Hair has always been associated with masculinity for men and beauty where women are concerned. A full, luxurious head of hair is a source of pride for many people and any loss of hair can deal a devastating blow to the self confidence of many individuals.

Physical illness can also cause temporary hair loss which can affect the entire scalp or, in certain circumstances lead to either isolated bald spots or damage of other types, including breakage and thinning. If you find that your hair is blocking the plughole on a regular basis it might be a good idea to check with your doctor, especially if there are other signs of illness such as general fatigue or trouble sleeping.

 Unfortunately hair loss is a common problem that has many causes. Hair loss can also be caused by medical treatment, especially where aggressive treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy are concerned. Some less dangerous medications can also cause temporary hair loss.

Hair fall and damage can also be caused by over treatment of hair, especially where treatment consists of bleaches or regular changes to hair color using store bought applications. In these cases a period of rest is usually recommended to allow the hair to recover from the adverse effects of the treatments. By avoiding the treatments while new hair grows out permanent damage can be avoided.

There are also psychological factors that can cause hair loss. Hair loss can be associated with certain cases of clinical depression. Once again a combination of symptoms such as disturbed sleeping patterns could be a sign of psychological issues rather than a strictly physical problem.

If you have been given a clean bill of health by your doctor it might be a good idea to check with a mental health practitioner, like a psychologist. This is especially important if you are suffering from significant amounts of stress.

Unfortunately for many of us hair loss may simply be a result of our genetic makeup. If our parents had problems with hair loss it may have been passed down a generation. If this is the case there is every little that can be done other than to avoid further damage to the hair. Some people may choose to have hair implants which can be very effective in avoiding the self image problems that can be associated with hair loss.

For those who want to avoid hair loss and keep a full healthy head of hair as long as possible it may be a good idea to rethink the hair treatments that they are using. Even shampoos that are advertised as gentle to the hair may cause significant damage when used too often or not as directed. Always read the instructions on the packaging.

It also be a good idea to avoid shampooing and conditioning your hair everyday. Although the hair may seem cleaner it is almost certain that daily hair treatment will cause damage by stripping away essential oils that protect the hair from damage.

Today western medicine has come up with lots of spectacular ways to deal with hair loss. You can have surgery, use hair growing creams and potions or take pharmaceutical medications to help you grow hair. Unfortunately, all of these solutions can have serious side effects. 

 Any surgery comes with risks, and all pharmaceutical options bring along the chance of negative side effects that can be much worse than lack of hair. In this article, we will explore some age old natural solutions from the far east. Read on to learn how you can treat your hair loss problems naturally without fear of side effects.

Your hair may be dry, brittle and breaking off rather than falling out. Try treating yourself to a hot oil treatment before shampooing once weekly. Just a little light, natural oil gently warmed and massaged into the scalp will moisturize both your scalp and your hair. This encourages new hair growth and makes existing hair stronger. Simply place a tablespoon or two of oil (coconut and olive oil are both good) in a small glass or metal container.

Place this in a larger bowl containing hot water. Allow the oil to warm to a comfortable temperature and then massage it gently into your scalp and stroke it through your hair. Cover your head with a warm towel for about fifteen minutes and shampoo as usual.

You can also stimulate more blood circulation to your scalp by using pungent herbs such as fresh ginger or the oil of onions and garlic. You can simply add a few drops of these herbs to your oil treatment for added effect. Remember to also consume these types of herbs along with hot herbs such as chilies, curry, cinnamon and more. All of these types of herbs thin the blood, increase blood circulation and improve your general health.

In addition to the self massage you do when you apply your hot oil treatment, try indulging in a professional scalp massage occasionally. Find a cosmetologist or masseuse who offers all natural treatments, and ask if you could get a scalp massage that incorporates aromatherapy. This is a great treatment that will increase blood circulation to the scalp and help you reduce your stress level. We all know that stress can make your hair fall out. 

Relieving stress will help it grow back. Some good aromatherapy choices for scalp massage include lavender and bay.

Eat well, sleep well and stay well hydrated. Look into other ways to relieve stress and relax. Be sure to get plenty of exercise every day and take some time for yourself to rest, rejuvenate, meditate and/or practice a little yoga every day. 

