No matter who you are at some point during the day you will lose hair. Everyone loses hair during the day. Most people will lose up to 100 hairs per day. Some people lose more hair than others however. This may be the result of inherited hair loss or due to disease, excessive stress, damage or injury to the hair and may even result from medication use in some situations.

What causes hair loss?

May things cause hair loss, but the most genetics is more often than not to blame for most hair loss cases. People who lose their hair tend to inherit this trait from their parents. This is commonly referred to as male-pattern or female-patterned hair loss. It may also be referred to as androgenetic alopecia (which is simply a medical term used to describe hair loss). Most people who have this type of hair loss will lose their hair by about age 50.

Some other causes of hair loss that are quite common include the following:

Ringworm – ringworm occurs in the scalp, and is considered is a fungal infection affecting the hair follicles, resulting in hair loss. This is contagious and is most common in children as a hair loss cause.
Stress, either mental or physical – including stress that might result from an illness or injury. Furthermore, stress can increase the speed of the hair loss process of individuals who have genetically inherited the trait. Severe stress, such as the loss of a loved one, severe illness or major surgery, may also lead to hair loss. In addition, anxiety habits, such as hair pulling or scalp rubbing, damage hair follicles.
Chemotherapy, or the medications that are used to combat cancer. Prescription drugs, chemo and radiation therapies, and diseases, such as circulatory disorders and arthritis, can cause hair loss. Temporary hair loss may be initiated by medications, such as blood pressure drugs, Beta Blockers for depression, oral contraceptives as artificial Estrogens, Naproxin Sodium (Nuprin) and others. Also, excessive intake of iron or vitamin A is toxic and can cause hair loss.
Tight Pulling – including that which occurs when a person wears tight braids or tight ponytails. This can also occur when a person frequently uses curling irons.
Frequent Hair Dying – which can make hair weak and fall out.
Your Age – the older you get the thinner your hair becomes, making it much easier to fall out.
An inadequate diet, such as a crash diet or insufficient protein in a person's diet, may cause hair loss. In addition, iron deficiency is another hair loss cause to thinning hair or baldness. The body's protective mechanism will save internal protein by shifting hair into the resting phase. Hair loss will occur two to three months later. Usually new hair growth will be seen again if the person goes back to a healthy diet with adequate amounts of protein.
Skin cancer can directly destroy hair follicles. Also, burns permanently damage the exposed skin deeply, causing baldness.

What are the symptoms?

Hair loss can occur as thinning (you may not notice hairs falling out), or as shedding, with clumps of hair falling out. It can be general -- you lose hair all over your scalp -- or focal, which means you lose it in one area only. In inherited hair loss, men generally develop bald spots on the forehead area or on the top of the head, while women have an overall thinning of the hair throughout the scalp.

Because hair is an important part of appearance, hair loss can result in loss of self-esteem and feeling unattractive, especially in women and teens.

Many people don’t realize that sudden hair loss is something that should be checked out by a doctor or internist. In such cases it is possible that you have a skin infection. You might also consider seeing an endocrinologist to check for imbalances in your hormone levels, particularly androgen imbalances.

How is hair loss diagnosed?

Hair loss is diagnosed through a medical history and physical examination. Your health professional will ask you questions about your hair loss, such as whether your parents have hair loss, when your hair loss started, and how much hair you are losing. He or she will also look at the pattern of your hair loss, examine your scalp, and may tug gently on a few hairs or pull some out.

If the reason for your hair loss is not clear, your health professional may take a sample of your hair or scalp to examine under a microscope, or do a blood test to identify a disease source.

How is it treated?

Some people choose to treat hair loss with medications or surgery, such as hair transplantation. Others choose to wear hairpieces (wigs or toupees) or use different methods of hair styling (dyeing or combing). Hair loss that is caused by a controllable factor, such as stress or a medication, is treated by eliminating the cause. The approach you use depends on the cause of your hair loss and how you feel about it.

Will my hair grow back?

Whether your hair grows back depends on the cause of your hair loss. If you have inherited hair loss, you would need treatment to re-grow your hair. It will not grow back naturally. However, treatment to re-grow hair does not work for everyone. If your hair loss is caused by medication, stress, or damage, hair often grows back after the cause is removed, although sometimes treatment may be needed.

