HEALTH: HAIR LOSS (HAIR THINNING) HAIR GROWTH

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HEALTH - HAIR LOSS (HAIR THINNING) HAIR GROWTH

What is Hair Loss?

Hair loss can occur as thinning (you may not notice hairs falling out) or as shedding, with clumps of hair falling out. Generally, you lose hair all over your scalp—or focal, which means you lose it in one area only. In inherited hair loss, men generally develop bald spots on the forehead area or on the top of the head, while women have an overall hair thinning throughout the scalp.

Because hair is an important part of appearance, hair loss can result in loss of self-esteem and feeling unattractive, especially in women and teens.

Everyone has some hair loss every day. In fact, it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day. However, some people lose a lot of hair early in life because it runs in their family (inherited) or because of disease, medications, stress, injury, or damage to the hair. Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. But with about 100,000 hairs in the scalp, this amount of hair loss shouldn't cause noticeable thinning of the scalp hair.

Gradual hair thinning is a normal part of aging. However, hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of regrowth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair comes out in patches. 

Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the medications and surgical procedures that are available to treat hair loss. Before pursuing any of these treatment options, talk with your doctor or health care provider about the cause of and best possible treatments for your hair loss.

Health: Types of Hair Loss (Hair - Thinning)

Permanent hair loss

• Male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). For men, pattern baldness can begin very early, even in the teens or early 20s. It's typically characterized by a receding hairline at the temples and balding at the top of the head. The end result may be partial or complete baldness.

• Female-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). Women with permanent hair loss usually have hair loss limited to thinning at the front, sides or crown. Women usually maintain their frontal hairline and rarely experience complete baldness.

• Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This rare health condition occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle, causing permanent hair loss. Sometimes the patchy hair loss is associated with slight itching or pain.
• Female-pattern baldness. Women lose hair on an inherited (genetic) basis too, but the female pattern is more diffuse, with less likelihood of the frontal hairline being lost. Although some women may notice hair thinning as early as their 20s, the pace of hair loss tends to be gradual, often taking years to become obvious to others.

Temporary hair loss

• Alopecia areata. Hair loss usually occurs in small, round, smooth patches about the size of a quarter. Usually the disease doesn't extend beyond a few bare patches on the scalp, but it can cause patchy hair loss on any area that has hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes and beard. In rare cases, it can progress to cause hair loss over the entire body. If the hair loss includes your entire scalp, the condition is called alopecia totalis. If it involves your whole body, it's called alopecia universalis. Soreness and itching may precede the hair loss.

• Telogen effluvium. This type of temporary hair loss occurs suddenly. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or may fall out after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.

• Traction alopecia. Bald patches can occur if you regularly wear certain hairstyles, such as pigtails, braids or cornrows, or if you use tight rollers. Hair loss typically occurs between the rows or at the part where hair is pulled tightly.

Causes of specific types of hair loss (hair thinning)

• Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). In male- and female-pattern baldness, the time of growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs become rooted more superficially and more easily fall out. Heredity likely plays a key role. A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.

• Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle. This prevents new hair from growing. This condition can be seen in several skin conditions, including lupus erythematosus or lichen planus. It's not known what triggers or causes this inflammation.

• Alopecia areata. This is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop alopecia areata are generally in good health. A few people may have other autoimmune disorders including thyroid disease. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times.

• Telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family, or after a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months.

• Traction alopecia. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly cause traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before there's scarring of your scalp and permanent damage to the root, hair usually grows back normally.

Other causes of hair loss (hair thinning)

• Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain health illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.

• Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.

• Disease. Diabetes and lupus can cause hair loss.

• Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. Under these conditions, healthy, growing (anagen) hairs can be affected. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes and imbalances can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, having a baby, discontinuing birth control pills, beginning menopause, or an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The hair loss may be delayed by three months following a hormonal change, and it'll take another three months for new hair to grow back. During pregnancy, it's normal to have thicker, more luxuriant hair. It's also common to lose more hair than normal about three months after delivery. If a hormonal imbalance is associated with an overproduction of testosterone, there may be a thinning of hair over the crown of the scalp. Correcting hormonal imbalances may stop hair loss.

• Hair treatments. Chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, straightening or permanent waves can cause hair to become damaged and break off if they are overused or used incorrectly. Overstyling and excessive brushing also can cause hair to fall out if the hair shaft becomes damaged.

