Why Hair Loss Is More Common In Men, And What You Can Do About It

Men experience hair loss at nearly twice the rate as women, but why?

Ask most women how they feel about their hair and they’ll most likely tell you about how important it is to them — it is, after all, a reflection of their identity. Men may not say it as often, or care as much about long, silky curls, but their hair is just as much a reflection of their identity too. So losing it can be devastating. So devastating that 62 percent of men involved in a 2005 European study said hair loss would affect their self-esteem, with the biggest concern being they’d lose whatever attractiveness they had. Unfortunately, hair loss, and eventual baldness, is far more common in men than women. But why?

Both men and women can experience hair loss, the most common of which is called male or female pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. Hair loss is much different than hair shedding (telogen effluvium) too, which can occur in just about everyone at some point or another when the body goes through something traumatic, such as a stressful event. Eventually the hair will grow back, though. With hair loss, this isn’t the case; it’s permanent, affecting as many as 70 percent of men and 40 percent of women in their lifetimes. For this reason, we’ll focus on androgenetic alopecia 

You may have gotten some idea of the cause from its name. Though there are a variety of environmental factors that may also play into a person’s risk, androgenetic alopecia is widely believed to be a genetically inherited condition as it “tends to cluster in families,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, variations in the so-called AR gene may increase activity of androgen receptors in the hair follicles, which respond to androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. DHT shrinks hair follicles though, making it difficult for healthy hair to live. And because it’s constantly being made in testosterone-filled men, it’s far more likely to affect them than women 

Because all of our hormones are raging during puberty, androgenetic alopecia can begin as early as a person’s teens, and risk increases with age. By age 35, approximately two-thirds of men will have lost at least a little hair, and by 50, about 85 percent have said goodbye or experienced hair thinning, according to the American Hair Loss Association. In women, the condition can also develop early but usually occurs after menopause — this effect isn’t caused by higher testosterone levels, but rather a sharp drop in other hormone levels. And while men typically lose their hair in a defined pattern — think a widow’s peak and a bald crown — women lose hair and experience thinning all over, although they never fully go bald 

Though it may seem like there’s no stopping hair loss — because there really isn’t — there are ways to prevent it or slow it down. Here are four: 

·Avoid inflaming the hair follicles. While cornrows and other hairstyles that pull the hair tight may look good, they can inflame and scar the hair follicles, which ultimately kills healthy hair. In people predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, these types of hairstyles are especially risky. Incorrectly applying chemicals to the hair, such as dyes, bleaches, and straighteners can also cause damage. 

Get some FDA-approved medications. You’ve probably heard of Rogaine (minoxidil) before. While some people may not believe it works, the drug can certainly prevent hair loss, and sometimes restore hair growth too — most people just don’t know how to use it. The trick, according to Men’s Health, is to use it at least twice a day for six months. Some people may shed hair initially, but eventually it will work. Propecia, a prescription drug, blocks testosterone from turning into DHT, thus preventing hair loss. 

Change your diet. Hair needs proper nutrition to grow healthy — you are what you eat after all. Make sure there’s a good amount of iron, zinc, vitamin D, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and biotin in your diet. Also skip out on the fatty fried foods and desserts; oil from the fried food might turn testosterone into DHT faster through heightened oil-gland activity, while the sugar from desserts increases insulin levels, triggering the release of testosterone. 

Get surgery. A few surgeries exist, but according to Men’s Health, more men are choosing one called follicular unit extraction (FUE) because it’s less invasive than other techniques. It involves grafting hair follicle groups from a donor area on the person’s scalp and then transplanting them to the balding area. “It’s a shorter, less painful recovery, and completely eliminates linear scarring along the back of the head,” Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair-loss specialist in Florida, told Men’s Health.  

Bauman said 50 percent of hair loss can occur before it’s even noticeable to the human eye. This means taking preventive steps is all the more important in reducing risk of hair loss. 


crdt:http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-hair-loss-more-common-men-and-what-you-can-do-about-it-338546 

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Hair loss explained: How and why men go bald

Some men develop noticeable bitemporal recession (a receding hairline) and this may precede hair loss elsewhere on the scalp by many years

All men lose hair progressively as they grow older.  For some the loss is barely noticeable.  For others it is obvious, and when hair loss is severe or occurs at a young age can be very distressing.

