Hair Loss Solutions

Hair loss does not have to be a natural part of the aging process any longer. Many treatments are available today for hair loss which can produce a natural full head of hair. Options including medication and outpatient surgical procedures can produce more youthful appearing hairlines with very minimal down time or side effects. For any person suffering from hair loss, consulting with a well trained and experienced physician in hair loss is vital to obtaining the best results possible.

There are many causes for hair loss. In men, the most common cause is typically called male pattern baldness, or more scientifically speaking, androgenic alopecia. This is due to receptors on the hair follicles, often termed the root, which are sensitive to androgens (testosterone and its byproducts). These androgens push the hair follicles to the sleeping phase of the hair cycle. Hair on the back of the head and sides of the head do not have these receptors and thus will never fall out. Transplanting these follicles to other parts of the head also means that they will not stop growing even in their new location, even though native hair may continue to stop growing. While there are other causes of male hair loss, this is the most common type and follows a rather predictable pattern. These patterns were classified by Dr. Norwood and are summarized in the Norwood hair loss classification.

Female hair loss is more perplexing. While female hair loss can be due to andgrogens, a more thorough evaluation is often necessary as the majority of female hair loss is due to other causes. Medical causes such as thyroid abnormalities and autoimmune diseases must be treated before any type of transplant is undertaken.

For both men and women suffering from androgenic alopecia, medications are available which can slow the hair loss and often give the illusion of increasing amounts of hair. Currently in the United States finasteride and minoxidil are the only two medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hair loss. Finasteride, marketed as propecia is a once a day pill where minoxidil marketed as Rogaine is a twice a day foam or lotion. Minoxidil is the only medication approved for use in women.

For more permanent solutions to hair loss from multiple causes, including trauma, hair restoration surgery is an option. The days of a plugged look are gone. Hairlines designed with the latest techniques of follicular unit grafting produce natural appearing hairlines. When performed by physicians with training and expertise in hair loss, hairlines can last a lifetime, not just a few years. Care must be taken to realize that natural hair loss will progress and donor material is currently limited. Though cloned hair technology is being evaluated, it is not commercially available and the technology is not able to sustain large hair growth. Until that point, hair grafting is a viable option when performed by a knowledgeable surgeon. When choosing a surgeon, be sure to evaluate their credentials – do they understand hair loss and can they produce the results you are looking for? Important as well is patient education and an understanding that what a person desires as a result may not be possible or may not be the best result possible. Consulting a qualified surgeon is always crucial. For more information about this and other hair loss solutions, visit Dr. Verret on the web at http://www.drverret.com

Baldness Treatments for Hair Loss in Males

Hair loss is a terror in most men which they hope will never occur. However, with the thinning hair, the actual process of hair loss begins. A head having good hair has always been treated as the symbol of youth, virility and attractiveness in males but when the problem of hair loss happens, most people take it as a big shock.

Usually, the male pattern baldness is a problem for men. In about 95 percent of the cases, hair loss in men is related to genetics. However, other factors that cause male baldness include head trauma, stress, lack of nutrition, illness, and use of certain prescription drugs.

Male Pattern Baldness Treatments: The term male pattern baldness is generally associated with individuals who have lost, receding, or thinning hair. If you are the one who is suffering from the problem of hair loss, there are many ways that can help you to get back the hair that you have always wanted.

There are many types of tonics, creams, and sprays that can cover the problem of hair loss to a great extent, but they are not too powerful to it entirely. Basically, these products go down till the strands of hair and make them appear thicker.

Certain kinds of medications are also available to eradicate male pattern baldness. Propecia is one of the popular medicines available in preventing future hair loss, though the medicine does not encourage the growth of new hair. Once hair is lost, it is very difficult to encourage re-growth; therefore Propecia should be taken immediately when hair loss is apparent.

In case, medication is not improving the condition of your hair, you may want to consider the potential hair transplantation or hair restoration. Surgically, hair will be attached to the follicles in your head for a permanent result. In quite few years, surgical procedures have been a success and many people are thrilled with the result.

Follicular Unit Grafting Explained

hair loss treatment in Dallas or hair restoration, visit Dr. Verret on the web at http://innovationsfps.com.">The latest innovation in hair transplantation is follicular unit grafting. Transplant techniques, such micro-grafts, follicular unit transfer, and single unit transfers are generally performed on patients who desire a fuller, thicker head of hair.

In follicular unit hair transplantation, a donor strip of hair is harvested excising a narrow strip of scalp from the donor area—an area at the back of the head that is resistant to hair loss. This area of hair, present in men with complete male pattern baldness, does not fall out, even when transplanted.

The donor strip is then separated under magnification into follicular units. Each follicular unit from the donor strip contains one to four hair follicles. The follicles are then transplanted to the recipient site.

The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, sometimes with a mild oral sedative. Sessions can take anywhere from 3 hours to most of a day, with breaks in the middle of the procedure.

At the end of the session, patients can put on a baseball cap and no one will be able to identify they have had surgery.

Follicular unit transfer can be combined with dense packing techniques in a mega session. Patients enjoy more dramatic results with fewer operations when these procedures are performed at a single sitting. As many as 2200 follicular units can be transferred in one mega session.

It is important that sessions are performed so that patients get results that will last a lifetime, not simply 3 or 4 years. By understanding that hair loss continues despite a hair transplant surgery, an expert hair restoration surgeon is able to perform transplants not only to bald areas but to other areas likely to bald to create a natural hairline which will last a lifetime.

