Understanding Female Hair Loss

Few people are pleased if they start to experience hair loss. There is something particularly distressing for women, though, perhaps because hair loss is typically associated with men, at least in popular perception.

Of course, millions of women struggle with this problem. Some men treat their thinning hair with hair loss products, but some simply choose to shave or closely crop their hair. Women have fewer styling options to draw attention away from their thin hair. The negative emotional impact of thinning hair on women tends to be greater.

Dr. Matt Leavitt of the Hair Foundation surveyed women, and found that 43% of them are at least somewhat concerned about their hair loss.

What patterns emerge with female hair loss?

The process of aging primarily drives hair loss in women, much like men. This is called androgenetic alopecia, and it is a natural process, albeit a distressing one! Heredity is the driving factor behind this variety of hair loss.

Women typically use a wide variety of hair products; including styling aids containing chemicals that may have an effect on hair health. The hair follicle can become irritated over time with the continued usage of harsh products. An excess of irritated follicles can affect hair growth, but it’s not known how much.

Stress is a significant contributor to hair loss. For those experiencing heightened levels of personal stress, it’s worth paying attention to whether it’s manifesting itself in loss of hair.

Treating female hair loss

For those who believe their hair loss is connected to a medical condition, it’s important to speak to your family doctor about probable causes and possible solutions. Doctors prescribe a variety of medications that treat underlying causes of hair loss.

Over-the-counter options exist as well for treating generalized hair loss. If your hair loss is due primarily to hereditary factors, it’s worth trying some of the quality products available to combat hair loss. Provillus for women is one such product specially formulated to treat female hair loss.

What you can expect from female hair loss treatments

Typically, treatments for female hair loss contain minoxidil, recognized by the FDA for promoting hair growth. The most effective solutions for women have a concentration of 2% minoxidil. Hair loss treatments are topical, and applied directly to the affected areas, so it’s pretty simple to try.

For those concerned about side effects, typically side effects take the form of an allergic reaction, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting. Consulting a physician if you experience any of these side effects is always a wise idea.

Provillus for women

Provillus contains minoxidil, an FDA-approved ingredient shown to regrow hair. Not only does the Provillus system include a topical solution containing 2% minoxidil, but it also integrates an oral supplement with hair growth promoting vitamins like B6 and magnesium. Provillus is confident in their product, and back it up with an ironclad 90-day guarantee.

8 Vitamins That Could Be “At The Root” of Your Hair Loss

Anyone with a basic knowledge of how the body works is very likely aware of the important role that vitamins and minerals have in maintaining daily health. You don’t have to be a physician to know that a deficiency of vitamins can lead to health outcomes that are less than ideal. ??For those experiencing hair loss, one of the first lines of defense against continued hair fall is to balance your diet. Ensuring that you aren’t experiencing a vitamin deficiency is a valuable resource in your fight against further hair loss.

The 8 Vitamins you need to know about

• Biotin or Vitamin H – Biotin is instrumental in preventing hair loss, when consumed in adequate quantities. Biotin is also useful for preventing the formation of gay hair. You’ll find Biotin in your jug of milk, yeast, and in the yolks of eggs.
• Iron – Iron deficiency is well known for causing anemia among men and women, but most are unaware of its connection to hair loss. By balancing and correcting your iron intake, you can improve your overall hair growth.
• Vitamin B – Vitamin B complex is vital for shoring up and strengthening hair follicles. Many a shampoo product trumpets its Vitamin B ingredients, and for good reason.
• Zinc – The only thing most people know about zinc is that it…starts with a Z. Its benefits are not well known, but among them are reversing problems originating in the scalp.
• Anti-Oxidants – The anti-oxidants are Vitamins A, C, and E. Anti-oxidants are useful for ridding the body of toxins and improving the functionality of the immune system. Vitamin E is excellent for the skin (notice all of the Vitamin E-based lotions on the market), and just as good for the hair. Be sure all three of the vitamins are present in your diet for best results.
• Vitamin A – The right proportion of Vitamin A is absolutely necessary for good hair growth and maintenance. However, taking too much can lead to hair loss. It’s important to understand that too much of something is: simply that. Too much. Don’t overload on vitamins in an effort to speed hair growth.
• Protein – Found in everything from animal products to nuts and legumes, protein is a necessary component of every diet. The structure of the hair is almost completely composed of protein, so it should be obvious why it is a necessary for good hair growth. Protein is also useful for strengthening hair and building up resistance to hair damage.
• Pantothenic Acid – This mineral is important for proper functioning of the scalp, and is instrumental in the vital process of converting food intake to energy output. For those lacking appropriate levels of pantothenic acid, it is possible to experience failing hair follicles, as well as other symptoms like constipation.