Hair Loss Myths

Almost anyone and everyone has their own ideas when it comes to hair loss. Most people have heard of at least one or two cures for balding. Unfortunately there really aren’t any miracle cures that will restore hair to its natural luster. Most people will not be able to avoid hair loss if they are genetically wired for male or even female patterned hair loss. Here are some of the more common myths regarding balding and hair loss that most people fall victim to:

Myth #1 – Male pattern baldness is typically inherited from the mother’s side of the family. This is false. There have been several studies that show that male pattern baldness can be inherited from either side of the family.

Myth #2 – If you stand on your hand or hang upside down you will increase the amount of blood flowing to the head, thus reducing hair loss. OK this one is definitely false. Yes, you may increase the amount of blood flowing to your head if you stand on it, but it won’t prevent you from losing your hair.

Myth #3 – If you cut the hair on your head, it will grow back stronger and faster. Hair typically gets weathered on a day to day basis, and may get slightly thinner around the shaft as it grows. Essentially when someone cuts their hair they are basically cutting it back to a level where there is less wear and thinning, thus it appears the hair is slightly thicker. However it won’t grow back any faster than it did before cutting, and the number of hair follicles present wont change.

Myth #4 – If you wear a hat frequently you will lose your hair. This is only true if you wear a hat that is extremely tight on a frequent basis. If you have a hat that fits well you shouldn’t have any trouble at all.

Myth #5 – Towel drying the hair very vigorously can make it fall out faster. Well, there is a school of thought that suggests that rubbing the hair stimulates more growth, but this is false. You won’t actually promote hair loss by rubbing your hair either. The only hairs that will come out are the ones that were going to fall out anyway.

Myth #6 – Blow drying can result in increased hair loss. This is simply false. It can damage hair, but not cause balding.

Myth #7 – If you clear the scalp of sebum trapped hairs will be free. This is also false. When hair is dead it is simply not coming back.

Myth #8 – If you rub curry on your scalp the hair will grow back. This one is just plain silly, and definitely false.

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

Natural hair loss remedies often inspire images of father and son teams selling bottles of a vaguely purple liquid off the back of a wagon at a fair. At least, they inspire those images in people who are fond of old movies! The fact is that until quite recently, due to images like these, most people viewed natural hair loss remedies as scams that preyed on those who had no other options.

Unfortunately, there are some scams still out there today. However, some truly effective natural hair loss remedies have made their way into the marketplace. Many of these products have shown themselves to be as legitimate as any of the prescription treatments that are available.

Anyone who has been in a nutrition store knows that a lot of things on the shelves do not do what they claim to do. Producers of natural remedies are allowed to get away with this, because they are not generally held to the same standards as pharmaceutical companies.

Hair loss treatments, natural or otherwise, do not work for everyone. There are more natural treatments that fail to help those who use them, because natural products do not have to undergo the same testing and research as pharmaceutical products. This means that more natural treatments can find their way into the market place.

A handful of companies that produce natural hair loss treatments have gone out of their way to have independent research done on their products. In many cases, the FDA has been brought in to do testing. Administration reports on some of these items indicate that they are at least as effective at combating pattern hair loss as most prescription products available.

Some natural treatments involve supplements, topical serums, and revitalizing shampoos. The items are used in conjunction over a certain period of time (usually three, six, or twelve months). Each item is designed to stop thinning and spark growth. Many of these natural solutions can effectively work on the entire scalp, which is a claim that few prescription products can make.

Some groups that specialize in natural hair loss treatments have chosen to have their products reviewed by the FDA. The FDA has researched and found that there are natural remedies (most include the DHT blockers Beta Sitosterol and Saw Palmetto) that work for androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss). In fact, many natural products have been found to work on more of the scalp than most prescription treatments. These remedies can treat hair loss on the crown, vertex, and the front hairline, the three spots most usually affected.

Herbal Hair Loss Remedies

Herbs and botanicals hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body's natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers, but there is growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer encouragement to many people.

Ginko biloba -- this popular herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair re-growth. The recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day, spread over three doses.

Green tea (Camellia sinesis) -- it is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form, as instructed by the manufacturer.

