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Hair Loss and a Healthy Diet

Nutritionists say you can improve your hair’s health by feeding hair what it needs to be healthier from the inside out.  While the quality, quantity, and distribution of your hair is genetically pre-determined and cannot be changed, solving hair malnutrition problems can make a big difference in the health and appearance of your hair.  •    Is your hair breaking more easily?•    Is your hair duller than normal?•    Is your hair more limp than usual?•    Are you noticing more hair fall-out than normal?Since your hair is often a barometer of your body’s health, if you notice hair thinning and fall-out, consult a board-certified dermatologist for an accurate diagnoses of your hair loss and consult your primary care physician in case hair loss is a symptom of a larger systemic health issue. In addition, evaluate your own diet and keep a food diary for about seven days to identify if you are falling into any of these bad hair diet traps.Also, beware of ‘vitamin-enriched’ masks and conditioners that sit on top of hair because they can’t improve hair’s health. Stylists and doctors alike agree that applying proteins like collagen to your hair won’t change hair’s structure because hair is composed of dead cells, like fingernails, that don’t absorb and can’t ‘use’ the nutrients. You need to “feed” your hair what it needs to be healthy from the inside out!•    Appetizers:  Steer clear of sugary, fatty foods. “Junk food is the worst offender,” advises dietitian Joanne Larsen, M.S, R.D. of askthedietitan.com. “Junk food fills you up with empty calories that have no nutritional value and your body can’t use the calories for building and maintaining healthy tissue, like skin and hair, let alone overall health.”•    Main Course:    According to Larsen, hair is made of keratin protein and a diet deficient in protein will show up in hair thinning and loss along with dulling and breakage. The United States Recommended Daily Allowance (USRDA) Food Guide Pyramid advises that at least 15% of daily calories should come from high-quality protein-rich foods like lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds.  According to the USRDA, Depending on weight, age, and physical activity level, adult men aged 25-51+ need 63 grams of protein (around six ounces of protein per day). Women aged 25-51+ need 50 grams (around five ounces).•    Side dishes: Be sure all eight essential amino acids which are included in ‘complete proteins’ are eaten every day. Some complete proteins include milk, egg whites, and a variety of legumes like beans, peas and nuts. If a person eats a variety of legumes, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and grains, they will get all eight essential amino acids an adult needs, as directed by the USRDA. In addition ‘essential fatty acids’ are not produced within the human body and must be taken from your daily diet are essential to shiny, vibrant, healthy hair and the cellular function necessary for hair growth. The use of cold-pressed nut and seed oils, such as flax seed oil, daily on salads and in any dishes that do not require heating contain the essential omega-6 fatty acids while omega-3 fatty acids are contained in fish.•    Drinks anyone?  Avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks because they leach important vitamins and minerals from your body. These poor drink choices also take the place of healthier choices like water, green or black teas or fresh, all-natural fruit juices.  In addition the human body needs about 64 ounces of water (eight, 8-oz. glasses) to maintain health. Are you getting enough? After urinating the first time after waking up, your urine should be colorless and odorless for the remainder of the day. If it is a concentrated yellow, or has a strong odor, increase your water intake, explains Larsen.•    Desserts: Don’t crash diet because a diet very low in calories (less than 600 calories per day) also deprives hair, as well as the rest of your body, of the necessary nutrients for health.If you want more information on serving sizes of actual food choices, portions, and menu plans, go to mypyramid.gov to view a great chart that makes the information clear and easy to use in your daily diet, as recommended by the USRDA. Also, a good, whole food multi-vitamin and mineral supplement can help when your diet is out of balance.  Larsen says beware hair analysis services that have not yet been determined appropriate for general nutritional evaluation. “Even though businesses in hair analysis operate, they are a waste of money,” she says.