The hallmark of male pattern balding is that hair loss progresses in a distinctive and highly reproducible pattern.  While this sounds straightforward, in fact there are three main areas of scalp that lose hair preferentially, and the relative loss in each of these areas produces variations in the pattern of progression of the hair loss. These are:

1.  Hair loss in the temple starts at the anterior hairline and moves backwards.  It occurs to some degree in all boys as they transition from adolescence to manhood.  Fewer than 5% of adult males retain the straight anterior hairline seen in young boys. Generally the loss in this area is mild.  Some men develop noticeable bitemporal recession and this may precede hair loss elsewhere on the scalp by many years. 

2. Hair loss on the crown starts around the whorl (at the back of the head), and spreads outwards in all directions to produce a circular baldness.  A second, smaller focus of balding occurs at the 6 o’clock border in some men

3.  General diffuse thinning over the mid-frontal scalp (at the top of the head) is often first noticed as widening of the central part-line.  This pattern is most prominent in Asian men.  It is also the hallmark of female pattern hair loss - the female equivalent of male pattern that affects over 75% of women as they age.

One fascinating aspect of this is the way the hair loss spreads from hair follicle to hair follicle without skipping over areas.  The effect is that the bitemporal recession produces a slowly expanding triangle of hair loss over each temple, without sparing any of the follicles within the affected zone.  The same occurs over the vertex.  No individual hairs are spared 

While this observation might lead one to speculate on a hair loss chemical moving from one damaged follicle onto the next, no such chemical has ever been identified. 

Even more baffling is the observation that when hairs adjacent to an enlarging bald patch are transplanted to a different part of the body they still miniaturize on schedule as if they were still growing the scalp.  This pretty much rules out a diffusible chemical and suggests the process of hair miniaturization that shrinks the hairs to fluff is already programmed into the hair follicle DNA.

In addition to the obvious pattern of hair loss that we are all accustomed to seeing, we discovered a second, invisible pattern of hair loss that produces the hair thinning that precedes the balding.

Hair on the scalp is different to hair elsewhere on the body.  It grows in follicular units that produce tufts of between 2 and 5 hairs that emerge from a single pore. Each follicular unit has a primary hair that is present at or shortly after birth. Secondary hairs develop around the age of 2-3.  This is why hair in babies is fine and light and downy, but becomes thick and bushy by school time.

When androgenetic alopecia first starts it preferentially shrinks the secondary hairs, so that the follicular units on the affected scalp only produce one terminal hair rather than a tuft of hairs.  It is only when the primary hair - the last remaining fibre form the tuft disappears that bald scalp emerges.

Overall hair volume can reduce by 50% without any visible bald spot.  Women tend to notice that their ponytail thickness is reduced or that their hair shedding had increased long before baldness becomes apparent.  As men tend to have shorter hair and might be less observant, they may not notice the hair loss until an actual bald spot has developed.  A sunburnt scalp is the first clue they are going bald for some men.

The factors that control these two patterns of hair loss progression appear to be hereditary in that identical twins generally lose their hair at the same age, the same rate and in the same pattern.  Genetic and epigenetic factors seem to be involved in this.  The actual mechanics of these factors produce hair loss are still yet to be worked out, but this has not stopped doctors working the pattern of patterned hair loss to their patients advantage.

The flip side of having scalp regions that lose hair preferentially is that there are also scalp regions that do not lose hair – namely the back of the head (or occipital scalp).  Knowing that hairs can be shifted around the scalp while retaining their pre-programmed preference to bald or not to bald is the basis of hair transplantation surgery.  Many thousands of men and women around the world have been able to conceal their baldness by borrowing hairs from the back of their head to fill in gaps on the front.



crdt::http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/hair-loss-receding-hairline-baldness-causes-10472942.html

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Female Hair Loss: Thinning Hair

30 million American women are seeing scalp, and it's often a symptom of a serious illness

 Stylists always gushed, "Wow, you've got a lot of hair." I took my lush mane for granted, perming, straightening, and bleaching my way through my teens. But during my sophomore year of college, as I found myself pulling more and more tangles out of my brush and strands from the shower drain, the compliments stopped and the worry began. I jealously examined the girl next to me on the subway — why couldn't I see through to the roots on her scalp, too? Once a sheet of shiny darkness, my hair had taken on an alarmingly transparent quality. I spent hours every week staring at my scalp in the mirror, parting and reparting my hair to see which side looked fuller. I drenched my head with volumizing sprays, detoxifying tonics, and shampoos for "weakened hair." Remedies were thick on the ground — but my hair kept getting thinner. I was molting. And I was scared.

