Female Hair Loss

Are you feeling under pressure, tired and exhausted and on top of that experiencing hair loss? Don’t be too quick to assume your hair loss is down to stress or genetics alone because it may be more than that. Hair loss often signals a variety of medical problems and could be the result of a low amount of red blood cells in your system. This condition is called anaemia.

The body needs certain nutrients to produce more red blood cells and if there is a lack of one or more of these nutrients, anaemia will develop. There are three types of anaemia concerned with hair loss. Knowing the different types and their causes will allow you to prepare your body to resist against it and take the necessary steps to restoring your hair.

Iron Deficiency

The most common form of anaemia is iron deficiency anaemia. Women are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency due to the regular loss of iron rich blood during menstruation. Iron deficiency is believed to be a relatively common precursor to female hair loss, in fact, 72% of women with diffuse hair loss have an iron deficiency.

Symptoms:
Rapid hair loss, weight loss, pale appearance, spoon shaped nails, depression, change of hair colour to a lighter shade, excessive dryness of hair

Causes:
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to an iron deficiency, excessive amounts of caffeine can reduce the amount of iron supplied through food, alcohol abuse also reduces the availability of iron in the body.

Sources:
Rice, bread, broccoli and beans but it is also important to get plenty of Vitamin C which is required for good absorption.

Copper Toxicity Anaemia

Copper is found in the blood bound to proteins and besides acting in the formation of melanin (the pigment that gives hair its colour), it is also involved in the absorption, storage and metabolism of iron. It is also needed in the utilisation of Vitamin C but an excess can destroy Vitamin C and indirectly lead to iron deficiencies. Copper levels are more often too high than too low and this can be toxic.

Symptoms:
Hair loss, headaches, hypoglycemia, increased heart rate, depression, overstimulation and insomnia.

Causes:
Excessive amounts of meat in the diet, some contraceptive pills, use of prescription medications containing copper, smoking, zinc and manganese deficiency raises copper levels.

Sources & advice:
Grains, shellfish, organ meats, nuts, poultry, beans. It takes 3 months to lower copper levels in the body but you can start now. Exercise temporarily stimulates adrenal gland activity which helps eliminate copper. You’ll need to keep exercising or the copper toxicity symptoms, fatigue, mood swings and depression will return. It’s recommended that we all get 30-40 minutes of exercise in at least three times a week.

Did you know?
Many people with high copper count dislike protein and are drawn to high-carbohydrate diets because they have difficulty digesting protein foods.

Pernicious Anaemia

Anaemia due to a lack of vitamin B12 is also called pernicious anaemia. It is relatively uncommon and although it may also be present in the young women, it generally affects people over 40. Vitamin B12 is assential for the normal metabolic function of all cells and works with folate to prevent anaemia.

Symptoms:
Rapid hair loss, weight loss, change of hair colour, dryness of hair, sore tongue, nosebleeds.

Sources:
Dairy products, yeast extracts and most breakfast cereals.

What Else Can You Do?

Knowing how to manage problems like anaemia and hair loss will help you avoid being depressed and anxious about those strands of hair you see in your brush or the sink but sometime you need further help.

If you feel that the texture of your hair has changed or you’re noticing excessive hair fall you can consult a Belgravia hair loss specialist. We will be able to diagnose the hair loss condition and if it is related to anaemia they can recommend the best course of action so the cause is dealt with and the hair loss problem is also addressed. FDA-approved hair loss treatments and hair loss supplements can get your hair back on track whilst you work on getting your body in check.

(Image courtesy of Phillip Hilpert – Philography at flickr)

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Ever looked at your parents and thought how lucky you were that they had a full head of hair only to realise that one day your own hair was starting to thin? You might attribute your receding hairline to anything from stress, the horrible flu you had last month or even from wearing a cap every weekend but unfortunately it’s still probably related to something a lot less controllable – your genes.

Genetic hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia but is often referred to as male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss. The genetics of androgenetic alopecia is complex but if we’re talking basics, it involves an inherited sensitisation of genetically predisposed hair follicles to the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The affected hair follicles gradually shrink and the hair life-cycle shortens which results in thinning hair. In some cases the follicle eventually ceases to produce hair, shuts down and becomes dormant.

