Why Do Most People Lose Hair?

Do you actually know what's causing you to lose your hair this very moment? This is a question asked by almost all hair loss sufferers, and there are more answers to this than the number of those asking. The only problem is that a lot of what you're being told is not the complete truth.

One major cause of hair loss that you'll hear time and time again by so-called "experts" and other "know it alls" is genetics. Give me a break! If this is the case then why are some men in a family line stuck with a shiny bald head, and others in that same immediate family have a full head of hair?

This is evidence that there must be some hidden things that can cause you to lose your hair. And there certainly are numerous things. For example one reason a lot of men in particular start to get a receding hairline is due to a lack of blood circulation.

As you get older your body will stop circulating blood like it used to. It will circulate much slower and areas that once got a huge supply now may be lacking it significantly. So you must increase this blood flow so that you can make up for the damage that has been done.

What I've found personally effective is the use of oils like jojoba, henna, and rosemary. When you massage these into your scalp you're doing yourself a huge favor. They are natural and work to increase blood flow and hair growth exactly where you need it.

So before you go off assuming that your hair is falling out just because it tends to run in the family, consider some true facts behind what could be leading you towards baldness.

Hair Loss and Its Causes

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

It is normal to shed some hair each day as part of this cycle. However, some people may experience excessive (more than normal) hair loss. Hair loss of this type can affect men, women and children.

What causes excessive hair loss?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

Can improper care of my hair cause hair loss?

Yes. If you wear pigtails or cornrows or use tight hair rollers, the pull on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia (say: al-oh-pee-sha). If the pulling is stopped before scarring of the scalp develops, your hair will grow back normally. However, scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Hot oil hair treatments or chemicals used in permanents (also called "perms") may cause inflammation (swelling) of the hair follicle, which can result in scarring and hair loss.

What is common baldness?

The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement

Hair Loss Prevention Home Remedies

Usually hair loss is associated with men, however nowadays even women have been complaining about hair loss. The main cause of hair loss is excessive use of shampoos and other hair products that have chemicals in them. The stress and anxiety that people suffer in their busy life are also said to be the reasons that lead to hair loss. Hair loss can also be attributed to hereditary, i.e. people whose parents or grandparents have this problem have high chances of having it themselves. Other than this, people suffering from health problems like hypothyroidism, iron deficiency, sebborrheic dermatitis are also prone to lose their hair. Though seeing strands of hair when you comb or wash your hair is a matter of great concern, it can be stopped as well as prevented with the help of various home remedies. The effectiveness of these hair loss prevention home remedies cannot be generalized, however one good thing about them is that they do not have any side effects. Hence, let us take a look at some of the hair loss home remedies that are actually preventive measures to stop hair loss. Know more about hair loss solutions and natural remedy for hair loss.

Hair Loss Prevention - Home Remedies

• Aloe Vera, which has several health benefits, is also an excellent method to cure the problem of hair loss. One can purchase aloe vera gel from the market or apply directly by slitting the plant horizontally. Apply the gel on the scalp and wash off under cold water. It is also said to be a good conditioner for the hair.
• Using mustard oil with henna leaves is also said to be a good natural hair loss prevention option. In a tin basin, take 250 ml mustard oil and bring it to boiling point. When it starts boiling, add 60 grams of henna leaves until they get burnt in the oil. Store the oil in a bottle by filtering it and regularly massage your hair with it.
• Heat olive oil in a pan and then add honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to it. Mix well till it becomes a fine paste and apply it on your hair. Leave the paste on the hair for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• Applying coconut milk to the hair is also said to be one of the best ways of preventing hair loss. Take some coconut milk in a bowl and apply it on your hair by gently massaging your scalp with the fingers.

Hair Loss Prevention - Nutrition

Apart from these home remedies for hair loss, one's diet also plays an important role in preventing hair loss. Just like our body, even our hair requires essential nutrients and vitamins to stay healthy. Hence, it is important that people indulge in a hair loss prevention diet to get rid of the problem of hair loss and also to promote hair growth. As hair loss prevention vitamins include vitamin A, B, C and E, make sure that you consume food containing all these important vitamins. The hair loss prevention foods include leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, etc. Including milk, yeast, wheat germ, honey, etc. in one's diet are also good way of preventing hair loss. Read more on vitamins for hair loss.

Hair Loss Prevention Tips

• One must totally avoid washing hair in hot or warm water as this can be responsible for hair loss. Always wash your hair with lukewarm or cold water and only make use of a mild shampoo.
• Using steam on your hair is also said to be a good way of hair loss prevention. Dip a towel into hot water, squeeze out the excess and wrap it on your hair. Leave it on the hair till the towel becomes cold and then repeat the process for ten minutes. Do not forget to have a oil massage, before using steam.
• Rubbing your scalp with your fingers is also said to be a good way of controlling hair loss. Once you have washed your hair, rub your scalp vigorously with your fingers until heat is generated in that area. This helps in increasing blood circulation and subsequently hair growth.