Top 3 Myths about Hair Loss

Can loss of hair be prevented? Myths about baldness are prolific. If you can weed out the myths to find the facts about how hair grows, then you may be able to keep more of your hair.

These 3 myths about hair loss are among the most popular:

Myth 1: You can’t prevent hair loss.

Fact: No magic hair loss tonic exists, this much is true. However, certain products may be able to help you keep your hair fuller and longer.

Hair loss products containing the drug minoxidil have successfully regrown hair in many users. Other products are supplements made from natural ingredients that support healthy hair cells. A handful of products contain herbal ingredients plus Minoxidil in order to provide maximum regrowth benefits. You can purchase such hair loss products on the Web, at your local pharmacy and in some salons.

Myth 2: Brushing your hair too much leads to baldness.

Fact: Baldness isn’t caused by excessive brushing. The resting stage of the hair growth cycle causes the roots of the hair to collapse in preparation for new growth. This third resting stage causes roots to collapse to make way for brand-new hair cell growth.

Cells in the resting or telogen phase shed hair naturally because the hair has no anchor. When you brush, you’ll pull out many of these hairs, but they would have fallen out anyway, eventually. In 3–4 months when those cells re-awaken, they’ll grow new hair, barring any biological factors preventing this. Brushing your hair will certainly not make a difference one way or the other.

Myth 3: It’s possible to grow new hair follicles.

Fact: You’re born with all the hair follicles you’ll ever have. There is no way to increase the number of follicles one has.

Each follicle produces a single hair. As we age, follicles may quit producing due to genetics, environmental or health issues. Products that contain minoxidil can sometimes “wake up” those sleepy cells. They cannot, however, create new hair follicles.

Should Women Fear Hair Loss?

A lot of women actually experience thinning hair or hair loss and don’t even know it. That’s why noticing the condition only when it has gone too far may lead to feelings of worry, shock and confusion. It should therefore be part of every approach to women’s health to at least give some basic information about hair fall in females. Here are some of the top facts every woman should know:

#1 - Thinning characterizes most cases of female pattern balding.

Both men and women may experience hair thinning. In most balding men, however, thinning will eventually progress to full bald scalp areas. For most women who have hair loss conditions, this is just about as far as it goes. Women rarely ever go completely bald or suffer from bald patches. Females who do have full bald areas may be suffering from an autoimmune disorder or may have the kind of balding caused by tight hairstyles.

#2 - Numerous factors are involved in hair thinning in women.

Just as in men, hair fall in women may be influenced by hormone levels. In females, estrogen levels may sometimes drop, thus enabling dihydrotestosterone, a male hormone present in some levels in women to shrink hair follicles. This is why falling hair may be experienced after pregnancy or during menopause.

These are stages in which hormonal shifts may occur.

This is only half of the story though. Individuals with thin hair may also be affected by other factors. These include genetic predisposition, severe illness, stress and lack of proper nutrition.

#3 - There is no absolute cure for it.

Recent research, clinic procedures and a host of topical products seem to offer hope. It is important to immediately understand though that as of this writing, there is no absolute cure yet for hair loss in both genders. At the most, real effective and tested procedures can only go so far as to produce mild to moderate results. This fact alone should put you on the lookout for products that claim to be able to provide outstanding results.

#4 - It’s important to ask a doctor’s opinion.

As mentioned, there is more to the female hair condition than meets the eye. If you want to be certain about your overall health condition and your treatment of choice, you had better consult a doctor. A licensed medical practitioner will be able to rule out underlying medical conditions and recommend treatment options that are safe for you to take considering your gender, general health, age and condition.

Do Product Reviews Help in Choosing a Hair Regrowth Treatment?

There are now various websites that have been launched that now allows consumers to read several comprehensive reviews of hair regrowth products. These websites, created by entrepreneurs and internet experts provide product information, editor and consumer ratings, and user testimonials of hair loss products.

