Hair Loss
Causes
Hair loss is one of the most common problems that affect people all
around the world. While it is technically not an illness, the
premature loss of hair is viewed with fear or distaste in most
cultures. Hair loss affects both men and women, though it is much
more common in men. Hair loss is a considered a natural side
effect of old age although many some men can experience hair loss
as early on as their teenage years. The onset of hair
loss can have a debilitating effect on one's sense of self-image
and oftentimes hair loss will coincide with a loss in
self-confidence. In order to get the best kind of treatment for
hair loss, it is important to separate the myths from the truth and
understand the various kinds of hair loss.
Hair loss has been found to be generally more prevalent among
males, though hair loss in females in not uncommon. The most common
form of male hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia,
which consists of a gradual thinning of the hair, eventually
leading to permanent hair loss. This is the type of hair loss
seen on most balding men, with the hair at the crown and temples
thinning first, leaving a fringe of hair around the
scalp.
A popular belief states that hair loss is inherited through the
maternal side, but the chances of inheriting this trait from either
side of the family are relatively equal. Myths relating to hair
loss have been found to range from wearing hats that are too tight
to standing on one's head for too long- these however are myths and
nothing more. The actual causes for hair loss are varied- exposure
to chemicals; poisons and treatments such as chemotherapy are known
to lead to hair loss. Nutritional deficiencies can play a role, and
can worsen an existing hair loss problem. Most of these are not the
true problem faced by most men. Much of a man's susceptibility to
hair loss is affected by genetics, hence the term
andro-GENETIC alopecia. Being genetically more at-risk of hair loss
does NOT, however, mean that you are destined to go bald with no
hope for prevention.
The main culprit behind male hair loss is a chemical
called Dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone, more
commonly known by its abbreviation DHT, is a by-product of the male
hormone testosterone. A naturally occurring enzyme in the body
called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone in the body into
DHT. DHT attacks genetically-susceptible hair follicles in the
scalp. At first, the hair follicles shink in size, and often lose
their natural coloration. Over time, the hair follicle dies off,
and does not come back. Since science has not yet found a way to
change the genetic risk of hair loss (though they have
tried), the next solution to look towards is stopping DHT.To
prevent hair loss from DHT, the most effective way is to block the
chemical reaction that causes testosterone to convert into the
hair-attacking byproduct DHT in the first place. Various natural
products and medications for the treatment of hair loss are aimed
at 1) removing or limiting the presence of DHT in the scalp, or 2)
Stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT in the first
place. Most of the following products are based on one of
these two approaches to battling male hair loss.
Visit the Latest Reviews of Hair Loss Products
by Clicking HERE
Perhaps due to the fact that hair loss is such a common problem,
there are a number of remedies that have been on the market for
years that help in dealing with hair loss. There is also much
research being done using stem cell research and cloning in order
to induce hair multiplication, though the science is likely years
away from achieving a "cure" for hair loss. To learn more
about the causes of hair loss, please browse our resources
below!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgenic_alopecia
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