Evertything You Should Know About Hair Replacement

For many people losing hair can be an extremely upsetting and disturbing experience. People who suffer from hair loss usually experience forms of anxiety as a result of losing their hair. This is often a very mild feeling of insecurity or may be apparent as a loss of confidence. This is because many people believe that if they lose their hair that people perceive them differently to when they have a full head of hair.
The fact is that in many cases people do have a different perception of someone that has lost their hair but in reality the effect of this is minimal.
Nevertheless the psychological effects of losing hair should not be understated. Both men and women experience a loss of confidence as a result of hair loss and this is because for many their hair is considered a vital part of their sexuality. For both men and women hair is associated with sexuality and those without hair often feel that they are not as sexy as they were with a full head of hair.
It is fair to say that this tends to affect women more often than it affects men. Women are generally less prone to hair loss than men and because there are lots of cases in which men lose their hair it is in some ways more widely accepted in our culture. The negative image of baldness is somewhat surprising when compared to the image of hair loss in primates.
Gorillas actually revere members of their social group that are balding. Indeed gorillas have been found to rub their heads against hard objects in an attempt to reduce the thickness of their hair. This is seen to make them more attractive to the opposite sex. Why is this not always the case with humans?
Causes
One of the main causes of hair loss is as a result of hereditary factors. Male pattern baldness is the most common form of hair loss and there are hundreds of thousands of men that experience this type of hair loss. It is considered a natural form of hair loss and many people decide against a course of action and accept it. Pattern baldness also happens to women but far fewer women suffer this form of hair loss as men.
Another cause of hair loss is trichotillomania. This is a disease in which people that suffer compulsively pull out their own hair. The hair loss that is caused by this disease tends to leave bald on the sufferers head in the areas in which the hair was pulled out. The positive thing about this type of hair loss is that the hair can usually grow back providing the sufferer is able to stop pulling it out. Another form of hair loss that is often experienced is that caused by radiation as a result of treatment for cancer. This type of hair loss can be particularly upsetting but usually clears up after treatment has ended.
Hair replacement techniques
Hair transplant surgery has been around for around one hundred years. In medical terms it is a very young discipline and as a result it has experienced a great number of advancements in recent years. The techniques that are used have been updated and amended throughout the years and as a result refinements in the ways procedures are carried out are happening all the time.
Techniques have developed to the extent where people can have hair replacement surgery and the results can compare to the look of natural hair.