Like a peacock's brilliant feathers, hair is a secondary sexual characteristic, explains London trichologist Dr. Philip Kingsley. "You don't need it to keep you either warm or cool, so its primary function is to increase attractiveness." We live in a culture of hair, coveting Victoria's Secret supermodels' voluptuous waves as much as their curves. So closely linked are sex appeal and self-esteem that a 2004 Rogaine survey of more than 500 women across the U.S. revealed that 24 percent equated losing their hair to losing a limb. Since 30 million women in America — roughly one in four — have thinning hair, there's a serious portion of the population at risk for an emotional crisis.

When I brought up my hair issue at an annual physical, my doctor tested me for lupus. Fortunately, the tests came back negative. Then I was told that since I wasn't completely bald, I really didn't have a problem. So I began to wonder if it was all in my head. When my boyfriend ran his fingers through my hair, all I could think of was whether I was losing strands. Did this gross him out? Or more importantly, was a lot coming out? Needless to say, that relationship didn't last long, lacking trust and the basic belief that he could find me attractive in this condition. I didn't dare ask my friends for a second opinion, because I didn't want them to scrutinize my scalp. After another frustrating physical (with no answers), I consulted my dermatologist, Dr. Fredric Brandt. Instead of dismissing my concerns as mere vanity, he immediately wrote up requests for endocrine blood tests, which prompted my general practitioner to finally cave and grant me a specialist referral.

There are many causes of shedding, from stress to chemotherapy, but 90 percent of hair loss is genetic and needs to be treated with medication. It can also be a sign of a thyroid disorder, says my endocrinologist, Dr. Emilia Liao, who diagnosed me with mild hypothyroidism. "It's a good thing you came in when you did," she told me on my first visit. "It gets more complicated — and possibly dangerous — the older you get, especially if you want to have a baby." Apparently, hair loss during pregnancy is a big red flag. "One out of 50 women is diagnosed with hypothyroidism while pregnant — it's still the most common cause of mental retardation in children," says Liao.

The average age for women dealing with thinning hair is 25 to 35 — that it's just another "gift" of menopause is a myth. Also, we can't simply blame our mothers, as previously believed — if there's baldness anywhere in your family tree, you're at risk. Unlike male-pattern baldness, where patches of hair fall out over time, female hair loss means a reduction in hair volume, making transplantation extremely difficult. "The total number of hairs doesn't always decrease, but the diameter of each strand shrinks," says Kingsley. And too-thin hairs won't grow past a certain length — which explains the baby fuzz around my hairline.

How to Add Volume to Flat Hair  

The key to successful regrowth? First, admit you have a problem. Each day you dwell in denial, you're losing precious time. The more hair you've lost, the less likely it is to all grow back. Telltale signs, like a wider part or a smaller ponytail, don't show up until you've lost nearly half your hair! Seek out trichologists and dermatologists or endocrinologists who specialize in hair problems

The key to successful regrowth? First, admit you have a problem. Each day you dwell in denial, you're losing precious time. The more hair you've lost, the less likely it is to all grow back. Telltale signs, like a wider part or a smaller ponytail, don't show up until you've lost nearly half your hair! Seek out trichologists and dermatologists or endocrinologists who specialize in hair problems admits.

As for me, thanks to two years of regular treatment, I've finally reached the phase where regrowth is thicker every day. But the process has been arduous and pricey: Rogaine requires diligent use and $30 a month for the rest of my life. And some of my hormone-regulating prescriptions — like Avodart, which I credit most for my good results and which costs more than $200 a month — are not covered because if you take them while pregnant, they can harm the fetus's development. But I continue with my regimen because, for me, the risk is worth the remedy — I'm not planning on pregnancy for a long, long time anyway. I also figure it'll be a lot easier to find a potential father with my full head of hair.

THINK BIG

When it comes to hair, thin is never in. Thicken up with these hair helpers:

1. Kérastase Nutrients Densitive Daily Anti-Hair Thinning, Anti-Hair Loss Dietary Supplement

2. Nick Chavez Plump 'N Thick Leave-In Thickening Crème Conditioner

3. Shu Uemura Fiber Lift Protective Volumizer

4. Men's Rogaine Foam (many derms recommend it for women, too)

5. L'Oréal Professionnel Age Densiforce Shampoo

6. Philip Kingsley Scalp Tonic

crdt:http://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/hair/a1101/thinning-hair/

 

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Why is my hair falling out? 8 major causes of hair loss in women

Losing your hair can be a stressful and traumatic thing to happen, whatever your age. But why does it happen? We look at the major reasons. 

