Where is the Hair on My Head Going?
H
air loss can occur for a number of reasons including stress, nutrient deficiency, weight loss, toxic chemicals, and a variety of medical conditions. It is thought that the body pulls nutrients from the hair, skin and nails first to feed organs if they are not getting proper amounts in the diet or if the body is in a dis-eased or imbalanced state. That’s why one of the first indications of disease is a change in the healthy appearance of hair. The clinical diagnoses for hair loss is called alopecia, a medical condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, but typically from the scalp. Androgenetic Alopecia (hereditary hair loss) is the most commonly known cause that affects both men and women. For many, hair loss makes a huge dent on selfesteem. Several men and women now seek treatment for their receding hairlines. Men no longer think that just because they are men, it’s fine to be bald. The problem with losing hair is that sometimes, you are just predisposed to it. It’s a genetic thing. If your father’s hairline recedes early, chances are, so will yours. Half of all men and women over 60 suffer from this. It ‘runs in the family’ and is genetically determined. When testosterone is naturally broken down in the body by Alpha reductase enzymes, it turns into DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which is the leading cause of hair loss known as Androgenetic Alopecia. The androgen receptors that we all carry pick up the DHT in the hair follicle causing what is called miniaturization. The more DHT the follicle receives, the more the hair follicle shrinks eventually killing the hair. We all have androgen receptor genes, which hold the key to whether we are genetically predisposed to hair loss. Our successful treatments limit and block the amount of DHT the androgen receptors deliver to the follicle. Lifestyle also affects the condition of our hair. So if we cannot control our genes, a healthier lifestyle may help us retain our
crowning glory longer. The difference between 30 years ago and now is that people today are more stressed. Adding to the damage is the unhealthy environment, such as air pollution. Also, our typical diet consists of more processed food. What is bad for the body is bad for the hair. Shampooing also plays a role in hair loss. We want to emphasize proper hair and scalp care because excessive hair loss can be exacerbated by unhygienic scalp conditions. There is always a need for greater awareness and education - many people still focus on the hair and neglect the scalp which has an important role in determining hair health. Trichologist Donyelle McBride of McBride Hair has been using several types of natural treatments for hair loss for years with great success. Donyelle has successfully treated Androgenetic Alopecia, Traction Alopecia (hairline hair loss due to excessive tension), Diffused Alopecia (gradual hair loss over entire head), and Alopecia Areata including many clients with hormonal imbalance and chemotherapy. “I started losing my hair in uncomfortable amounts. My doctor gave me a prescription to help stop the loss. Unfortunately I did not see any results. I contacted McBride Hair and began my customized treatment program with electrotherapy; after
90 days, I saw significant new hair growth. My hair is now growing and slowly increasing in fullness,” says one of Donyelle’s clients. Other medical reasons for hair loss include: chemotherapy, hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, medications for high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, and gastric bypass surgery. Treatment is most successful when hair loss is first detected. So hoping your hair loss will correct itself is highly unlikely. Time and rate of hair loss can make a difference on how effective regrowth can be. It also depends on whether you have less than or greater than 50% scalp hair loss. It is important to provide the proper environment for hair to grow. Proper scalp care, DHT Blockers, vitamin and herbal supplementation, follicle and scalp stimulation using electrotherapy (UV light that increases blood circulation and helps deliver nutrients to the follicle) help create that such environment. Other treatments include: all natural therapies like vitamin and mineral-enriched shampoos, Maximum Growth Therapy which is an organic alternative to Minoxidil. It contains eleven of the best topical DHT blockers and adds numerous natural hair enhancers. Submitted by Dr. Diane Hindman and Donyelle McBride. For more information, visit www.mcbridehair.com or call 860-9852081. See ad on page 19.
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