Thursday, January 31, 2008

Best Products For Hair Loss



Best Products for Hair Loss:

My Sink is Full of Hair – Quick Give Me Something!!


Heredity, hormones, stress, diet, illness and poor hair care; all are factors in hair loss. Stress, diet and illness are more temporary conditions and usually the hair loss is reversed when the anxiety-producing conditions dissipate, when the diet is improved, when hair care improves and when an illness is cured or gotten under control.

Heredity and hormones are much different matters, however. Heredity is unfortunately an irreversible condition. You are a product of your parents, and hair loss is very often inherited. Hormones are very tricky, hidden things, however, and they have different effects on every individual. In a male, testosterone abides abundantly.

There are also enzymes working on testosterone which product a substance called DHT. DHT is now known to circulate in the blood and cause other conditions, one of which is the shrinking of hair follicles. When hair follicles shrink enough, they are unable to produce and push a new hair through. As old hair dies, it is then not replaced.

In women, hormonal imbalances can also be a cause hair loss. Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause all cause significant hormonal change and imbalances with both physical and mental effects.

These changes can also sometimes cause hair loss, both temporary and permanent. Hair loss and re-growth products have been around for many centuries. In ancient times, a large variety of herbal and oil-based remedies were concocted and used by Egyptians, Aztecs, Mayans, and American Indians, all with a fair degree of effectiveness for some people.
Modern medical research has focused on ways to re-open and stimulate “dead” hair follicles, so that hair growth can re-occur naturally, as well as keep the healthy follicles healthy. Thus a number of hair products have become available, both by prescription and over the counter.

They are advertised on radio, television and all over the Internet. You only need do a internet search on hair loss and there are literally thousands of sites and products for one to check out.

One ingredient in many hair loss products is minoxidil.

Research studies have shown that in about 85% of the participants, products containing this ingredient are effective in slowing hair loss and in some people, causing regrowth to occur. Probably the most well known is Rogaine, available at most any drug store, in varieties for both men and women.

Most scientifically produced products do have separate products for males and females, because, of course, hormones in each are different and of different levels. Another product containing minoxidil is Provillus, and again, studies have shown it to be effective. The main difference between Provillus and other similar products is that the makers have added Azelaic Acid, an additional ingredient which appears to enhance the follicle repair in both men and women.

Provillus has been the subject of many studies, just as the other products, and level of effectiveness may be higher. Provillus is available for both men and women and the treatment is a combination of a topical liquid applied to the balding areas, as well as a pill or capsule to be taken in conjunction with the liquid.

The most critical key to effectiveness, according to its makers, is the addition of the Azelaic acid. However, the correct amount of this acid is the most important part of this treatment. As with most hair loss treatment products, the makers recommend patience. It may take from 3-6 months for improvement to occur. However, there is a money back guarantee of up to 180 days if one is not satisfied that it is working for them.

However, medical research is far from finished in the exploration of products which will stop hair loss and promote the regrowth of “permanent” hair. As this research continues, existing makers will undoubtedly alter their products accordingly. Fortunately, a lot of money is being poured into the research, so hair loss sufferers take heart! For more information click on the banner above or below.

Anti-Hair Loss Shampoos



Rub-a-Dub Dub – But Gently Please.


One easy-to-try option is a shampoo specifically designed to increase the health of existing hair and to reduce the rate of hair loss in both men and women. There are several sources to investigate specific shampoos and research studies can be accessed to determine the effectiveness of many of these products.

Good professional sources include dermatologists and licensed cosmeticians who see hair loss conditions frequently and have had the opportunity to observe the efficacy of a variety of shampoos. As well, an Internet search engine will provide hundreds of products, complete with testimony and small research studies. It’s easy to get confused when investigating the hundreds of shampoos available.

With some background knowledge of what has shown to be effective in larger, previous studies, however, you can make more intelligent choices about the shampoos you choose for experimentation. And that is the great thing about shampoos, they are relatively inexpensive in this maze of hair loss and regrowth methods, so you can try lots of them without breaking your budget!

1. Surfactants: People feel good when their shampoos lather up nicely. But lather is just for the psychological effect. Somehow we believe that the more lather a shampoo produces, the cleaner our hair must be getting. Nonsense! The ingredient that causes lather is called a surfactant and does not have any cleaning properties. Other ingredients in shampoos actually do the cleaning. Surfactants are, however, pretty harsh, and for someone who is experiencing more-than-normal hair loss, surfactants should be avoided. There are lots of shampoos out there without it; try some.

2. Herbal Ingredients: The most notable herb with a small amount of success in hair loss treatment is Saw Palmetto. Shampoos with Saw Palmetto are certainly worth a try. Saw Palmetto seems to inhibit the production of DHT in men, for example, and it has been shown that DHT causes hair follicles to shrink and close up.

3. Nettle and Bay have also been helpful to some people. Shampoos which include these might be worth giving a try.

4. Essential Oils: These are concentrated oils which come from plants such as lavender. As far back as ancient times, these oils have been used to stimulate healthy hair and to decrease the rate of hair loss. We know that we have allot to learn from early medicine men and healers. Perhaps this is another example.

5. Tea Tree Oil: Many swear by this ingredient, and there are several brands of this on the market. shampoos in these oils are so popular you can find them at most any drug store as well as health product retailers. As a side note, tea tree oil has also been found to be effective in the prevention of head lice infestations.

But, there are no definitive studies to show that shampoos can actually result in regrowth of hair that is caused by what we all call “permanent” conditions, largely the result of heredity and hormones.

However, it is early prevention that is important, and experimenting with shampoos during these early stages may provide invaluable help in reducing the rate of loss.

For more information click on the banner above or below.