Natural Remedies for Hair Loss, Dandruff and Hair Problems

Hairs are very peculiar characteristics of mammalian groups in animal kingdom. It has a very important part to play in living beings. Humans also have hairs that serves important role in their lives. From very ancient times hairs have been a beauty symbols for both men and women. People are now days spending a great part of their earrings for hair care. People around the globe have passion for hairs. And hair care industry is growing day by day to fulfill the requirements of the people.
But first we should know what are hairs and how to they grow?
Hairs are the outgrowths from the follicles present on the skin. These follicles are situated on the dermis, the second layer of the skin and extend up to the epidermis that is the outermost layer of the skin. Through this follicle their grows out a hair. Hair is composed of keratin with chemical constituent like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Hair growth varies from person to person but on an average hair grows of about 5 to 10 mm per month. Maximum growth of hairs takes place at the age of about 15 to 30 years. It is seen that hair growth is more in summers as compared to winters.
Scalp (skin on head) consists of seven components. These are papilla of hairs, hair shaft, mouth of follicle, stratum granulosum, sebaceous gland and oil duct. Hair also possesses a life cycle. Firstly hairs grows from the follicle, then the hair enters a rapidly growing phase, then the hair enters a stagnant phase i.e. inactive phase and then hair dies off and ultimately fell off. An average life of hairs varies from 2 to 5 years.
Majorly seen hair related problems in general life are:
1. Hair loss
2. Premature graying of hairs
3. Alopecia
4. DandruffHair loss
A disease common globally, which has really created chaos around the world now a days. A very common problem which as been faced globally. Recent data shows tendency of hair fall has increased in past two decades. Causes of hair fall are
· Deficiency of useful minerals and vitamins in body
· Mental and emotional stress
· Prolonged illness
· Hormonal imbalance commonly seen in hyperthyroidism, imbalance in androgen and estrogen.
· Usually after child birth due hormonal imbalance
· Certain medications like blood thinners, vitamin A if taken in excess amount, non-contraceptive pills, anti depressant drugs and medicines used in chemotherapy for treating cancer patients.
· Certain infections that can promote hair loss for example fungal infection on scalp
· Diseases like diabetes may also be a precipitating factor in hair loss.
· Poor blood circulation or excess blood loss
· Poor nutrition
· Lack of sleep and life style disorder
· Hereditary factors.Premature graying of hairs
Very common problem especially amongst teens now days. Due certain factors there is early graying of hairs in young people. Color to hairs is provided by amount melalin content present in the body. More the melalin content darker is the hair colour and vice versa. Following are the causes due to which premature graying of hairs occurs.
· Faulty dietary habits
· Lack of sound sleep
· Stress
· Deficiency of minerals iron, copper and iodine
· Lack of vitamin B in diet
· Maintaing unhygienic condition of hairs
· Bad circulation of blood in scalp.
· Washing of hairs with hot water
· Drying hairs with electric dryer
· Use of chemicals like hair dyes, shampoos
· Hereditary factors.Aloplecia
Aloplecia is a synonym of baldness. It is of many types.
1. Androgen aloplecia or male pattern baldness it is progressive thinning of hairs
2. Aloplecia areata- it involves loss of some hairs from head
3. Aloplecia trotalis- it involves loss of all the hairs from head
4. Aloplecia universalis it involves loss of all hairs from head and bodyCauses of aloplecia
· Emotional stress
· Severe illness
· Hormonal changes
· Improper hair care
· Exposure to certain medication like antidepressant, blood thinning medicines
· Ringworm can also lead to aloplecia
· Fungal infection is also another reason by which aloplecia can occur
· Due to protein deficiency
· Iron deficiency can also lead to alopleciaDandruff
Dandruff is a condition of flaking of scalp. It is known as seborric dermatitis in common terms, is the inflammation of upper layers of skin causing scales on the scalp and other body parts. Dandruff appears when rate at which dead cells of the scalp shed and their replacement speeds up. Regular dandruff appears as white or gray flakes in sever conditions it may include oily flakes, which are yellow in colour. Dandruff begins at the age between 12 to 15years i.e. the age of puberty and is seen in old people. Most prominent age grouped people who are affected are people who are in age between 25 to 35 years. Dandruff can affect any part of the body possessing hairs like eyebrows, cheeks ears and chest Following are the causes of dandruff
· Hormonal imbalance
· Poor health condition
· Poor hygiene of hairs
· Allergic reactions
· Emotional stress
· Consumption of high fatty and carbohydrate diet
· Consumption of innutritious food
· Hereditary factors
· Excessive use of chemicals on hairs like hair styling gels, colors, sprays etc.
· Cold and dry weather conditions
· In adequate washing of hairs.Some hair maintenance tips:
· Take proper nutritious diet
· Shampoo your hairs regularly with non chemical base shampoo or mild herbal shampoo
· Always dissolve shampoo in water before using it.
· Use a conditioner after you use shampoo
· Always rinse off all the shampoo with clean and soft water
· Get your hairs trimmed regularly to avoid split ends
· Avoid using hairstyling gels, hair sprays, chemical based hair colors
· Comb and brush your hairs regularly
· Avoid usage of electric driers and let them air dry
· Gentle hair massage should be done regularly to improve blood circulation
· Avoid undue stress
· At least have a sound sleep for 6-8 hours
· Oil should be left on hairs and scalp for not more than 2 hours.
· Take proper amount of rest and about6-8 hours of sound sleep.Hair growth and maintenance remedies by herbal methods: Amla: A powerful hair growth promoter, which helps us in redefining our lost hairline. As this herb is sheet virya i.e. of cold potency it helps in suppressing pitta dosha, which is the main culprit in causing hair fall and premature graying of hairs. Indian women, for maintaing long and silky hairs have used Amla since ages and to deal with any kind of hair related problems. As it acts on enhancing liver functioning, which is very important in proper digestion, helps in creating a healthy environment in our body, which will lead to good growth of hairs, and body. It is a well-established fact that by using Amla regularly, graying of hairs can easily be delayed, as it is a well-known rasayan mentioned in ayurvedic texts. Brahmi: a well-known herb in India used since time immemorial for enhancing hair growth and memory power. Due to its actions it helps in promoting hair growth faster. It possess certain properties which helps in repairing the damages occurred in hair follicles due to lack of maintenance and helps in normalizing the damage done to rediscover the lost persona of hairs. This is the only reason you can still trace out Indian women having very long, black and beautiful hairs inspite of old age. It is also categorized as rasayan in ayurveda and hence possesses the properties of delaying ageing signs in body like graying of hairs. Brahmi also helps in relieving mental fatigue and hence helps in maintaing proper bodily environment that leads to healthy hairs. ZYX herbal hair cream: a unique blend of ayurvedic herbs, which are very effective in hair, related problems. A total solution to hairs and its related problems. ZYX contain certain powerful herbs that are used since centuries to rejuvenate the lost persona due to damage to hairs. It contains herbs like Amla, bhringraj, jatamansi, naleeni, shikakai, mahendi, gambhari, neem and satpodina. These herbs have been used extensively in hair related problems in ayurvedic system of medicine. It helps in revitalizing hairs, and provides new freshness and new power to hairs and hence is very helpful in rediscovering the beautiful hairs. This herbal formulation is completely free from any kind of side effects and chemicals that are the major cause of rise in hair problems in present era. It helps us in getting relieved from hair loss, premature graying of hairs, baldness, aloplecia and dandruff. Its powerful herbal action helps you in getting rid of day-to-day hair problems to make it shiny and healthier day by day. It also helps in promoting growth by stimulating hair follicles. So it can be said that ZYX is the new revolution in hair industry that will fade away all your problems and will make you more confident of yourself like never before when you find your hairs healthier and shinier.