You will be amazed at the difference just fifteen minutes to half an hour of time to yourself listening to music and simply decompressing will make. You will look and feel better in every way, and you may very well see an increase in the hair on your head. Even if you do not, you will not feel so stressed about it!

Nearly eighty million American women and men suffer from hereditary hair loss or alopecia.  Alopecia can impact more than just the hair on the head, it can also affect body hair as well.  It isn’t unusual to lose more than 100,000 hairs on the head during the day and this loss is typically replaced with new hair.  When this hair loss is not continually replaced, then male and female pattern baldness starts to occur, generally happening gradually over a period of years.

If you’re losing more than the normal amount of hair, it may be difficult to notice unless you see the following:

•    Thinning patches in the hair

•    Large amounts of hair in the drain after a shower or after washing the hair

•    Bunches or clumps of hair in the hair brush

•    Bald patches on the scalp

If it seems you are losing more hair than you normally do, consult a doctor to see exactly what is causing the condition.  A doctor will discuss the symptoms with you to determine what is causing the condition and how best to treat it.  If there is a family history of male or female-pattern baldness, you may have this condition and it can onset as early as puberty. 

Some incidences of hair loss may be triggered by disease, illness or even stress.   Major hormonal changes associated with menopause, childbirth, pregnancy, or beginning or discontinuing birth control may also trigger hair loss.  There are certain medical conditions which can also trigger hair loss including scalp infections, thyroid disease, and alopecia areata which is an autoimmune disease which attacks the hair follicles.  Lupus can also cause hair loss, as can medications used to treat arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, heart problems, and cancer.

Trauma can also trigger hair loss, as well, including emotional and physical shock.  A death, high fever or extreme weight loss are all extreme trauma triggers for hair loss.  The mental illness trichotillomania which is a hair-pulling disorder creates a compulsion in people to pull out their hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.  Additionally, some very tight hairstyles which put tension on the hair follicles will also cause hair loss.  Another cause of hair loss are certain nutritional deficiencies especially in iron and protein.

Diagnosing hair loss consists of considering and analyzing several different factors.  A doctor, or perhaps a dermatologist with conduct a physical examination and ask about your health history.  The treatment may be as simple as a simple diet change or perhaps taking a prescribed medication.

Prescribed medications for male-pattern baldness include finasteride which is also known as Propecia.  It is a daily medication which slows hair loss.  It seems to also stimulate new hair growth as well. 

An over-the-counter medication for alopecia is minoxidil also called Rogaine.  Minoxidil is most successful when used with other hair loss treatments such as diet changes or prescription medications.

Another medication sometimes prescribed to help reduce the inflammation of alopecia areata is corticosteroids such as prednisone.  These types of medications will also suppress the immune systems as well, so must be monitored very carefully by the physician. 

Hair loss may happen, but it can be treated and may not be permanent.  Depending upon the underlying causes of the hair loss, it may even be reversed.  There are over-the-counter and prescribed medications that can help delay or prevent hair loss and which may even stimulate hair regrowth, but which should be administered under the supervision of a physician.

I used to have the longest hair of any woman I have ever known. It was auburn, and fell past my rear in simple waves that everyone coveted and always wanted to stroke. I didn’t mind. I lived off their envy. So many people were raised to not have long hair, because either their parents didn’t want to deal with it or because society said men shouldn’t have long hair. For me, my hair was a huge part of my identity.

 Yet I can still remember the day the doctor told me I had breast cancer. You would think I would be terrified over, well, cancer. But in truth the thing I dreaded the most about chemo wasn’t the getting sick part, or feeling like a mess in the hospital. No, it was the loss of my hair. I dreaded it more than I dreaded dying from breast cancer.

It happened. After the second round of chemo, my auburn locks started falling out in chunks. I was depressed for days. I wouldn’t let anyone touch my hair in fear of watching more of it waste away. I felt like my body was revolting against me. I would’ve rather lost my breasts than lose my hair. Does that sound crazy? Many people would say that I could regrow my hair, but I could not regrow my breasts. It wasn’t like that. I knew that any hair I grew after that would not come back the way it was. I would never have my locks again.

