Debating Hairlines

There are two main drugs that people (mostly men) use to prevent baldness from occurring. One is Rogaine, the other is Propecia. These are the only hair loss drugs that are approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hair loss. They are also the only drugs that have shown any effectiveness against baldness.

The Hair Loss Drugs: How They Work

Propecia: The New Drug on the Block

Propecia (finasteride) is taken in the form of a pill, and it is ingested once daily. It prevents baldness by inhibiting a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which most experts believe cause the majority of hair loss. Statistics show that Propecia showed results for 80% of men who ingested it, by either stopping hair loss or even allowing some hair to grow back. Propecia is a powerful drug and is only available by prescription.

Rogaine: Old Faithful

Rogaine (minoxidil) is the other drug that is extensively used for hair loss. Unlike Propecia, it usually comes in the form of a liquid that is applied to the scalp twice a day. It prevents baldness by revitalizing shrunken or dying hair follicles, in the process increasing their size. Used daily, Rogaine may begin to produce longer and thicker hairs than would otherwise be the case.

The Verdict

Most people who have used both these drugs maintain that Propecia is the more effective of the two. Even more effective than simply using Propecia, however, is using both Propecia and Rogaine. The combination of the two drugs will give you faster, longer lasting results than would be otherwise possible.

Hair loss is something that worries a lot of people. The average person should lose between 50 and 200 hairs per day. If you are losing a lot more, you should check into it. It could be temporary hair loss, hair breakage, or permanent hair loss.

Breakage

Let’s take a look at hair breakage, which can be confused with hair loss. If you have very fine har, it will break easily. Chemicals (such as perms) can wreak havoc on your fine hair and so can swimming in chlorinated water. After you’ve brushed or shampooed your hair, pick up some hairs and look closely at both ends for a bump/”root”. If you can’t find the “root”, the hair did not full out but broke off. If you have more than 200 hairs falling out daily and they all have bumps at the end, then your hair is falling out much faster than the daily average and it bears checking into.

Shampooing

Another reason you might get more hair loss than 200 hairs per day is if you shampoo your hair only once a week. When you are scrubbing and washing your hair, you are dislodging all the hairs that are ready to be replaced. If you washed your hair every day, you would dislodge a few hairs daily, but will end up with the same total of hairs by the end of the week. It just looks like more when you shampoo your hair once a week because it all comes at once.

Temporary Hair Loss

Temporary hair loss is a different matter all together. This is when you lose so much in such a short amount of time that it feels like you are going to go bald. Don’t worry - if it’s temporary, it will grow again and go through the 3 stages of hair growth, but it takes time. Why would your hair fall out so quickly? There are at least 6 possible reasons -

* Physical stress - such as major surgery, or high fever

* Emotional stress - from traumatic events such as rape, war, or the loss of loved ones

* Child birth - hormonal upheavals that follow child birth usually cause hair loss

* Drugs - from cortisones and amphetamines

* Hormonal disorders - especially having to do with the thyroid or sex glands

* Diet - protein is necessary for hair growth

If you are experiencing hair loss, look whether there are bumps on the ends of the hairs you are losing. If there aren’t any, the hairs are just breaking off. If there are bumps and you can relate to one of the 6 reasons for temporary hair loss that are mentioned, be patient and the hair will slowly come back in again.

One large study that was done in Australia showed that the prevalence of mid-frontal hair loss increases as people age and affects 57% of women and 73.5% of men aged 80 years and over. Each hair on the scalp grows less than half an inch per month. Interesting bit of trivia: the word alopecia is formed from the Greek word meaning fox; the origin comes from the fact that the fox sheds its coat twice a year.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as “spot baldness” that can result in hair loss ranging from just one area to every hair on the entire body. Temporary loss of hair can occur in areas where sebaceous cysts are present for one week to several weeks in length. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about three months after they’ve had a baby; during pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out and when the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts up again. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance; correcting the hormone imbalance may stop the hair loss. In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from a person’s maternal grandfather; while there’s some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring’s likelihood of hair loss.