Up until recently, it was believed that the genetic tendency toward hair loss came from a gene on the X chromosome inherited from the mother’s side of the family.  However androgenetic alopecia is a complex condition and more than likely due to the effects of several genes. Scientists recently confirmed the polygenetic theory with the discovery of another two genetic variants, completely unrelated to the gene on the X chromosome, which increase the risk of hair loss. These genes can be inherited from either or both sides of the family and whilst there are no official figures for women, research has shown that one in seven men are at risk of inheriting all three genetic variants which would increase their risk of hair loss sevenfold.

Androgenetic alopecia can start as early as puberty and up to half of the male population will be affected by the time their 50. This figure jumps to 80% by the time men reach 70. Almost half of all women will, at some point in their lives, experience some form of female hair loss but there is no official figure for female pattern hair loss specifically and the majority of women that are affected by androgenetic alopecia won’t notice any hair loss until menopause. It could be the drop in estrogen levels at menopause that leave women more susceptible to the effects of testosterone but some scientists have also noted up to 30 different hormones could play a part in female pattern hair loss (as opposed to just DHT).

“The difference in figures is partly because women’s hormones are not as high as men’s,” says Leonora Doclis, senior trichologist at the Belgravia Centre. “But there was also an understanding that a woman would need to inherit the tendency from both sides of the family.”

One study showed that in women with female pattern hair loss, the incidence of androgenetic alopecia in immediate male relatives more than 30 years-old was 54% and in female relatives older than 30 was 21%.

The difference in the appearance of hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia between men and women is evident but not easily explained. DHT is an androgen (male sex hormone) but is produced by both men and women. Perhaps the fact that men produce more testosterone could explain the earlier onset and more extreme symptoms.

“This could be partly true but the specifics are unknown so experts have agreed to term them differently because, although they are both hereditary forms of hair loss, the patterns are so different,” Leonora says.

Men will notice a receding hairline, the formation of a bald patch on the top of the scalp and gradual thinning on the crown that could eventually lead to baldness. Women instead notice a gradual thinning all over the scalp and a wider gap where the hair parts but very rarely experience baldness.

The good news is that hair loss is preventable and, contrary to popular belief, androgenetic alopecia is partially reversible. It has been extensively proven that finasteride, a 5-alpha-reducatase inhibitor, reduces DHT levels in the scalp by up to 70 percent. Propecia (containing finasteride), was approved by the FDA for the treatment of male pattern baldness in 1997 after years of controlled clinical studies proved it prevented the progression hair loss in most men and generated regrowth in about two-thirds of men. Unfortunately Propecia is not safe for women but there are other options.

Minoxidil is another FDA-approved medical treatment for hair loss for both men and women. It was originally licensed as an oral drug to treat hypertension but it soon became apparent that a high proportion of those taking minoxidil had increased hair growth on the scalp. Minoxidil was approved by the FDA for topical use in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in 1986 but the mechanism of its action on hair growth is still unknown. Some evidence suggests it’s the stimulation of the hair follicle and opening up of potassium channels, however the rapid response of hair growth to minoxidil firmly suggests that it is a stimulator or promoter of hair growth.

The Belgravia Centre deals extensively with both male and female pattern hair loss and prescribe individual treatment course programs which are fully recognised by doctors and other medical specialists and based solidly on FDA-approved, clinically and scientifically proven hair loss treatments.

“These treatments work because the major contributing factor – DHT – is being dealt with,” Leonora says. “Propecia is one type of anti-androgen, meaning it blocks DHT, but there are other anti-androgens that can be combined with minoxidil and used by women.”

Like finasteride, medroxyprogesterone (MPG) and azelaic acid (AA) can also help to prevent DHT from interfering with the hair follicles function, effectively complementing minoxidil’s reaction with the follicles and adding to the response that is achieved. When MPG or AA is added to minoxidil it becomes a prescription-only treatment but in many cases minoxidil is sold without these ingredients.