• Scalp infection. Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back. Ringworm, a fungal infection, can usually be treated with a topical or oral antifungal medication.

• Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder). Trichotillomania is a type of mental illness in which people have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it's from their scalp, their eyebrows or other areas of their body. Hair pulling from the scalp often leaves them with patchy bald spots on their head, which they may go to great lengths to disguise. Causes of trichotillomania are still being researched, and no specific cause has yet been found.

Health: Diagnosis of Hair Loss (Hair - Thinning)

A complete medical history, family history and physical examination can help in a diagnosis. The pattern and rate of hair loss, the appearance of nearby hairs (for example, if hairs are broken off), and accompanying symptoms are considered when making the diagnosis.

Tests may be necessary if the cause isn't apparent after the examination. These include:

• Pull test. This is when several dozen hairs are gently pulled to see how many come out. This helps determine the stage of the shedding process and can help diagnose or rule out telogen effluvium.

• Skin scrapings. Samples taken from the skin or from a few hairs plucked from the scalp can help verify whether an infection is causing hair loss.

• Punch biopsy. When a diagnosis is difficult to confirm, especially in the case of alopecia areata or scarring alopecia, your doctor may perform a punch biopsy. During this test, the doctor uses a circular tool to remove a small section of your skin's deeper layers.

• Screening tests for related diseases. Your doctor may perform tests to determine if you have a health condition that causes hair loss, such as thyroid disease, diabetes or lupus. Your doctor may also ask questions about the types of medications you're taking. Sometimes hair loss is a side effect of certain drugs, such as those that treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure.

Some people choose to treat hair loss with medications or surgery, such as hair transplantation. Others choose to wear hairpieces (wigs or toupees) or use different methods of hair styling (dyeing or combing). The approach you use depends on the cause of your hair loss and how you feel about it. Some people feel they need treatment, while others are not as concerned about thinning hair or baldness.

Hair loss that is caused by a controllable factor, such as stress or a medication, is treated by eliminating the cause. Whether your hair grows back depends on the cause of your hair loss. If you have inherited hair loss, you would need treatment to regrow your hair. It will not grow back naturally. But treatment to regrow hair does not work for everyone. If your hair loss is caused by medication, stress, or damage, hair often grows back after the cause is removed, although sometimes treatment may be needed.

Health: New Hair Loss Vitamin is Discovered

Stunning results in "leftover" mice

Doctors at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles had some mice left over from drug experiments.  Some of the animals had excessive hair loss, but were otherwise healthy.  They decided to see if they could regrow hair in the mice, by adding a natural extract known as polyphenols to their diet.

Hair loss "stopped completely"

The doctors divided the mice into two groups.  They gave the first group a polyphenol extract added to their drinking water.  The other group received plain water only.

After six months, the mice receiving the polyphenols in their drinking water showed no progressive hair loss.  This finding is remarkable and bears repeating.  In every one of the mice fed the extract in their water, hair loss completely stopped.

Polyphenols grow new hair

The findings on hair loss cessation are exciting by themselves.  But the real surprise is the report of "significant regrowth" of hair in animals receiving the polyphenol treatment.

The L.A. scientists found that 33% of the treated mice had significant hair regrowth.  They actually referred to this as "spontaneous remission," a medical term usually reserved for unexplainable or miraculous reversal of disease.

No hair regrowth was observed in the untreated (control) group.  Other than the polyphenols, both groups were fed the same diet. Both were housed in the same conditions.  Only the polyphenol group had zero further hair loss, and substantial hair growth.

Science strongest for apple polyphenols and hair growth

Previous experiments have proven that polyphenols from apple skins, grape seeds and barley all exhibit the ability to regrow hair in animal and human trials.  This is the first report in the literature showing that green tea polyphenols also have some hair growth effects.  This study is also important because it's the first time that polyphenols have produced new hair growth when taken internally. 

The following list contains polyphenols:

• Apple extracts (from the skin)

• Grape seed extracts

• Green tea extracts

• Barley extracts
  

Proof of "significant regrowth"

Human clinical trials on apple polyphenols, specifically procyanidins, have shown the best and fastest results in hair growth, but have only been tested topically.  This latest study is proof that polyphenols, taken internally, have significant hair growth effects in mammals.