NOTE: Using a topical hair loss treatment along with modifying your diet to include some if not all of these above vitamins and nutrients can be a very powerful approach to fending off and fighting hair loss.

Correcting your diet is job one

Though you may have a family history of hair loss, you don’t have to give up once your hair starts to fall. Indeed, you can take a serious look at your diet, and be sure that you’re eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein in order to build a balanced eating plan. By ensuring that you’re ingesting every vitamin necessary for healthy and vibrant hair growth, you can help your body produce an attractive head of hair.

Can You Prevent Hair Loss?

Hair loss prevention is a subject that attracts a lot of interest, especially with 80 million Americans suffering from hair loss due to hereditary. When you consider that there are about 300 million Americans in all, it puts it into perspective how great a proportion of Americans struggle with this problem. Those who wish to stave off hair loss have some important things to consider, and the biggest thing of all: is it even possible to prevent hair loss?

Hair loss basics

If you suffer from hormonal hair loss stemming from hereditary factors, its just part of your genetic makeup. Your heredity determined a lot of things: how tall you are, the color of your eyes, whether or not you have freckles, and yes, whether or not you will begin losing your hair at some point in time.

Kind of a bummer, eh?

Well, the good news is that it is possible to take early action when you first start noticing hair loss, and prevent the rapid deterioration of your hairline as much as possible. Hair loss treatments are effective against hereditary hair loss, and they are best undertaken as soon as possible. It’s easier to slow the process of hair loss than it is to regrow hair that has already fallen.

Hair loss treatments

There are a variety of hair loss treatments available for those suffering hair loss, all effective to varying degrees. The most common way to treat hereditary hormonal hair loss is with a topical product using minoxidil, as well as oral supplements. In addition, one may investigate the possibility of hair transplants, and other medical interventions. Depending on the severity of your hair loss and your personal budget for hair loss products, one option may look more palatable than another.

Hair loss due to non-hereditary factors

So, you’re losing your hair, but it doesn’t appear to be connected to any family history of significant hair loss. In fact, your family is bursting at the seams with folks with long, luxurious thick locks! What’s going on here?

It’s quite likely that if this sounds like you, you are losing hair due to some external factor. Perhaps it is overwhelming stress, an illness, or exposure to damaging chemicals; whatever it is, to stop your hair from falling, you need to stop your exposure to these harmful factors.

Strategies for reversing non-hereditary hair loss

If you believe you’re losing hair due to non-hereditary factors, the first step to take is to determine the source of your problem.

• Stop using any harsh chemicals on your hair immediately
• De-stress by trying relaxation techniques, meditation, massage, or physical exercise
• Give your hair a “vacation” by doing as little as possible (and shampooing only when truly needed) for two weeks. See if this makes any difference

You can reverse non-hereditary hair loss if you can identify the source of your problem. If you are losing hair even after eliminating possible external factors causing your hair loss, it might be time to consult a dermatologist.

The 3 Stages of Hair Growth

Have you ever stopped and really wondered why we have hair? These days of relative comfort, we don’t need our hair to keep us warm or protect us from the elements. It was not always thus! Human hair, much like the fur that covers animals, is a relic of evolution; an adaptation to protect our bodies.

On average, hair grows about 6 inches each year. Hair growth is a continuous cycle, some hairs in one stage of the cycle, other hairs in a different stage. Called anagen, catagen, and telogen, each stage is distinctive.