In the end, my cancer was gone, and so was my hair. People called me a survivor and invented me to attend events as a guest of honor. But I didn’t go. I couldn’t be seen without my hair. Sure, people gave me beautiful bandanas to wear on my head, and people suggested we go wig shopping together, but they were all reminders of what I had lost. I would stare at my bald head in the mirror and will my hair to grow back. It never did. The doctor recommended ways to make it grow back, but none of them worked, of course. I had no idea what to do. No matter what I did, my hair would not return for a very long time.

One day my best friend couldn’t take it any more. She forced me to get up and go with her to a wig shop. It was as dreadful as I anticipated. The shopkeepers pitied me and offered me discounts on the nicer wigs. But none of them suited me. They were scratchy, the wrong color, or the wrong style. I didn’t care enough for any of them. Finally, they took me into the back.

There, on a pedestal, was a wig made out of my hair.

It was only a bob cut, but it was my hair! My friend said she had salvaged a lot of my hair and had it turned into a wig just for me. It had taken a while for it to be made, but now it was, and now I had my hair back. I tried it on. It was not a cut I would choose for myself, but it was a part of me, returned.

I felt whole again.

Medications have become a necessary evil.  We need them to treat various ailments that we develop over the course of our lives.  The problem is that all medications do carry the risk of causing side effects.  Most of the time those side effects are something that we either do not notice or that we can live with.  There are a large number of medications that affect our hair in various ways:  including excessive hair growth, discoloration of our hair, and hair loss. 

 Medication-induced hair loss has the same impact on self esteem as any other type of hair loss.  Most people never suspect that the medications that they are taking could be contributing to the loss of their hair.  The good news though is that once this is figured out, the hair loss can be reversed simply by finding an alternative medicine that does not affect you the same way. This is true in most cases.

Our hair goes through three “life” cycles.  The first of these is the anagen phase.   During this time the hair grows.  This phase lasts about three to four years, after which the telogen phase begins.  This much shorter phase, lasting only about three months, is the resting period for the hair.  After the telogen phase has completed itself, the hair simply falls out.  Certain medications interfere with the life cycles of our hair.  There are two types of hair loss that medications can cause.  The are the telegen effluvium and the anagen effluvium.

Telegen effluvium is by far the most common medication-induced hair loss type.  Signs will normally start to be noticed within two to three months of the start of a new medication.  Hair follicles are forced to start their resting phase too soon and fall out much earlier than they are supposed to.  It is estimated that people with telegen effluvium shed around 150 hairs each day.

Anagen effluvium usually presents much sooner and impacts hair growth in a much more dramatic way.  Hair loss usually starts to be noticeable after as few as two days up to two weeks after the start of the new medication.  Matrix cells in hair follicles in the anagen growing phase will be prevented from dividing properly.  These cells are responsible for new hair growth.  Many people will lose all their hair, not just on the tops of their heads but all across their bodies.  Cancer treatment medications are common causes for this type of hair loss.

If you suspect that you may be experiencing hair loss due to medications that you are taking, you should see your doctor.  It is possible to have alternative medicines prescribed that will not have the same effect.  In most cases your hair will grow back on its own after you stop taking the medication.  In those cases where it does not, there are products such as Rogaine and Propecia that possibly could help to stimulate new hair growth.  There are also many natural remedies such as saw palmetto and onion juice (yes it’s true!) that have also been shown to promote new hair growth.

Hair loss seemed to sneak up on me. I never paid much attention as my hair thinned as I aged until one day a friend started joking about the shiny spot on the crown of my head. When I got home, I pulled out a hand mirror and took a closer look. He was right. My head had a large shining spot with just a little fuzzy hair growing out of it. I asked my wife how long it had been that way and she just grinned. It had been getting thinner for years and I had ignored the hair loss completely.

 I had a tough decision to make. Was I going to accept the hair loss as a normal part of getting older or take action to restore my hair? I decided to try hair restoration before doing anything extreme. My first attempt was to buy some Rogaine. I used it for a couple months but did not notice any major difference. I know it works great for some men, since many of my friends swear by it, but for me it was a complete failure.

My second attempt at restoring my hair was to try the natural route. I consulted with a local chiropractor who is a natural medicine expert. He suggested I try an herbal shampoo formula and a dietary supplement he kept in stock. I cannot remember the exact ingredients, but he assured me it was my best chance with a natural medicine approach. I gave this new method a two-month trial, too. I did not see any improvement.