The human hair cycle is a complex process.  Other vitamins, minerals and hormones are certainly involved in the general health of hair follicles, skin, and other organs.  But now, for the first time, you can specifically target hair loss and regrowth with polyphenols, the new hair loss vitamin.

In Japanese clinical trials, a safe, natural polyphenol compound from apples was proven to promote new hair growth in men with male pattern baldness.

In the first double-blind clinical study, 29 balding men were treated with the apple procyanidin solution.  After 6 months, researchers reported that both vellus and terminal hair growth were "significantly greater" than placebo control group subjects.

(Vellus hairs are short hairs, only a centimeter or two long.  The follicles that produce them never produce any other kind of hairs.  Terminal hairs are the long hairs that grow on the head.)

Increased number of terminal hair

The next study involved 21 men in various stages of hereditary hair loss.  After 12 months of topical treatment, researchers reported that "71% of subjects showed an increased number of hairs."  They also noted "a clear trend towards increased number of non-vellus hairs."

A "potential cure" for male pattern baldness

After 12 months of study, the scientists concluded that "procyanidin therapy shows promise as a potential cure for male pattern baldness."

In a third study of 29 balding men, this time for 4 months, 78.9% showed an increased mean value of hair diameter.  Increased ratio of thicker hairs was "significantly higher" than placebo controls and the increase in the number of total hairs was "significantly greater."

200% better than minoxidil

Seven different published studies now confirm the profound hair-growth promoting effects of apple procyanidins.  In tests on human hair cells, apple chemicals proved twice as effective as minoxidil to promote hair growth.  The apple extracts were also clearly superior to less potent grape and grape seed extracts.

Procyanidins activate hair follicle growth

The richest known source of procyanidin B-2 is the skins of immature (baby) green apples.  Polyphenols from apples have an astonishing range of health effects, and may be nature's perfect antioxidant.  Many people taking apple procyanidins in pill form notice faster hair growth, stronger fingernails, and softer, smoother skin.

In every study, apple procyanidins have proven completely safe for humans and animals.  There is no toxicity, no irritation, and no side effects to the human health.  This natural hair loss remedy may be nature's best option for millions of people who suffer from thinning hair, falling hair, and male pattern baldness.

Health: Prevent Hair Loss and Ensure Healthy Hair Growth. 

• Eat a nutritionally balanced diet. Eat protein rich food items – tuna, lean meat, whole milk are beneficial health wise.
  

• Handle your hair gently. Whenever possible, allow your hair to air-dry naturally.

• Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.

• Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.

• Check with hair care experts about hairpieces or styling techniques that help minimize the effects of balding.

• The over-the-counter (nonprescription) medication minoxidil (Rogaine) promotes new hair growth and prevents further hair loss in a small percentage of people. Other over-the-counter hair growth products have no proven benefit.

• Gently massage your scalp with fingertips after applying a hair oil like coconut oil or sesame oil.

• Eat Indian gooseberry in any form early in the day.  Don't take gooseberry based products later in the night as it can affect your beautiful dental line.

• Boil fresh or dried and powdered Indian gooseberry (also called amla) in coconut oil.  Apply this for nourishing hair growth.

• Eat all types of vegetables and fruits.  This will ensure supply of vitamins and minerals essential for the healthy growth of hair.  Vitamins and minerals are good for your health too.

• While bathing, wash your head with cold water only.  If it is winter and water is ice-cold, you can make it lukewarm.  It is ok to wash your body with cold water.

• Apply brahmi oil on your scalp before going to bed.  Good for hair growth and brain.
  

• Dandruff is a cause of hair loss.  Squeeze half a lemon in half a liter of water and rinse your hair and scalp with this water as a cure to dandruff.  Do this no more than three times a week and for up to a month.

• Rosemary oil is an aromatherapy oil, which can be applied to your hair once in a week to reduce hair fall.

• Crush a few leaves and flowers of hibiscus (shoe flower) with two or three glasses of water.  The water becomes thick with the juice and use this water to wash your hair.  Thoroughly cleanses your hair and gives dark bright color to your hair.
  

• Never apply soap or high power shampoo on your head, as it can affect healthy growth of hair
  

  
  

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