Women Hair Loss – the Causes and Treatments Are Discussed

There is a general belief that hair loss only happens to men. Women are expected by society to carry a full head of hair all their lives. People believe that men are the only ones susceptible to hair thinning or balding, especially if there is a family history.
Hair loss statistics, however, can disprove this theory. A survey done by the American Academy of Dermatology shows that at least 30 million women are facing hair loss issues in the United States. Another study published in Dermatologic Surgery says that a lot of young and middle-aged women suffer from hair loss problems. Moreover, the incidence of female hair loss is continually increasing.Causes of Women Hair Loss
But what causes hair loss in women? To best understand that, it is important to know the hair growth cycle. Scientists say that our hair usually grows at the rate of half an inch a month. This growing phase, called Anagen, usually lasts for two years but it can last as long as six years. After this long period of growth, the Catagen phase comes. This is the transitional period in which the hair stops growing. Finally, Telogen occurs, which is the last resting stage of the hair. This lasts for about five to six weeks. Near the end of Telogen, new strands of hair in the Anagen phase develop and pushes out the old Telogen hair. Around 90 percent of our hair are in Anagen, while the remaining 10 percent are in Telogen.
In those with a genetic predisposition to hair loss, hormones called androgens interfere with the normal hair growth cycle. These androgens are found in men in large amounts and in women in smaller amounts. When testosterone, an androgen, comes in contact with the enzymes found in our hair, it is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen that disturbs the hair growth cycle. DHT induces hair loss since its build up causes hair follicles to shrink and eventually die. For a long time, scientists believed that this is the cause of balding for both men and women.
However, more experts now believe that other types of enzymes and hormones are involved in female balding. What gave rise to this new theory is the difference in the balding pattern between men and women. In females, balding begins at the top of the head and spreads out. In males, however, balding occurs in the different spots – the crown, sides, and back of the head. Moreover, it has been found that male hair loss is usually the result of family history. With women, hair loss can occur at any point of their lives.Treatments for Women Hair Loss
Thus, hair treatments for women are different than those for men. Hair loss drugs, such as finasteride or dutasteride, are commonly prescribed for men. Hair treatments for women, on the other hand, lean more on surgical procedures, such as hair transplantation, and other methods, such as hair extending or weaving. This is because prescription drugs usually have harmful side effects on pregnant or potentially pregnant women; they may bring about deformities in male fetuses. It is thus recommended that permanent hair loss in women be treated through hair weaving (addition of hair by braiding synthetic or human hair to root of original hair) and hair transplantation (transferring bald-resistant scalp areas to a bald area). But before you consider any procedure for hair loss treatment, it is a must to consult your physician.