The most effective treatment for male pattern baldness usually involves a combination of Propecia and minoxidil. The additive effect can be attributed to the different mechanisms of action of each treatment. The Belgravia Centre’s trichologists have found that the degree of success will often depend on the strength of minoxidil used and the complementing treatments that accompany the medication. Find out more about THE MOST EFFECTIVE COMBINATION OF TREATMENTS FOR HAIR LOSS.

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Hair Loss – Know the Type, Get the Treatment

Hair loss is more dynamic than you might think. There’s no 100 percent guaranteed hair loss treatment because it is a condition that can be inherited, brought on by stress, the result of wearing tight ponytails or can be the side effect of another condition entirely. There is no singular cause for hair loss but if you know what type of hair loss you have, you just may be able to do something about it.

The First Step

You don’t just wake up one morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself ‘Where did all my hair go?’ Hair loss is usually a progressive condition which shows early symptoms just like any other. If your hair is not as thick as it once was or you suspect you’re losing a few extra hairs a day, test yourself for hair loss.

If you’re concerned about your hair loss progressing, you should look to professional advice and arrange a consultation with a hair loss specialist, familiar with the patterns of hair loss and all hair loss conditions. They can diagnose the condition and give you informed, medical advice on the course of action you should take.

Male hair loss

For the majority of men, androgenetic alopecia (known as male pattern baldness), is the cause of hair loss. It is a hereditary condition where the hair follicles shrink as a result of a genetic sensitivity to the male hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone, a chemical offshoot of testosterone). The pattern of hair loss starts with a receding hair line, the appearance of a bald spot on the top, and as more and more of the hair follicles shrink, progresses to total baldness of the crown. For some reason the hair follicles on top of the scalp are the only ones susceptible to the adverse effects of DHT – not hairs around the sides and back.

A staggering 80 percent of men will be affected by male pattern hair loss but there is something you can do about it.

Propecia is a one-a-day tablet that blocks the formation of DHT in the scalp, inhibiting the progression of hair loss. Minoxidil is the only other proven product for hair loss and takes effect by increasing blood circulation to the hair follicles which increases nutrents delivered. And the LaserComb is the only proven device and works by energising the cells in the follicles causing increased cell division and therefore improved hair growth. They are the most effective treatments for male hair loss and are the only treatments recognised by scientific and medical bodies for this condition. They have each been subjected to years of clinical trials and studies to pass the FDA’s approval for safety and efficacy and have since helped thousands of men experiencing hair loss.

Female Hair Loss

Hair loss is also common amongst women but is not understood as well as male hair loss. Up to 50 percent of women will experience some form of hair loss in their lifetimes but there is no official figures for hereditary female pattern hair loss (also called androgenetic alopecia). Women also produce testosterone so the mechanisms for female pattern hair loss are the same as in male pattern hair loss. However, whilst two-thirds of men are affected by the time they’re 50, most women won’t experience female pattern hair loss until they reach menopause.

Propecia is not licensed for women’s use but some studies have suggested that, when taken in conjunction with contraceptive pills, it can improve hair growth but unfortunately the product has not yet been licensed for women so there is not yet an accurate indication as to whether use of Propecia would be safe or effective for women.

However, women can still do something about their hair loss – minoxidil and the LaserComb are available to both men and women.

Male and Female Hair Loss Unrelated to Genetics

There are a few other hair loss conditions which affect both men and women, however they are more common in women whose hair loss appears to be much more multi-factorial. Most hair loss conditions that are unrelated to genetics are reversible.

Traction alopecia for instance is the result of excessive pulling on the hair. Wearing dreadlocks, tight braids or ponytails can damage the hair follicle and lead to bald patches where the tension is occurring. To prevent this type of hair loss you simply need to avoid the hairstyle which is causing such aggravation. If you already have bald patches, Belgravia’s hair specialists are able to advise on treatment as well as educate you on how to care for your hair.