Wearing a hat generally shouldn’t cause baldness, though it’s a good idea to give your scalp a rest and let it breathe for several hours a day. Tumors and skin growths can also induce localized baldness. Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes.

Go a more natural way with treatment if possible; taking hair loss drugs require many months of exposure to chemicals. Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this therapy questionable. Minoxidil is a drug that’s used daily to prevent hair loss but may create heart problems; the hair it grows is very fine, only on the top of the head and may fall out again soon after the drug is stopped.

The surgical methods used include hair transplantation, whereby hair-producing follicles are taken from the back and sides of the head and injected into bald or thinning areas. There are prescription drugs, herbal remedies and topical applications for hair loss. Surgery is another method of reversing hair loss and baldness, although it may be considered an extreme measure.

Propecia is available with a prescription; comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working. Very little testing has been done on the long-term effects of Minoxidil on women. Hair loss remedies and treatments with prescription drugs are long term commitments; not short term exposure.

Vodka and cayenne remedy for loss - mix one jigger of vodka with a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (test on skin first for sensitivity) and rub it on the scalp; blood rushes to the hair follicles stimulated by the vodka and cayenne pepper - be careful if you try it. Massage the scalp nightly with an oil made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Garlic for hair loss remedy - an hour before bedtime, slice open a clove of garlic and rub it on the hair loss area, wait for an hour then massage the scalp with olive oil, put on a cap, go to bed, shampoo your hair in the morning, repeat for a few weeks, and hopefully hair will stop falling out and regrowth will be showing.

Circulation to the scalp is important. Garlic oil remedy for hair loss - at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss; whether the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be questionable.

Resveratrol, from grape skins, is a lipase inhibitor and by decreasing the body’s ability to absorb fat through the intestine walls, it reduces the total fat and calorie content of a person’s diet. Make sure to test remedies on a small area first and check with your hair loss doctor or skin doctor before trying any natural home remedy if it includes any irritating ingredients. Olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap and shampoo in the morning.

Beta Sitosterol, which is a constituent in many seed oils, can help to treat BHP (benign prostatic hypertrophy) by lowering cholesterol; but consuming large amounts to get at small quantities of beta sitosterol is likely to exacerbate male pattern baldness. Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride; unlike other 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete PSA (protein specific antigen). Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth.

Consider picking one of the least harmless, topical, natural home treatment remedies (the kind you whip up at home), and try it on your scalp for at least 30 days. If large amounts of hair are lost it’s important to see a doctor or skin doctor to rule out an underlying disease. To prevent further hair loss, consider a healthier lifestyle - eat a more plant-based diet, and get plenty of exercise; be good to your immune system.

For many people, the problems caused by thinning hair and eventual hair loss can mean unimaginable frustrations.

Hair growth problems are actually caused by many different factors. Hereditary male pattern baldness and lifestyle choices are just two issues that could be the cause of your hair loss.

If you are already suffering from male pattern baldness you might think that there is nothing you can do. However, there are ways that you can combat hair loss.

1) Avoid using strong chemicals - Most people are very much concerned about their overall appearance. They often use hair chemicals in their daily routines that help improve the appearance of hair in the short term.

However, there are some chemical based products that may cause hair growth problems. If you are using a specific brand of shampoo, you can try finding out the ingredients of that product.

If it has strong chemicals such as formaldehyde, then immediately change your brand.

2) Change your overall lifestyle choices are some of the main causes of thinning hair. If you are a heavy smoker, try to quit at least for a short period of time.

Smoking constricts the blood vessels of the body as well as the small channels leading to hair follicles.

Smoking could cause hair loss drugs to lose their effectiveness. It could potentially cancel out any good results you can get from a hair loss treatment.

If the blood vessels are always stressed out, chances are vital nutrients will not reach your hair roots for proper nourishment.

Also, if you are the type of person who does not exercise, you might consider doing so on a daily basis. Exercise accounts for numerous health benefits as well as preventing hair growth problems.

