will be answered.

Excessive levels of hormonal conversion to DHT are highly associated with prostate abnormalities in men and may be a cause of prostate cancer. Saw palmetto has been documented to increase prostate health. The health effects of this conversion in women are not yet fully documented, yet common sense suggests that reducing excessive levels of DHT in women may be helpful in assuring breast and ovarian health.

Declining levels of thyroid hormone can also spark hair loss. It's estimated that forty percent of American women are suffering from significant hair loss related to low thyroid hormones, with redheads particularly at risk. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for metabolism, the sum of all the physical and chemical processes. The thyroid hormones control the efficiency and speed at which cells work. Every cell in the body including the hair depends on proper thyroid function for development. If thyroid production is insufficient, hair growth will slow and hair will eventually thin.

Other symptoms of declining thyroid function are dry skin, sensitivity to hot and cold, unexplained weight gain, missing outer third of eyebrows, constipation, brittle nails, high or low blood pressure, susceptibility to infections, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, joint or muscle pain, cystic breasts or ovaries, chronic sinusitis, slow heart rate, TMJ syndrome, dental problems, headache, and increased cholesterol levels. This list reveals how critical proper thyroid function is to well being.

The good new is that low thyroid can easily be corrected by supplementing the body with bio-identical thyroid hormones. Armour thyroid is the natural form of thyroid hormone. 

Too much stress can cause hair to thin

Hair loss may be the first indication that your stress level is taking a toll on your body. Stress is nothing less than epidemic today, and this high level can actually cause hair loss along with many more serious health problems. Excessive physical or emotional stress associated with illness, injury, and trauma may cause the hair to stop growing and enter a period of dormancy which is followed two or three months later by the hair falling out. When physical or emotional equilibrium is regained, hair will again begin to grow, usually about 6 to 9 months later.

A more serious situation develops when stress is constant and almost unrelenting as it is for many people in this society. Hair thinning will continue unless effective means of dealing with the stress are put in place and calmness can be restored. Prolonged hair loss caused by chronic stress is a warning that other bodily systems are in jeopardy.

Cortisol is the stress hormone that gives the body its fight or flight response to stressful situations. It is an important hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in maintaining proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function, and inflammatory response. When stress is constant and prolonged, cortisol levels stay elevated and the body enters a state of chronic stress.

Higher and prolonged levels of corisol in the bloodstream have been shown to have negative effects, such as impaired cognitive performance, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity, heightened inflammatory response, and increased abdominal fat. If no steps are taken to reduce the stress level, heart attack or stroke may follow.

To keep corisol levels healthy, the body's relaxation response should be activated. Learn to relax the body with various stress management techniques and make changes in your lifestyle to minimize the stress. Eat a diet of whole food that emphasizes vegetables and fruits. Take supplements like bee pollen, spirulina and chlorella to make sure nutrition is complete. Add alfalfa to keep your body fully mineralized, as stress raises the need for minerals. The B complex vitamins as well as vitamin C are needed to support the adrenal gland while dealing with chronic stress.

Hair products containing toxic chemicals promote hair loss

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is the dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos sold in traditional outlets such as supermarkets, drugstores and discount centers. In addition to having toxic effects on your immune system, SLS has been shown to corrode hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for many cases of hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.

Over-treated hair is another cause of hair loss in women. Hair dyes, permanents, and relaxers do serious damage to the hair and scalp whether they contain lye or not. They are made with toxic chemicals that must be detoxified by the liver, and are identified by the immune system as foreign invaders. Thus health of the liver and the immune system are compromised by use of these products. When the liver is busy trying to detoxify an onslaught of foreign chemicals, estrogen metabolism may not be properly completed and breast cancer may be promoted. An immune system busy fighting off an invasion of foreign chemicals may not be able to prevent infection or identify and destroy abberant cells. Damage from dyes and relaxers can only heal when those potions are no longer used on the hair.

Read More

Thinning Hair in Women

Hair is probably a woman's most important feature. Signs of thinning hair can take the sail out of almost any woman's day. It may seem vain to pay so much attention to hair, but signs of thinning hair are really the first signals of such conditions as hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, excessive stress or poor nutrition, all symptoms of declining health status. Paying attention to hair can reveal developing conditions before they get out of control. When you have restored your hair to a full head of vibrant healthy strands, chances are the rest of your body will also exhibit vibrant health.

Nutritional deficiencies may be signaled by thinning hair

Your hair loss may be caused by vitamin D deficiency. Studies show that a large segment of the American population is deficient in this essential nutrient, with hair loss being one of the primary symptoms of this deficiency.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in numerous cells and tissues of the body, including the skin. Studies of mice and humans lacking these functional receptors have demonstrated that absence of the VDR leads to the development of alopecia, a fancy word for hair loss. Hair loss may be an early warning that you are at risk of other maladies linked to a deficiency of vitamin D. The list includes diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, depression, multiple sclerosis, gum disease, seasonal influenza and tuberculosis.

Lack of exposure to the sun almost guarantees vitamin D deficiency. Researchers have mapped the U.S. and found that the farther north a person lives, the more likely she is to have vitamin D deficiency. If access to the sun is not an option, supplementing vitamin D with cod liver oil, or capsules of D3 will help. It is now suggested that women receive a minimum of 2,000 units of vitamin D per day. Many cutting edge practioners advocate 10,000 units per day, the amount obtained from a day wearing a bathing suit in the summer sun.

Omega 3 fatty acids affect the biological process of vitamin D. They are responsible for producing cholesterol and at the same time for removing its excess, as well as for most other bodily functions. In order to manufacture vitamin D, the body needs cholesterol. If the diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids, the body can't produce its own vitamin D. In addition to containing usable vitamin D, cod liver oil also provides omega 3 fatty acids.

Hair loss may also be the result of deficiencies of the amino acid lysine, copper, and zinc. However, if your diet is comprised of a wide selection of whole foods including daily servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, this may not be the cause of your hair loss, especially if you are getting enough protein. Hair stands are composed of protein, but if the diet is short on it, the wisdom of the body will divert its use from making hair to sustaining more necessary bodily functions. Taking a whole food supplement such as bee pollen, spirulina or chlorella will help with getting and assimilating needed amounts of the full spectrum of nutrients.