I was time to get serious about my hair loss. What was I going to do? I started researching hair implants, toupees, and other solutions to either replace or hide my hair loss. The surgical methods were too expensive. They had the highest chance of success, but I was unwilling to invest that much money in getting my hair restored. If I was single and trying to meet women, I might have decided differently.

My final answer to my hair loss dilemma came from my wife. She sat down with me and read all the information. We discussed possible solutions for hours. She even convinced me to go visit her cosmetologist. The cosmetologist suggested some other shampoos, cleansers, and ointments. I tried her solution, but it was the same story. My wife was not finished with helping.

A few weeks later I arrived at home to find my wife sitting on the couch with a stack of DVD movies, the remote, and a bottle of wine. She told me to sit down. We spent the evening watching her favorite actors on television. Actors like Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Patrick Stewart, and Sean Connery filled the screen. She kept telling me how sexy those men were. At 11PM, she pulled a small gift-wrapped box out and had me open it. It contained a set of hair clippers. Fifteen minutes later, my hair loss problem was solved. This solution is not for everyone, but if your wife thinks bald men are incredibly sexy, it might be for you.

Extreme hair loss happens when you are loosing clumps of hair at a time leaving bald patches where the hair refuses to grow back. This type of extreme hair loss normally occurs due to a scalp disease or other types of conditions that are creating the hair loss.

Together, these conditions are called alopecia. There are different types of alopecia each related to the different types of conditions causing hair loss as well as the varying degrees of hair loss.

Alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis are the two most extreme of all the types of alopecia. The most common cause of alopecia totalis and universalis is due to chemotherapy or radiation treatment in cancer patients. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent hair loss occurring through these treatments but the hair growth should return to normal once the treatments have stopped.

Other medications can also be the cause of severe hair loss. Find out whether this might be one of the side effects of a drug that you are currently using before looking at other avenues for answers to extreme hair loss.

 Traction alopecia and trichotillomania are self inflicted causes of hair loss. Traction alopecia is caused by the hair being tied up too tightly and being pulled out as a result. Corn rows, french plaits and other forms of braiding can also cause this hair loss condition.

Trichotillomania is a condition where a person obsesively tugs or breaks their hair resulting in hair loss. The condition is classed as a form of obsessive compulsive disorder and can be treated through therapy and the use of medication.

Pattern alopecia (also referred to as male pattern baldness) is a condition that more people are familiar with. The cause of this condition is mainly hormonal and while there are many different treatments available, it is best to consult a doctor to receive a treatment that will make a difference.

Your lifestyle can also affect the rate at which hair loss can occur. A highly stressed individual will find that they loose more hair than relaxed people. Diet can also affect hair loss. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the diet will cause hair loss while the consumption of other foods may result in the hair falling out.

Hyperthyroidism can cause thinning of the hair. You will know if you have hyperthyroidism as you will probably be overweight as your body struggles to metabolize the food that you eat. However, it does not automatically mean that you have hyperthyroidism if you are over weight and loosing your hair.

Other types of hair loss are congenital. This means that they are genetic and that a person is born with the condition. Hair loss of a genetic nature is normally permanent and radical treatments like hair implants are the only treatment solutions.

Genetics also play a role in male pattern baldness but is not the cause of the baldness and therefore the condition remains treatable. Genetics will only provide a predisposition to the hair loss condition.

Hair loss is quite distressing for males and females and the root cause of the problem varies.  Other than medication prescribed by your doctor or over the counter remedies, you should consider using alternative methods to stop your hair from falling out.  The other methods you can try include massage, Chinese herbs and aromatherapy, among others.

Massage

Massage is used to stimulate blood circulation which will boost a healthy scalp.  Vitamin E oil is recommended to strengthen fragile follicles.  Regular massage of the oil will prevent dry, flaky skin on your scalp.  An alternative oil to use for massage is coconut.  Mango oil has been known to improve the texture of hair and is ideal if you have coarse, dry hair.

 There is an Indonesian massage method that will relieve scalp tension which aids in the promotion of healthy hair. 

•    Stand with your feet apart and commence slow in and out breathing.