Anagen Stage

Anagen is the active stage of hair growth, when the hair itself grows by about 1 centimeter in a 28-day span. This occurs for about 3 to 6 years of activity. How long your hair stays in this phase is dependent on several factors, including your age, what you’re eating, your hormone levels, and more. At any given time, about 85% of your hair follicles are in this stage.

Interestingly enough, the duration of the anagen stage also determines the eventual length of the hair growth. Ever wonder why your eyebrows don’t just grow straight down your face like the hair on your scalp grows down your back? Shorter anagen stage means shorter hair!

Catagen Stage

The catagen stage follows anagen, and concludes the growth period of the active hair. During the catagen stage, the body is capable of producing new hairs. This is a transitory time, when growth turns to resting, and the cycle typically lasts several weeks, and even up to four.

During this time, cells cease growth and pigmentation, and the interior follicle shrinks down, among other complex processes.

Telogen Stage

The final stage is called the telogen phase, and typically about 8% of your hair is in this concluding stage at any one time. This is a time of inactivity of the hair, which can last anywhere from 2 to 4 months. Between 25 and 100 strands of hair are shed while in this phase during an average day. Once hairs are shed and the follicle exists the telogen phase, new hair will grow to replace those that were lost.

Your hair is more complicated than you thought!

Knowledge of the cycle of hair growth gives you a valuable tool to understanding what is “normal” growth and hair loss. If you are losing more than the 25-100 hair strands in a day, it is definitely time to examine why that might be (if you have exceedingly thick hair, the higher end is going to be the norm; finer hair vice versa, of course). Pay attention to what’s “up” on your head!

Understanding How Hair Transplants Work

If you’ve ever paid attention to men who’ve lost significant amounts of hair, you’ve probably noticed that it tends to loos similar from man to man. Perhaps you’ve noticed it begins at the forehead, slowly receding back until there is a horseshoe pattern of hair left. The top of the head all the way back to the mid-point of the back of the head is the portion most likely to be affected by male pattern baldness.

It stands to reason, then, that this horseshoe-shaped section of hair is the best place from which to extract donor hair for a hair transplant. This hair is ideal for transplanting, because (a) it is hardy, but (b) once transplanted, it retains its original characteristics. Transplantation does not affect the ability of the hair to stay healthy over the long-term. In the world of hair transplantation, this is called “donor dominance.”

So, how are those donor hairs extracted?

There are a variety of different ways to harvest donor hair. When transplants first began, doctors would remove and transplant plugs that measured approximately 4mm. While this worked reasonably well, they found that the scar pattern that emerged as a result just wasn’t ideal cosmetically. Additionally, the plugs had a very identifiable “pluggy” look, and many patients preferred not to announce to the world their need for hair transplantation!

As a result, doctors tried a new method of transplanting tissue in strips and then suturing the skin together, creating a more natural look. The strips are dissected into much smaller micrografts, and then transplanted into the area of the scalp in need of a donation.

Hair transplantation: does it hurt?

It’s natural to worry about the amount of pain one might sustain in during a hair transplantation procedure. Though it doesn’t rank as major surgery, the fact of the matter is that the doctor must make many circular holes in the skin, which –let’s face it – sounds kind of painful.

Depending on the patient preference, local or general anesthetic is used. As with any general anesthetic, there is a greater element of risk when being put under completely. The possibility that the patient will stop breathing exists, so doctors will monitor everything during the hair transplantation treatment. The other option is to simply take an anti-anxiety medication such as Valium or Xanax, and combine that with local shots to the affected area.

And how long does it take to grow hair after a transplant?

While results vary from person-to-person, typically it takes about 3-5 months to see hair growth in the affected area of the scalp. The transplanted hair itself will fall out during the first month post-surgery. Once the hair begins to grow, it will continue permanently. The scourge of male pattern baldness is no longer a consideration! The best part is, the hair can be cut and styled just like the original head of hair.

Further hair loss treatments may be desired depending on the patient’s needs, and there should be at least a 6 month period of time between grafts.