Follicular unit transplantation is an extremely efficient manner of hair restoration because several thousand hair grafts can be obtained from one small, thin donor strip. While follicular unit hair transplantation is very simple by principle, it takes an experienced surgeon, attention to detail, an artist's touch, and micro-surgical skills for the best implementation of this technique.

When Considering Surgical Hair Replacement

Surgical hair replacement promises permanent hair after experiencing balding. In fact, some would want to opt for this kind of hair replacement method because they would look like as if they got their hair back. It is a solution that would make any person says it’s worth the cost after being desperate of getting away from the devastating effect of balding. However, before deciding to accept hair replacement surgery, it is best to first look at what you need to consider:

* Since it involves surgery, it is important that you have an experienced and expert hair transplant surgeon. Surgery is done by getting a donor site where there is still hair and distributes it in the balding area by patterns. If the result is not good, it can be repeated once or twice but the remaining hair may be damaged due to constant transplants. It is then important that with the precious hair left, these will be utilized in the surgery properly otherwise it may be damaged and cease to be useful. * It involves a lot of money. If you have settled this in mind already, then by all means you can go ahead and spend considerably. But be sure that you have a surgeon that can provide you a result that’s worth the cost. * Hair replacement surgery needs to be done at the early stage of balding where there are still some hairs left as donors. Without hair left, it is impossible for the surgery to take place. * There could be discomfort after the surgery. Scarring and itching is the most common complains after the surgery but definitely there are remedies for this. It takes about a few months before you get over these effects.

Most of the time, the hair surgeon will give you these factors to consider before taking the surgery. If the surgeon does not discuss these matters to you, better look for other hair replacement surgeon who would care enough to guide you of what you will go through with the choice. Or you may opt for the non-surgical hair replacement which also has its pros and cons for evaluation.

Characteristics Of Surgical And Non-Surgical Hair Replacement

Hair replacement is gaining popularity among hair loss sufferers. It is an advance technology where the lost hair is replaced with new ones to create a head full of hair. The main options for hair replacement are surgical and non-surgical method. The characteristics of surgical hair replacement include:

* Involvement of an expert hair transplant surgeon * Most expensive between the two * Provides permanent effect * Needs to be done at the early stage of balding where there are still more hair left * Needs recovery stage after surgery * May cause scarring * Done in hair clinics

There are people whose balding case suits the surgical hair replacement method. This is especially true if the person wants to have permanent hair back and can afford to pay the price.

On the other hand, there is an option for hair replacement systems. This is non-surgical hair replacement method where the person uses hair pieces to cover balding head. This is called a system because the person undergoes a procedure of putting and replacing the hairpieces. The hair pieces could be wigs, toupees or hair extension. Here are the characteristics of hair replacement systems:

* Can be done in hair salons * Entails artificial hair that needs to be placed on the head of the person * Since the hairpiece is artificial, it undergoes wear and tear thus need to be replaced every now and then. * Cheaper than surgery and safe since it does not need surgical procedure. * Effective on a person with remaining hair left but can also be used even at the later stage of balding.

For those who want cheaper hair replacement and do not want to undergo the painful experience in surgery, hair replacement system can be the best choice. Although it does not provide permanent result of head full of hair, it can be a good choice for cheaper price and when the person can be diligent to follow through the system of putting and replacing the hairpieces.

Medical Hair Restoration Treatment before the Surgical Hair Restoration

There are several medical hair loss treatments available for hair loss restoration. Most of the hair transplant surgeons recommend that one should always try medical hair restoration before one decides to undergo hair restoration surgery. In fact, continued medical treatment well before the surgery often results in a better growth for the hair transplants. Similarly, medical hair treatment after the surgery always provides superior benefits from the hair transplant procedures.

But when you are preparing for the hair transplant surgery there are some precautions with medical hair restoration which are to be observed so that you don’t have any adverse effect due the hair loss medications.

Medical hair restoration with Rogaine

Minoxidil sold with the brand name Rogaine, is not able to grow hair on completely bald scalp; but is able to retard hair loss and stabilize it by slowing down the miniaturization process. Medical hair loss treatment with Rogaine is a widely accepted treatment that is even recommended by the FDA both as a hair loss treatment for men and a hair loss treatment for woman. Minnoxidil acts by prolonging the growth phase of the hair. But for medical treatment with minoxidil to be fully effective requires prolonged use. It may take a long time, around 6 to 12 months, to predict a noticeable improvement in hair growth. Within 2 to 3 months of discontinuing the medication, the increase in terminal hair density and growth resulting from the use of medicine can suddenly vanish.

Another drawback of Rogaine is that while it is effective in the crown or top of the head, it is much less effective in the frontal area, so overall it is not as effective as a balding solution for men for whom the front of the scalp and the hairline are the important areas for hair loss restoration.

Rogaine, especially is the drug of choice for the female hair loss treatment where the hair loss is often characterized by diffuse thinning. The prolonged use of the drug is sometimes able to bring about the complete reversal of thinning, seen even after stopping the drug, but in men, stopping the medication results in complete reversal of the benefits.

Medical hair restoration (Rogaine) as a combination treatment

Some hair restoration surgeons highly recommend the use of Rogaine before and then immediately after the hair transplant surgery especially when the grafts have been placed in and around existing hair. The idea behind the combining the medical hair restoration and surgical hair restoration is to help prevent the temporary loss of healthy, preexisting hair due to the shock of the hair restoration surgery procedure.