He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) -- also known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.

Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) -- derived from the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.

Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) -- this is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair re-growth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) -- this has long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.

Hair growth shampoo

Hair growth shampoo is often one part of a total hair loss treatment system. Shampoo is used three to five times a week to stimulate growth. At the same time, a person will take a vitamin or medicinal supplement, and apply topical solutions directly to the scalp. While many people are quick to dismiss hair loss treatments, and especially hair growth shampoo, great strides have been made in the industry, and many shampoos are actually quite effective.

There are shampoos that have no real hair growth stimulants in them, but they give the appearance of growth. These shampoos can be used by both men and women who want to have thicker-looking hair. It should be pointed out that these products can make it look like someone has more hair than he actually does, but they cannot stop hair loss.

When looking for a hair growth shampoo, it is a good idea to look for a product that has some type of DHT blocker in it. DHT is considered to be a major cause of pattern hair loss. Stopping production of DHT is crucial in not only saving hair, but stimulating growth.

There are natural shampoos that possess Beta Sitosterol and Saw Palmetto, two DHT blockers. Unlike most natural hair growth products, these have been proven to effectively slow the DHT conversion process. Using these shampoos is as easy as using any normal shampoo. However, most hair growth shampoos are not to be used every day. When using the shampoo along with other hair growth products, it is important to note if there are specific times that each part of the treatment needs to take place.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern hair loss is the most commonly known type of hair loss in the world. Everyone is familiar with it, and most men, in one way or another, fear it. The look of it is recognizable. Hair on the back and sides of the head remains pretty much intact, but that on the crown and the vertex slowly thins until, one day, it is completely gone. The front hairline recedes until it, too, is relatively non-existent.

There are a number of things that people attribute male pattern hair loss to. Most say it is hereditary, casting blame on a man's maternal grandfather. Other people say it has to do with stress, or wearing a baseball cap too much. Whatever, its deeper cause, the actual process of pattern baldness is linked to the production of DHT. DHT, which is converted from testosterone, affects hair growth cycles and leads to baldness. There are many products that claim they can stop this process, but only a few have been consistently effective.

There was a time when a man losing his hair could either embrace his new look or invest in a toupee. There are far more options available today, but not all of them are effective. Hair transplant surgery has worked for many. When done well, it can give a man a natural, functional head of hear. However, hair transplant surgery is generally expensive, recovery time can be long, and there are risks inherent in any surgical procedure. Also, if not handled properly, the result can look less-than-realistic.

There are products on the market that are far less expensive and generally less painful than surgery. Some of these products are chemically derived, employing the use of substances like finasteride. Other products are natural, made up of botanicals, vitamins, or minerals. Natural products do not produce the side effects of their synthetic counterparts, but they are not subject to the same tests, so in some cases it is difficult to determine exactly how a natural product prevents male pattern hair loss.

Hair Transplants and Hair Transplantation

Even extremely bald men still have a ring of hair around the back and sides of their heads. This hair is not lost during the balding process because the follicles themselves are not affected by DHT, the hormone that causes the follicles in the front and top of the head to shrink in size and stop growing hair.

In hair transplantation surgery a piece of this skin containing these follicles is removed from the back and sides of the head. The follicles are then extracted from the surrounding tissue and then are reinserted into the balding areas of the scalp.

Since the follicles themselves are not affected by the hormone DHT, they continue to grow hair even after they have been moved from the back of the head to the front of the head.

In most cases doctors will concentrate the placement of the hairs to the front and top of the heads at the expense of the crown because this frames the face and give the best aesthetic result.

Unless patients use a drug like Propecia after having a transplant, they will continue to see an increase in hair loss from the non-transplanted hairs that were growing there before the transplant. In this case additional transplant procedures may be performed to increase the density. Due to the limited amount of skin that can be removed at one time, 2,500 grafts is usually the most that can be done at one time.

While it is impossible to have the same density that existed before the hair loss, with careful placement of the follicles by the doctor, the illusion of a full head of hair can be created.

How to get the best looking results -
Follicular Unit Extraction vs. Older Methods of Hair Transplantation

There are good transplants and then there are bad ones. There are several factors that are important to consider when looking at hair transplants. Among the more important factors to consider include the skill and experience of the staff, determining whether or not someone is a solid candidate, and what technique will be used.

