How To Spot, Diagnose and Slow Down Hair Loss in Men and Women

In our society, a man losing his hair as he ages has long been held as one of those inevitable things in life, such as death and taxes, and that there isn't anything that can be done to stop it. Fortunately for many men, science has made advances in understanding what causes hair loss and finding effective ways to stop it and possibly even reverse it. That means that you can learn how to avoid hair loss in men, and in women as well.

Hair loss is really a common problem amongst men and women alike to varying degrees. Many women of our society are facing the same problems of hair loss and even going almost bald. The cause may differ but affects the confidence of women more in comparison to their male counterparts. For many women hair problems are not only a biological setback but affects self-esteem too.

Women tend to have less obvious hair loss patterns than men and they face non-pattern hair loss more frequently than men. Diagnosis of female hair loss should be conducted by a trained and experienced physician.

A physician would diagnoses hair loss on the basis of appearance and pattern. He would check whether what other possible hair loss causes can be ruled out. And may also go for a skin biopsy or other procedures to diagnose the medical disorders.

The most common type hair problems diagnosed in females is Androgenetic alopecia inherited. However, this is most common cause of hair problems in males as well. Androgenic alopecia in females is seen as hair thinning which means the number of hair on female head heavily reduces. Since the reason of hair loss varies individual to individual and hence proper medical help is of utmost importance.

Another common disease is a disorder known as lichen planus. This particular disease is not in itself a direct cause but it is an important trigger and often causes complications with the scalp and can lead to this problem.

The over use of hair style aids such as sponge hair rollers or curling irons may also promote traction alopecia. Traction alopecia often shows as distinct patches of hair loss in those areas where the hair and hair follicles have been put under excessive strain. The hair loss may occur anywhere on the scalp depending on the nature of the hair style or process that is causing the traction alopecia. Prolonged traction alopecia can lead to cicatrization of the new hair follicle and permanent hair loss. Avoiding the latter can help ease your hair loss problem.

Several other factors can contribute to hair loss as well: stress, lack of iron or anemia, condition of the scalp, condition of vital internal organs like the kidneys, liver, thyroid... Emotional disturbances, illness or lack of essential vitamins and other nutrients in the body may not necessarily be the root cause, but can certainly exacerbate the hair loss problem.

Scientists used to think that baldness was an inherited trait, but new research is showing that that may not be the case. We now know that an overabundance of the hormone DHT might actually play a role in hair loss. When your body has too much DHT it tends to lead to what is called Follicular miniaturization. That means the hair shaft becomes smaller and smaller over time.

Here are some things you can start doing right now. These tips will help you keep your hair and scalp healthy so you can minimize the effects of DHT and stop, or at least slow down, your hair loss:

Eating a well balanced diet will pay many dividends, not the least of which is a healthy hair. Make sure you get plenty of zinc, copper, and lean protein in your diet by eating things like: fish, leafy green vegetables and eggs. Also make sure to drink plenty of water, that will keep your body and your hair properly hydrated.

Keep your head clean. All the hair products you use on a day to day basis can build up on your scalp and prevent the hair follicles from growing properly. Thoroughly washing your scalp every day can help remove that buildup which can keep the coast clear for new hair growth.

Many natural remedies are also known to slow down or stop hair loss. These usually hamper the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Thins such as Vitamins, A, C, are good examples. Other vitamins that help to prevent hair loss in women are: other Vitamin B complex vitamins like Biotin, Inositol, Niacin and vitamin E. Minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium are also effective in preventing hair loss. Other natural products include grape seeds, and green tea... Boarage seeds also contain gamma linoleic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. The latter - a good fat - Is said to help prevent male pattern baldness. Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) – It has been used as a hair tonic for centuries. It supposedly stimulates new hair growth and revives hair color.

The other option that many people chose is hair loss products. Although there are only a few products available worldwide which have been conclusively proven to combat hair loss. They are Aminexil, Alopesan 400, Maxilène, Minoxidil and Finasteride. their efficiency differs from person to person, and they usually take a long time and have to be taken almost non-stop hence, it is recommended to only take them after consulting a physician, or specialist to make sure they will work for you, and above all avoid any complications.

To sum up, there are many different factors that can lead to hair loss issues. A good healthy nutrition, and avoiding unnecessary harsh treatment of your hair will help tremendously. And as I mentioned above, if you go the extra step and opt for medications, ask your doctor first.