Thinning hair may reflect hormonal imbalance

A woman's hormones can begin to decline and lose balance as early as the 30's. One of the most shocking examples of this imbalance is hair growth appearing on the upper lip or chin, or a coarsening of hair on the rest of the body while the hair on the head thins. This is most likely the result of excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) conversion. Although estrogen is the primary hormone of women, they also produce testosterone and other androgens such as DHEA. As the body ages women may begin to convert these androgens to DHT just as men do. Women with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to have higher levels of testosterone and DHT than other women, and may be more susceptible to this excessive conversion.

To find out if hormonal imbalance is causing hair loss, full range hormone testing can be done. Physicians who administer bio-identical hormones can provide this testing, as well as physicians who specialize in anti-aging medicine. If this is not an option, there are reliable laboratories available online that receive specimens of saliva by mail and provide complete hormone testing results.

Supplements of saw palmetto prevent the excessive conversion of androgens to DHT. It is an herb that comes from the flowers of a beautiful palm tree known as saw palmetto or sabal palm. A dosage of one 160 mg. capsule daily should effectively block this conversion and get the hair back on head and off the face. Saw palmetto has been demonstrated to be safe for prolonged use. If hormone testing is not an option, another way to find out if excessive DHT conversion is causing hair loss is to take a saw palmetto supplement for a period of three months. If hair loss stops where you don't want it and starts where you do want it, your question will be answered.

Excessive levels of hormonal conversion to DHT are highly associated with prostate abnormalities in men and may be a cause of prostate cancer. Saw palmetto has been documented to increase prostate health. The health effects of this conversion in women are not yet fully documented, yet common sense suggests that reducing excessive levels of DHT in women may be helpful in assuring breast and ovarian health.

Declining levels of thyroid hormone can also spark hair loss. It's estimated that forty percent of American women are suffering from significant hair loss related to low thyroid hormones, with redheads particularly at risk. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for metabolism, the sum of all the physical and chemical processes. The thyroid hormones control the efficiency and speed at which cells work. Every cell in the body including the hair depends on proper thyroid function for development. If thyroid production is insufficient, hair growth will slow and hair will eventually thin.

Other symptoms of declining thyroid function are dry skin, sensitivity to hot and cold, unexplained weight gain, missing outer third of eyebrows, constipation, brittle nails, high or low blood pressure, susceptibility to infections, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, joint or muscle pain, cystic breasts or ovaries, chronic sinusitis, slow heart rate, TMJ syndrome, dental problems, headache, and increased cholesterol levels. This list reveals how critical proper thyroid function is to well being.

The good new is that low thyroid can easily be corrected by supplementing the body with bio-identical thyroid hormones. Armour thyroid is the natural form of thyroid hormone. For more information about the thyroid and hair see http://www.naturalnews.com/024388.html

Too much stress can cause hair to thin

Hair loss may be the first indication that your stress level is taking a toll on your body. Stress is nothing less than epidemic today, and this high level can actually cause hair loss along with many more serious health problems. Excessive physical or emotional stress associated with illness, injury, and trauma may cause the hair to stop growing and enter a period of dormancy which is followed two or three months later by the hair falling out. When physical or emotional equilibrium is regained, hair will again begin to grow, usually about 6 to 9 months later.

A more serious situation develops when stress is constant and almost unrelenting as it is for many people in this society. Hair thinning will continue unless effective means of dealing with the stress are put in place and calmness can be restored. Prolonged hair loss caused by chronic stress is a warning that other bodily systems are in jeopardy.

Cortisol is the stress hormone that gives the body its fight or flight response to stressful situations. It is an important hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in maintaining proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function, and inflammatory response. When stress is constant and prolonged, cortisol levels stay elevated and the body enters a state of chronic stress.

Higher and prolonged levels of corisol in the bloodstream have been shown to have negative effects, such as impaired cognitive performance, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity, heightened inflammatory response, and increased abdominal fat. If no steps are taken to reduce the stress level, heart attack or stroke may follow.

To keep corisol levels healthy, the body's relaxation response should be activated. Learn to relax the body with various stress management techniques and make changes in your lifestyle to minimize the stress. Eat a diet of whole food that emphasizes vegetables and fruits. Take supplements like bee pollen, spirulina and chlorella to make sure nutrition is complete. Add alfalfa to keep your body fully mineralized, as stress raises the need for minerals. The B complex vitamins as well as vitamin C are needed to support the adrenal gland while dealing with chronic stress.

Hair products containing toxic chemicals promote hair loss

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is the dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos sold in traditional outlets such as supermarkets, drugstores and discount centers. In addition to having toxic effects on your immune system, SLS has been shown to corrode hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for many cases of hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.

Over-treated hair is another cause of hair loss in women. Hair dyes, permanents, and relaxers do serious damage to the hair and scalp whether they contain lye or not. They are made with toxic chemicals that must be detoxified by the liver, and are identified by the immune system as foreign invaders. Thus health of the liver and the immune system are compromised by use of these products. When the liver is busy trying to detoxify an onslaught of foreign chemicals, estrogen metabolism may not be properly completed and breast cancer may be promoted. An immune system busy fighting off an invasion of foreign chemicals may not be able to prevent infection or identify and destroy abberant cells. Damage from dyes and relaxers can only heal when those potions are no longer used on the hair. - source

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Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Hair Loss?

Biotin is important for the production of energy in cells. It metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins and fats the cells to produce energy. You get vitamin B-7 from your foods including such foods as salmon, bananas, sardines, egg yokes and mushrooms.While it seems that there is a link between vitamin B and hair loss this has not been clearly shown by science. However it is thought that biotin contributes to the health of your hair as well as your nails because people with biotin or vitamin D deficiency have hair loss symptoms.

Though if you were to name the main cause of thinning hair in women it would be stress. When it comes to vitamins and minerals though they are up there as a main cause too. So you need to pay a bit of attention and decide when you may have a problem or not.When you are missing iron, such as suffering from anemia you could see more hair falling out. Though it is something that can be fixed by adding in some iron pills to your diet. You should really see the doctor to make sure there are not more problems in your body.

Generally, we lose about 100 hairs in a day out of the 100000 hairs that are present on the scalp. Hair loss women vitamin deficiency is thus a problem that affects people who do not follow a balanced diet. The loss of hair is caused when hair falls out and new hair does not grow in its place. It is common both in men as well as women to shed about 100 to 125 strands of hair everyday which is replaced 2 to 3 months later with new hair growing.