•    Lean your body forward from the waist to a point where your head reaches to a couple of inches below your waist.

•    Do not bend your knees.

•    Use your knuckles to gently rub your scalp for about half a minute. 

•    Stand up straight and repeat the process a few times.

Do not use vigorous movements whilst massaging your scalp as this could cause your hair to break and may damage the hair follicles.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils that are beneficial to prevent hair loss include jojoba, lavender, grapefruit, cedarwood, lemon, rosemary and Roman chamomile.  Add two drops of an essential oil into the water you use to rinse your hair.  

You could add the essential to a suitable vegetable oil such as olive or coconut and use the mixture to massage your scalp.  Either wrap a warm towel around your head or cover your head with a shower cap.  Leave this mixture on your head for a period of 2 to 3 hours.  If you are comfortable sleeping with this on your head, you could leave it overnight.  Thereafter, shampoo and condition your hair as usual.

You can use this oil blend as a recipe to promote hair growth.

•    Add a half teaspoon of jojoba and 4 teaspoons of grapeseed oil to a jar.

•    Add 2 drops of cedarwood, 3 drops rosemary, 2 drops thyme and 3 drops lavender to the oils in the jar and mix well.

•    Massage this combination of oils into your scalp for a minimum of two minutes each night.

•    Wrap your head with a warm towel and leave for a couple of hours.

You should take care when you use essential oils as some aromatherapy oils may trigger epileptic seizures.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy was originally used to treat vascular diseases, but doctors have discovered that it is suitable as a hair loss prevention method.  It not only maintains hair that exists, but it also stops continued hair loss. It has been proven to be effective for women who suffer from post-menopausal hair loss.

These methods to prevent hair loss are effective if you do it on a regular basis.  Continue treating your scalp and use gentle products to wash and condition your hair.

Hair loss or hair thinning is a common problem for many adults throughout the globe. There are numerous reasons for hair loss, each differing from individual to individual. The more typical reasons may include hereditary causes, but other factors such as poor diet and medical complications may feature. Nowadays, hair loss is not a permanent problem and can be treated effectively with different methods including various hair loss treatments.

 One of the most popular and well-known forms of hair loss treatments is a surgical procedure known as a 'follicle follicular transfer'. This surgery involves transplanting growing hairs from various areas on an individual's head to the affected, balding areas. It is an intricate process and requires a great deal of skill and experience to complete adequately.

 The follicle follicular transfer is conducted in three phases. The first phase is the extraction phase, the second the healing phase, and the third the implantation phase. If the transfer is successful the hair will take root and grow within 3 to 5 months after the operation. This treatment is recommended for individuals whom have suffered severe hair loss.

While some individuals will be willing to undergo formal medical procedures in an attempt to reduce or reverse hair loss, some would rather use external agents as a remedy. If this is the case, doctors can offer the option of pharmaceutical medications.

 Hair loss treatments come in the forms of oils, ointments, creams and tablets. The most popular and reputable oral medication is that of Minoxidil. Minoxidil is an over-the-counter prescription that contains the nitric oxide chemical 'moiety' which assists in not only reducing hair loss, but also helps with hair growth. Unfortunately, Minoxidil has some side-effects which must be considered before use - burning eyes, irritation of the treated area and unwanted hair growth on various other parts of the body other than the head. One must also be aware of possible allergic reactions such as swelling of the mouth and lips or dizziness and increased heart rate.

Another well-known oral medication which may be used is Finasteride. Unlike Minoxidil, Finasteride is exclusively for males and is famous for use in reversing the effects of male pattern baldness. Research has indicated that at least 3 out of every 5 men suffering male pattern baldness experience regrowth when taking this drug. However, Finasteride should not be used for individuals with severe hair loss and is recommended for those with mild to moderate hair thinning.

One of the more organic options when facing hair loss, for males and females, is vitamins. The introduction of certain vitamins and supplements into one's diet has been seen to lead to either halting in or reduction of hair loss. Through regular and long-term intake of vitamin B, B5, B6 and B3 some hair growth may be seen.

In conclusion, while hair loss is a rising problem there are methods to treat the difficulty. Whether one chooses surgical procedures or the more natural introduction of vitamins into a diet, hair loss treatment should work for those who engage in it fully.