The use of topical minoxidil both before and after hair restoration surgery is often recommended for patients undergoing hair transplant procedures as it has been seen that Minoxidil reduces hair shedding due to transplant trauma and shortens recovery from surgery.

Precaution before the hair transplant surgery

Most of the surgeons do feel that the medical hair restoration treatment with minoxidil should be stopped prior to the surgery to minimize skin irritation and the risk of dilation of the blood vessels, whihc might result in increased bleeding. The treatment of patients with 2% topical minoxidil is generally stopped 4 weeks before surgery.

The effectiveness of application of topical minoxidil prior to hair restoration surgery is also well documented. It was seen that hair loss due to telogen effluvium observed 2-4 weeks after surgery was more pronounced in placebo-treated patients (52%) as compared to minoxidil-treated patients (22 %).

Precaution after the hair transplant surgery It is not advised to use minoxidil on the transplanted areas immediately after surgery until the incisions have been allowed to heal. Most surgeons prefer to start the use of topical minoxidil at least a week or so after the hair transplant surgery. This allows time for the epithelium to heal and minimizes the potential for theoretical damage to the transplanted grafts from propylene glycol based minoxidil. However, the use of special glycerin based minoxidil solutions can take care this potential problem and can help to get a better growth after the surgery.

Where minoxidil is used before surgery, it is stopped until up to 3 weeks after the surgery, and then again started and continued. It has been observed that around 70% of grafts grew into hair when minoxidil was continued; otherwise most of the hair transplants are usually shed after 2-4 weeks of transplantation. There are several reports available on medical trials that suggest that topical minoxidil is a useful adjunct after hair transplantation.

The reported benefits of regular topical minoxidil administration following hair transplant surgery include: · An increase in the number of anagen hairs · Promotion of hair growth in the transplanted grafts and surrounding areas · Reduction of post-surgical shock and telogen effluvium

Medical hair treatment with Finasteride

Many hair transplant surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the surgical hair restoration. There are several benefits to this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference male hair loss treatment with surgical hair restoration which is generally done in the hair line and frontal area.

If you are experiencing pattern baldness, it makes the best sense to use medical treatment in conjunction with your hair transplantation surgery you are sure to have your hair transplants grow well, but keep in mind that non-transplanted hairs will continue to fall.

5 Strategies for Natural Hair Restoration

If you are suffering from hair loss or thinning hair and have been looking for a suitable treatment, you will know that there are a confusing number of products designed to deal with it. Hair loss treatment is now a big industry, but hair loss has been a problem for centuries and there are many long standing solutions based on naturally occurring plants and herbs. Here are five strategies using some of the many natural solutions available that, when used in combination, can be very effective.

Improve your diet.

It is common knowledge that the western diet is somewhat lacking. With so much time pressure on everyone, many opt for fast food solutions. As a result there are many deficiencies in our diets.

For strong and healthy hair growth, certain essential vitamins and minerals are required. Some of these include vitamin B6, iron, silica, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids etc..

Try to ensure that your diet includes lots of strong colored vegetables and high quality protein as well as fish nuts and seeds. It is also a good idea to take a multivitamin supplement just to make sure.

Sort Out Your Hormones

One of the causes of hair loss in men is the effect of high levels of the hormone DHT. This hormone attacks the hair follicle making it weak and so eventually stopping the growth of the hair. One of the most effective methods of reducing the level of this hormone is to take the herb Saw Palmetto. This herb is routinely used to treat an enlarged prostrate, but it was noticed that when used, it also encouraged hair growth. Stinging nettle root is also an effective herb to reduce DHT. Both of these can be obtained in capsule form.

Change Your Shampoo

Many shampoos contain a cocktail of chemicals to clean and add shine to your hair. One chemical, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS is reputed to be harmful to the scalp and health of the hair. It is thought that, although an effective cleaning agent, when rinsed out of the hair it can leave a residue that may be harmful to the hair follicle. To support this idea, many people who have given up conventional shampoos have reported an improvement in the growth and quality of their hair. Check the ingredients in your shampoo and if necessary, change to a more naturally based formula or research a home made shampoo recipe.

Improve The condition of Your Scalp

The condition of your scalp will have an effect on the quality and strength of your hair. To improve your scalp try making a lotion for massaging into the scalp. You can create a lotion for application to the scalp by mixing together the essential oils from Rosemary and Lavender, which can be obtained from most aromatherapy stores. This lotion is known for encouraging hair growth and improving the condition of the hair. Aloe Vera is also good for massaging into the scalp and can be used to make a natural shampoo by mixing with coconut milk.

Improve The Blood Circulation to Your Scalp

Poor blood circulation at the top of your scalp is one of the reasons for hair loss. The weak blood supply starves the follicle and so the hair weakens and eventually stops growing. The herb Ginkgo Biloba is believed to improve the circulation of the blood. The hot pepper Capsicum is also thought to improve blood flow to the scalp. If you are taking any kind of medication, you should check with your physician before taking any natural supplements that can effect your circulation. Taking these could effect the action of your medication.

In todays hair restoration market there are numerous products to choose from. All of these will take time to show results and they can be quite expensive. Natural hair loss treatments have existed for many years and some have been around for centuries. As they are natural they do not have any side effects and most can be obtained at low cost. By incorporating these natural strategies into your lifestyle, you can save money and improve the quality of your hair at the same time.