The main vitamins for your hair are the B vitamins. These are vitamins such as B6, B3, Biotin and Folic Acid. These vitamins are essential to maintaining healthy hair and have even been found to prevent hair loss. Vitamin C is another vitamin that if you are deficient in can have serious effects on your hair. This nutrient is important in making sure that your follicles get proper blood supply, as the blood is what carries the nutrients to the hair. Vitamin E and Zinc have been linked to helping hair through improved immune function. It is also important to make sure that your body is not deficient in protein or iron. Protein is the main component of hair, therefore if you are lacking in this, your hair will suffer.

For instance Native Americans have been using saw palmetto for years for the treatment of prostrate disease; its ability to treat hair loss was recently discovered. It is important to note that DHT hormone, which is another major cause of baldness is also responsible for prostrate disease; this means that apart from the link between vitamin deficiency and hair loss, there are also other causes of baldness.

To begin, a water deficiency can be behind the loss of one's hair. It is critical that people drink at least eight glasses of water each day in order to maintain overall good health. The body utilizes about 2 to 3 quarts of water on a daily basis. Making sure that the body's water supply is replenished ensures that organs are functioning properly and that new skin and hair cells are growing. In addition to this, H2O carries much needed nutrients to the scalp. When this does not take place, bald spots start to form in different places.

Congratulate yourself for being honest, even if it means feeling guilty. If you do, it is only temporary but contrast this with not being honest. That will prolong your problem until such a time when it can no longer be ignored. You may as well face it now and find a way to manage it effectively, which is why you are reading this.What does not eating balanced meals mean? It means that you may be getting way more than what your body needs of certain elements found in your food. At the same time, you may not be getting enough of other elements from food. The former may be a culprit in causing obesity while the latter is what we call deficiency.

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Your Biggest Hair Problems now Solved!

"I'm Losing It!"

Thinning hair can be devastating. But we have calming news.

You're not alone. Up to 60 percent of women experience hair loss at some point. The causes are multiple—genetics, hormones (too much thyroid, not enough thyroid, low estrogen, high androgen), or trauma (an allergic reaction, high fever, stress). The most common, and chronic, cause is a genetic condition called androgenetic alopecia.

Help has arrived. If your hair loss was triggered by a specific event (like a reaction to a new medication), it will grow back once that issue is addressed. If it's chronic, there are two FDA-approved treatments available. Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) comes in 2 percent and 5 percent over-the-counter formulas; applied topically twice a day, it can help stop thinning and (in about 40 percent of women) regrow some hair.

If you're postmenopausal, your doctor can prescribe finasteride (brand names Propecia and Proscar), an oral medication that stops the production of one of the androgens that can exacerbate hair loss (most doctors won't prescribe it to women in their childbearing years because it could cause birth defects in a male fetus). Some doctors also use lasers to help treat hair loss, but there are no large independent studies proving their efficacy. If you'd consider surgery, you could be a candidate for a hair transplant, which can now create natural-looking results in women.

The future looks bright. Two areas of research that are particularly promising:

1. The drug company Allergan is currently seeking FDA approval for a topical hair-loss treatment containing bimatoprost, the active ingredient in the eyelash-growing drug Latisse. Clinical trials are under way, and doctors estimate that a treatment could be available in 2014.

2. Researchers have already shown—in mice—that it is possible to use stem cells to grow new hair. "Within the next ten years, that technology could be a reality for humans," says Michael Longaker, MD, codirector of Stanford School of Medicine Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Stem cells would be removed from an area where you have dense hair growth, then injected into thinning areas to stimulate new growth.

The Truth About Hair Growth Supplements

"I have never seen a study that proves vitamin supplements work to make hair grow longer or thicker," says Jerry Shapiro, MD, an adjunct professor of dermatology at New York University whose practice specializes in treating hair loss. If you're losing hair, supplements can help stop or slow the shedding—but only if you have a deficiency in certain vitamins. 

Shapiro suggests supplements for patients whose blood tests show that they are low in vitamin D, zinc, or iron. He doesn't even test, however, for deficiency in biotin—the vitamin most commonly found in supplements marketed to help hair growth. "If you were truly biotin deficient—which is extremely rare in this country—you would be too sick to make it into my office."

Illusions of Thickness

Hair loss treatments can take up to a year to work. In the meantime, the right hairstyle will camouflage thinning. Keep your cut above shoulder length—if your hair is too long, it will look wispy, says New York City hairstylist Sam Brocato. Blunt ends make hair look thicker, so skip layers. When hair is thinning at the crown but still thick in front, bangs give a fuller look.

And readers on oprah.com rave about two products for concealing thinning hair: Toppik ($22; toppik.com), a shake-on powder made of tiny keratin fibers that cling to your existing hair to fill in sparse patches, and Joan Rivers Beauty Great Hair Day ($30; qvc.com), a pressed powder that helps eliminate the shine from exposed scalp (and camouflages roots, too). 

If you've lost all or most of your hair (for whatever reason—chemo, genetics, an autoimmune disease like alopecia areata), you might want to consider a wig. The good and bad news: You have hundreds of options. Go to oprah.com/wigs for help sorting through them. - source

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The X5 Hair Laser - Using Technology To Regrow Your Hair

It doesn't matter whether you've just started losing your hair or you've been losing it now for a while. You're still going to want to do something about it. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of hair loss treatments out there that you can use. The problem is that they're not all created equal and some of them don't work at all. The good news is that hair loss treatments are being created and discovered (mostly discovered by accident) all the time. One of the most recent of these is low-level laser therapy or LLT for short.

The SpencerForrest X5 hair laser is a perfect example of that. It's not the first product to use laser light to help regrow hair and thicken existing hair but *it has* taken that process and improved on it in every possible way.

So how does laser light work to regrow your hair? Without getting into very technical details the laser basically increases the cellular energy and activity in your scalp. For want of a better description the laser light literally jumpstarts hair follicles that have gone dormant.

The X5 hair laser uses 15 separate laser lights that you can focus on your scalp. These 15 lasers give you over 50cm2 of coverage when you're treating your hair loss. How good is this? Most other products only manage to give you about 20cm2 of laser coverage at best.

For best results the X5 needs to be used 3 times per week for 10 - 15 minutes per session so you don't need to invest a huge amount of time in treating your hair loss. And there's no messy lotions involved at all!