The product reviews of these sites were designed to accommodate the growing number of consumers who are looking for solutions to their hair loss concerns, but who are overwhelmed by the number of options on the market today. Alopecia, or hair loss, is more common than many people realize. According to the American Academy of dermatology, more than 50 million men in the United States alone suffer from hereditary alopecia, with women trailing close behind at 30 million.

The number of US dollars spent on hair regrowth products is even more staggering. The New York Times recently reported that Americans shelled out an estimated $176 million dollars on hair loss products in the year 2009 alone. These product review websites help consumers navigate the confusing world of hair loss treatments and hair regrowth products for men and women.

Hair loss treatments come in a variety of applications. Oral suspensions, dietary supplements, topical serums, and shampoos are among the many. Products for men and women also vary, due to the hormonal changes that typically lie at the root of the problem. The information from these websites serves to educate the public about these individual products, and also about hair loss in general. The reviews offer consumers comprehensive information and assessments that will help them choose the hair loss treatment that will best meet their individual need.

A variety of factors can contribute to alopecia, with hereditary being the most common. Recent surgery, medications, and hormonal changes can cause temporary hair loss. Malnutrition, illness, thyroid and autoimmune disorders could also play a role. While sudden or severe loss may be an indication of health concerns and require medical intervention, normal thinning and some hair loss can be expected as we age.

Hair follicles are established before birth, and their number is determined genetically. Hair is an appendage of the skin that grows out of the follicle. On the average, a healthy person can expect to lose 50 to 100 hairs each day, and these are replaced by new hairs. Baldness occurs when existing hair follicles stop producing hair cells. When the rate of hair loss begins to surpass the rate of replacement, people begin looking for ways to slow the process down.

Each of the comprehensive hair loss treatment reviews on the websites includes information on how the product is designed to work. It concludes whether or not the product actually seems to work, and offers testimonials by consumers who have actually used these products. In general, the objective of hair regrowth products is to rejuvenate the hair follicles, and encourage new growth.

Will Exercise Prevent Further Hair Loss?

Hair loss can occur because of heredity, age, medical conditions and even stress. Too much stress can cause your hair to fall out, stall its growth and maybe even lead you to pull out your own strands. Exercise can help you deal with stress and may lessen hair loss caused by it, but it may not have an effect on other types of loss. See your doctor about your hair loss concerns.

Stress and Hair Loss

Three types of hair loss can be associated with stress. One is alopecia areata, in which your white blood cells attack your follicles, causing the hair to fall out and stop growing. Emotional and physical stress can also lead to telogen effluvium, which forces your hair into a “resting phase” and leads to loss. Finally, trichotillomania is a condition in which you compulsively pull out your hair. It is often a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, tension and other negative feelings.

Benefits of Exercise

Almost all exercises, from aerobics to weightlifting to yoga, can help you deal with stress, thereby helping stop resulting hair loss. Regular exercise increases endorphins, the neurotransmitters that make you feel happy and more at ease. It can also help you relax and stop focusing on the negative aspects of your life, calming your mind and body. Additionally, exercise improves your mood and can enhance your sense of control over your body and life.

Limitations of Exercise

Exercise can be a great way to calm down and reduce stress, but there are certain types of hair loss that it is not likely to help. Balding and thinning hair can be caused by a major illness, crash diets, certain medications, autoimmune conditions and fungal infections. If you are genetically predisposed to losing hair as you age, exercise will probably not put a stop to this. However, being active and fit can help you stay calm and healthy, which can keep stress from making your hair loss worse.

Additional Tips

Talk to your doctor about the type of hair loss you are experiencing, as well as any other symptoms, and she/he can give you guidance on both treatments and at-home solutions you can try. Also talk to her about adding regular exercise to your life. Additionally, eating a nutritious, balanced diet can help keep you healthy, as well as prevent hair loss associated with malnourishment or crash diets. If you experience extreme or sudden hair loss or pain, redness or itching on your scalp, seek medical attention.