Hair Loss Restoration

Hair loss is a naturally occurring event in the lives of most men. They stand idly by as their hairlines move further and further back from their scalps, threatening to join the bald spot that has begun to form at the crown. In many cases, people will link the process to genetics and decide that there is nothing to be done. However, that's far from the truth!

But are there hair restoration products out there that's safe and effective? That will slow down the process of male pattern baldness, allow hair to stay on your head longer, and generate new hair growth? Provillus, is not made from harmful chemicals and inconsistent formulas like the majority of treatments on the market. Instead, Provillus is produced from a variety of natural substances that are essential for a healthy scalp and hair growth.

Using a natural hair restoration product eliminates all the potential side effects that come with chemically derived treatments, including sexual side effects. It also ensures that your hair, scalp, and overall health will not be adversely affected. Provillus been rated as the number one hair prevention pill on the market, achieving dramatic effects with ingredients that have been utilized by people all over the world for centuries.

Danielle Holdford is involved in the Herbal industry to help people to supplement their lives.

Hair Restoration Options

Are you experiencing hair loss but wish you could have the hairline of your youth? There are many options for hair restoration today with probably the most successful being hair restoration surgery. But which surgery is right for you? Hair restoration surgery aims at either decreasing the bald spots or redistributing remaining hair.

Though there are many causes of hair loss, for men the most common cause is termed male pattern baldness. This type of balding is genetically predetermined and is due to androgens such as testosterone. In women, balding is usually not as clear cut and may signal a medical condition which should be treated. Once the cause of balding has been determined, hair restoration can be undertaken.

Options for hair restoration include reduction of the balding scalp or redistribution of the remaining hair. In some patients, especially those with hair loss due to trauma, scalp reduction techniques may be appropriate. This technique involves simple excising the bald area and primarily closing the incision. The technique of scalp reduction may be combined with tissue expansion to provide more area for wound closure. In simple cases of male pattern baldness, this is not a good option and techniques for hair redistribution should be examined.

Hair on the back and sides of the scalp will not ever fall out due to androgenic alopecia. Even when transplanted, the hair will continue to grow, though natural balding of the native hair will continue. Several techniques exist for transplanting hair. Older techniques relied on taking a ‘plug’ of hair. Using a round punch device, an area of hair was removed and then transplanted to a bald area. This created a quite unnatural look and caused some to shy away from hair transplants. While this can still be done in some circumstances, newer techniques rely on transplanting individual hair follicles or units of follicles. To do this, a strip of hair is taken from the back or sides of the scalp. Using magnification, this strip is cut into individual hairs. Tiny incisions are then made in the bald part of the scalp and the individual hairs are transplanted to the bald area.

The newer techniques of follicular unit grafting create very natural appearing hairlines, ones that even a hairstylist will be unable to discern. By creating a hairline with an irregular contour, a high ‘temporal tuft,’ the area on the sides of the scalp, and a frontal hairline that does not extend too far down the forehead, a more youthful, natural appearing hairline can be maintained. At present, the main drawback to hair transplant technology is the limited donor site. The next generation of hair transplant technology will focus on hair cloning. Though this technology is not sustainable at present, efforts are being made to improve the technology so that donor sites will not be limited in the future.

Hair Loss and Its Causes

Hair loss in men or women can contribute to the appearance of looking older than chronologic age. One of the hair restoration procedures may be used alone, or in combination with a procedure for facial skin rejuvenation to take years off of a patient’s apparent age.

In general, most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Thyroid disease can cause hair loss, but thyroid tests on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal. Although many medications list for "hair loss" among their potential side effects, drugs are also not overall common causes of thinning or lost hair. On the other hand, with cancer treatments and immune suppression medications, hair loss is not uncommon. One useful way to classify hair loss is by whether the loss is localized and patchy, or whether it affects large areas or the whole scalp.

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. Then It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6-8 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

Some scientists consider male hormone testosterone to be the major cause. Testosterone is much closely connected with heredity. If a man has inherited the necessary genes for loss of hair, a little of testosterone is formed by some of the hair roots into a derivative called dihydrotestosterone. And in fact, it is dihydrotestosterone that is responsible for hair loss. So dihydrotestosterone is present in the surface sebum of hereditably predisposed people. When a hair is shed it enters the follicle reacts inside there chemically. Dihydrotestosterone miniaturizes these hair root and follicle and the new hair growing through it will be finer. When the new fine hair is later shed dihydrotestosterone again miniaturizes the follicle and hair root and so on until baldness occurs

Although hair loss can occur with the stress of any illness, it is also a particular symptom of many different diseases. Most differ in the pattern of hair loss, and almost never resemble Male Pattern Baldness. It's also important to recognize that hair loss is seldom the first and only presentation of these diseases. Most hair comes back when the disease goes away or is adequately treated. Some of the diseases associated with hair loss are as follows: Addison's disease, Hyperthyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroditis), Hypothyroidism, Iron Deficiency, Scarring, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Secondary Syphilis , Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Vitiligo (there are others)

For most hair related problems, internal medicine plays important role then external application. In recent times hair & scalp have become target of many ailments. There are many problems that can be associated with hair & scalp due to: 1. Air and water pollution. 2. Use of shampoos and conditioners containing harsh chemical. 3. Use of common combs and brushes in establishment such as barbershops and beauty saloons. Problem associated with scalp arise

Procedures And Techniques For Restoring Hair Loss

Hair loss generally takes place because of one or more of the following processes occurring -aging, changes in hormone patterns, genetics or a traumatic occurrence or illness. Throughout the years there have been many alleged treatments available for people suffering from hair loss but here we are aiming to focus solely on surgical procedures which are currently in use.