How quickly can you expect to see results? Well this is where most people fall flat on their face when it comes to treating hair loss. Here's the simple fact - hair grows *very* slowly! Very. You need to continue treatment for at least 60 days before you can even begin to judge how effective this (or any other) hair loss treatment is.

The X5 is a neat, handheld and cordless hair laser that you can carry around with you. This is ideal for anyone who has to travel a lot or who just hates having to plug in something to use it. The ergonomic grip also makes it much easier to hold while you're using it. Overall this product has definitely been designed with the customer in mind - they've managed to combine form and function in a very neat little package. It even looks kinda cool!

Can this device grow hair back on a totally bald scalp? If you're a Norwood 6 or 7 then the X5 would really only be used as part of a combination of treatments (Minoxidil and Propecia). Even with a Norwood 6 or 7 this laser hair comb is still useful in promoting rapid growth of new hair that you're stimulating to grow with other treatments.

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Tips To Regrow Thinning Hair Naturally

Though losing hair is not a life-threatening condition, the thought of parting with your precious strands may get you cartwheeling on all fours. Hair is an asset contributing to one's beauty. The loss of an asset, such as this one, may lead to issues concerning low self-esteem. A condition often associated with men, hair fall is a common complaint registered by women, too.

You may wonder how your hairline (that was) has an annoyingly meticulous pattern to recede. A soft target to blame is the atavistic character that humans carry; their genes. Enough said, genes mustn't bear all the brunt. An urgent acknowledgment is a must with regard to factors, such as leading a stressful and unhealthy lifestyle. Moreover, an overenthusiastic use of hair products, like shampoos, masks, colors, curling irons, and hair-straightening equipment has been one fantastic norm to defile natural beauty. Nevertheless, if you have been putting your hair through such steamy experiences, spare a thought, and vow to change.

Is Regrowth Possible?

Yes, there are several potent methods to regain the lost glory. Some of these methods include laser treatment, hair transplants, oral medication, and topical potions. These methods are deemed effective; however, they are expensive, bringing with them certain side effects. Hence, it is better to stick to natural remedies to regrow your hair. If you are experiencing excessive hair loss, so much so that you notice your hair romancing your shower stall drain, your hair brush, or your pillow, you ought to consult a certified dermatologist. He will diagnose the cause and revert to you with the prescriptive treatment. This is important, because scanty hair may signal an underlying health concern, such as hypothyroidism, or hormonal imbalance. However, if it is caused by other factors, like stress, faulty diet, and improper hair care, it is time you nip the problem in the bud.

Your Hair Appreciates ...

» Vitamin A

Besides being an acclaimed nutrient, vitamin A is known to promote hair growth. Eggs, kale, oranges, carrots, and sweet potato contain vitamin A in good measure.

» Vitamin B

Eggs, carrots, seafood, and dairy outputs do have vitamin B in substantive amounts. This vitamin is known to reactivate follicles and revive the health of your hair. It also facilitates scalp-oil circulation rescuing the hair from dandruff flakes and the resultant residual buildup that contributes to hair fall. Vitamin B complex supplements may aid your scalp to resuscitate the roots and control hair loss.

» Vitamin C

A major requirement for healthy hair, vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits and red peppers. Veggies, like spinach, kale, and broccoli serve perfect hosts to vitamin C. Essential to strengthen hair follicles and develop the content of collagen, vitamin C is known to nourish hair from root to tip.

» Vitamin E

If you lack Vitamin E, you are losing out on an important nutrient -- a nutrient known to stimulate hair follicles and facilitate an active blood-circulation cycle. When blood circulation is regulated by vitamin E, your hair gets an opportunity to regrow with health. Foods found rich in this source are almonds, walnuts, cereals, and corn oil to name a few.

» Iodine

A potion of sorts -- a drop of iodine in a glass of water consumed religiously is known to lure the glory back to the crown. However, make sure that the measure of iodine you blend in a glass of water is just one drop -- not more, not less. Besides regrowing hair, iodine is one potent substance to improve the quality of your hair with regard to its sheen, softness, and texture.

» Iron

Yet another essential component in restoring your mane is the content of iron in your body. Known to regulate cell development and subsequent multiplication, its deficiency may lead to hair loss. Fish, lean meat, greens, tofu, lentils, fresh prunes, and dry fruits are carriers of iron. Consuming iron in the right dose activates follicles and helps in regrowing hair. No wonder their consumption is recommended not only by some of the leading dermatologists the world over, but grandmas and mommies, too, swear by the goodness of these foods. If you are to take iron supplements, do not act the quack; an expert opinion is a must, as an overdose may run untoward complications.

Your Hair Deprecates ...

» Alcohol

How many times have we had our loved ones advise us on the deadly drinking habit? Besides causing health crises, your hair, too, suffers in the bargain. Remember: When it comes to preserving your hair, how well you hold your glass simply doesn't matter!

» Lack of Moisture

If the hair shaft feels dry and coarse, know that it is not fed with enough moisture. A potent reason why dryness victimizes your hair is courtesy of you being lax at irrigating your system. Drink more than 8 glasses of water every day. For most readers, eying this statement is no eye opener. It is only an adage that most swear by. Following it is one fat chance!

» Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is essential, if you want your glory back to where it ought to belong. If stress is working up your mind, join a laughter community, or enroll in a gymnasium, because stress causes sleepless nights, thus causing hair loss. If the stressor continues, it is close to impossible to reverse the devastating effect it has on your hair growth. It is known to affect your immune system, and general stamina. Know that your hair has an active sensor that understands the changes happening in the body. Your hair does not cue in to the change and may not act receptive to the fluctuations. Remember: A turmoil within, in most cases, is bound to traumatize your hair from the inside as well as the outside. Besides, no abracadabra potion, or nutrient will work, if you are giving your sleep a miss.

» Smoking

Another stuck-record statement: "Smoking is injurious to health." It affects scalp health as well, as smoking hampers the blood circulation and snubs hair growth. Trading your hair for a smoke ... not good, or is it? Well, you have far meditative choices to spoil you ... for good!

The Fortifying Five

Revitalizing Egg Mask

This one being an egg mask, is a mess-inviting affair; however, the results you derive are worth the slight discomfort. To begin with, separate the egg white from the yolk. Discard the former, and keep the yolk only. Add a tablespoon of beer, honey, and castor oil -- all in the same measure -- and apply the mixture from the roots, running it through the length of the hair shaft. For best results, wear a plastic shower cap post the application. The nourishment is said to penetrate better due to the superficial insulation provided by the shower cap. Leave the arrangement as it is for 30 minutes. Rinse thereafter with a mild hair-washing solution.