3) Limit outdoor activities - Exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can weaken hair follicles. Spending a few minutes outside in the summer won’t damage your hair.

However, spending too much time in the sun could damage your scalp and hair follicles.

4) Avoid using hair accessories - Clips, head bands and ponytail accessories create a stressful condition for hair. Hair strands may be pulled and stretched uncontrollably, resulting in damaging physical effects.

Never place rubber bands around your pony tail. They could cause severe hair cutting in a matter of a view days.

5) Consult a medical professional - If all the above preventive ways do not provide a significant solution for hair loss, you may try visiting a hair care professional for further solutions.

Many hair experts as well as dermatologists can recommend you medications and treatments to prevent and stop hair loss.

Doctors usually recommend hair loss treatments like Rogain or Propecia to treat hair loss without surgery. However, many doctors feel that hair transplant surgery is the only real way to deal with hair growth problems.

The hair that appears after puberty is generally governed by hormones - the testosterone for men, and the estrogen for women. Specifically, the testosterone directs the growth of the hair on the chin, body, and armpit while the estrogen encourages the growth of hair on the head for women, however, when the level of these body hormones drop to a certain point, hair loss is most likely to occur.

To restore the levels of an individual’s body hormones, one should have a well balanced diet, eating protein rich food, green leafy vegetables, and fruits. A good diet nourishes the hair as it also nourishes the body. This is the most natural hair loss remedy there is.

Together with proper nutrition is the observance of proper hair care habits. One can do some of these tips listed below to prevent and reduce hair loss.

- Do not wash hair with very warm water. This may cause the hair to be dry and brittle.

- Make sure to use a mild shampoo. Strong formulas can cause thinning of the hair, making it prone to breakage.

- After washing your hair with water, massage your scalp for about ten to fifteen minutes. This stimulates the blood to circulate and strengthen the hair follicles in the scalp.

- Always use a good quality comb or brush. When hair is still wet, it is advisable to use a wide-tooth comb. Avoid excessive brushing.

Another form of hair loss remedy is the in take of drugs such as Propecia and Rogaine, which are the only hair loss drugs approved by FDA. These drugs can slow or even prevent hair loss, however, these hair loss drugs have not been proven to restore hair on the frontal areas.

Aside from the mentioned remedies, hair transplant surgery is also another means of restoring hair, especially for lost hair on the frontal areas of the head or the hairline. Results from a hair transplantation procedure, if done properly, look so natural.

A good hair loss remedy should be able to restore the natural beauty of your hair. It is encouraged to explore all your options before committing to any hair loss treatment. An extensive research and understanding of other options will aid you in deciding the best way for you to treat hair loss. An easy way to do this is making use of the available resources on-line such as articles, forums, and blogs. However you must take action as soon as possible, and it’s best to be at the first sign of any hair loss. At this point it is much easier to stop the hair loss and to help restore hair to it’s fullness. If you leave it too long then you may have to look into other, more expensive and complicated treatments like hair plugs.

Male pattern baldness, also called alopecia, is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead, known as a receding hairline; an additional bald patch may develop on top. It’s much easier to prevent the falling out of healthy hairs than to regrow hair in follicles that are already dormant. Baldness is simply the state of lacking hair where it usually grows, especially on the head.

Many women notice hair loss about three months after they’ve had a baby; during pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out and when the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts up again. If the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, hair may fall out; treating thyroid disease will help remedy this. Poor digestion, parasites and nutrient deficiencies such as iron or biotin deficiency shouldn’t be overlooked as possible causes.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as “spot baldness” that can result in hair loss ranging from just one area to every hair on the entire body. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine or you may find you really don’t need the medicine at all. About 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you can suddenly temporarily lose a large amount of hair; this hair loss is related to the stress of the illness.

Hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. In the past it was believed that baldness was inherited from a person’s maternal grandfather; while there’s some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring’s likelihood of hair loss. Tumors and skin growths can also induce localized baldness.