Alopecia areata is a bit trickier. Sudden, patchy bald spots on the scalp can cause a lot of stress but they could also be the result of stress – physical or emotional. It may seem like a vicious cycle right but something can be done. Consult a professional to discuss your concerns to try and pin-point the possible cause. Management of the casual factor is the key to treating alopecia areata. In most cases hair will grow back sporadically by itself without treatment but if after six months there has been no regrowth, consult a hair loss specialist.

Diffuse thinning and telogen effluvium are relatively common forms of female hair loss that involve increased shedding all over the scalp and can be the result of a multitude of factors. Sufferers should check their diet for adequate intake of nutrients and investigate the possibility of thyroid, haemoglobin and hormonal problems, but it could also be due to a one-off stressor such as child birth, a death in the family or surgery. If the stress was a rare occurrence the condition should correct itself. In any case a trichological diagnosis is recommended and hair loss treatments can help to minimise the damage whilst the body is dealing with the crisis.

Still Concerned?

The Belgravia Centre has been treating the above forms of hair loss for many years with a combination of FDA-approved hair loss treatments and specially formulated booster treatments. The results have proved each combination of treatment is effective in treating hair loss – see the results for yourself.

If you would like free advice and an individual diagnosis from a trichologist, call the centre on 020 7730 6666 or send an email. Alternatively, fill in an online diagnostic form to receive professional advice and treatment in your own home.

(Images courtesy of  stibbons, kaibara87 and Sebastian Fritzon, all at flickr)

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If DHT causes hair loss, why is only my scalp affected?
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Our hair is a pretty powerful indicator of our overall health. Hair loss is not simply a hereditary condition or a condition at all – it can be the symptom of a range of problems and the result of hormonal changes, poor diet and nutritional deficiencies, a variety of medications, surgery, and many medical conditions. When the body is in crisis, the hair cells can shut down to redirect energy elsewhere. One specific cause of severe hair loss is a thyroid condition.

The thyroid is an endocrine gland and responsible for producing hormones necessary for growth and proper metabolism. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the result of hormonal dysfunctions and are responsible for causing severe early onset of hair loss in both men and women of all ages, however, it is interesting to note that diseases related to the thyroid are more common in women than in men.

“Thyroid hormones are metabolised in all tissues in the body, including the hair follicle,” Dr. Elena Dimitrova at the Belgravia Centre said. “It essentially works to create energy that builds cells in the body.”

Hyperthyroidism is the result of an excessive amount of thyroid hormone in a person’s system. It occurs approximately eight to ten times more often in women than in men, with women in their twenties and thirties the most commonly affected.

“The production of more hormones, or energy, than is required is essentially wasted and can be harmful to the cells, resulting in thinning on top of the scalp,” Dr. Dimitrova said.

Hypothyroidism on the other hand is when not enough hormones are produced. Again, women develop hypothyroidism more frequently than men (15 in every thousand females compared to one in every thousand men), and it is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of thirty and sixty.

“With an underactive thyroid, people may experience a change in all body hair, diffuse thinning and the hair may become thin and brittle.”

Genetic male and female pattern hair loss occurs when dihydrotestosterone (DHT, a chemical derivative of testosterone) shrinks the hair follicles and eventually causes them to disappear completely. Because of their strong association with hormone function, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism encourage the conversion process of testosterone into DHT which accelerates hair loss in both men and women of all ages.

“Thyroid related hair loss does not make the roots disappear but they do get smaller,” Dr. Dimitrova said.

“Treatment for the thyroid condition will ultimately allow the hair to regrow naturally and gradually but sometimes minoxidil can be beneficial as a second-line treatment.

“Minoxidil is a blood circulator and hair growth stimulant so it will promote quick regrowth and minimise the damage the condition can cause to the hair.”

 Hyperthyroidism is often accompanied by apathy, depression, weight loss, and irregular heart-beats whilst hypothyroidism is often characterized by lethargy, menstrual imbalance and decreased metabolism. Ask your GP for a blood test immediately if you suspect the condition and consult a trichologist early on for advice about hair loss.