Hair Transplant – 3 Types of Hair Transplantation Methods

Hair loss remains one of the primary concerns of millions of people worldwide, especially men. It is caused by various factors such as hormonal changes, aging, family history, and trauma such as burns. It usually is the case that the earlier hair loss starts, the more severe it will become. Hair replacement surgery or hair transplantation may be a good option to consider as a reconstructive treatment for baldness.
Hair transplantation involves taking some parts of the scalp that are bald-resistant and transferring them to a bald area. Bald-resistant areas of the scalp are those that are found at the sides and at the back of the head. These transplanted areas will generally grow hair throughout your life since they are proven to be genetically resistant to becoming bald. The transplant would look more natural if only a few hairs are relocated per session. This is because of the fact that human hair grows in one to four strands of hair per grouping of follicle.
In general, there are 3 types of hair transplantation methods.1. Follicular Unit Strip Surgery (FUSS)
In this procedure, a strip of hair from the donor region is taken and implanted on the thinning or balding area. Sutures are then used to close the donor area. The area would take several days to heal. This procedure is best for average to extreme balding cases since it allows several grafts to be transplanted in a single session.2. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
This procedure is more recent and more popular than the first one. What happens here is that the strands of hair are transplanted from the back and sides of your head in groups of one up to four, since this is how hair naturally grows. Because it mimics how human hair actually grows, the procedure delivers results that look more natural. Another advantage that this procedure has over the other is that it does not involve major and deep cuttings. Thus, the recovery time is shorter and the scars that arise are fewer.3. Scalp Reduction
This type of hair transplantation is rarely performed. The bald area is surgically removed and the hair-bearing scalp is stretched in order to replace what has been removed. This method is very costly. It could also increase the possibility of the tightening of the scalp, which would only lead to its thinning.
If you’re considering having a hair transplantation procedure done, you should first understand that the coverage that you had prior to hair loss will never be brought back. What this surgical procedure can do for you is to make your scalp achieve more fullness and cover the thinning areas. Moreover, it is important to know that as with other forms of surgery, hair transplantation carries with it several risks and complications. It is possible that like in other transplant procedures, the skin graft may “die”, thus requiring a repeat of the process. Also, small bumps may form on the scalp. Hair transplantation is normally safe when it is done by a qualified doctor. Still, each case is unique and the reaction to the transplant may differ from case to case. Make sure you understand the whole process before you consider undergoing it.

Dealing with Unpredictable Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is an unpredictable disease affecting about 2% of the world’s population and is the second most common type of hair loss after male and female pattern baldness. It is often called spot baldness or patch baldness due to its patchy balding pattern. In severe cases, it can affect the whole scalp (alopecia totalis) or the entire body (alopecia universalis). It is not yet known what causes alopecia areata. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease triggered by a person’s autoimmune system, which decides to attack its own hair follicles. Sometimes the hair grows back a few years later and stays and sometimes it falls out again. Although there is no treatment for alopecia areata that works 100%, some treatments have been proven to improve this condition. The most popular treatment option, which does not require a doctor’s prescription, is topical minoxidil, such as Rogaine. It can be used alone or in combination with other medicinal treatments that will be discussed later.

The most common prescription treatments for alopecia areata are corticosteroid shots, injected straight into the bald spot, and steroid gels and creams. Corticosteroid injections are a more effective but also the more painful option of the two. The aim of this approach is to suppress the autoimmune reaction but it has been proven to work only on small bald spots. Another common treatment for small bald spots, which is thought to affect the autoimmune reaction, is the application of topical anthralin. Anthralin is a tar-like substance used to treat psoriasis.

Topical immunotherapy is the most common form of treatment for extensive alopecia areata (for more info read: http://www.greyhairloss.com/blog/alopecia-areata-treatments.html). It employs an immunosuppressant such as cyclosporine that is applied to the skin to cause a skin reaction similar to mild eczema, which in some cases leads to hair re-growth. This method is also the most radical form of treatment, causing an array of negative side effects.

Another therapy for extensive alopecia areata is PUVA, which stands for “psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation”, consisting of a topical or oral application of psoralen, followed by ultraviolet radiation. This method is better tolerated than topical immunotherapy but it is also less effective.