Note.- Be gentle while you rinse your hair. You may observe that your hair becomes tough, and tangles are a part of the process. Be patient and untangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb, starting from the tips, gradually progressing toward the roots.

Growth-stimulating Rosemary Mask

Boil two cups of water containing 3 tablespoons of dried rosemary. As the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the flame, and let it simmer until the blend reduces to half its original quantity. Let it cool, and strain the mixture thereafter. Now, take black pepper and lemon seeds in equal measure, and grind them together. Add this powder to the rosemary mixture to formulate a fine paste. To fight dandruff and subsequent flaking, you may add 2 tablespoons of yogurt. Blend and apply the mixture by parting your hair into sections. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes, and rinse thereafter with tepid water. If the pepper feels strong, rinse your hair before the time specified.

Root-activating Fenugreek Mask

Grind the fenugreek seeds to a fine powder. Beat an egg, and blend it with the powder to form a paste. Add 2 teaspoons of castor oil, or extra virgin olive oil, and blend the complete mixture. Apply by smoothing the mask through the entire length of your hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes, and rinse it with tepid water and a mild shampoo. Applying this mask once during the week will do a good turn to your hair.

Regenerative Strawberry Mask

Overripe strawberries are known to work wonders for your hair. Nourishment aplenty is what you get with this hair mask. Puree 6 to 8 strawberries. Add an egg, i.e., only the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. Blend the mixture to form a smooth paste. Apply the paste by sectioning the hair. Smooth the paste from root to tip. Let the application sit for 20 minutes, and rinse thereafter with a mild, nourishing shampoo. For better results, wear a shower cap to facilitate better insulation and penetration through the layers of the hair.

Restorative Cinnamon Mask

Take 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder in a mixing bowl with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to make a paste. Apply it onto the scalp covering the length of your hair. Rinse off post fifteen minutes using a mild shampoo.

The Age-old Remedy

Massaging the hair and scalp with oil is said to be the best natural remedy for regrowing your hair. For a hair massage, you can either use extra virgin olive oil, or a mixture of rosemary and jojoba oils. Other than this, almond, castor, or coconut oil are deemed prime factories of nourishment. Pour a few drops of oil in a small vessel, and place it in a container holding water. Do not heat the oil on direct flame. When the oil feels warm, begin application starting from the roots. Gently part your hair with a rat tail comb, and massage the oil, letting it penetrate the roots. After covering the scalp, shift your focus toward smoothing the oil through the length of your hair. To ensure hair regrowth, massage your scalp well; however, be gentle, especially over the areas, where hair loss is experienced. Preferably, let the oil stand overnight. Using a suitable shampoo and conditioner, wash your hair, and allow it to dry all by itself.

The Finer Contributing Factors

Mentioned herein are a few points that must be considered in conjunction with the aforementioned remedies.

• Be gentle while combing your hair. Harsh strokes with a tough-bristled brush may damage the roots as well as the shaft. As your hair is sensitive, use a boar brush. It is made of soft and flexible bristles, ideal to handle fine hair.
• Almond oil is very beneficial for the hair. A few drops of oil smeared over the scalp three times a week provides the much-required nourishment.
• Applying coconut oil with extra virgin olive oil, twice a week, the night before hair wash works well to replenish the moisture in your roots.
• Book an appointment with a stylist you trust your mane with, and ask for a trim every three months. Your hair needs to get rid of split ends and rough ends that hamper its growth.
• Avoid chemical treatments for your hair. Remember: A head full of hair is far better than a head with cosmetically styled, but thin hair.
• Stay away from blow-drying your mane. Treat your hair to air-drying to preserve the crop, and thereby increase its volume.
• Another natural method of regrowing your hair is by using aloe vera gel on the scalp directly. Drinking aloe vera juice is also said to help.
• Exercise your way to hair growth. Positive exertion of the body facilitates healthy blood circulation, which leads to faster hair growth.

These were some potent tips for regrowing hair, keeping the natural factors in the loop. Besides, don't lose sleep over losing hair. Instead, pack in a peaceful sleep and a healthful diet to keep your hair committed to your scalp.

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Hair Falling Out During Shower

Our hair is our crowning glory, and when this crowning glory starts losing its shine and begins to shed, it is a real cause for worry. Obviously, there are a lot of factors that affect hair fall and hair loss, and sometimes, it is when taking a shower that we notice the maximum hair fall. It seems like every time you touch your hair, you find clumps of it falling out. What do you do in such a case? Why is this happening? There are a lot of reasons for this, which we have discussed here.

Why Does Your Hair Fall Out in the Shower?

When your scalp is stimulated by a massage, it is likely to start shedding the hair strands that are weak or dead. This may not mean you are suffering from some abnormal problem. However, if you think the hair loss is beyond normal (100 hair strands a day), then it may be one of the following reasons that are contributing to you excessive hair fall.

The Telogen Phase of Hair Fall

The hair goes through three stages of growth, anagen (the growth phase), catagen (the resting phase), and telogen (the shedding phase). It is in this phase that hair falls a lot and it seems like you are shedding. The texture of the hair is fine and not weak. It is normal for this to last for about three months, and you may find greater instances in the shower because your attention is focused on your hair at that time. In reality, this could occur anywhere.

Stress

Stress has some serious physical ramifications on the body, and one of them is hair fall. A change in the hormonal activity is triggered by high stress levels, and it is this that may cause hair fall. Of course, hair experts suggest that hair fall due to stress is a very rare instance, as the body or mind has to be under continuous stress for long periods of time, but sometimes we don't realize how stressed out we are, and then notice our hair falling out in clumps, which in turn causes much more stress. The best way to combat this is to practice some relaxation techniques so that our mind and body is soothed.

Dandruff

Dandruff is one of the prime reasons of hair fall. The collection of dandruff flakes on the scalp results in weakening of the hair root. When you wash your hair, it is likely that you will lose a lot of it due to this problem. Also, the use of heavily medicated shampoos to treat dandruff may add to the problem of hair fall. Even then, getting rid of the dandruff may help reduce the problem of hair loss. Try to use natural remedies that will help eliminate dandruff and strengthen the hair root too.