If you’re feeling concerned, contact the Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666 or email the centre to arrange a free consultation with a hair loss specialist. Early, monitored treatment can prevent severe hair loss from this condition.

(image courtesy of lepiaf.geo at flickr)

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Hypnosis may play a beneficial role in the outcome of alopecia areata according to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Hypnotherapy is a holistic form of medicine thought to improve a person’s health from the inside and out.

“Not only is hypnotherapy beneficial for those suffering from hair loss, but it can even improve the patients’ conditions both physically and mentally,” the authors of the study wrote.

The study, which included 28 participants between 15 and 66 years of age with severe alopecia areata, were given hypnotherapy sessions every two to three weeks and asked to practice self-hypnosis exercises at least twice a week. They were monitored over a six month period but during that time seven participants dropped out of the study due to lack of motivation. Along with hypnosis therapy for hair re-growth, the participants were given therapy to help reduce stress.

The results showed a significant decrease in the stress and anxiety levels of all participants however only 12 of the 21 participants showed significant improvement in hair growth. Interestingly though this included four participants who had alopecia totalis.

“Results demonstrate that hypnotic interventions may ameliorate the clinical outcome of patients with alopecia areata and may improve their psychological well-being,” the authors concluded.

Hair loss is more dynamic than you might think. Even the healthiest individual with no evidence of hair loss in the family can be subjected to the devastation it can cause.  Alopecia areata is a highly unpredictable condition but has been linked to the presence of stressful events in the period 6 months up to one year before the outbreak of the disease and appears to be more prevalent in people who are less able to deal with stress.

Alopecia areata, a condition that affects about one person in every thousand, is an organ-specific autoimmune disease which means, for one reason or another, the hair follicles come under attack by the body’s own immune system. The result is sudden, patchy hair loss on the scalp or body, usually starting with one or more, round, smooth bald patches. In extreme cases it can lead to complete baldness of the scalp (alopecia totalis) or even loss of all body hair (alopecia universalis).

Many people can identify that an increased level of stress can cause a higher chance of experiencing hair loss. For those suffering from alopecia areata, it`s a vicious cycle. Not only can the cause be due to stress, but so can the side effects. Other than the physical loss of hair, alopecia areata doesn`t affect any other part of a person`s health, but it can be socially debilitating which is enough to cause even more severe distress.

Dr. Elena Dimitrova, hair and scalp specialist at the Belgravia Centre says stress management is an important part in the treatment of alopecia areata.

“It has been proven that a couple of sessions with a psychiatrist can be beneficial in the treatment of alopecia areata. Individual therapy can help to pin-point the trigger so that problem can be addressed and the condition can hopefully be reversed,” Dr. Dimitrova said.

“Hypnosis is used to insert some other ideas because when you’re subconscious you can accept ideas you otherwise might not. Hypnosis could possibly be beneficial as part of a treatment course program.”

However, the study revealed treatment was unsuccessful in nine participants and five of the 12 successful participants experienced severe relapses in the four month to four year follow up period.

“Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. Stress compromises the autoimmune system but controlling stress may not be enough,” Dr. Drimitrova says.

“It is not harmful to try hypnosis but the main treatment for alopecia areata is steroid injections or MINOXIDIL.”

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For most women hair loss isn’t about going bald, it’s about thinning lifeless hair. There are lots of hair care products on the shelves promising to give women the volume and thickness they want but if you’re finding more hairs in your brush or running your fingers through thinner hair than you once had, it may be hair loss that you’re actually dealing with.

Hair loss is not limited to middle-aged men – look around and you’ll notice more and more women are experiencing thinning hair. In fact, up to 50 percent of women will be affected by hair loss by the age of 50 but many women don’t acknowledge it’s happening to them until it’s too late. It’s important to acknowledge female hair loss when it begins so it can be addressed early, comfortably and successfully.

Female hair loss differs from male hair loss in that it very rarely leads to baldness but rather results in overall thinning all over the scalp. Despite this difference, both male and female pattern hair loss are caused by the same thing. We think of testosterone as a male sex hormone, but women also produce it and when it comes into contact with an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase it converts to dihydrotestosterone. Hereditary hair loss is the result of a follicular sensitivity to DHT which causes genetically predisposed hair follicles to shrink and gradually, stop producing hair.