There are various techniques currently employed for surgical hair loss restoration and it is not uncommon for more than one to be used at a particular time. The main procedures used today are scalp reduction, tissue expansion, flap surgery and hair transplantation.

Scalp reduction is a procedure in which the surgeon will remove segments of the bald scalp of a patient and then loosen the hair bearing scalp surrounding that area, pulling it over the scalp and joining the skin with sutures. This will therefore reduce the size of the bald ‘patch’. This procedure is obviously more suited for people who have bald areas at the top or back of the head rather than on their forehead or at the front of their hairline. Scalp reduction is sometimes performed to reduce the size of the area which is about to undergo hair transplantation.

Tissue expansion surgery has been of great benefit to patients who needed reconstructive surgery – perhaps because of burns, for example. The idea here is to insert a somewhat balloon-like appliance under an area of the head which still has active hair follicles and is adjacent to an area without hair. As this implement gradually inflates over a period of weeks, the skin will expand, producing new cells and resulting in a ‘bulge’ of new hair-covered skin. This skin can then be stretched to cover the nearby bald area.

Scalp flap surgery entails literally moving a segment of the scalp which is hair-bearing and placing it in a different location where hair is needed. So, a bald section of scalp is removed and replaced by a ‘flap’ of scalp with hair. When the flap is transported to the new, recipient part of the scalp, it will be left attached to its nerve and blood supplies until it has properly grafted in its new position. Flap surgery is often performed in conjunction with scalp reduction and tissue expansion, to give a more natural looking hair line.

The best known and most frequent method of surgical hair loss restoration, however, is hair transplantation, a procedure which uses the patient’s own hair to fill in the balding areas. Initially, plugs of skin, each containing about 20 separate hair follicles, would be taken from areas at the sides or back of the head and then transplanted to bald areas. In recent years, though, strip grafts and micro or minigrafts of just a few hair follicles became more common and now it is possible for surgeons to transplant single hair follicles. Because this can be a very precise operation, it is possible to create a very natural looking hairline. It is also popular because, after the transplant process, the donor follicles still maintain their genetic characteristics and will, therefore, continue to grow.

The surgical transplantation of hair is a relatively straightforward and almost painfree outpatient process.

Hair Loss Treatment Algorithm

Hair loss, though not a fatal condition, can have devastating psychological consequences. Patients often look for options to correct hair loss and the ideal solution would be permanent, natural, and create a head of hair like the patient had in their early teen years. When thinking about hair loss, think about a plan for treatment.

Determine the cause

For some people, hair loss is a factor in growing old, such as those with male pattern baldness, or more medically speaking androgenic alopecia. For others, hair loss can be due to trauma or even some medical conditions. The first step in treating hair loss is to define the cause. If it is a medical condition causing the hair loss, treating the medical condition will often reverse the hair loss.

Determining your course of treatment

For patients with hair loss, there are many options for treatment. Of course, there is always the option of not doing anything. For patients who are not interested in surgery, but want a more youthful appearance, hair pieces are a good option. The downside is that a poorly designed hair piece can be easily identified. It will not grow and change color as normal hair and often must be attached daily. This can also be obvious should the attachment wear off.

Currently two medications are available to help prevent further hair loss and allow for some increase in hair density. Under the tradenames of Rogaine and Propecia, these two are the only drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat hair loss. Other over the counter herbal remedies have been used to treat hair loss with mixed results.

For a more permanent solution, hair transplants and surgery are an option. Some surgeries aim to reduce the amount of bald area while others aim to replace lost hair. Unfortunately once a hair dies or is injured, it does not regenerate. Transplants can be done in which individual hairs are moved from one area of the head to another to produce a very natural appearing hair line.

Research and execute

Once you have determined that you are looking for a hair loss solution, do your research. Find a physician who can talk to you not just about one options, but about all options that are available. A knowledgeable hair loss physician can evaluate the patient and determine first if further medical testing is necessary. Then, they can outline all of the options for treatment that are available. A physician who understands the hair loss and aging process will be the one who can produce the best and most long lasting results.

Hair Transplantation Portland Oregon Solutions

Hair loss is a major cosmetic concern among Americans, both men and women alike, because the presence of healthy and abundant hair growth on the scalp has always been considered a mark of beauty and good looks and is tied closely to the person's self-image. To cater to this need to restore a balding scalp to its previous, hair-filled condition, clinics that offer services like hair transplantation, Portland, Oregon and all over the United States exist.

There are many hair transplantation, Portland, Oregon clinics that offer restoration services, and each of these clinics has its own claims. The one that claims to be the largest and oldest of them all is Bosley, a clinic that specializes in hair restoration and hair transplantation that was established in 1974.

A good hair transplant clinic would be able to achieve natural-looking hair transplantation, one that would be virtually undetectable even upon close inspection. A natural-seeming hairline is achieved through artistry. Hair is carefully transplanted in such a way that they would grow together at an angle following the natural hair growth of the patient. Thus, when the hair grows, it would resemble the original pattern of hair growth that the patient had, as closely as possible.

