Hair Treatments: Best Options To Help With Hair Growth
Many men and women suffer from excess hair loss. Many men are even starting to lose hair before the age of 20. This makes many young men look much older than they are. Hair loss at a young age can contribute to low self-esteem, and a lack of self confidence for those experiencing it. Embarrassing, balding, thinning hair and receding hairlines used to be something that one would just have to live with. Thankfully, with constant advancement in research, over the past few years, many hair treatments have become available for hair loss.
One of the common hair treatments for balding and thinning hair, is using a medication targeted at this condition. The two hair loss medications approved by the FDA are Finasteride and Minoxidil. Finasteride blocks the production of 5-Alpha reductase, which is an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, on the scalp. Excess DHT can disrupt regular functioning of hair follicles and is often what causes baldness in a large percentage of men. This medication takes about three months of daily use to show results and imperatively requires a regular intake to prevent re-occurrence of hair loss.
Therefore, taking this medication can be a lifelong commitment for those who would like to keep the hair it has helped them grow back. Side effects of Finasteride can include impotence and rashes. Minoxidil works in a similar way. It is a cream that is applied twice daily to the scalp. Like Finasteride, the results only last if the product is continued to be used. Once use is stopped, the hair will promptly go back to falling out again, often within a year. Minoxidil can also cause sudden weight gain, rapid heart beat, and chest pain, on rare occasions, and should be avoided by those with pre-existing heart conditions. Neither of these hair loss medications should be used by women.
One of the expensive hair treatments for balding and thinning hair, is the hair transplant procedure. This must be performed only by a qualified professional. This treatment involves taking very small plugs of hair from existing, fuller areas of your scalp, and moving them to the bald or thinning areas. This technique is suitable for men and women.
A typical hair transplant procedure normally takes several sessions. What surprises many, is that after the hair transplant procedure is performed, the transplanted hair actually falls out. This is expected and a normal part of the process. Once this transplanted hair falls out, new hair regrows, typically within three months. After this phase of hair loss and regrowth, the patient will continue to have the full head of hair they wanted. A downfall to this procedure is that it involves much pain and swelling over the scalp area. This pain and swelling usually subsides within a few weeks. This procedure requires many areas of the scalp to be cut, and sutured back up, so it is not for the faint of heart.
Laser treatment is one of the newest hair treatments for hair loss sufferers. This laser therapy involves applying low-level laser rays directly to the scalp. This process is said to stimulate red blood cell production in the scalp, and cause an increase in hair thickness and growth. Unfortunately, the benefits of this treatment are highly debated among physicians.
Home Remedies For Hair Growth: 4 Tips You Can Use Today
We live in a society that has bombarded us with the idea that any unwanted medical condition needs to be seen by a doctor and needs a chemical to treat it. This is especially true with unwanted hair loss. Many chemical hair loss products are out there, but many all natural home remedies for hair growth exist that produce equal, if not better hair-growth effects. These all natural products are also much less expensive, and do not require embarrassing doctor’s visits.
What is one of the most effective home remedies for hair growth?
One of the best home remedies for hair growth is also one of the simplest. Simply increase your consumption of Biotin, which is a vitamin in the B vitamin family. This vitamin has been proven to increase overall hair health for everyone. Few know that biotin deficiency is actually a very common cause of hair loss. This vitamin is available at any drug store or health food store. The recommended dosage of Biotin to help with hair loss is 5000mcg to 7500mcg per day. This dosage should preferably be split and half of it taken twice a day. This will help to keep a steady stream of biotin in your system.
Herbal Saw Palmetto tablets are one of the most popular natural remedies to promote healthy hair. Saw palmetto has often been called “nature’s propecia”, because it works by using a similar effect. Propecia is a common chemical treatment for hair loss. Saw palmetto is most effective on androgenic alopecia, which is the technical name for male- and female-pattern baldness. This herbal remedy for baldness works by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, in the scalp. Excess DHT in the scalp is commonly believed to be what causes many cases of hair loss.
Can hair oil be one of simplest home remedies for hair growth?
Grape seed oil offers a great topical treatment to maintain healthy hair and is another one of the simple yet effective home remedies for hair growth. It has been said that massaging a bit of this oil into the scalp for five minutes before bed can stimulate hair growth. This oil should not be washed off after the massage, but left on all night. Use just a bit, and it will not lead to a greasy pillow. The scalp should absorb most of it. This has not been clinically proven to work, but there are many anecdotal reports of hair regrowth after the grape seed oil was used nightly for several months. It is worth a shot to try, for there is no harmful side effects and you at least get a nice scalp massage out of it.
Another oil that can be massaged into the scalp for hair growth is mustard oil. This is one of the home remedies for hair growth used and trusted by many in India. The Indians also believe in rubbing the scalp morning and evening with an onion that has been cut in half. They say that the scalp should be rubbed until it is red. They then follow up with a rub of soothing honey to soothe the irritated scalp. If you are not looking for a sticky head, simply follow up with a soothing moisturizing lotion.
Prenatal Vitamins for Hair Growth
Hair loss is a problem that affects both men and women. Statistics have shown that 6 out of ten women and over 8 out of ten men will have experienced hair loss in their lifetime. Bald or thinning hair can be acceptable for men, and although rare, can be very difficult to accept for women.
A woman who loses her hair often may feel less confident about their natural feminine appearance. Fortunately, there are prenatal vitamins for hair growth to aid nursing women.
Women are often advised to take prenatal vitamins for hair growth during pregnancy to keep themselves and the baby healthy. Most women who are pregnant notice that their hair grows much faster than normal due to hormonal changes and ongoing use of prenatal vitamins. That is why many women who are not pregnant also choose to take prenatal vitamins.
The nutrients that help keep mother and baby healthy are the same nutrients that promote healthy, growing hair. Prenatal Vitamins for hair growth contain Vitamin A, Zinc, Calcium and Iron. Many women who suffer from hair loss are deficient in Vitamin A. Health researchers have found that low levels of Vitamin A can cause the hair to become too dry and that can lead to breakage. Prenatal Vitamins contain the essential Vitamin A that helps prevent the hair from becoming too dry.
Health researchers have done many studies on animals and have found that low levels of Zinc is linked to hair loss, while higher levels help promote hair growth. Zinc also helps reverse the scalp problems that can cause the hair to thin. Many women know that Calcium is a nutrient that is needed for strong bones, but it is also needed for strong hair. Calcium helps the body make a nutrient called Keratin, which is the protein that the hair is made up of.
Iron is one of the key nutrients in prenatal vitamins that helps promote hair growth. Health care professionals have found that many women are deficient in this nutrient and that can lead to hair loss. Taking prenatal vitamins helps a woman get the recommended amount of iron.
Hair loss is a problem experienced by over 60% of women worldwide, but fortunately it can be reversed by taking prenatal vitamins for hair growth.There is no virtually no risk associated with taking prenatal vitamins when not pregnant. However, women should consult with their doctors before doing so to ensure optimal safety and avoid possible side effects.