A recently conducted clinical study with sulfasalazine also spells some promise for patients with severe cases of alopecia areata. Sulfasalazine is an anti-inflammatory medication first applied to treat rheumatoid arthritis and is hoped to soon be used to treat alopecia areata.

This is the overview of the most common medicinal treatments for alopecia areata. There obviously is a number of other alternative therapies that are claimed to help treat this condition and do not require a doctor’s visit. Consumers should be aware that none of these products has ever been clinically shown to be effective in treating alopecia areata and such claims are legitimate only because these products are not regulated pharmaceuticals but non-regulated cosmetics.

Genetic Predisposition and Hair Thinning

If you’re wondering why you’re beginning to lose your full head of hair at such a young age, the answer may lie in your genes. Thinning hair is more a result of your genetic makeup than any other reasons, including such wild presumptions as wearing hats too much, excessive washing, and other misguided myths. Hair thinning is usually a result of alopecia, a condition which is basically genetic in nature, and is clinically-known as Androgenetic Alopecia. Chances are, your scalp’s fate has been predetermined in the womb. The hair follicles are genetically programmed much like all of your other body parts; included in this program is the time and extent of the baldness which you will incur in your entire lifetime. Hair thinning occurs when specific hormones affect those hair follicles which carry an innate susceptibility to their effects. The human body can manufacture male hormones; this function disregards gender factors, and is applicable to women as well. The three hormones which are usually produced are dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, and testosterone. On the other hand, the hair follicles and skin pores are abundant in an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase; this substance can convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) through the help of the bloodstream. An overabundance of this single hormone, DHT, is known as the primary cause of male-pattern baldness. Some people have an inborn vulnerability for baldness at the top of their heads. During maturity or middle ages, this area is specifically targeted by DHT by binding with the receptors of the susceptible follicles, causing the latter to eventually weaken. Now the normal growth cycle of a hair follicle is three to eight years; at the end of this process, the shaft and strand is separated from the hair follicle, in place of a new strand. But with hair thinning, the growth cycles gets progressively shorter in time, and the hair strand which comes out of the follicle becomes ever thinner in volume and thickness. This process is known as miniaturization. This cycle successively takes on a gradual severity, and will eventually lead to baldness in most of the people who experience it. There are even cases wherein the baldness is so extensive that every treatment alternative is practically ineffective in addressing or reversing the hair loss. However, some cases are temporary, and may be a result of a combination of various factors which include genetic predisposition. The best way to ascertain your actual condition is to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations. The treatment for hair loss comes in a wide variety of topical applications, medications, and even surgery procedures. The most promising alternative thus far is the drug finasteride; it inhibits the conversion of testosterone into DHT, and encourages the hair follicle to bring out new strands in place of old ones. Some of the more drastic procedures involve hair transplants and scalp reduction; these either transplant hair strands on the follicles (one strand at a time), or the scalp itself is ‘stretched’ in an attempt to minimize the extent of the baldness. Consult with your doctor first if you are considering on any of these possible treatment options; your doctor is the best person to decide on which alternative will be the best for you.

The Pricey Hair Restoration Costs

So you have decided that hair restoration and hair transplants are for you! What great news! Now the question becomes exactly are you going to pay for it?
Since the cost of hair restoration and hair transplants can vary wildly between the surgeons who perform this procedure, it is important to do your research to find out not only where you can get the best hair transplant but also where you can get the most bang for your buck.
There are some physicians who charge per graft while there are others who charge per transplant session. There is also such variety in the amount of transplanted hairs that your surgeon will be able to graft at one time.
For example, on average, a single graft can range from 1-5 hairs. Hair transplant clinics also vary in what they can do since some clinics are capable of using 1000 grafts to replace any where between 1000 and 1500 grafts and yet another will be able to replace between 2000 to 4000 hairs.
Strange!
In the recent years and hair restoration costs have become more affordable. Not all that long ago it wasn’t uncommon for a single hair craft to cost $15. Even now, hair restoration can be a pricey proposition and can range from $2.50 to $10 per graft! Okay, while that is certainly a savings from previous high charges, that doesn’t sound too bad until you realize that depending on the size of the area to be transplant, the total cost can be as high as $15,000. Costs are also predicated on the expectations of the patient since patients may decide to have more extensive transplantation than is actually necessary particularly if there is a certain “perfect” look in mind.
At the present time, the most efficient and effective hair transplant clinics do more extensive sessions covering more of the balding area in a shorter amount of time. The good news is that there has been great progress over the years in the arena of hair restoration and hair transplants are much more effective and less traumatizing than in previous years. While the internet has helped to lower the costs of hair restoration, this has also made hair transplant surgery much more available to the general population.
Of course one of the most exciting things about being able to afford hair transplant surgery is that many of the clinics offering this service, also offer a payment plan that most people can afford. So if you are interested in hair transplant surgery and don’t have the full bundle of cash, the financing it can allow you to get your hair restoration started now instead of when you save up all the money needed.
So if you have decided that hair restoration is right for you, then you must consider hair restoration cost before you make any final decision. You may be able to finance the cost or you can certainly pay for the entire procedure up front. Just be careful…you get what you pay for…and hair restoration cost are no different!