Is Stress Causing My Hair Loss?

When faced with mounting evidence of hair loss, the first inclination is to panic. Hair loss has an emotional impact; it’s only natural to worry about why it might be happening, especially if hereditary hair loss might not be the obvious cause.

Stress is a natural part of the human experience, and periodic times of stress can even be beneficial to the overall health of the body. Stress naturally has a motivating factor, which can be managed to our advantage. Problems arise, however, when we become unbalanced and stress begins to overwhelm. When this occurs, not only are we affected mentally, but also we’re affected physically. One physical manifestation is loss of hair.

Which stressors contribute to loss of hair?

There are three types of stress that occur:

Acute stress

• A singular event that causes great stress (e.g. death of a family member)

Episodic stress

• Recurring stress that is typically the result of non-stop anxiety and worry

Chronic stress

• Stress stemming from long-term chronic stressors that are not easily alleviated (e.g. high-stress profession, living in a dysfunctional family)

To determine the source of your stress, you should think carefully about your daily activities, and which may be contributing to a sense of anxiety. If certain activities are affecting your health to the extent that you are losing hair, then it is time to evaluate your options.

How can I decrease the amount of stress in my life?

If you’re hoping to lower your overall stress levels, it’s very important to determine if you need better coping strategies. It may be that you cannot change the stressors causing you problems (job, family) – but you can alter your response. By building better coping mechanisms to deal with your stress, you can halt physical manifestations of being overstressed. In short, you can slow or stop the hair loss, for example.

Many find that improving diet and adding physical exercise of some kind to their routine is an excellent way to decrease stress. Burning energy is a powerful way to lower stress, and competition can replace damaging stress with a healthier, more purposeful eustress.
If your hair keeps falling out

For those who’ve managed to lower stress in their lives are still experiencing hair loss, then it is definitely time to see a dermatologist to determine if alopecia is the cause. Dermatologists have a variety of hair loss treatments with which to combat hair loss. Additionally, trying an over-the-counter hair loss prevention product may go a long way to alleviating rapid hair loss as well.

The 6 Causes of Hair Loss

It’s a fact of life that some of us are going to grow older and lose our hair. It’s a numbers game, really. So many of us are at the mercy of our heredity when it comes to our ability to grow a thick, full mane of hair. But, putting heredity aside for a moment, are there other factors that contribute to hair loss?

Of course there are!

There are six main causes of hair loss, and if you’re experiencing thinning hair, it’s important to determine the possible cause, so as to find a good solution.

Depression as a driver of hair loss

Depression is a contributing factor to hair loss. Severe depression can cause extreme mental distress, which can lead to brain inflammation and a disruption of the chemical processes that go on within the brain.

Certain drugs used to treat depression are also known to cause hair loss, so if you feel you’re experiencing this particular side effect, perhaps it is time for a conversation with your health care provider. In particular, tranquilizers used to calm extreme anxiety are known to cause hair loss. Most dosages are perfectly safe, but higher dosage can cause concern for some.

Hormonal hair loss as a result of DHT

Hormones have such a profound influence on the function of our bodies; it should be no surprise that hormones can affect the growth of our hair. A change in the way the body metabolizes a substance called androgen is a chief cause of hair loss. Through a complex series of interactions, DHT can reach the hair follicles, preventing the ability of the follicle to absorb the needed vitamins and minerals to sustain life.

DHT is also known to shrink the hair follicle, which causes hair to grow in thinner and finer. DHT is a major driver of hair loss in men and women. Some studies claim the figure is as high as 95% of hair loss is due to DHT.

Most topical hair loss treatments on the market today are designed to interfere with the progression of DHT to damage the hair follicles.

Stressed out?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that stress can drive hair loss. Those experiencing high, sustained levels of stress should be aware that this state of being is a risk factor for producing significant hair loss.

Disease as a cause of hair loss

Some diseases wreak havoc on the hair follicles, causing hair to fall out at an alarming rate. Diseases that affect hormone production, cause anemia, or cause thyroid imbalance are just a few of the maladies that lead to hair loss.