Propecia is the most effective hair loss solution as it stops the formation of DHT on the scalp but unfortunately the current formulation is not yet safe for women’s use yet as it can cause birth defects in male fetuses.  Minoxidil is the only FDA approved medication that has been clinically and scientifically proven to treat hair loss on women. It is a circulation stimulant and encourages hair regrowth often producing excellent results but the effective treatment of female hair loss requires a combined approach, since DHT-blocking Propecia is out of the question, to stop and reverse female hair loss.

Treatment results are often far superior when aided by a HairMax Laser Comb – the only FDA ’cleared’ drug-free alternative hair loss treatment clinically and scientifically proven to encourage hair growth – along with other hair loss products such as specially developed shampoos and conditioners and hair supplements. Hair Vitalics in particular is a specially formulated supplement containing a product that helps to block DHT as well as a number of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to ensure strong hair and healthy hair growth goes hand in hand with hair loss prevention.

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If you had acne, would you treat it the same way you’d treat wrinkles? Many people assume that all hair loss is the same and can therefore be treated in the same way, but this is not the case.

Most cases of male and female hair loss are the result of androgenetic alopecia, or male and female pattern baldness, which is caused by a genetic sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Unfortunately, if you carry the gene for hair loss there is not a lot you can do to prevent it occurring but you can take action as soon as you notice the telling signs to stop it developing.

Thinning hair, receding hairlines, excess shedding – these may not seem too concerning now but they are precursors to hair loss and baldness. If you ignore these warning signals and do not seek trichological advice, the condition could progress and treatment may not be as effective as it could have been in the early stages.

Propecia, minoxidil and the HairMax Laser Comb are the only treatments for hair loss that have been clinically and scientifically proven and approved by the FDA. Any of these or a combination may be prescribed to someone experiencing male or female pattern hair loss.

Male and female pattern baldness are hereditary conditions that won’t be made any worse by external factors, yet they could trigger an earlier onset. Other forms hair loss on the other hand can be the result of stress and anxiety, severe illness, physical trauma and a whole range of other factors. In some cases, if the underlying problem is addressed, lost hair may be restored without treatment.

Alopecia areata and telogen effluvium are hair loss conditions where genetics may play a role or they may not. Some people may be more prone to these conditions than others because of their genetic tendency toward hair loss, however, people without any sign of baldness in their family can and are still affected.

Alopecia areata is a relatively mysterious hair loss condition which affects one person in every thousand at some stage of their life. The cause of alopecia areata is unknown but people who have extremely stressful lives can sometimes develop the condition. It is an autoimmune disease and can be initiated when psychological or physical stresses completely disrupt the body’s immune system which makes it attack and destroy the hair follicles. Hair starts to fall out in big clumps, leaving haphazard bald patches which in turn increases the person’s stress and aggravates the hair loss condition even more.

Alopecia areata is brought on by completely different reasons than hereditary hair loss and thus must be treated differently. You should always get professional, trichological advice before getting treatment for any type of hair loss. Many doctors recommend steroid injections which involves multiple injections to the scalp. However, minoxidil 12.5% + Azelaic Acid cream has demonstrated good results for mild (patchy) forms of alopecia and is a more comfortable treatment.

Another hair loss condition brought on by physical or emotional stress is telogen effluvium. It is seen mainly in women, especially after giving birth, and is a reversible condition. A death in the family, a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or serious illness can trigger the condition which results in hair thinning which is spread over the whole scalp. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused the hair loss corrects itself, but it can takes months. Hair loss treatments can help to minimize the damage, particularly if there is a tendency toward male or female pattern baldness, whilst the body is dealing with the crisis.

There are quite a few different types of hair loss which affect men and women and it cannot be assumed that all conditions can be cured by one miracle treatment. Those who seek advice sooner rather than later and receive the best treatment available for their condition are far more likely to stop and reverse hair loss than those who don’t.