Hair loss – something that affects men and very few women, right?
While it’s true that more men do experience hair loss, especially as they age, the condition is becoming a more common issue among women too.
Noticeably thinning hair or losing it altogether can be a particularly traumatic and depressing experience for women.
Jason Welch, Co-Founder & Technical Director at Eleven Hair, the flagship salon group for JOICO, said: “We see and treat a number of women who suffer from hair loss and this can be a very traumatic process, especially as it often occurs at the stages of life when women can be feeling vulnerable/not themselves, such as right after pregnancy and during the menopause.
“Hair loss can majorly affect a woman’s confidence and self-esteem and in turn, it really does have a negative impact on their lives. We all know when you look good you feel good and exude confidence in all aspects of your life.
“Hair loss and thinning hair is a very serious issue which is thankfully, now addressed.”
As the number of women experiencing hair loss continues to rise, more and more hair care research is being dedicated to discovering the factors that can contribute towards it.
Here, Cliniscalp, JOICO’s botanical thinning hair solution, has identified eight of the key causes of hair loss in women.
Genetics
A genetic predisposition of hormonal balances and imbalances, along with the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are the lead causes of hair loss. Contrary to popular belief, genetic predisposition to hair loss can be inherited by either your mother or your father’s side of the family.
Stress and trauma
Stress produces increased levels of testosterone, which converts to DHT and interrupts the hair growth cycle. Stress and trauma can also constrict the blood supply to the capillaries, causing a lack of oxygen and nutrient uptake, as well as poor vitamin and nutrient absorption of the hair follicles.
Nutrition and diet
Poor nutrition, rapid weight loss, a high consumption of animal fats and deficiencies in biotin, iron, protein and zinc can reduce vital amino acid and vitamin absorption needed for hair growth.
Health
Thyroid diseases, as well as the side effects of the medications used to treat these diseases, are the most common health-related causes of hair loss.
Medication
Everything from birth control to steroids, as well as many blood pressure, diabetic and heart disease and acne medications can cause temporary or permanent hair loss.
Environment
Environmental pollutants in the air and water, as well as exposure to chlorine, metals and minerals, can lead to hormonal imbalances that can contribute to hair loss. UV exposure and free radicals can also prematurely age the scalp cells and damage the hair shaft.
Life changes
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to temporary hair loss that can last from six months to up to a year after childbirth. Menopausal women can also experience hair loss due to hormonal shifts.

Ageing
Unfortunately, as we age, our follicles can deteriorate and cause hair loss.


crdt:http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/why-is-my-hair-falling-out-8-major-causes-of-hair-loss-in-women-11363954244077

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8 Homemade Hair Treatments

               

Make an all-natural remedy designed especially for your hair type

Eggs, yogurt and honey are, at first glance, all components of a tasty breakfast—but they also happen to be hair treatment ingredients, and affordable, all-natural ones at that. And they're not the only ones. Did you know, for instance, that the oils in avocados more closely resemble our own skin's oils than any product in the beauty aisle does? Or that the mild acidity in lemon is an effective—and gentler—alternative to chemical-laden products? Next time your locks need a lift, save money by using one of these kitchen fixes.
For All Hair Types

"The [raw] egg is really the best of all worlds," says Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home. The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils, she explains.
To Use: For normal hair, use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize dry, brittle hair, Cox says. Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn't enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from "cooking") and shampoo hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks...
                               For Dull Hair

Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film that both saps moisture and dulls shine—but dairy products like sour cream and plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. "Lactic acid gently strips away dirt while the milk fat moisturizes," says Lisa Belkin, author of The Cosmetics Cookbook.
To Use: Massage 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other week...
           For Itchy Scalp

To fight flakes—brought on by poor diet, stress and climate, among other factors—try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. "The acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin, while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head," says Cox...
To Use: Mix 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week..
For Dry or Sun-Damaged Hair

 Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon—hard water, sun overexposure, your trusty flat iron—nature's sweetener can help. "Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture," says Cox..To Use: Massage approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application. For extremely sun-damaged hair, trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a protein-rich ingredient, like avocado or egg yolk, which will help replenish the keratin protein bonds that UV rays attack. Treatment can be applied once a month...
For Oily or Greasy Hair