Too many chemicals?

The vast array of products to which we expose our hair has the potential to damage and even kill hair follicles over time. One recent trend among hair enthusiasts is actually to give up shampoo for other methods of cleaning the hair, since shampoo is known to damage and strip hair of essential moisture.

That isn’t to say you should follow this trend! But, it is worthwhile to be mindful of what exactly it is you’re putting on your head.

Medications can contribute to hair loss

Some medicines, particularly those for serious diseases, are notorious for causing hair loss. Chemotherapy for cancer treatments may be the most well known medicine with this side effect, but it not the only one. Anabolic steroids and – believe it or not – some types of birth control can also contribute to hair loss.

Understanding the 3 Types of Hair Loss

It may come as a surprise that not all hair loss is created equally. Some hair loss is genetically linked, and other hair loss occurs as a result of the onset of major stress or trauma. If you’re experiencing hair loss, it is a good idea to get educated about the different varieties out there. Arming yourself with information helps you to form the best defense against a rapidly shrinking head of hair.

Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia is the most common variety of hair loss, and affects both men and women. Genetically linked, this condition is more commonly known as “male pattern baldness.” The name isn’t accidental, as it refers to the typical pattern of hair loss that results in thinning at the temples, and progressing toward the crown of the head. The process concludes, leaving a ring of hair from left to right, around the head.

Women experience androgenic alopecia as well, but female pattern baldness doesn’t follow the classic male pattern. Women tend to lose hair throughout the scalp, but the hairline remains in place. It is the rare women who experiences total baldness.

Telogen effluvium

Those suffering from an onset of telogen effluvium experience massive hair loss resulting from hairs entering the telogen phase of hair growth. This resting phase of the hair follicle results in some hairs falling. Usually telogen effluvium is brought on by a massive stress event, and it’s possible for up to 70% of all hair to enter the telogen phase when this occurs.

A physician using a battery of diagnostic tests can identify an occurance of telogen effluvium.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a condition in which persons experience spot baldness. The degree to which this may occur varies from person to person; some experience only one circular area of hair loss, while others, in rare cases, experience total loss of hair on the scalp or the entire surface of the epidermis.

The pattern may vary, but often hair falls out within a short time horizon. Hair loss can occur unevenly from one side of the scalp to the other. The skin left behind does not appear any different than other parts of the scalp.

Researchers suspect that alopecia areata is genetically linked, since it is more common for sufferers to have family members who’ve also experienced similar hair loss. They posit that it is an autoimmune disorder, where the body attempts to destroy its own hair follicles, or somehow ceases the hair growth process.
It’s not uncommon for some life event to exacerbate existing hereditary inclinations, kicking off an incidence of alopecia areata. Some examples of possible events include an illness, a pregnancy, overwhelming stress, or some other kind of trauma.

Hair loss treatments

For those suffering from alopecia areata or telogen effluvium, it’s important to consult a medical professional for guidance on proper treatment. Since they’re often connected to some external factors, it is important to understand underlying causes and possible treatments.

Those who suffer from androgenic alopecia, the most common hair loss ailment, there are other possible options to consider. Both over the counter hair loss treatments and prescription options to slow down the process of hair loss are available. There is no reason to sit back and accept hair loss as your destiny. By confronting the problem, you can begin to turn the tide and maintain an attractive and confidence-boosting head of hair.

Minoxidil: What You Need to Know

We’re attached to our hair. Well, yes, literally, but emotionally as well! In 2007, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery conducted a study on attitudes about hair loss. This study found that, if forced to choose, 57% of people would rather have hair on their head than a laptop, a TV, a car, or a cell phone. 80 million people in the US suffer from some degree of hereditary hair loss, and based on those survey results, it isn’t surprising that many of them experience some degree of anxiety in connection with that loss.

What is minoxidil?

Originally intended to treat high blood pressure, users of minoxidil noticed improvement in hair growth during use. With this discovery, it eventually gained popularity as a hair loss treatment, both hereditary and otherwise.