Hair Loss Disease: What is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss.  Alopecia Areata is the most common form of an unusual auto-immune skin disease resulting in patchy hair loss on your scalp.  It usually starts with a small patch of hair loss and continues with one or more small, round patches of hair loss on your head.Alopecia Areata affects approximately 2% of the overall population, including more than 5 million people in the United States, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).  Alopecia Areata is considered a skin disease because it occurs on the skin of the hair, or scalp, and is usually diagnosed by your dermatologist. Luckily, agree experts, it includes no rashes, hives or itching, although exposed scalp areas do require extra care.  In the 1990’s, Alopecia Areata was classified as an auto-immune disease. Researchers found that the disease is the result of the body producing an inappropriate immune response against itself. However, “I find that most patients report a history of acute stress which precipitated the condition,” says Sara Wasserbauer, M.D., a Board Certified, California-based hair transplant surgeon.The Normal Hair Growth CycleDr. Wasserbrauer explains that the normal growth rate of scalp hair is about a fourth to a half an inch every month. Hair growth is a repeating cycle that can be disrupted by genetics, diseases, medications, infections or other more common factors that may cause hair loss. During the anagen growth phase, a follicle actively grows hair until the catagen phase in which the follicle slows down growth. During the telogen phase, the follicle rests prior to the start of a new anagen phase or growth of a new hair shaft. As the new hair shaft pushes out the ‘dead’ hair shaft, the old hair is shed. “About 50 to 100 telogen hairs are normally shed every day and you find them in your comb, brush and shower drain,” says Dr. Wasserbrauer.  About 10 percent of scalp hair follicles are normally in telogen phase at any given time if the scalp is healthy and not affected by any condition that causes hair loss.What Does “Autoimmune” Mean?According to The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Autoimmune Disease Research Center, a healthy human body uses an effective set of weapons, the immune system, against viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can attack your body.  Unfortunately, this powerful immune system sometimes mistakenly attacks the body itself. Misdirected immune responses are called auto-immunity.  In Alopecia Areata, it’s your hair follicles that are mistakenly attacked by your own immune system, resulting in the disruption of the hair growth stage.Types of AlopeciaThe NAAF classifies three types of Alopecia.  The first is Alopecia Areata which presents as random patches of hair loss. When hair loss involves the total head, it is called Alopecia Totalis and when it extends to the total body hair loss it is called Alopecia Universalis, There is no sure cure for the conditions but many doctors prescribe medications to help control the episodes. In all forms of Alopecia, the hair follicles remain alive and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal from the body. In all cases, hair re-growth may occur even without treatment and even after many years, according to the NAAF.Do You ‘Catch’ Alopecia…or is it Genetic?Experts believe there is a genetic component to Alopecia Areata, because one out of five people who have the symptoms, have a family-member also affected by hair loss, according to the NAAF. Current research has found that if onset begins after age 30 you are less likely to have an affected family member. When onset of the first patch of Alopecia Areata begins before age 30, it is more likely other family members are affected.  The NAAF has focused a lot of its research into investigating the genetic elements of the disease to finally identify who is most susceptible to the disease and why.  “Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is the name for the inherited condition neither associated with a specific gene (or genes) nor yet identified with certainty,” says Dr Wasserbauer.Alopecia Treatment OptionsAccording to the NAAF there are no FDA-approved treatments specifically for Alopecia Areata, however, many medical professionals are willing to try treatments off-label. There are treatment options available for mild, patchy Alopecia Areata (less than 50% scalp hair loss) however none of the acceptable treatments work in all cases. Many hairstylists are using low-light laser therapy to stimulate the follicles to create new hair which only works on clients who still have active hair follicles at the beginning stages of hair loss.