Even the most talented doctor couldn’t make hair look very natural from grafts that don’t look good to start with. When hair transplantation first started, plugs that resembled doll hair were used, and unfortunately this technology lasted for several years. This is the bad image most people have in their head when they think of hair transplantation. Fortunately however new technology and insights have allowed doctors to now use mini and even micro grafts that help create a more natural appearing hair line. Even these however don’t look 100 percent natural. In order for hair transplantation to look 100 percent natural, it has to duplicate hair that exists in nature perfectly.

On a natural head of hair, the scalp grows hair in small bundles that are referred to as follicular units. The existence of these units for many years was actually ignored by many doctors that were performing hair transplant surgery.

Every adult has a follicular unit that is made up of one to four “full thickness” follicles. Typically a follicular unit will also contain between one and two “vellus” or fine hairs. In addition the unit is packed full of sebaceous or oil glands, small nerves and blood vessels, and even a fine band of collagen which is referred to as a perifolliculum. This unit is responsible for producing hair on the skin, and must remain intact in order to insure the highest growth potential and a natural looking shape.

In Follicular Unit Transplantation, a surgical tech will cut a graft out of donor tissue and then use microscopes to make sure that each of the units stays together so they can be maintained in a more natural looking state.

Who are the best candidates?

Commercials and advertisements for hair transplants often make it appear that all people are great candidates for a hair transplants, but that's not necessarily the case. While each person should be evaluated on an individual basis, these are the general rules of thumb for the best candidates who can most benefit from surgical hair restoration.

Age

Young patients (18-25) are usually not good candidates because they have recent hair loss which most likely will progress further. Having a hair transplant so early can result in the incorrect distribution of a finite amount of donor hair because the doctor has no way of knowing exactly how severe the future hair loss will be. This can result in the person being dissatisfied with the results in the future. Recent hair loss is best addressed through drug therapies like Rogaine and Propecia.

Sex

Hair loss in men and women is usually different in appearance. Men have localized areas of thinning, while women have a diffuse thinning throughout their entire head. Most men are good candidates except for those with diffuse type thinning. Most women are not good candidates if they have diffuse thinning but some women do have localized areas of loss which do make them good candidates.

Extent of hair loss

The more stabilized the hair loss, the easier it is for the doctor to put grafts into the right areas. Recent hair loss is best treated with drugs like Rogaine and Propecia.

Hair type

The thicker and coarser your hair, the more density it will have and the betters results you will have from a transplant. Wavy hair, because it has more body, gives a more dense appearance than straight hair.

Density

Density is defined as the number of hairs per unit of surface area and as may be expected, the higher the density, the more hair available for transplantation.

Race

Asians typically have hair that is very straight and has less follicular density than Caucasians. Asian patients should consult with doctors who have had experience with Asian hair.

Blacks have curly coarse hair which is advantageous to hair transplantation, they also have darker skin so the transplanted hairs are not contrasted against much lighter skin so the appearance is much better. On the negative side, blacks tend to have keloid scarring so they have a greater chance of having more noticeable donor scars.

Caucasians have a wide range of hair and skin types and the people who have the best results are those with coarser, denser hair and whose skin color is similar to their hair color. The less the contrast between the two, the better the results will be.

Scalp laxity

The looser the scalp, the more donor hair that can be removed and the less chance there is of scarring. Doctors check scalp laxity before operating which will indicate how much donor hair can be removed. People with tight scalps should look into the new types of donor harvesting which does not require that donor tissue is removed.

Female Hair Loss

Thinning hair in women is a condition that is not talked about nearly as much as male pattern hair loss. Granted, hair loss in men is far more common and, in most cases, is expected. However, the fact that thinning hair in women does not occur as often and is not seen as "normal," usually makes it much harder for women to deal with it.

Telogen effluvium (TE) is basically the shedding of hair that will grow back. Many women who approach doctors with hair thinning issues are often told it is TE and that there is nothing to worry about. In many cases, though, these women are undergoing androgenic alopecia or alopecia areata. The hair lost in these processes does not grow back.

Androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) is caused by the same thing in women as in men -- testosterone. Testosterone, while at lower levels in women, can convert to DHT, which thins hair and reduces scalp coverage. The effect of DHT is not usually as drastic in women, but it is often noticeable. While a woman's front hairline will probably not be altered, she can lose hair on the crown and vertex of her head.

The Main Causes

Some thinning hair in women is not caused as much by higher levels of testosterone, but by lower levels of estrogen. At the onset of menopause, or even months before, many women experience a decrease in estrogen levels. Estrogen is a major benefactor of hair, adding to hair's length and breadth. An estrogen deficiency can lead to a form of alopecia that is similar to male pattern hair loss.

Common Treatments for Hair Loss in Women

Female hair loss is a problem that has been ignored by many in the medical community for years. Women who approach doctors about hair loss are often told that either nothing is wrong or that nothing can be done. Usually, both of these claims are incorrect. There are many women (some studies show over 20 percent of women past their 40s) that suffer from some form of hair loss.

There are two major types of hair loss in women. The first, alopecia areata, occurs when the immune system begins to attack hair follicles. Sometimes, this is linked to a thyroid problem, but there are other causes, as well. Treatment usually consists of a person receiving an injection of cortisone-like medication into the scalp. The second type, androgenic alopecia, is the pattern baldness that is usually associated with men. When it occurs in women, it is generally more mild, but that does not mean it doesn't cause problems for those who suffer from it.

Pattern baldness in women usually affects the temples and the crown. Unlike with men, the front hair-line is typically preserved. Pattern baldness is most often linked to hormones. More specifically, it is most often linked to testosterone. Testosterone is converted to DHT, which plays a major part in hair loss.

Estrogen, unlike testosterone, is good for hair. This is why women generally enjoy longer, thicker hair than most men. However, as women age, estrogen levels can drop and testosterone levels can rise. One result of this is that growth cycles will shorten, and hair will begin to thin out. There are a number of products designed to block the production of DHT. Many of these products were created for men, but have been altered to work specifically for women. There are natural products, synthetic products, and some treatments that are hybrids of both.

Hair Care Tips

Be sure you eat an appropriate amount of protein each and every day.
Consider an old remedy that required the use of whisked egg yolk in the hair once per week. This is a natural protein that may help restore hair. You should leave in place for at least 30 minutes.

Remember that natural hair treatments won’t replace all hair loss.

There are some hair styles that can help add body to fine hair. Consider short hair that is all one length.

Consider using only lightweight gels, which can help make hair appear full and flowing.

Be sure to have your hair trimmed every 3-4 weeks to help reduce split ends.

Look for a stylist that you can depend on and one that will make solid recommendations based on your hair texture and the shape your hair is in.

Proper care. If you take decent care of your hair you might head off unnecessary hair loss. This includes brushing, washing, moisturizing and avoiding overly tight hairdos for extended periods of time.

Use only mild or natural shampoos and conditioners that won’t deposit a lot of unnecessary chemicals onto your hair follicles.

Avoid using your fingernails on your scalp when shampooing, which can damage the follicle. Instead be sure to scrub your scalp using only the pads of your fingers.

Avoid using harsh chemical treatments such as perms or straightening if possible. Bleaching and dyeing can also damage hair. Hot curling irons, use of a dryer on a high setting and even tight braiding can also result in hair loss.

Avoid overly harsh chemicals, which can actually damage the follicle, leading to hair loss. If you do dye your hair regularly or use other chemical treatments, consider seeking out the advice of an experienced professional.

When possible pat your hair dry with a towel. Avoid rubbing the hair, which can damage the hair and cause split ends.
If you have to dry use a cool setting and dry only at the scalp. Allow the ends of your hair to dry naturally, which will reduce or limit splitting.

Avoid using hard bristle brushes to detangle your hair when wet. This may result in unnecessary breakage.

When you have to comb out knots or tangles, always start from the end and work your way toward the scalp. Consider using a spray on conditioner on your hair and concentrate on the ends, which will help reduce breaking and splitting.

Consider hairstyles that do not require damaging hair care practices. Short and layered cuts can result in a more full or thicker appearance.