It isn’t understood why exactly minoxidil works, simply that it does work. Those who experience the best results tend to be younger men who’ve been experiencing sustained hair loss for fewer than 5 years. Regardless, those falling outside of those parameters certainly use and experience results with minoxidil.

Are there any side effects?

Those with heart problems should consult with their doctor before trying minoxidil products. More common side effects include itchy scalp and irritated skin. On occasion, users find hair growing on parts of the body other than the treated area. Women in particular may find that they grow hair on the cheeks, for example.

Some users experience dandruff, usually a side effect of the alcohol in most minoxidil solutions.

Minoxidil works, but requires commitment

It’s important for users to realize that once you start using minoxidil, you can’t stop once you experience results. It doesn’t jump start the natural hair growth process; it seems to enhance it. For this reason, those ceasing minoxidil usage return to previous hair growth/loss patterns within about 6 to 12 months.

What about Provillus?

Minoxidil is used in a variety of hair loss prevention products, and Provillus is one of those excellent choices. In addition to a 5% minoxidil solution – the most effective concentration for men – Provillus contains natural vitamins, minerals and herbs to promote hair growth.

Not only do Provillus users use a topical solution applied directly to the scalp, they take a vitamin containing B6, biotin, magnesium, horsetail silica, and para-amino benzoic acid. Each of these ingredients functions to support the hair growth promoted by the minoxidil solution.

Causes and Potential Female Hair Loss Treatments

Most people normally associate hair loss with men. However, this condition is just as likely to affect women, too, at some point in their lives. We rarely hear about or notice these instances since female hair loss is usually less severe and not concentrated in a couple of spots like male hair loss. Although it’s easier for women to hide hair loss, that doesn’t mean they have to suffer from it forever. Let’s look at why women have hair loss troubles in the first place and which female hair loss treatment can help reverse the damage.

Hair Loss Causes

• Hormones: Sometimes women may develop androgenetic alopecia due to the low levels of testosterone found within the female body. When these levels convert into hair-unfriendly DHT, women experience pattern baldness just like men. Hormonal imbalances like an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can also cause hair loss. This is the body’s way of warning there is a problem that requires treatment.
• Stress: Chaotic, on-the-go lifestyles also contribute to hair loss. Yet there is also an indirect correlation here: since stress can lead to infection and poor hygiene, they in turn signal diseases and other conditions you were previously unaware of, which are now manifesting themselves through hair loss.
• Pregnancy: Along those lines, traumatic events like childbirth cause stress in a woman’s normal hair growth cycles. During pregnancy, hair that normally falls out is retained due to hormones. When her hormone levels revert back to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, the retained hair comes out, usually months after delivery.
• Alopecia Areata: Not much is known about this condition, but experts suspect it has to do with deficiencies in the immune system resulting in patchy areas of hair loss that can become widespread.
• Improper Hair Care: Unlike the causes discussed above, here, women are more accountable for hair loss since styling can result in scars that keep hair from growing back. Curlers, tight hairstyles, hot oil treatment, and chemicals used in perms, bleach and dyes all damage hair follicles.

Female Hair Loss Treatment

There are countless female hair loss treatments on the market, but Provillus for Women is an FDA-approved topical solution to help women re-grow hair. By applying the solution to the affected areas and taking one capsule, each twice a day, it gets to the root of the problem, stimulating hair growth from the inside out. Unlike other female hair loss treatments, Provillus contains the minerals, herbs and vitamins that will nourish hair follicles and promote hair growth and vitality, giving you strong and healthy hair. As with any product, there are mild side effects, but Provillus is so confident it will restore beautiful hair, it offers customers a money-back guarantee. For more information, please visit http://www.provillus.com/women/.

NOTE: laser hair loss treatments generally also work for women’s hair loss.

Hair loss in women may not be as common as male hair loss, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less serious. In fact, it can be more devastating when considering the impossibly high beauty standards society holds for females. Women need not despair though – female hair loss treatments like Provillus are clinically proven to re-grow hair, but more importantly, restore self-esteem.