The Biology of Hair Loss
  
The average human scalp is covered by 100,000 hair follicles. If you've got all your hair, that may seem like a big number but when you start to lose it, the fate of each follicle becomes more important. What makes hair fall out? Join our two experts as they cast some light on the issue.

 

 Beyond Genetics: What Else Can Cause Hair Loss?
 
For the vast majority of people who experience hair loss, genetics is the culprit. Other causes include autoimmune disorders, side effects from medications and even high stress levels.

With every pass of the comb, it seems your hairline recedes a little farther.

Your physical appearance plays a large role in your self-image and personal confidence, a self-image and confidence that are needed in order to succeed.

There are literally dozens of reasons that cause hair loss in men and women, and even more reasons for you to want to do something about it.

Everyone says that "looks are not important" and that it's what's "inside that counts", however the reality is that we are judged every day on how we look.

Whether it's at a job interview, a first date, or a client meeting, your first impression is the foundation for the future.

Often as the hairline goes, so often does one's self confidence in both social and business situations. That's because a receding hair line doesn't just make someone look bald, but prematurely old as well, which is something most people fear.

Baldness is not always inevitable, and the amount and rate of loss can often be diminished with the correct treatment.

Hair Loss - An Introduction

A new genetic screening test could tell you if you're likely to lose your hair.

A new screening test, called hair-dx, claims to help predict men's follicle future.

It measures 2 genetic variants connected to hair loss -- the "G" variant or the "A" variant.

If you have the "G" variant, you have a 60 percent increased risk for developing advanced pattern hair loss before the age of 40.

If you have the "A"-variant, you have an 85 percent chance that you will never lose your hair.

The test costs one hundred 49 dollars -- and you can order it online or go through your doctor's office.

The HairDX genetic test for Pattern Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia) is a screening test for predicting hair loss.

The objective of the HairDX screening test, is to identify Pattern Hair Loss prior to the onset of symptoms, allowing diagnosis in an earlier or preclinical stage, so that treatment can be initiated at a time when intervention has a greater likelihood of success.

Current diagnostic of hair loss relies on visual observation of hair thinning. When hair thinning is visible you have probably lost about 50% of your hair in that area of your scalp.

More on Genetic Test for Hair Loss

The following contains general information about alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah ar-ee-AH-tah). It describes what alopecia is, its causes, and treatment options.

What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow.

This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.

In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease does not extend beyond a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss is more extensive.

Although uncommon, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia areata universalis).

What Causes Alopecia?

In alopecia areata, immune system cells called white blood cells attack the rapidly growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair.

The affected hair follicles become small and drastically slow down hair production.

Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted.

So the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair.

Scientists do not know exactly why the hair follicles undergo these changes, but they suspect that a combination of genes may predispose some people to the disease.

In those who are genetically predisposed, some type of trigger--perhaps a virus or something in the person's environment--brings on the attack against the hair follicles.

Full Information About Alopecia

One of the new thoughts regarding a cure for hair loss is inverting the body to achieve maximum blood flow to the scalp. The thinking behind this being that the scalp is the hardest place on the body for blood to reach. Like our fingertips and toes it is regarded as an extremity. The theory is that when you get the blood flowing to these extremities then the improved blood circulation will help with hair growth.

You start this programme of hair recovery by convincing yourself to adopt a positive mental attitude and telling your subconscious that you will grow your hair again, and then set a date for when you would like to achieve this hair growth by.

It is believed that hair growth will be achieved by causing optimum blood flow to the scalp. The basis of this system is a contraption that turns you upside down so that the blood rushes to your head.

One company is so convinced that standing on your head is so good for hair growth, that they have actually started producing very expensive equipment claiming that it is required to get the best out of this method.

However you could simply lean your head over the side of your head.

If you need more reasons to consider eating a balanced diet, add good hair.

Nutrition experts say that people with certain nutritional deficiencies tend to have dry, stringy and dull hair, and sometimes experience hair loss.

Fortunately, nutrition-related hair loss can be restored once the deficiency is addressed.

While male- and female-pattern baldness is considered a genetic trait, people experiencing any kind of hair loss should take the time to ensure they are getting good nutrition-for their hair health and general health.

"What you eat or do not eat can affect your hair and skin," says Doug Kalman, RD, a nutritionist with Miami Research Associates.

This is important for dieters to keep in mind, Kalman says, particularly those who choose diets that severely restrict calories or eliminate groups of food.

At least one study has shown that people on crash diets experience temporary hair loss because such diets result in poor overall nutrition.

Thus, people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are at risk of temporary hair loss, as well as many other medical conditions.

According to Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, zinc deficiencies, which are associated with hair health, may be a problem among people on low-calorie diets, especially young women.

Zinc is found in meat, eggs and seafood.

Complete article on diet and hair loss.

If you're planning to undergo a hair transplant, or you're just curious about the procedure, here's a unique chance to view the surgery as expert surgeon Michael L. Reed, MD takes you through the process step-by-step.

Watch as Dr. Reed performs a micrograft on a man suffering from male pattern baldness.

Go to full article

This article will give you some guidelines on what you should be asking regarding treatment if you go to a hair loss clinic. What to ask and what to avoid.

Should you ever decide to visit one of the various hair loss clinics for advice regarding hair loss, what will it entail, what should you do and what can you expect?

Firstly "Beware" of seductive advertising brochures. If you should get your hair back, you will not suddenly be surrounded by beautiful women as these sales brochures seem to imply !!

Another point before we start, you will never hear the words "Sorry we can't help you" they will always try to sell you something!!

All hair loss clinics exist for one reason and one reason only, to make money and the more the better. There is nothing wrong in this as that is what business is all about, making money.

However this will mean that you are not getting independent advice as clinics have to sell to survive and they want you to buy their products or services and not just get their advise and go elsewhere to buy.

The reason for a consultation is seen by the customer and the clinic as two completely different purposes. The person going to the clinic is hoping for independent advice as to how best their hair problem should be handled.

They put faith in the clinic and expect the consultant to have a lot more knowledge than them as regards to hair loss and the various cures and remedies to help prevent it.

On the other hand the clinics see anyone that enters the clinic as someone to make money from.

The reason for a consultation is for the consultant to sell you something.

Information on going for a consultation

Whether or not men admit it, hair-or lack of it-can form a big part of their self-image. Many accept hair loss as a fact of life, while others look for ways to stop or reverse the effects of balding.

There are a number of options available for hair loss, but only a few have been proven effective. Tune in as two hair specialists talk about the choices.

Full Article