"Used properly, [cornmeal or cornstarch] is an inexpensive way to remove oil and grease," says Belkin.
To Use: Pour 1 Tbsp cornmeal or cornstarch into an empty salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you've used it all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out. Treatment can be applied every other day

For Frizzy Hair

Home beauty experts swear by avocado—and not just to repair damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair, explains Cox.
To Use: Mash up half an avocado and massage into clean, damp hair. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Amp up moisturizing power by combining mashed avocado with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a hydrating ingredient, like sour cream, egg yolks or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two weeks..
For Residue-Ridden Hair

"Nothing eats through product buildup like baking soda," Cox says. Sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks down anything acidic.
To Use: Mix 1 to 2 Tbsp baking soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.... 

crdt:http://www.womansday.com/style/beauty/advice/a1853/8-homemade-hair-treatments-110251/

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6 solutions for hair loss

Every day, we each lose about 50 to 100 hairs, which is totally normal. But when you start to notice thinning, bald patches, or even clumps of hair falling out, man or woman, you start to worry.
Hair loss isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Experts agree, although it may be genetic, hair loss can also be sign that something in the body is imbalanced.

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Find out how to uncover the real cause of hair loss and learn which remedies can help.


1. Get your hormones checked.
Androgenetic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness, is the most common type of hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it affects about 80 million people.
And oftentimes, the culprit lies with the hormones, specifically dihydrotestosterone or DHT.
“Testosterone gets metabolized into estrogen but it can also go another pathway into DHT,” said Dr. Mark Carney, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist and nutrition expert at Thriveology in Denver, Colo.
Some people have a genetic predisposition to this “hormone hijacking,” but it can also be due to diet, lifestyle and environment. A simple blood test can determine your hormone levels and their pathways. Then by working with your physician, you can make changes and find natural ways to help hair grow.

2. Look for other root causes.

“Fully understanding everything that is awry is very important at the onset because hair cannot regrow unless the environment is perfect,” said Dr. Shani F. Francis, a board- certified dermatologist and director of the Hair Disorders Center of Excellence at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois.
Anemia, insulin resistance, thyroid problems, an autoimmune disease like alopecia areata, and stress can all cause hair loss. It may even signal what’s known in Chinese medicine as a kidney yin and blood deficiency.
“Different organ systems manifest in different parts of the body and it’s the kidneys that manifests on the hair on our head,” Carney said.
Chinese herbs, acupuncture and foods like goji berries can build up yin in the body and restore balance.

3. Stop over-styling.

If you’re constantly touching up your dark roots, or fighting with your super curly hair to be stick straight, you could actually be causing breakage. Since the hair is breaking faster than it’s growing, it looks like you’re losing it.
“If all of these treatments and styling preferences don’t enhance your natural hair, then in some regards, they can be destructive,” Francis said.

4. Medications may help.

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved treatment for hair loss but it has to be used consistently for it to be effective. Also, it takes four to six months to see any improvement and up to a year to get the full benefit, Francis said.
Finasteride, also known by the brand name Propecia, is a pill that’s FDA-approved but only for men. Although effective, there is a risk for heart problems, increased heart rate, edema, headaches, and weight gain.

5. Try laser hair therapy.

Low-level laser light brushes, combs and other devices which are FDA-cleared for both men and women are available without a prescription. Although it’s not clear how the devices work, it’s thought to “stimulate the hair follicles’ energy cells to be more active,” Francis said. They’re also foolproof, telling you when and how far to move the device and they even automatically shut off.

6. Consider hair transplant surgery.

The hair follicles that are thinning are actually still in the scalp, but they’re sleeping.
“Transplantation can take the follicles that are not resting and transplant them into an area where the follicles are,” Francis said.
Yet instead of opting for surgery at the first sign of hair loss, it’s a good idea to wait until hair loss has slowed down or stopped altogether, she said.
Julie Revelant is a health journalist and a consultant who provides content marketing and copywriting services for the healthcare industry. She’s also a mom of two




creadit:::http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/06/15/6-solutions-for-hair-loss/

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Natural Solutions for Hair Loss

Shedding is never fun — just ask my vacuum cleaner. It’s even less fun when you realize the golf ball size bits of hair you’re tugging out of the roller came from your own head. Oh, the horror! As we get older (yes ladies, this is for you too) our once glorious crown of healthy hair can become brittle, or even worse, be genetically predisposed to jump ship, leaving our poor, bald heads to fend for themselves.
Below are a few secrets from Mother Nature, some preventative, and some for after the mutiny has begun.