Remember that the sun can damage your hair just as severely as it can damage your skin. Use a leave-in-conditioner when you plan on being outdoors for a long time. Find one with sunscreen if possible. If you don’t want to use a spray in, consider using a hat that will help protect your hair from UV rays.

Use a clarifying shampoos after swimming. The main ingredient should be E.D.T.A., which neutralizes chlorine. This can help prevent excessive dryness.

Wear a hat to protect the bald spots on your head.

Avoid high stress situations that can result in pulling and hair loss. Consider meditation or relaxation therapy.

Always consume nutritious foods. You have to eat a well balanced diet that contains adequate amounts of protein to produce luscious locks.

Nutritional Tips to Support Healthy Hair Growth

1. Be sure to consume enough protein.

Protein is essential for healthy hair growth because the amino acids in protein help promote the creation of new cells. If you consume inadequate levels of protein over a sustained period of time, your hair will be forced into a resting phase followed by shedding. There are many adequate sources of dietary protein including fish, poultry, lean meats, eggs, soy, grains, seeds and more. You should consume at least 15% of your daily calories from protein.

2. Consume adequate amounts of nutritious carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are essentially energy builders. They also help the body grow vital tissues such as hair. Carbohydrates also provide adequate levels of the B vitamins, which are important for healthy hair growth.

You should concentrate on consuming the majority of your carbs from non-refined sources. Non-refined sources include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and brown rice. Processed carbs are full of sugar and white flower, thus are not beneficial to healthy hair growth. Approximately 50-60% of your calories can come from nutritious carbohydrates.

3. Eat an adequate amount of healthy fats.

Fat is actually a very necessary and beneficial part of the diet. The key is consuming fats that are healthy. Aim to eat monounsaturated and polyunsaturated forms of fat, such as those found in avocados, nuts and olive oil. Fat should comprise approximately 20-30% of your daily diet.

4. Determine a nutritional balance that meets your own needs.

There are many different factors that influence how much of each food you should eat. Age, sex, your generally health and even your activity level will influence the amount of food you need to eat. There are certain principles however that apply to everyone including:

- Eat a well balanced diet with much variety.

- Consume junk foods only in moderation.

- Choose whole foods that are not over processed when possible.

- Avoid overcooking food.

5. Consider supplementing when necessary.

There are some supplements that can be beneficial for hair health and for your overall well being. Even if you eat a healthy diet, you may need to supplement for a number of reasons:

- The nutrient density of foods may be reduced by farming methods.

- Your body may not be able to absorb all of the nutrients from your food.

- Chronic dieting may impact the level of nutrients in your body.

- Exercise can impact the number of nutrients your body retains.

You may find that a multi-vitamin is sufficient to meet your needs, but keep in mind a number of supplements are available that specifically cater to people wanting to improve the condition of their hair and skin.

Reviews & Ratings

Rogaine

Rogaine was the first FDA approved treatment for hair re-growth. To this day, it is recommended by more dermatologists than any other pharmaceutical hair loss solution. Regardless of the research and medical community support it has experienced, Rogaine does not work for everyone. Many people who use it will not see any results. In fact, there are websites dedicated to people talking about their negative experiences with the product. However, there are success stories, as well, so it is helpful for people to talk to their doctors about using Rogaine to see if it might work for their specific cases.

Minoxidil is the active drug in Rogaine. Originally, minoxidil was taken orally, and it was used to combat high blood pressure. When it was discovered that the drug had the potential to treat pattern hair loss, it was converted into a topical solution. This is the form that minoxidil takes in Rogaine.

Rogaine is applied directly to the scalp every day, once in the morning and once in the evening. It is important that the scalp is dry before Rogaine is used. It is also crucial that Rogaine has time to be absorbed, so one should wait 15 to 20 minutes before using any hair care or styling products.

Rogaine is now available in stores, because a prescription is not required for most treatments. However, it is still a drug and it can have side effects. Some people experience scalp irritation and itching when using the product.

Propecia and Avodart

Hair loss drugs including Propecia (finasteride) and Avodart (Dutasteride) many times can reverse or even halt alopecia areata in many people that use them.