There are many types of hair transplantation techniques - you don't have to be stuck with only one. If the hair care specialist in your area is stuck with just one kind, maybe it's time to hie off to Oregon to get that invaluable second opinion! Modern medical technology has made it possible for hair doctors to conduct safer progressive treatments on the scalp. The methods range from traditional hair grafting (vastly improved by upgraeded tools and knowledge) to laser surgery, and even to a high-precision technique known as follicular unit extraction.

Sometimes you will need hair restoration surgeries performed in places aside from the scalp. Eyebrows are also candidates for hair replacement. Surgeries are not the only option, of course; medication may still be the best for some. Propecia and Rogaine, the leading drugs used to treat hair loss, are available in practically all hair clinics. In many instances, medication is still applied to the scalp regularly, even after surgical procedures have been performed.

There are many hair transplantation, Portland, Oregon clinics. There are also hair clinics everywhere in the United States. Finding the one you need is just a matter of keeping an open mind.

Hair Restoration Information - Male Pattern Baldness Explained

Androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness, is a fact of life for millions of men. The most common type of hair loss for men, it is best identified as a pattern of receding hairline and hair thinning on the crown. It is estimated to affect 90 percent of men by the age of 50 as a consequence of hormonal function and genetics. Many different treatments exist to combat pattern baldness, including medicines such as finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine) and procedures such as hair transplantation. More than ever before, men with male pattern baldness are seeking out companies such as Bosley to perform hair transplant procedures for a permanent restoration of their natural hairlines.

Causes
Male pattern baldness is related to hormones called androgens, specifically an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It attaches to receptor cells on the scalp and hair follicles, interrupting and interacting with the normal mechanics involved with continual, healthy hair growth. Men whom display male pattern baldness typically have lower levels testosterone, but a proportionately higher level of DHT in their body. Other factors such as lifestyle factors and terminal illness may cause hair loss as well.

Symptoms
The most notable symptom of the onset of male pattern baldness is hair loss along the hairline that gradually recedes into an “M” shape. The hair at the crown begins to thin, eventually meeting the receding hairline and creating a horseshoe pattern of hair around the sides of the head. Male pattern baldness is typically diagnosed by the appearance of this pattern. Other diseases such as alopecia areata or folliculitis may cause dissimilar balding patterns and should not be diagnosed as male pattern baldness.

Treatment
Medicinal treatments for male pattern baldness include Propecia and Rogaine. Both are more successful at slowing hair loss than exhibiting new hair growth. Needless to say, unlike hair transplantation as offered by companies like Bosley, no medicinal treatment is a permanent solution for male pattern baldness. Of the two, Propecia is most successful with male pattern baldness as it inhibits the growth of DHT androgens. Take a look at the Propecia and Rogaine sections on BattleAgainstBald.com to learn more about how the treatments work and their effectiveness.

Hair transplantation is very effective at treating male pattern baldness. Since hair follicles from the side and back of the head are resistant to the DHT androgens, hair simply must be transplanted from healthy parts of the scalp to the affected areas. The surgery has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Since 2004, there has been a 34% increase in hair transplant procedures, according to a survey conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). The increase is a result of an increase in effectiveness of the procedure and the natural results it yields. In 2006, 87% of hair restoration surgeries were for patients with pattern baldness.

Bosley Medical has performed nearly 200,000 of such procedures, making it one of the most reputable resources for victims of male pattern baldness to seek treatment. More information about Bosley Medical or hair restoration procedures is available at BattleAgainstBald.com, a blog that is sponsored by Bosley and documents the progress of two Bosley hair transplant patients, Seth and Torrance. It speaks to those who are struggling with any kind of hair loss and would like to learn more about hair restoration.

How Modern Hair Restoration Can Be Successful

Before seeking the services of a hair replacement center, it is important to understand some basic information about hair loss and what can do about it.

Hair Loss Background

Approximately 95% of the estimated 60 million men and women in the United States who experience abnormal hair loss suffer from a hereditary condition called androgentic alopecia. This is the gradual loss of hair that usually begins somewhere between 30 to 40 years of age in men and is essentially a cosmetic disorder, which is relevant because most health insurance plans will not pay for cosmetic care. In women, the onset of hereditary hair loss usually does not occur until after menopause.

The incidence of androgentic alopecia is highest in white males but can also be found women, Asians, and African Americans. Usually, the thinning hair begins in the frontal area and progresses back over the head. In general, the growth transition begins with large, thick healthy hair, then progresses to thinner, shorter, indeterminate hairs, and finally, short, nonpigmented vellus hairs cover the area sporadically. During this transition, the patient may notice more shedding than normal. Some shedding is natural, as up to 10% of a person’s hair so prone to shedding at any given time. Lab studies can be done to determine whether the hair loss is genetic or caused by other sources.

What can be done about it?

Once the cause of thinning hair is determined, a hair replacement center can offer several viable solutions for hair restoration . If the cause is not genetic, changes in medication, diet, or hairstyle products may take care of the problem without any significant out-of-pocket cost to the patient. In the event the patient is loosing hair due to genetic reasons or the changes mentioned above do not create a regrowth of hair, other options are still available.