Diet
You are what you eat – and that’s true for your hair as well. A diet containing mostly whole foods, especially the skin of plants such as cucumbers, potatoes, peppers, and even bean sprouts are rich in the mineral silica and contribute to hair strength. Foods like lean meats are high in iron and are essential to the protein-based, building blocks of hair growth.

Ginkgo Biloba - this well-known herb is believed to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the scalp area promotes hair regrowth by delivering nutrients to the hair follicles.

Green Tea – it has been shown that natural chemicals (catechins) present in green tea inhibit the Type I 5-alpha-reductase enzyme which converts testosterone into the hair-murdering DHT.  And that, in some expert opinions, could block the chain of hormonal activity initiating hair loss.

Stinging Nettle – Grandma’s secret gets a new life as modern herbalists believe drinking tea made from this plant will reduce hair loss. Much in the way the chemicals in green tea prevent testosterone from turning into DHT, stinging nettle is also said to fight that process and keep hair thick and healthy.

External
Red Pepper – used throughout the ages, this common skin irritant works to attract blood and nutrients to the scalp and also promotes the release of histamines that stimulate cell division and hair growth.

Onion - A study published in the Journal of Dermatology examined the results when onion juice was used in people with alopecia areata. Twenty-three people applied onion juice directly to the scalp twice daily for two months. Participants began to experience hair growth after just two weeks of treatment. At four weeks, hair regrowth was seen in 17 people and at six weeks, hair growth was apparent in 20 people.

creadit::http://www.care2.com/greenliving/natural-solutions-for-hair-loss.html

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Diagnosis

 Diagnosis 

Hair loss in women isn't always as straightforward as it is in most men. In men about 90 percent of all cases are caused by hereditary male pattern baldness. In women, however, hair loss can be triggered by a multitude of conditions and circumstances.
The below battery of diagnostic tests should be performed when attempting to pinpoint the hair loss trigger. These tests can at the very least eliminate the possibility of certain disorders causing your hair loss and perhaps aid in finding the actual cause. The truth of the matter is that for many patients these test usually come back with a reading of "within the normal range," but it's important to remember that the proper diagnosis of female hair loss usually starts of with the process of elimination.

Diagnostic Tests

Hormone levels (DHEAs, testosterone, androstenedione, prolactin, follicular stimulating hormone, and leutinizing hormone)
Serum iron
Serum ferritin
Total iron binding capacity (TIBC)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (T3, T4, TSH)
VDRL (a screening test for syphilis)
Complete blood count (CBC)

Scalp biopsy
 
A small section of scalp usually 4mm in diameter is removed and examined under a microscope to help determine the cause of hair loss.

Hair pull 
 
The hair pull test is a simple diagnostic test in which the physician lightly pulls a small amount of hair (approx 100 simultaneously) in order to determine if there is excessive loss. Normal range is one to three hairs per pull.

Densitometry 

The densitometer is a handheld magnification device which is used check for miniaturization of the hair shaft.

crdt:http://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/diagnosis.asp

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Causes of Hair Loss

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a derivative of the male hormone testosterone, is the enemy of hair follicles on your head. Simply put, under certain conditions DHT wants those follicles dead. This simple action is at the root of many kinds of hair loss, so we'll address it first.

Androgenetic alopecia, commonly called male or female pattern baldness, was only partially understood until the last few decades. For many years, scientists thought that androgenetic alopecia was caused by the predominance of the male sex hormone, testosterone, which women also have in trace amounts under normal conditions. While testosterone is at the core of the balding process, DHT is thought to be the main culprit.

Testosterone converts to DHT with the aid of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in a hair follicle's oil glands. Scientists now believe that it's not the amount of circulating testosterone that's the problem but the level of DHT binding to receptors in scalp follicles. DHT shrinks hair follicles, making it impossible for healthy hair to survive.
The hormonal process of testosterone converting to DHT, which then harms hair follicles, happens in both men and women. Under normal conditions, women have a minute fraction of the level of testosterone that men have, but even a lower level can cause DHT- triggered hair loss in women. And certainly when those levels rise, DHT is even more of a problem. Those levels can rise and still be within what doctors consider "normal" on a blood test, even though they are high enough to cause a problem. The levels may not rise at all and still be a problem if you have the kind of body chemistry that is overly sensitive to even its regular levels of chemicals, including hormones.