There are prescription drugs, herbal remedies and topical applications for hair loss. Go a more natural way with treatment if possible; taking hair loss drugs require many months of exposure to chemicals. There are natural home remedies and many recipes for making mixtures to apply topically to the scalp.

Please be aware there are side effects and serious side effects sometimes with the drugs that are commonly used for hair loss. Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this therapy questionable. Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss.

Minoxidil is a drug that’s used daily to prevent hair loss but may create heart problems; the hair it grows is very fine, only on the top of the head and may fall out again soon after the drug is stopped. Minoxidil is a very expensive drug, costing about one hundred dollars per month for daily treatment. Propecia is available with a prescription; comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working.

Onion juice and honey remedy for hair loss: prepare a hair-growing elixir by combining 1/4 cup of onion juice with one tablespoon of honey; massage the scalp with the mixture every day. Massage the scalp nightly with an oil mixture made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil. Asian remedy for hair loss - rub sesame oil on your scalp every night, cover with a cap or old towel; in the morning wash with an herbal shampoo, rinse with a solution of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one quart of water.

Olive oil and rosemary remedy for hair loss - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap and shampoo in the morning. Garlic oil remedy for hair loss - at bedtime, puncture a couple of garlic pearles, squirt the oil on the scalp, massage, cover with a cap, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Try using double-strength herbal sage tea as a hair rinse or apply to scalp every day as a tonic.

Rub vitamin E oil into the scalp nightly. Try scalp massage every day. Polygonum Multiflorum is a traditional Chinese cure for hair loss; whether the plant itself is useful, the general safety and quality control of herbs imported from China can be questionable.

Circulation to the scalp is important. One patient reported that he used coconut oil on his hair and scalp for a year and during that time his hair became thicker and he hade more of it on the top of his head where he had been receding a bit; good as a hair gel too. Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth.

Remember that regrowing hair is a slow process, so don’t look for results overnight for any remedy or treatment you try. Remember that any drugs you take for hair loss will be a long term commitment; consider the risks to your health before doing this. Keep in mind that hair loss should be continually treated, preferably natural however, even after it stops.

Do you know how to stop hair thinning naturally, without going to the doctor or spending $100s on prescription drugs? You’ll know once you read this article.

Men suffering from male pattern baldness easily give up on regenerating their hair mainly due to the long time taken to stop their hair from thinning. Below are 3 reasons why they should consider going natural instead of taking chemical drugs. 1. Natural hair loss cures are cheaper. Prescription drugs for hair loss, namely Propecia (Finasteride) and Rogaine (Minoxidil), can cost you a lot of money in the long-run. Expect to spend at least $300 for the full hair restoration cycle you’ll go through. You can spend half that amount and still have your hair back in a few months time with natural alternatives. You need to keep taking hair loss drugs or you’ll lose your hair again. That’s not the case with hair loss supplements. Some hair loss supplements have given permanent results to some men. 2. Natural cures have no side effects. What’s astonishing about natural hair growing supplements is that they have absolutely no side effects, unlike the chemical prescription drugs for hair loss. The main reason behind this is because these supplements are made from natural ingredients that cannot by any chance cause any side effects. It’s a comfortable feeling to know that the hair loss pills you’re taking aren’t causing any harm to your body. There was a clinical study once that involved a number of males taking 1mg of Propecia (Finasteride) every day, until th

ey experienced side effects such as erectile dysfunction, and lower sex drives. There have been documented cases of gynecomastia (the growth of breasts in men) after the use of Propecia. Itchy scalp, acne, headaches, extremely low blood pressure, fast heart beat, chest pain and blurred vision are the reported side effects for Rogaine (Minoxidil). Although these side effects may sound not so dangerous, they can be truly painful and harmful to your body, in the long term. And remember, you can have none of these side effects if you use natural alternatives to stop hair loss. Be aware that some natural products contain contaminated ingredients which you don’t want. 3. Natural alternatives work just as well, if not better While many people believe hair loss drugs are the best solutions to restoring their lost hair, this is not true. The natural alternative products work can deliver the same or better results in stopping the thinning and falling of hair. Most alternatives contain effective ingredients that work to block DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), the hormone mainly responsible for the loss of hair. This stops the hair from thinning and eventually falling; and helps your body to restore the nutrients in your hair follicle. You can regrow your hair within a matter of months, without any unwanted side effects, and save some cash that could have been wasted.