• Surgery offers a couple of solutions. One is a scalp reduction. This is where a portion of the bald scalp is removed, and then the skin is stretch to cover the area of the scalp where the skin was removed. The other option is probably the most commonly considered option. Hair follicles can be transplanted from a donor or from thickly haired sections of the head. The main problem with hair plugs is covering the bald area with enough plugs to provide satisfactory results.

• The last option is hair weaving. Hairpieces are weaved into the patient’s natural hair to create a prosthetic method of covering the baldness. While the hairpieces of the past were often horrendous failures, many of the modern prosthetics are indistinguishable from the patient’s own hair.

Conclusion for modern hair restoration technologies

Now that you have a general idea what to expect from a hair replacement center, you can more effectively prepare a list of questions for the doctor. You can also go prepared to ask questions about your family history, medical history, current medications, diet, and general hair care regime.

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is also an integral part of self-image. As such, concern over hair loss is a normal reaction and should not be taken lightly.

The Path To Hair Restoration

Normal hair loss is a common occurrence. At any given time, approximately 10% of your hair is dormant and susceptible to normal shedding. The problem is when the shedding is excessive. It is when thinning hair becomes obvious that most people become concerned with hair restoration options.

Some of the reasons of abnormal hair loss may include:

+ Health concerns such as major illness, fungal infections, hypo or hyper thyroidism, and hormone imbalances;

+ Reaction to medications used to treat cancer, diabetes, lupus, gout, birth control, and anti-depressants;

+ Improper hair care, including excessive use of chemicals and blow-drying;

+ Genetics;

+ Poor diet, including too much fried and fatty foods, a lack of fruits or green vegetables, and dehydration.

What are the options?

While an estimated 95% of all excessive hair loss is generic, there is a chance a family doctor or a professional hairstylist can provide the quickest and least expense answer to hair restoration. A medical doctor can do a full physical, do the appropriate blood work, and review medications and diet. He can recommend changes that may help with hair regrowth. The hairstylist can look at the condition of the hair and work up a hair care routine that may correct the damage. This routine may include hot oil treatments, scalp massage, and a change of conditioner and shampoo. The stylist may also recommend a haircut to reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

In the event the doctor or hairstylist is unable to assist in reducing the hair loss back to normal levels, topical minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine, was the first FDA approved method of regrowing hair. To be effective, minoxidil is applied to the scalp twice a day. It works best for those who are young and have only recently begun to experience abnormal hair loss, according to Pharmacia & Upjohn. Skeptics question whether the product actually promotes as much new growth as it does reduce the amount of loss.

Also available to sufferers of hair loss is the FDA-approved finasteride, which is marketed as Propecia. Propecia works best on male pattern baldness. Not only has it been proven to restore hair growth, it also improves the thickness and strength of each hair strand.

Often, Propecia, Rogaine, or a combination of both is used in conjunction with hair transplants to optimize the hair restoration process. The process of hair transplants involves removing hair from the densely covered areas of the head and, using a needle, implant those hairs to the thinning section of the head.

Those suffering from male-pattern baldness may also choose a scalp reduction. A scalp reduction is the surgical process of removing large sections of the bald scalp, then the skin from the densely haired sections of the head are stretched to replace the area of scalp that is removed.

If medications and surgery seem too extreme, those suffering from abnormal hair loss still have the option of wearing a hairpiece. While no two toupees, or hairpieces, are created equally, a toupee can look natural. Many who opt for the hairpiece option join a "hair club," which offer members service that will keep their hairpieces cleaned, colored, and offering the optimal fit.

Remember, all medications and surgical procedures involve a certain amount of risk, and no hair restoration solution is guaranteed to work. Before agreeing to a hair restoration regime, consult with a doctor and know your risks.

Making the right hair restoration decision

Deciding whether hair restoration is right for you is a personal decision. Some people are more concerned than others with hair loss. Deciding which hair restoration method will work best for you is something to discuss with a doctor who specializes in treating hair loss. Many issues such as health, habits, budget, and tolerance to pain will need to be considered before creating a plan of action.

Medical Hair Restoration

Medical hair restoration in the literal sense includes the hair loss treatment which depends upon the use of medicines.

Unusual hair loss both in men and women is caused by the alterations in the androgen metabolism. Androgen is a male hormone which has a major role to play in regulation of hair growth or hair loss. The dermal papilla is the most important structure in a hair follicle which is responsible for hair-growth. It is the dermal papilla, the cell of which divides and differentiates to give rise to a new hair follicle. The dermal papilla is in direct contact with blood capillaries in the skin to derive the nutrients for the growing hair follicle. Research has shown that dermal papilla got many receptors for androgens and there are studies which have confirmed that males have more androgenic receptors in dermal papilla of their follicles as compared to females.

The metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase which combines with the hormone androgen(testosterone) to form the DHT (Dihydro-testosterone). DHT is a natural metabolite of our body which is the root cause of hair loss.

Proper nutrition is critical for the maintenance of the hair. When DHT gets into the hair follicles and roots (dermal papilla), it prevents necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing nourishment needed to sustain life in the hairs of those follicles. Consequently, hair follicles are reproduced at a much slower rate. This shortens their growing stage (anagen phase) and or lengthens their resting stage (telogen phase) of the follicle. DHT also causes hair follicle to shrink and get progressively smaller and finer. This process is known as miniaturization and causes the hair to ultimately fall. DHT is responsible for 95% of hair loss.