Diet Low in Iron

Those of you who have low iron levels or suffer from anemia are likely to suffer from this problem of hair fall. Again, it is more pronounced in the shower as you massage your scalp and find all the dead and weak hair falling out. Women are more prone to this problem due to menstruation where heavy bleeding may result in low iron levels. Further, a diet devoid of this nutrient can definitely cause a problem. You should visit a doctor if you think this may be the problem to get yourself tested and be prescribed appropriate medication.

Use of Chemically Loaded Hair Products

You watch an ad that promises glowing, thick, gorgeous hair, and you must have the product. However, these products do not suit all hair types, and may have a negative effect on you considering the fact that you are losing so much hair. For instance, herbal shampoos do not agree with some people's hair leading it to become weak and then fall. Start using mild shampoos and again, resort to natural remedies to treat your hair. These help the hair grow stronger and bring about a lasting change.

When the hair loss just seems to be getting worse, it is important that you visit a doctor and find out the exact problem. It may be a lack of a nutrient, or even a health problem such as thyroid that may be causing it. In such a case, you will require medication to treat the problem thoroughly. Be gentle with your hair, treat it nicely, and there will be absolutely no reason for it to misbehave with you.

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When Women Loses Their Hair?

Hereditary hair loss and thinning hair are common concerns in women, but many popular treatments don’t do any good, writes Lesley Alderman in today’s Patient Money.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 30 million women in this country have hereditary hair loss, compared with 50 million men. But many additional women experience thinning hair that results from menopause or health problems.

If your hair is coming out, be advised that of the multitude of treatments on the market for women, few are worth your money, says Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Americans spent an estimated $176 million on hair loss products last year, and chances are some of that money was not well spent. Don’t let charming salon owners, seductive ads or fancy gimmicks convince you otherwise.

Hair loss in women is a serious condition with lots of conventional explanations. One area that’s never mentioned is the connection to poor sleep quality, especially due to breathing problems at night. A significant percentage of men and women have undiagnosed sleep-breathing problems, with the end extreme being called obstructive sleep apnea.

It’s estimated that about 1/4 of all men and 1/10 of all women have at lease mild sleep apnea, and 90% are not diagnosed. However, there’s a variation of sleep apnea called upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), where you’ll stop breathing while sleeping, but not long enough to be called obstructive sleep apnea.

Typically these people (more typically thin women) will have colds hands or feet, prefer not to sleep on their backs, feel tired all the time, no matter how long they sleep, and will usually have at least one parent that snores heavily.

These multiple arousals lead to a chronic low-grade physiologic stress response which heightens the nervous system (and immune system). During times of stress, blood is shunted away from low-priority organs like the GI system, reproductive organs, the distant extremities and the skin. Chronic lack of blood flow can lead to a number detrimental effects, including hair loss.

It’s also been shown that chronic physiologic stress also raises your cortisol levels, lowers your thyroid levels, and alters your estrogen/progesterone/testosterone balance.

There are also anecdotal reports of people who report hair regrowth after starting sleep apnea treatment.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should get checked for UARS. In many cases, UARS progresses into obstructive sleep apnea, especially after menopause. Even if it doesn’t help your hair loss, being diagnosed may prevent complications of sleep apnea, including hypertension, diabetes, weight gain, anxiety, depression, and heart disease.

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Thinning Hair and Itchy Scalp

Itchy scalp and thinning hair is definitely a condition for concern. You feel pathetic and miserable. Due to frequent episodes of itching in the scalp, you feel frustrated and sick. To add to it, ever thinning hair affects your physical appearance, and thereby self-confidence. The only way to restore the normal state is to seek medical attention. This will diagnose the underlying cause and will provide you with effective treatment for all scalp problems. There can be several medical conditions which can lead to itchy scalp and baldness.

Causes of Thinning Hair and Itchy Scalp

• Dry Scalp Skin
  
  
  Dry itchy scalp skin may lead to itchy head as it lacks natural oils and is quite prone to infections. The reasons behind excessive drying of the scalp are frequent washing of hair with hot water and harsh shampoos, using hair styling products and equipment and exposure to extreme temperatures.

• Contact Dermatitis
  
  
  Contact dermatitis is one of the major causes of an itchy head. You tend to develop it when the immune system of your body recognizes a foreign substance and activates an allergy or allergic reaction against it. The reaction causes inflammation and itching on the skin. The allergens triggering the onset of contact dermatitis on scalp can be a new shampoo, hair dye, soap and other hair care products containing alcohol as one of the ingredients. When you go back to the use of old skin care products, the symptoms of contact dermatitis get naturally restored. Thus, it can be considered to a possible cause of itchy scalp and hair loss.

• Seborrheic Dermatitis
  
  
  Itchy head and hair loss can be a result of seborrheic dermatitis. It appears as itchy and inflamed skin covered by greasy or dry scales. The scales can be white, gray or yellowish in color. Seborrheic dermatitis most commonly affects head. Dandruff and cradle cap are types of seborrheic dermatitis that causes mild to intense itching of the head. You need o take medical assistance for treating seborrheic dermatitis.

• Folliculitis
  
  
  Folliculitis is defined as the inflammation of one or more hair follicle. It is generally caused by bacterial infection. Some of the common symptoms are groups of small red bumps that develop around follicles of hair. These bumps or breaks are commonly filled with pus. These bumps frequently break and crust over. Such bumps are characterized by reddening, inflaming, itching and tenderness. Folliculitis can affect you, irrespective of your gender and age. Though it is found to appear on any body part, yet the common places of its occurrence are arms, face, armpits, scalp and legs. Folliculitis can further lead to boils and other serious complications. This further results is the migration of causative bacteria from the hair follicles to other body parts through bloodstream. If folliculitis affects your scalp, it is called scalp folliculitis and it may give rise to itchy scalp hair loss condition.

Treatment for Itchy Scalp and Thinning Hair

The ideal treatment for thinning hair and itchy scalp is to cure the skin disorder which is actually responsible for its occurrence. For determination of the exact cause and its treatment, you need to consult a medical practitioner. By the time you receive a cure for the causative dermatological disorder, you can try some of the home remedies suggested below for bumpy itchy rash on skin. This will accelerate the process recovery.

Take over-the-counter antihistamines to get some relief and comfort from redness and swelling on the scalp. Apply required amount of fresh milk on the bumpy itchy rash on the scalp to reduce irritation. Mix one cup each of baking soda and cornstarch in a bowl of warm water. Pour this water on your head. Wrap your head with a towel. Allow it to stay as such for about 10 minutes. This will relieve itching to a great extent. Apply aloe vera pulp on the affected spots on your scalp. Leave it on for a half hour before washing it off with warm water. Aloe Vera is antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory in nature. It will restore the healthy state of your skin fast.