Since hormones operate in the healthiest manner when they are in a delicate balance, the androgens, as male hormones are called, do not need to be raised to trigger a problem. Their counterpart female hormones, when lowered, give an edge to these androgens, such as DHT. Such an imbalance can also cause problems, including hair loss.

Hormones are cyclical. Testosterone levels in some men drop by 10 percent each decade after thirty. Women's hormone levels decline as menopause approaches and drop sharply during menopause and beyond. The cyclic nature of both our hair and hormones is one reason hair loss can increase in the short term even when you are experiencing a long-term slowdown of hair loss (and a long-term increase in hair growth) while on a treatment that controls hair loss.
The following are the most common causes of women’s hair loss:

Andogenetic Alopecia
 
The majority of women with androgenic alopecia have diffuse thinning on all areas of the scalp. Men on the other hand, rarely have diffuse thinning but instead have more distinct patterns of baldness. Some women may have a combination of two pattern types. Androgenic alopecia in women is due to the action of androgens, male hormones that are typically present in only small amounts. Androgenic alopecia can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including, ovarian cysts, the taking of high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause. Just like in men the hormone DHT appears to be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization of hair follicles in women suffering with female pattern baldness. Heredity plays a major factor in the disease.

Telogen Effluvium 

When your body goes through something traumatic like child birth, malnutrition, a severe infection, major surgery, or extreme stress, many of the 90 percent or so of the hair in the anagen (growing) phase or catagen (resting) phase can shift all at once into the shedding (telogen) phase. About 6 weeks to three month after the stressful event is usually when the phenomenon called telogen effluvium can begin. It is possible to lose handful of hair at time when in full-blown telogen effluvium. For most who suffer with TE complete remission is probable as long as severely stressful events can be avoided. For some women however, telogen effluvium is a mysterious chronic disorder and can persist for months or even years without any true understanding of any triggering factors or stressors.

Anagen Effluvium 

Anagen effluvium occurs after any insult to the hair follicle that impairs its mitotic or metabolic activity. This hair loss is commonly associated with chemotherapy. Since chemotherapy targets your body’s rapidly dividing cancer cells, your body’s other rapidly dividing cells such as hair follicles in the growing (anagen) phase, are also greatly affected. Soon after chemotherapy begins approximately 90 percent or more of the hairs can fall out while still in the anagen phase.
The characteristic finding in anagen effluvium is the tapered fracture of the hair shafts. The hair shaft narrows as a result of damage to the matrix. Eventually, the shaft fractures at the site of narrowing and causes the loss of hair.

Traction alopecia
 
This condition is caused by localized trauma to the hair follicles from tight hairstyles that pull at hair over time. If the condition is detected early enough, the hair will regrow. Braiding, cornrows, tight ponytails, and extensions are the most common styling causes.



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Women Hair Loss

 Hair loss

Hair loss can be temporary or long lasting. Temporary hair loss can be easy to fix when its cause is identified and dealt with, or difficult when it is not immediately clear what the cause is. Hair loss that could possibly have been temporary, may become long lasting as a result of an incorrect diagnosis. The potential for such misdiagnoses is perhaps the most frustrating aspect of hair loss for women. The information in this section will help you identify the cause of your hair loss and ideally lead you and your doctors to the right treatments for your particular kind of hair loss, sooner, rather than later.

Alopecia is the medical term for excessive or abnormal hair loss. There are different kinds of alopecia. What all hair loss has in common, whether it's in men or women, is that it is always a symptom of something else that's gone wrong in your body. Your hair will remain on your head where it belongs if hormone imbalance, disease, or some other condition is not occurring. That condition may be as simple as having a gene that makes you susceptible to male or female pattern baldness or one of the forms of alopecia areata, or it may be as complex as a whole host of diseases. Fortunately, hair loss may also be a symptom of a short-term event such as stress, pregnancy, and the taking of certain medications. In these situations, hair will often (though not always) grow back when the event has passed. Substances, including hormones, medications, and diseases can cause a change in hair growth, shedding phases and in their durations. When this happens, synchronous growth and shedding occur. Once the cause is dealt with, many times hairs will go back to their random pattern of growth and shedding, and the hair loss problem stops. Unfortuantely, for some women, hair loss becomes a life long struggle.




creadit:http://www.americanhairloss.org/women_hair_loss/types_of_women_hair_loss.asp

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