Hair loss issues

When hair loss is apparent the person will try and determine the hair thinning causes in relation to the hair shedding. Hair loss can affect us in so many ways. Hair is what defines us and can ruin our physical attractiveness if we experience hair loss. It can take months to see hair growth return to normal which can be rather devastating. With increased stress in our lives and being incredibly busy can interfere with healthy hair growth as we neglect the most important nutrients in our diet. The environment, food, lifestyle and overall physical and mental health are related to healthy hair growth. Yoga and meditation in conjunction with adequate physical exercise are fantastic for physical and mental health.

Female Pattern Baldness

Various stages of female pattern baldness can be defined by the Ludwig Scale. In this instance hair thinning causes are marked by a significant loss of hair over the entire scalp. Unlike with males there often isn't any distinct pattern making diagnosis rather difficult in the early stages. Also with males the miniaturization effect (decrease in diameter of hair shafts) of the hair follicles is more localized as compared to women allowing for more obvious diagnosis.

The Ludwig Scale is divided mainly into 4 stages with stage 4 as advanced hair loss. Take a mirror and check whether you are experiencing a hair condition similar to the scale.

Scale 1

This represents the early beginnings of Female Pattern Baldness where the diffuse thinning begins all over the scalp. You may not notice any hair loss initially or signs of baldness. The hair loss is evenly spread throughout the scalp and you might notice the hair at the top of your scalp is thinning. If you notice that your hair is getting thinner and you are losing a significant number of hairs it is an indication that you are losing hair and it's time to consult a medical specialist such as a dermatologist.

Scale 2

With stage 2 of the Ludwig Scale, you may have lost a significant amount of hair. The thinning at your parting will be obvious and your overall hair appearance might start to look thin and frizzy. This is a where your should commence treatment to try and prevent any further significant hair loss.


Scale 3

At Stage 3, your hair loss is extremely obvious and your scalp will be more exposed due to hair loss. At the very moment, at least 60-70% of your hair on top of your head has already thinned out and it can be quite difficult to conceal the baldness.


Scale 4 (Advanced Stage)

During this stage hair loss has has progressed to the advanced stage where significant bald patches are extremely noticeable. Regrowth of hair may now be almost impossible. Most likely more scalp than hair will be showing. When you have reached this stage of hair loss, the best way to conceal hair loss is to invest in a good quality wig or to consider undergoing hair transplantation.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is the most common hair loss diagnosis in men. Hair thinning causes a person to possibly feel self-concious due to the loss of hair. It is a permanent type of hair loss which is caused by hormones and genetic predisposition. There are various stages of male pattern baldness. Each stage is marked by an increase of loss of hair in the frontal hairline and crown. The length of time for each stage to develop varies in each person.

To assist in diagnosing the extent of hair loss a scale has been developed by Dr. James Hamilton in 1950’s and modified 20 years later by Dr. O’Tar Norwood. The scale is composed of different stages of hair loss.

Type I. Minimal hair loss.

Type II. Insignificant hair loss at the temples.

Type III. The first stage of pattern baldness that requires treatment. The shown areas either have no hair at all or barely covered with any.

Type III vertex. Hairline patters are not as big as in the previous type, but there is a small pattern on the back of the head.

Type IV. Bigger patter on the vertex. However, hairline and vertex are divided by a thick line of hair.

Type V. The division line is thinner, but it is still present although the patterns at the hairline and vertex are bigger.

Type VI. The bridge is gone although it might be presented by several strands of short fine hair.

Type VII. The most severe form of hair loss. There might be little hair on the front or top of the head.

Male pattern baldness is not necessary if one feels comfortable with it. However if it brings stress and anxiety, there are specialists who can help with the problem right after they identify the kind and pattern of hair loss.

Selecting a wig

If you are currently experiencing hair loss, hair thinning causes great embarrassment and a wig can be absolutely wonderful. A wig provides an instant transformation in minutes. There is a vast selection of wigs available which vary in style, colour and design. Wigs are available in synthetic and human hair.

Synthetic and human hair wigs can both look equally real depending on the style chosen. If you want a realistic looking wig try and select a wig with a monofilament top that has been hand tied as opposed to machine made which may not look as natural. These particular type of wigs are composed of a special translucent material on top which shows your actual hair colour along the roots of the hair. This special part of the cap creates the illusion of your scalp at the roots of the hair along the front hairline or top. This style of wig is often more expensive as opposed to other styles and comes in synthetic and human hair.