When the diseases or disorders described in the upper section of this article are cured, itchy scalp and thinning hair is also gets treated naturally. There are effective female hair loss treatments available. It will be good if you approach a dermatologist on time. Follow a healthy diet to strengthen the immune system of your body. High protein diet helps in both hair loss prevention, as well as its treatment.

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Vitamin D Deficiency That Cause Hair Loss

If you’re removing more hair from the drain than usual, you may want to take a closer look at your diet: Having low levels of vitamin D and iron could be playing a role in your thinning locks.

Researchers at Cairo University found that women who were experiencing hair loss also had lower levels of iron and vitamin D2—and hair loss only got worse as the levels dropped.

“This is the first time vitamin D’s possible role in hair loss has been highlighted,” explains Rania Mounir Abdel Hay, MD, a dermatologist at Cairo University, and co-author of the study. “It might regulate the expression of genes that promote normal hair follicle growth.” As for iron: Low levels may inhibit an essential enzyme that has been associated with hair loss in mice.

Aim for a minimum of 600 IU of vitamin D per day, 800 IU if you’re over 71 years old. While it can be difficult to get enough vitamin D in your diet, salmon packs 450 IU per 3-ounce serving, and fortified milk and orange juice has 115 to 135 IU. And consider a vitamin D supplement, which has more than just healthy hair benefits: It could prevent heart disease, cancer, and bone fractures.

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Causes of Itchy Scalp

Itchy scalp can be caused by a number of diseases, which are diagnosed by the history and nature of scaling, duration of itching, severity of itching, extent of scales and presence of skin rashes elsewhere on the body.

What are the Causes of Itchy Scalp

The commonest causes of itchy scalp are dry scalp, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, contact dermatitis, head lice infestation, ring worm of the scalp, tinea amiantacea, lichen planus, hair follicle inflammation, neurogenic excoriation and pyogenic infection of scalp.

Needless to say, a definite diagnosis of the condition causing scalp itching is necessary to effectively get rid of the itchy scalp.

Dry Scalp Causing Itchy Scalp

Dry scalp is one of the overlooked causes of itchy scalp. This may be caused by harsh shampoos, hair lotions or tinctures with alcohol as base or following frequent washing.

Itching of the scalp due to dryness is more common during cold, winter months.

Dandruff as a Cause of Itchy Scalp

While mild dandruff may not cause much itching on the scalp, superadded yeast infection will cause itchy scalp in the mild to moderate types of dandruff.

The scaling of dandruff is generalized over the scalp. When severe, the scaling may extend to the eyebrows, ear canal, front and back of chest etc.

Scalp Itching Caused by Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis shows greasy scales throughout the scalp. The underlying skin may be reddish. In severe cases, red scaly rashes may be present on the sides of the nose, chest and back.

The scalp itching in seborrheic dermatitis can be moderate to severe. Seborrheic dermatitis is can be considered as the inflammatory type of dandruff.

Scalp Psoriasis: An Important Cause of Itchy Scalp

Scalp psoriasis, in contrast to seborrheic dermatitis, has thick scales with scattered plaques at different places of the scalp. Scraping off the scales reveals bleeding points, the Auspitz’ sign. Itching is variable in scalp psoriasis.

Though at times scalp psoriasis can occur without scaly rashes elsewhere in the body, in most cases other areas of the body is also involved.

Contact Dermatitis

Allergy to certain scalp and hair applications (creams, lotions, gels, shampoos, hair dye etc) can result in severe itchy scalp with oozing, crusting and scaling.

A history of itchy scalp following use of some applications on the scalp is an indicator that the itching is caused by contact allergy.

Head Lice Infestation (Pediculosis Capitis)

Pediculosis capitis or head lice infestation is a common cause of itchy scalp in girls and young women who tie their wet hair before it is dried properly. This creates a perfect environment for the lice to flourish.

Severe lice infestation can cause secondary bacterial infection, oozing, crusting and other inflammatory changes on the scalp, neck and forehead. Finding the louse and its egg confirms the diagnosis.

Ring Worm of the Scalp (Tinea Capitis)

Ring worm of the scalp is usually seen in children, and rarely in adults. There is circumscribed and patchy scaling and itching with broken hairs or hair fall in the area.

Scalp ringworm can cause severe itching resulting in further patchy loss of hair. The skin shows mild to moderate scaling, crusting and oozing. Inflammatory reaction of the tinea capitis can cause boggy swelling in the area, known as kerion.

Pityriasis Amiantacea (Tinea Amiantacea)

Pityriasis amiantacea is thought to be a hypersensitivity response to a number of scalp diseases, like scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis or lichen simplex chronicus.

Tinea amiantacea is a misnomer as fungal infection is rarely a cause for P. amiantacea. There is a thick yellow crusty flaking of the scalp along with matting of the hairs in the affected areas. Scaling is more prominent than itching in P.amiantacea.

Lichen Planus

Lichen planus can affect the scalp at times, and is known as lichen plano pilaris. Redness, itching, hair loss and scarring are the features of lichen planus.

The itchy scalp in lichen planus can cause patchy scarred hair loss with underlying violaceous skin.

Hair Follicle Inflammation

Hair follicles inflammation or infection, known as folliculitis can occur on the scalp due to yeast or bacteria. Itchy scalp and painful, scattered and infected bumps are the main features of scalp folliculitis.

Neurogenic Excoriation

Neurogenic excoriation or lichen simplex is another cause for itchy scalp and is related to stress and anxiety. Habitual scratching leads to thickening and hair loss to a localized area of the scalp, usually on the sides.

Pyogenic Infection of Scalp

Bacterial infection of the scalp is common in malnourished children. Itchy, flaky crusts with yellowish discharge mat the hairs together in pyogenic infection of the scalp.

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Lemon Water for Hair

Hair forms an important aspect of our beauty as well as personality. A lot of effort is often directed to get perfect-looking, thick and luscious locks.

We engage in a variety of products to achieve the desired effect, and deal with the problems that arise while doing so.

But, the use of harsh chemicals often gives temporary results, and we end up causing more damage in the long run. Natural agents like lemon juice help to fight several hair problems, and enhance the beauty of hair.

