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What are the common hair loss causes?

by: Richard Mitchell

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.

About the author:
Richard Mitchell is the creator of the myhairlossadvisor.com website where you can find out more about all aspects of treating premature hair loss.

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Don�t Eat the Flu!
by: Teddy Sun

Every year, there are always families that are embarrassed since all their family members come down with a serious flu bug that seems to be on �unlimited repeat� throughout the whole flu season. They really don�t know what�s wrong with them, but they complain about it all the time.

This is very true of many people, and it�s sad that they do not have the basic knowledge to prevent the flu. We often read reports that say, �Wash your hands before eating.� However, how many really obey this fundamental rule? It�s so simple and basic, yet people forget this healthy policy for themselves and their family. Once one family member gets the flu, there is a very high possibility of spreading it to the whole family. If you don�t want to complain about the flu, you should first ask yourself, �Have I become too lazy?�.

In a public place, parents often put food into their child�s mouth to make sure the child is eating well. It�s love from the parents, but it�s also the source of flu. If that parent has not cleaned his or her hands with hot water and soap before eating, bacteria stays on the hands, and that person�or their child�eats all that bacteria. Ingesting such germs is the best way to catch the flu, just as surely as if you had opened the door for the virus and said �welcome� to the flu bug. People often enjoy delicious food in a buffet restaurant. Many lick their fingers after eating on their way to making a second trip to the buffet line. If that person has the flu, then touches those public ladles, the next person in line uses that ladle and then licks their fingers��delicious!� But what happens? They get the flu! Isn�t that right?

No one wants to be in bed with the flu or make their family unhappy. Ask yourself: �Who decides whether I get the flu or not?� The answer is simple: You do!We must remember that we always have to protect ourselves as much as possible by any method. Moreover, we are not even for ourselves but also the whole members of our family if we keep that simple goal in mind. We have to prepare everything enough to face the flu seriously. At least, we have to ask ourselves "what's flu exactly?" to make sure that we know it well! Moreover, Is there the other option of protecting ourselves? Think about it.

Don�t eat the flu from now on!

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