Hair Loss: Talk to Your Doctor

“In formal medical training, few physicians hear a word about Androgenic Alopecia, yet it affects 20% of women up to age 40 and even more after that,” says endocrinologist Geoffrey Redmond, M.D. Because hair loss problems are often dismissed as trivial, women are frequently thwarted in their quest for help. Too often they are brushed off with remarks such as, “Your tests are normal; there’s nothing wrong with you.”He further explains that Alopecia falls in between specialties. Hair is part of the skin so it is included in dermatology. Yet the cause of the most common form, Androgenic Alopecia, is internal; a result of the actions of hormones which are the focus of a different specialty – endocrinology. You may need to visit many doctors to get to the root of your problem!Jan Ping, Emmy-winning TV hairstylist and cosmetologist has first-hand experience with losing her hair due to chemotherapy, having been a Cancer survivor herself. “In my volunteer work with the American Cancer Society’s ‘Look Good, Feel Better’ Program, I found that women’s fear of losing their hair actually tops the fear of losing their life to the Cancer!”Since you don’t know why you are losing your hair you need to visit a doctor for a proper diagnosis because your hair loss may be treatable and reversible like hormone imbalances, side effects to medications, scalp and follicle infections, stress and nutritional deficiencies.  Identify the Diagnosis•    Is your hair just ‘thinner’? •    Is your ‘part’ wider? •    Is your hairline receding or different in some way? •    Do you have any bald spots or patches that appeared recently?•    Does thinning or hair loss run in your family? Obviously if you’re having a problem with hair thinning, get to your hairstylist first.  There are some routine and normal reasons for thinning and hair loss in both men and women. Your hairstylist can identify those stemming from improper use of styling tools or too much styling product build-up on the scalp and can teach you how to avoid and solve the problem.  If you notice marked signs of hair loss, a general rule of thumb would be to head straight to your physician and a dermatologist to rule out any scalp and serious systemic health issues advises the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. If you get no satisfaction, your doctor may refer you further to an endocrinologist or other specialist.  But only your doctor can help diagnose whether your condition is serious and treatable.  Assess Your Overall Health There are many other simple reasons aside from hair follicle diseases that you may find your hair thinning or falling out from that can be resolved by your doctor and successfully treated. According to a recent article by Dr. Howard Levy, an internal medicine specialist at Johns Hopkins, the main causes of thinning hair for both men and women are hormonal abnormalities, local trauma, medications, stress, scalp inflammation, and normal age variation. Your doctor may ask you about your diet, your lifestyle, medications you are taking and how you are feeling in general to determine your overall health and any other clues to your hair loss.  Blood tests will also identify specific causes of hair loss.Prescribe Medication, Treatment and Help … Depending upon the diagnosis, most hair follicle problems are reversible and treatable with medication. And when the diagnosis is simple, your hair loss can be totally reversible and treatable.  If the results are more complicated your doctor may refer you to further specialists for treatment including support groups.  Get Insurance to Pay For the Wig!“First of all don’t call it a wig,” cautions Shelly Beatty, owner of Stylemakers Salon in Fort Worth, Texas who deals extensively in medical hair loss issues for her clients. “The medical term for it is ‘Cranial Prosthesis’ and you’ll need your doctor to write a prescription for it.”  Many insurance companies that cover prostheses of any kind will also cover a medically necessary wig for those who experience total hair loss due to medical reasons, she advises.  Once you have the prescription, you can work with your hairstylist to determine what your insurance will pay for and decide on a type of wig or treatment that fits the parameters. Give You Peace of MindYou may find that your hair loss is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about or that you have a follicle infection or that it’s something more serious. But at least you’ll be on the right path to doing something about it!