Native to Asia, lemon belongs to the family of citrus fruits, and plays a variety of roles in human health, especially in skin and hair care.

Lemon juice is a rich source of Vitamin C and citric acid, and is used in a variety of cosmetic and healthcare products like shower gels, scrubs, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, dietary supplements, etc.

Freshly squeezed lemon juice when used directly or in a combination with other ingredients is useful for ...

.. Highlighting Hair

Although hair coloring trends and styles are extremely dynamic, hair highlighting remains a definite option to go glam. But at the same time it demands caution with respect to the products used, and their side effects on hair and scalp. Freshly squeezed lemon juice serves the purpose by offering a natural way to lighten hair without any side effects. All you need to do is wash your hair clean, pat them dry, and apply lemon juice onto sections of hair you wish to highlight. It is advisable to use a hair brush, and apply the juice gradually from the roots to the tips. Expose your hair to sunlight until the juice dries up completely. Then, wash it off with warm water.

.. Adding Shine

Lemon juice provides a natural acidic rinse, and helps to achieve the perfect shiny and shimmery look you crave for. You can simply rinse your hair with lemon juice diluted with a cup water. Another alternative is to prepare a mixture containing equal amounts of lemon juice and any conditioner that suits your hair type. Apply this mixture on the hair and leave for a minute or two. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry to get soft and shiny hair.

.. Aiding Growth

The length and strength of hair are two important aspects women worry about. Lemon juice comes handy for this as well. A generous scalp massage with lemon juice mixed with coconut oil or olive oil proves as an effective stimulus for hair growth. It also serves as an effective remedy for hair loss, while the vitamin C present in lemon juice helps to impart strength.

.. Reducing Dandruff

Dandruff is a common problem encountered by most of us, and it often leaves us feeling embarrassed. Lemon juice offers a variety of ways to deal with this condition. Mix 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice with 3 tsp. water, 1 tsp. vinegar and ¼ tsp. salt. Apply it onto the scalp and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water, and then wash the hair clean with your regular shampoo. A regular use of this mixture helps to get rid of dandruff within 3-4 months.

.. Dealing with an Oily Scalp

A lemon juice rinse also helps to deal with oily hair and scalp. The citric acid present in lemon juice helps to remove the excess buildup of oil, and also helps to get rid of the dead cells of scalp. A mixture of lemon juice and vinegar in equal amounts aids in the removal of clogged follicles that give rise to an oily scalp.

.. Getting Rid of Lice

A mixture of lemon juice with garlic paste or almond paste gives an effective option to get rid of lice. Apply this mixture and wash your hair clean after half an hour. Such a treatment followed by thorough combing helps in lice removal. Lemon juice may not kill the adult lice, but the citric acid component helps to loosen the attachment of nits from hair, which then helps in their removal through combing.

Lemon juice is an important ingredient in various herbal and homemade formulations for maintaining the beauty of hair. However, every remedy is effective if used in the right amount, and so is the case with lemon juice. An excessive use of lemon juice may result in an extremely dry scalp and weaken the hair roots. Hence, it is essential to ensure a limited use to achieve maximum benefits.

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Technique To enhance Natural Hair Growth

Strong hair is more rapidly hair increase and it is a reality that if you acquire worry of your hair, the answer is quicker increasing hair. In reality, less than right assistance to get your hair double the enlargement rate. The solution to highest growth is to take procedures not only to exploit the growth of your hair, but you must also take measures to prevent fractures.

The greatest technique to end the break, is a protein handling to exercise. These handling of protein can facilitate avoid splintering. Then you would like to compose you put on a excellent diet. Good food can facilitate to support maturity of new hair. You should a diet affluent in vitamins, mineral deposits, and the three basic food groups, which are proteins h, lipids and carbohydrates. continue left from junk foods include the high amounts of fat and sugar, which inhibit hair growth toward raise your hair for manner to boost the expansion point to get the hair cycle. This is ready via excellent flourishes state the antigen or increase phase did put off the hair cycle.

Now could be several plain and great to help you in your efforts to raise the hair

Like I said before you want to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The fresher, the better they are. They offer all the nutrients you need your hair to grow.

Get plenty of omega three fatty acids in the diet. These can be found in salons and other oily fish have sufficient of flaxseed. This facilitate to develop your hair. If you know how to get the seeds, afterward obtain it in tablet form. These can be found at any health food store.

Take garlic. Garlic has lots of antioxidants, the damage caused by free radicals and slows down hair growth may prevent the hair loss.

Keep stress away from heat and other tools to your hair. The heat dries the hair cuticle and cause interference. You want to use a boar brush, because it tends to blood, send to the scalp, which contributes to growth. Keep your hair well moisturized to prevent breakage. The best product to use to make sure that you your hair is moisturized with a product called Mira hair oil. Other measures to jeep your locks hydrated, easy to use, the number of times you wash your hair to be cut. You can called a formula, as a condition, moisturize and wash. This formula simply means that you always wash and hydration state, then in this order every day! You can also prevent you dry your hair by diluting your shampoo. The more dilute the shampoo in the less severe it will be.

Finally, use protein treated to prevent damage and breakage. Protein processing is also again the structure of the hair. And there you have it. Some powerful methods to help keep your hair in the fastest possible pace.

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Why Does Your Hair Fall Out in the Shower?

Normal Hair Loss

When you shower and wash your hair, you massage the scalp. This action shakes loose the hair that's about to fall according to the normal hair cycle. Washing your hair will not cause you to lose any more hair that you would normally. The hair falls out in the shower because you shake loose the dead hair that has completed the healthy hair cycle.

Hair Cycle -- Anagen Phase

The anagen phase of the hair cycle is the growth phase. This is when the new hair has pushed out the dead hair and is actively growing out of the follicle. This phase typically lasts several years.

Hair Cycle -- Catagen Phase

The second phase of the hair cycle is the catagen phase. This is also known as the resting phase, when hair follicles stop producing hair. This is the phase prior to shedding, and lasts about two to four weeks.

Hair Cycle -- Telogen Phase

This is the last phase in the hair cycle. During this phase, shedding occurs. Like cats and dogs, people also shed. Dead hair falls out of hair follicles so it can be replaced by healthy new hair. This occurs all the time, not only in the shower. One way to tell whether the hair you shed in the shower is normal is to examine the hairs; they should all be about the same length and texture.

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