(Images courtesy of tothalvadi and Vanessa D at flickr)

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Some people believe hair restoration means painful, expensive and possibly dangerous surgery. With this grim outlook in mind, many people may let the years pass by and let the condition progress before looking into the matter more thoroughly. FDA approved hair loss treatments, surgical hair transplants and non-surgical hair replacement systems are the most accepted and effective means of hair restoration but timing is crucial in determining which method is for you.

As soon as you start to notice thinning hair, excessive shedding or a receding hairline, you’re immediate step should be to see a trichologist. If you had a skin condition you would consult a dermatologist, likewise, if you’re concerned about hair you visit a trichologist who is a specialist in hair and scalp care. They will be able to diagnose the condition properly and inform you if there’s anything other than genetics playing a role in your hair loss and advise you on what action to take.

In 80 percent of male hair loss cases and around about 40 percent of female hair loss cases, the condition is hereditary. The most likely outcome is that you will be prescribed one to three treatments. These are the only treatments for hair loss that have been clinically and scientifically proven to treat hair loss and have been approved by the FDA for efficacy and safety. Propecia, minoxidil and the laser comb are safe, economical and effective ha ir restoration methods that if prescribed in the right doses and in suitable combinations to suit each individual, will usually effectively put an end to hair loss and restore any lost hair.

If hair loss is not addressed soon enough and the hair follicles become dormant, medications may not help the condition. There are really only two other alternatives and these may prove less effective than natural hair restoration with the FDA approved treatments for hair loss, more expensive or even dangerous.

A surgical hair transplant would be the only other option of restoring your natural hair. However, the prerequisite for this procedure is that you still have some active hair follicles that produce hair. Men usually have hair remaining at the sides and back of the scalp which is where the hair would come from. With women however, the procedure can be less effective because they tend to experience general, all-over thinning rather than a predominant loss on the crown like men. So, instead of transplanting healthy hair to bald patches, women may have hair transplanted that may still eventually thin out.

In the case of complete hair loss, non-surgical hair replacement can artificially restore hair. Hair pieces have been used for centuries, not just as a hair loss treatment but for ceremonies and traditions throughout history. The quality of hair replacement has definitely come a long way and they can look completely natural but of course, if natural hair is used it will naturally come with a higher price tag. Maintenance is a big thing with hair replacement systems and you may need to tend to it just as much as you did with your original hair, if not more so. This can become an expensive endeavour.

FDA approved hair loss treatments, surgical hair transplants and non-surgical hair replacement systems are the most accepted and effective means of hair restoration. If you know there’s something you can do about hair loss, you should do something about it early. You could safely, effectively and economically stop hair loss and restore your hair and your youth. There are other options if the condition is too far gone but in any case, you should consult a hair loss specialist first to get the best advice.

You enquire about the most effective treatment combinations for hair loss you can contact The Belgravia Centre on 020 7730 6666 or MESSAGE US for a free consultation, or alternatively complete an ONLINE DIAGNOSTIC FORM for our world-wide hair loss mail-order serviice.

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Hair Transplant – The Ins and Outs

Prevention is better than a cure they say but some conditions are not yet preventable. In such cases the best thing that can be done is to treat the condition early, that is, as soon as it shows the warning signals, and keep it under control. No one goes bald overnight, hair loss is a gradual condition and it shows the symptoms long before baldness exposes itself. Thinning hair may not seem to present a great concern but it could be a red flag that warns worse is yet to come.

Thinning hair is a precursor to various hair loss conditions, namely male and female pattern hair loss, and without treatment, thinning hair can eventually lead to baldness. Thinning hair is caused by the effects of DHT on the hair follicles but can sometimes be caused by other conditions. Effectively, the hair follicle gradually shrinks so as hair sheds (and 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal), the hair that grows to replace the lost hair is thinner than the hair before it.

Thinning hair can have a different outcome for men and women. Female hair thinning conditions are usually limited to diffuse hair loss where the increased rate of hair fall results in general thinning from all over the scalp. Men’s thinning hair will generally result in baldness without treatment, although this is not always the case and depends on the severity of the condition. Although most women with genetic thinning, diffuse hair loss or telogen effluvium will experience hair loss as well as thinning hair, women will not usually reach the point of complete baldness.