The main downside with synthetic wigs is that you cannot apply direct heat to the wig such as straighteners, blow driers, curling tongs. Human hair wigs are fantastic as you can apply heat to the wig and it is possible to wash the hair in ordinary shampoo as opposed to synethic wigs where special wig shampoo must be used or you will ruin the wig. You should try and wash your wig after every 10-15 wears keep the wig in good condition.

When selecting a wig try and select a colour which looks natural and suits your skintone. To prevent the hairline from showing you may want to select a wig with a fringe as it provides good coverage.

Hair Growth Tips

Hair thinning causes a woman to feel miserable and therefore it is important to encourage hair growth. Long hair can be extremely sexy on a woman but can be rather difficult to grow at times due to numerous lifestyle factors.

Here are some other hair growth tips:

Eliminate smoking and carbonated sodas which weaken the body and can interfere with maximum hair growth potential.

Eat a healthy diet. Ensure you include adequate protein in your diet to maintain hair growth. Try to avoid foods that contain high sugar, salt or fat.

Be gentle to your hair. Do not overuse chemicals such as bleach on your hair which can damage the hair.

Avoid use of hair styling appliances such as hair straighteners, hot blow dryers or other hair care tools that may damage the hair.

Have a weekly scalp massage which stimulates the hair follicles.

Treat your hair to deep conditioning once a week.

Have regular trims 6-8 weeks to eliminate split ends which will allow the hair to look healthier.

Try air drying your hair as opposed to using a hair dryer.

Get plenty of rest and sleep to allow your body to grow hair.

Ideas for Hair Thinning Causes

Everybody knows the stress that comes from hair loss. Hair thinning causes can be hereditary or be brought on by a variety of different conditions. The hair loss can be permanent or temporary.

If you think your hair is thinning it is important to check that this is actually the case as you do not need to have bald patches to experience hair thinning. It is important to remember that it is perfectly normal for a person to shed between 50 to 100 hairs each day. If you believe you are losing an excessive amount of hair it is best to seek advice from a medical specialist.

Thinning of hair all over the scalp can be due to various causes. In the case of mental or physical stress, it often occurs 2–3 months after the event. This is because at the time of the stress many hair follicles enter the telogen phase (the resting phase) prematurely, and then shed simultaneously at the end of the telogen phase a few months later. In this situation, hair growth normally resumes after the shedding has stopped, however, it can be a very gradual process.

There are a number of conditions which may contribute to hair loss.

Some medication can cause hair loss. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you if the medication you are taking can contribute to hair thinning.

Poor nutrition is another cause for hair thinning. The important nutrients for healthy hair include calcium, vitamin D, biotin, sulfur, folic acid, essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, primrose oil, fish oil), inositol, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins, particually B5 (pantothenic acid), B3 (niacin) and B12 (coblamin). Most of these vitamins and minerals can be found in a multi-vitamin.

Protein and iron is absolutely critical to hair growth. High protein foods include eggs, seafood, red meat, dairy food, legumes, nuts and seeds. Foods rich in iron include red meat, dates, prunes, dark-green leafy vegetables, tofu, certain whole grains such as quinoa and millet, blackstrap mollases, oat bran, wheat germ and fortified cereals. It is important to eat iron-rich foods along with foods containing vitamin C, which aids iron absorption. Also, you should ensure that you reguarly eat healthy meals which include adequate complex carbohydrates, lean protein, vegetables and fruit.

Some men and women have a genetic disposition for hair loss which may eventually lead to complete baldness of the scalp. They generally have a genetically sensitivity to the effects of a male hormone referred to as DHT (dihydrostesterone). Some medical experts believe DHT drastically shortens the hair growth phase referred to as the anagen phase of the hair cycle, causing miniaturisation of the hair follicles. Under the suppressive effects of DHT, hair follicles become thinner and finer and gradually hair is permanently lost. DHT production is regulated by 5-alpha reductase which is involved in steroid metabolism. DHT exists in several tissues of the body, including the scalp.

It is important to remember that it might be relatively easy to address your hair thinning issue. It may be a temporary problem which may resolve. You need to be patient as regrowth of hair is a gradual process. If you hair loss is worrying you, you should seek expert advice.

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