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The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles; each follicle can grow about 20 individual hairs during a person’s lifetime. Statistics show that most men have a 50% chance of experiencing hereditary hair loss by their 50th birthday. The normal cycle of hair growth lasts from two to six years.

Some mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss. One type of baldness is called traction alopecia, which is most commonly found in people with ponytails or cornrows who pull on their hair with excessive force. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children which is easily treated with antifungal medicines.

Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance; correcting the hormone imbalance may stop the hair loss. Some drugs or medications can cause hair loss, which improves when you stop taking the medicine; medications that can cause hair loss include blood thinners, medicines used for gout, and chemotherapy drugs used for cancer, too much vitamin A supplementation, birth control pills and antidepressants. Wearing a hat generally shouldn’t cause baldness, though it’s a good idea to give your scalp a rest and let it breathe for several hours a day.

Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss. Hypothyroidism can cause it, especially thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. Tumors and skin growths can also induce localized baldness.

Go a more natural way with treatment if possible; taking hair loss drugs require many months of exposure to chemicals. Propecia is available with a prescription; comes in pill form, is only for men and may take up to six months before you can tell if it is working. Minoxidil is a very expensive drug, costing about one hundred dollars per month for daily treatment.

Hair loss treatments and remedies range in price from free to expensive. Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing loss. Please be aware there are side effects and serious side effects sometimes with the drugs that are commonly used for hair loss.

Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make this therapy questionable. Studies done on subjects of various ages suggests that weight training alone may increase testosterone in studies where aerobic exercise only was compared to either weight training or a moderately sedentary life. There are prescription drugs, herbal remedies and topical applications.

Russian cure with honey and vodka remedy for hair loss - combine one tablespoon honey with one jigger of vodka and the juice of a medium-size onion; rub mixture into the scalp every night, cover with a cap and shampoo in the morning. Apple cider vinegar used as a hair rinse may stimulate hair growth. Rub vitamin E oil into the scalp nightly.

Make sure to test remedies on a small area first and check with your hair loss doctor or skin doctor before trying any natural home remedy if it includes any irritating ingredients. Vodka and cayenne remedy for loss - mix one jigger of vodka with a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (test on skin first for sensitivity) and rub it on the scalp; blood rushes to the hair follicles stimulated by the vodka and cayenne pepper - be careful if you try it. Try scalp massage every day.

Saw Palmetto is an herbal DHT inhibitor often claimed to be cheaper and have fewer side effects than finasteride and dutasteride; unlike other 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, saw palmetto induces its effects without interfering with the cellular capacity to secrete PSA (protein specific antigen). Olive oil and rosemary remedy - use equal amounts of olive oil and oil of rosemary; combine them in a bottle, shake vigorously, massage into the scalp, put on a cap and shampoo in the morning. Massage the scalp nightly with oil made of one part rosemary oil and two parts almond oil.

Raw onion remedy - take half a raw onion and massage the scalp with it; cover the head overnight, shampoo and rinse in the morning. Beta Sitosterol, which is a constituent in many seed oils, can help to treat BHP (benign prostatic hypertrophy) by lowering cholesterol; but consuming large amounts to get at small quantities of beta sitosterol is likely to exacerbate male pattern baldness. Asian remedy for hair loss - rub sesame oil on your scalp every night, cover with a cap or old towel; in the morning wash with an herbal shampoo, rinse with a solution of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one quart of water.

Concentrate on boosting your immune system to give your hair the best chance to regrow. Remember that any drugs you take for hair loss will be a long term commitment; consider the risks to your health before doing this. Remember that regrowing hair is a slow process so don’t look for results overnight for any remedy or treatment you try.