Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Natural and Laser Hair Loss Treatments

In recent times, hair loss has become a common condition, especially among men although, the exact cause of hair loss is still a mystery. Some research studies have linked hair loss with the lack of iron, the condition of the skin on the scalp, an excess of the hormone DHT and probably an under active thyroid gland.

A fundamental principal in natural hair loss treatment is that the same foods that are good for your health are good for your hair. Hair loss can be caused by several factors, but lack of proper nutrition plays a vital role for most people. Foods that are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and have reduced fat content can help in maintaining healthier hair and preventing hair loss. For example, essential fatty acids, found in spinach, walnuts, soy, tuna, sardines, sunflower seeds and canola oil, are important dietary essentials useful in keeping hair healthy. The omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties that are useful in maintaining healthy hair. Insufficient levels of these essential fatty acids could lead to quicker hair loss.

To avoid hair loss and have good healthy hair, a good nutritional diet is needed. This diet needs to be rich in organic whole foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts and seeds which are a rich source of vital nutrients needed for healthy hair roots and the protein keratin. Try not to skip meals, reduce salt, sugar, tea, coffee and chocolate intake, avoid stress, comb your hair gently and avoid using strong chemicals on your hair such as perms and color treatments. Vegetarians are prone to hair loss because their diet generally lacks the important nutrients, vitamin B12, iron and lysine. Vegetarians need to be aware of this and supplement their diet.

Laser treatment for hair loss aka Low Level laser Therapy (LLLT) is a method used in addition to other treatments. It has existed for more than 30 years, mainly in European countries, but nowadays it is gaining popularity in the US as well. This type of treatment is completely pain-free and has no major side effects. It has been proven to work in many scientific studies.

LLLT is applied using a special comb. This comb will use laser technology to heat the scalp and massage it gently. It uses soft low-light lasers that are emitted by special rotating laser positions. Doing this will expand the pores. LLLT combs also emit infrared energy which increases the metabolism of the scalp and improves blood circulation. The laser treatment will make the scalp healthier and has been said to even reverse hair loss.

In order to be effective the laser comb has to be distributed at the right wavelength. If it is not the treatment will be useless. This is why many of the cheap laser combs being sold on the market are a waste of money.

People who use the laser comb can expect to see slight improvements at first. They may notice that their hair is slightly thicker and stronger. After several months results should get more noticeable.

Laser treatments for hair loss may be an effective method and a good alternative to hair replacement surgery. Still, you should do your homework before buying a laser comb, as many do not work at all.


Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss is an issue that many adult men and women face throughout their lives. Some may find this problem to be embarrassing and struggle to find a way to best deal with the problem. The first way to deal with the issue of hair loss is to explore what can cause an individual to bald.

There are several reasons for this sudden increase in teenage hair loss. Some of the most common causes are as follows:

HORMONAL CHANGES

Hormonal changes are a common cause of hair loss in teens and adults. From the onset of puberty throughout the teenage years, girls experience hormonal fluctuations. During this time the body needs extra support. Good nutrition, vitamin supplementation, exercise, adequate sleep and ample relaxation will help ease a girl through these hormonal changes. Many teens nowadays have bad eating and sleeping habits. They often prefer to spend their time socializing on the computer, leaving little if any time for fresh air and exercise. These bad habits wreak havoc on the hormonal system during this time and often cause undesirable effects such as hair loss.

ACNE MEDICATION

Many teens use Accutane, a popular prescription based oral acne medication. Teen girls using Accutane are required to be on birth control before, during and after the course of treatment. Accutane effects hair growth in several ways. It reduces the size of the sebaceous gland and decreases sebum. Without adequate sebum, hair becomes dry, fragile, weak and more likely to fall out. Accutane also causes a biotin deficiency and causes a condition called Hypervitaminosis A (too much vitamin A.) Both of these conditions cause hair loss.

There are some causes which are temporary, such as having a major surgical procedure. Often times a person will start losing hair three to four months after major surgery. The stress of the illness and procedure is the direct cause of the hair loss and is temporary. If this is the cause of your hair loss than you will simply have to wait for your hair to grow back through its normal cycle. While you may be impatient waiting, you can take comfort in knowing that the problem is temporary and will solve itself.

Other illnesses, conditions, or medications can cause people to bald. Thyroid problems can cause baldness and this hair loss can often be helped by the treatment of the thyroid condition, pregnancy may also cause the loss of hair, fungal infections, diseases such as lupus or diabetes, and certain medications can also be the cause for it. These types of hair loss can be considered a temporary condition and can be treated through changing medication or the treatment of the specific condition causing the hair loss.