Thinning hair indicates that action to combat further hair loss is required now. A trichologist will be able to give an informative diagnosis and let you know if there may be any underlying reasons for the hair loss. Sometimes, especially in women, thinning hair could be a symptom of a reversible form of hair loss. In any case, three FDA approved treatments for hair loss may be prescribed to treat the condition.

The treatments work to stop any further hair loss by blocking the formation of DHT to prevent the follicles from shrinking, increasing blood circulation to the scalp to dilate the hair follicle and allow much needed nutrients in to nourish the follicle and stimulate the follicles to accept the help they’re receiving and promote regrowth. In some cases hair supplements may be recommended. They will not prevent hair loss or make lost hair grow back but they will ensure that hair follicle receives adequate nutritional benefits to produce strong, healthy, and overall good quality hair.

Hair loss is not a condition that anyone needs to live with. If thinning hair is treated early, hair loss and baldness may well be preventable.

More information on PROVEN HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS.

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Effective Hair Loss Treatment

If you want a hair loss product that offers a 100 percent proven, money back guaranteed solution, you will find one on the internet. But if you want a hair loss treatment that works, that’s another thing entirely. Of course some hair loss treatments work but unfortunately you can’t trust them all. Some may have testimonies from satisfied customers, claims of clinical testing and cheap, enticing offers but despite all this, the fact is that a lot of of what is sold on the internet is completely useless.

Anyone can make convincing allegations about fake hair loss products and get away with it on the internet because unlike TV and print media who have to adhere to the Advertising Standards Authority, there are no strict rules and regulations regarding the advertising of such claims. There is no law that states clinical evidence is needed to verify any claims made on the internet and even if there was such a law in the UK, web sites can operate from anywhere in the world so fraudulent web sites would still get away with false advertising.

Hair loss is a problem that needs effective treatment right at the outset to get the best results possible. With hundreds of different hair loss products and remedies floating about the internet it can be hard to know what or who to trust. Remember this – only products which have been tested over many years by reputable organisations should be considered for the treatment for hair loss.

Two medications have been approved and one device has been cleared by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) for the treatment of hair loss. The organisation which is known to be one of the strictest and most thorough drug approval authorities in the world subjects anything that is brought before them not only to testing for safety but also for effectiveness. Drugs that cannot be proven to work are not allowed to be sold in pharmacies.

However this can be half the problem. A lot of hair loss sufferers would prefer to deal with the problem discreetly rather that discus the problem with a pharmacist at the counter. A confidential consultation with a trichologist at a reputable hair clinic will not only provide you with an effective hair loss treatment but with a greater understanding about the hair loss condition itself. An online diagnosis is even available for those who are not able to travel to the centre. A doctor from the UK can prescribe FDA approved medication which can be dispatched from a UK pharmacy and delivered to your door.
 
The most prescribed and most effective hair loss medication for men is Propecia which is presently being used by millions of men around the globe. It cannot be disputed that clinical trials involving thousands of men over a decade in different parts of the world have proved it to be the most effective individual treatment for male hair loss.

The other hair loss medication approved for use by the FDA is minoxidil, the most effective topical solution for hair loss. There are many alternative topical solutions marketed for hair loss but no others that are medically proven, or approved by the FDA. The results of minoxidil are maximised when combined with one or more medically proven treatments.

The HairMax Laser Comb is the most recent addition to the FDA’s approved, or cleared, treatments for hair loss. Whilst it may not be as effective at preventing baldness or stopping thinning hair, it encourages hair growth and makes the hair stronger when combined with the above treatments.

If you use a hair loss product or remedy which has not been subjected to clinical testing by the FDA there’s a good chance you are wasting your time. Supplements, vitamins and changing your diet will not reverse the effects of genetic hair loss and very rarely will it go away on its own. The sooner you act the more likely these medically proven treatments will work for you.

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