Some studies have suggested that as many as 80% of people that use Propecia will be able to stop or reverse any hair loss they experience at least to some extent. The preliminary trials that have been conducted for Avodart suggest that it will work even better than Propecia.

Unfortunately neither of these mediations are able to restore hair in the front regions of the scalp. Many drugs including drugs like Rogaine are only able to help re-grow hair that is located on the crown of the head. Typically hair transplant surgery is the only option for people looking to restore hair in this area.

Some studies also suggest that these two drugs are less effective when older men use them. Typically Propecia and Avodart will work best for men who have had hair loss problems for a period of time less than five years.

Avacor

Avacor draws comparisons to pharmaceutical and natural hair loss treatments. This is due to the fact that Avacor employs the use of both chemical and organic substances. Its use of both methods has drawn many people to the product.

One part of the Avacor treatment is closely linked to Rogaine. It is a topical solution that makes use of the drug, minoxidil. The ointment is applied directly to the scalp twice a day. Like Rogaine, it is important to use the solution correctly each time. It is most effective when the scalp is dry and when the product, itself, has time to dry. This means that people should not use styling products right after using the topical solution, and they should not go right to bed.

Along with the topical solution, Avacor also consists of natural supplements that are taken orally and a natural, revitalizing shampoo. Ginko biloba, sabal senualata, and bilberry are a few of the substances used in the caplets. The shampoo is also natural, as is the serum (Avacor Boost!) that gives hair a thicker appearance after one use.

The problem with the natural supplements in Avacor is that most have not been proven to stop hair loss or stimulate re-growth. The most successful natural hair loss treatments are those that use DHT blockers like Saw Palmetto and Beta Sitosterol. There are natural substances that the FDA has researched and approved for hair loss solutions, but Avacor uses many natural materials that have not been reviewed by the FDA or any other independent sources.

Glossary of Terms

androgenetic alopecia -- Androgenetic alopecia, also known as common balding in men and hereditary thinning in women, is a common trait caused by androgens in genetically susceptible men and women. It begins in the teens, 20s, or 30s in both sexes.

alopecia areata -- Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah air-ee-AH-tah) is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. This common but very challenging and capricious disease affects approximately 1.7 percent of the population overall, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. Due to the fact that much of the public is still not familiar with alopecia areata, the disease can have a profound impact on one's life and functional status, both at work and at school.

In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles are mistakenly attacked by a person's own immune system (white blood cells), resulting in the arrest of the hair growth stage. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss ( alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss ( alopecia universalis).

chemotherapy -- Complete or partial hair loss can occur with some chemotherapy drugs and can be very distressing. Some drugs cause no hair loss or the amount of hair lost is so slight it is hardly noticeable.

Some chemotherapy can damage hair and make it brittle. If this happens the hair may break off near the scalp a week or two after the chemotherapy has started.

The amount of hair lost, if any, depends on the type of drug or combination of drugs used, the dose given and the person's individual reaction to the drug.

DHT -- DHT (dihydro testosterone) is considered to be a major cause of pattern baldness. The 5-alpha-reductase (5AR) enzyme converts testosterone to DHT. After the conversion occurs, the newly formed substance attaches itself to hair follicles. This act cuts down the hair growth cycle, which over time, leads to decreased coverage of the scalp.

While DHT production is a major problem for men's hair, it can also cause baldness in women. Even though women have less testosterone than men, there is enough to convert to DHT. Also, women over 40 will often see a decrease in estrogen. Estrogen is good for hair, and when it is depleted DHT has a better chance of taking hold and doing damage.

DHT blockers -- DHT blockers are one of the best weapons in the fight against pattern hair loss. DHT, which is a converted form of testosterone, locks onto hair follicles, affecting the hair's growth cycle. As DHT continues to wreak havoc, hair will become thinner, and eventually bald spots will develop. DHT blockers stop this process at the beginning, removing the harmful substance from hair before it has a chance to do anything.

follicular unit hair transplantation - When you view hair growth under a magnifying glass or microscope you may see that it typically grows in clusters that may sometimes consist of three or more hairs. These units are commonly referred to as follicular units and may be arranged in an irregular pattern. The best hair transplant techniques will mimic nature and relocate each unit from a donor section to the balding site one unit at a time.

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