Monday, February 22, 2010

How do I prevent thinning hair?

I use to have a lot of hair on my head until recent years. I started noticing more hair at the bottom of my bathtub and even more on my brush. My hair is especially thin in the crown region on my head. I don't have enough money to do the hair transplant. What are my other options?How do I prevent thinning hair?
On average, a person may shed anywhere from 40-100 hairs a day. So if you see some hair on your brush or in the shower, don鈥檛 panic. Chances are you are shedding the normal amount. Keep in mind that if you have long hair, it may appear that you are shedding more than you actually are.





Hair loss is associated with hair follicles exposure to hormones, specifically, testosterone and DHT. Testosterone is converted to DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. Once DHT is formed, it can interact with androgen receptors found in hair follicles. This association lowers follicle activity, shrinks the hair follicles, which then slows the hair growth cycle, and eventually leads to a reduction of hair growth. For females, the source of androgen is generated from the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Thus, hair loss is often associated with pregnancy and menopause and their effects. However, this phenomenon does not occur equally on all parts of your scalp, thus, thinning is observed only on specific regions of your head.





If you are shedding more than normal, don鈥檛 feel like you鈥檙e the only one losing hair. Nearly 50-80% of Caucasian men experience pattern baldness (Androgentic Alopecia). Women鈥檚 hair loss is the best kept secret. For women, 20-40% of the population are affected by alopecia. Yikes! That's nearly half of the female population! Thinning hair is a result of a combination of environmental and genetic factors. For example, the number of Chinese affected by pattern baldness is only half that of their Caucasian counterparts. As you age, your hair follicles shrink. So if your hair appears thin, it鈥檚 just a part of life. Even celebrities can't get out of this. It has been reported that actress Kate Beckinsale and Brit Victoria Bechham are struggling with hair loss - like the rest of us.





Other causes of hair loss: physical stress, emotional stress, medication, hormonal changes, chemotheraphy.





Will Perming my Hair Cause Hair Loss?


This is a common myth. Permanent hair loss is NOT caused by perms, colors, and other chemical treatments. This also applies to shampooing your hair too often.


Here are several common hair loss myths:





Permanent hair loss is caused by perms, colors, and other chemical treatments


Shaving your head will cause hair to grow back thicker


Dandruff causes permanent hair loss


Stress causes permanent hair loss


Hair loss does not occur in the late teens


Smoking causes hair loss 鈥?though this myth is attractive, little scientific data supports this statement.


With that being said, perming your hair can cause temporary hair loss (not permanent). Anytime you apply chemicals into your hair, you are changing the molecular structure and characteristic of your hair. As a result, the deformed hair will be more fragile (brittle) and can easily break. Also, be careful not to apply chemicals (relaxer, perming solution, dye, etc) to the scalp. These chemicals may destroy the hair shaft and irritate the skin. In extreme cases, permanent damage to your hair follicles may occur, which will result in irreversible hair loss. Thus, if you constantly use rollers and roll your hair into tight curls, you are inducing stress to your hair. The same applies to heat style. Introducing heat stress to your hair will damage it and cause it to become more brittle and fragile. In summary, hair styling and hair treatments do not cause hair loss if done properly and sparingly.





Here are some tips to protect your hair:





Apply chemicals to hair and not to your scalp


Use minimal tension when styling hair


Wear large, loose braids


Use products with glycerin and not mineral oil or petroleum


Use a mild relaxer at home


Avoid applying chemicals to your hair when possible


What are styling tips to conceal hair loss?





Go short. Long hair draws attention to your hair loss. When choosing a hair cut, select a style that is above the short. Your hair may be a little longer if your hair is wavy or curly. Get a graduated or blunt layer style to add more volume to your hair. The best way to disguise hair loss is adopting a zigzag part and let the layers fall naturally. If this isn't your style, try combing your hair straight back if you are thinning at the top. Avoid using gel alone. This tends to clump hair together and emphasize your thinning hair.





How to fix the hair loss:





Thanks to modern techology and scientific research, hair loss is treatable. Doctors can implant, acutally transplant, hair follicles into the region on your head experiencing hair loss. This may be time consuming and a burden to your wallet. In recent years, several FDA approved topical products have been shown to promote hair regrowth (i.e Provillus(http://www.provillus.com/?aid=587078)). If you are interested in using any of these methods of treatment, please consult with a physician. This article is not sufficient information for self diagnosing.How do I prevent thinning hair?
Dont brush your hair





its fact that brushing ur hair thinnins it

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