Some individuals both men and women are genetically pre-disposed to produce more DHT than the normal individuals. DHT also creates a wax-like substance around the hair roots. It is this accumulation of DHT inside the hair follicles and roots which is one of the primary causes of male and female pattern hair loss.

Blocking the synthesis of DHT at molecular level forms the basis for the treatment of MPHL ( male pattern hair loss) and FPHL ( female pattern hair loss). There are many natural DHT blockers and a number of drugs which are used for medical hair restoration.

Let us see the main drugs which are available for medical hair restoration in men and women.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil has the distinction of the first drug being used for promoting the hair restoration. This medical hair restoration treatment drug was used earlier as an oral antihypertensive drug, but after its hypertrichosis (excessive body hair) effects were noticed, a topical solution of the drug was tested for its hair growing potential. Minoxidil was then approved as medical hair restoration treatment drug for men by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1988 as a 2% solution, followed by 5% solution in 1997. For women, the 2% solution was approved in 1991. Though 5% solution is not approved for women, it is used as a medical hair restoration treatment by many dermatologists worldwide. Both solutions are available without a prescription in the US.

Mechanism of action

Minoxidil is thought to have a direct mitogenic effect on epidermal cells, as has been observed both in vitro in vivo. Though the mechanism of its action for causing cell proliferation is not very clear, minoxidil is thought to prevent intracellular calcium entry. Calcium normally enhances epidermal growth factors to inhibit hair growth, and Minoxidil by getting converted to minoxidil sulfate acts as a potassium channel agonist and enhances potassium ion permeability to prevent calcium ions from entering into cells.

Thought the exact action of minoxidil preventing the formation of DHT has not been shown but the drug has been shown to have a stabilizing effect on the hair loss. The result of the drug takes about few months time to be evident since it is the time which is necessary for restoring the normal growth cycle of hair fibers.

Use of Minoxidil has approved by FDA for men (Norwood II-V) and women (Ludwig I-II ) older than 18 years. It is used as a medical hair restoration treatment either for frontal or vertex scalp thinning. It brings about an increase in density which is mostly caused by conversion of miniaturized hairs into terminal hairs rather than a stimulated de novo re-growth. The hair loss becomes stabilized after continued use of drug, which takes about a year’s time for the medical hair restoration treatment to show its complete results.

Hair loss restoration treatment with 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate and 5% topical minoxidil are found to be superior to minoxidil alone.

Topical minoxidil is very well tolerated and adverse effects are mainly dermatologic. The most frequent adverse effect is an irritant contact dermatitis.

Though minnoxidil does not have any effect on blood pressure, it should be used with caution in patient with cardiovascular diseases. It is also contraindicated in pregnant and nursing mothers.

Finasteride

The drug finasteride was earlier used as treatment for prostate enlargement, under the medical name Proscar. But in 1998, it was approved by FDA for the Medical hair loss restoration in MPHL.

Mechanism of Action

Medical hair restoration treatments with Finasteride depends upon its specific action as an inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase, the intracellular enzyme that converts male hormone androgen into DHT (Dihydro Testosterone). Its action results in significant decrease in serum and tissue DHT levels in even in concentration as low as 0.2mg. Finnasteride is able to stabilize hair loss in 80% of patient with Vertex hair loss and in 70% of patients with frontal hair loss. Most of these patients are able to grow more hair or retain the ones they have. The peculiar thing about Propecia is that its effect is more pronounced in crown area than in the front. The hair that grow after the medical hair restoration treatments are better in texture and are thicker, more like the terminal hair.

The best thing about medical hair restoration treatment with the finnasteride is that it is well tolerated and has minimal side effects. Sexual dysfunction (decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and decreased semen volume) are observed in about 3.8% of cases. But these side-effects subside within few months of Medical hair restoration treatments or disappear within a week’s time as soon as the treatment is stopped.

It generally requires about 6 to 12 months for the m edical hair restoration treatment to be apparent but the side effects appear earlier. So even after the medicine is stopped, there is no possibility of loosing the hair that has been gained, but the side effects are sure to disappear.

Many hair restoration surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the surgical hair restoration. There are several benefits of this kind of combination therapy. As the Medical hair restoration with Propecia brings about a hair re-growth in the crown area, it has a complementary action; it allows the surgeon to have more donor hair to be available for frontal hair transplant and design the hairline at his own will. Since finasteride has no effect in the frontal area of the scalp, it does not have any interference with the surgical hair restoration.

Combination Therapy

There are reports which say that use of finasteride and topical minoxidil combination therapy as a Medical hair restoration treatment is of more advantage in cases of mild to moderate MPHL. Further studies are in progress. Many hair restoration doctors have already started the use of combination therapy in order to obtain better hair growth.

Anti Androgen Therapy

For women with hyperandrogonism( with increased levels of androgen) who do not respond well to minoxidil, antiandrogen therapy is another option of Medical hair restoration. In UK the most commonly used anti-androgen for women is CPA (cyproterone acetate), which is used in combination with ethinyl-estradiol.

However, in United States, where CPA is not available, the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone is the alternative choice of hair restoration doctors.

Flutamide

Medical hair restoration with flutamide has shown improvement as hair loss restoration treatment in women with hirsutism. For hyperandrogenic premenopausal women, flutamide is a better medical hair restoration agent than both the CPA or finestride.

Hair loss restoration management is a structured process which depends upon many factors along with the medical hair restoration.