by GotHair
28. October 2009 21:48
Our hair is often overlooked but plays an important role in our lives especially in social interaction as it is one of the first things you notice when you meet someone and before any social engagement it is the one thing we spend the most time on getting to look right. Men can be just as vain as women about their hair and learning you have a hair loss problem whether male of female can have a devastating effect on your self-esteem.
The word balding does not get used as much today but hair loss is primarily a genetic trait which members of the same family suffer although there are other factors involved, it may take quite a while for science to find a genetic cure to the problem. Generally male or female pattern baldness or hair loss is inherited although only gene therapy can help with it but this is not the only reason for balding. The male pattern baldness problem is seen in specific areas of the scalp where the hair follicles are more sensitive to specific hormones.
This sex hormone increase is the problem that must be overcome if the hair loss is to be halted. The cure for this condition is likely to be some way off as it is a genetic trait and will require a great deal more research.
Male pattern-baldness is also something that women can suffer with as well but is treatable and the result of a hormone that aids sexual development in people and is common in both sexes called DHT. To help reduce the amount of DHT in the hair follicles, tables like Propecia are available or you can also use a shampoo like Regaine to help increase the growth of hair. The condition pattern baldness is referred to as such because certain areas of the scalp are affected by increased levels of DHT so transplant surgery redistributes hair from areas that are not affected by this hormone.
Our hair growth takes place in cycles which last between two to six years and at any one time about ten percent of our hair is in a dormant phase and not growing but starts to shed after a few months when new hair will grow in its place. While in the growing phase, hair will gain approximately 1 centimeter a month and it is normal to experience hair loss every day as part of this resting and growing cycle although some people experience excessive hair loss from a variety of other causes.
The cause of hair loss is multi-variable but many people falsely believe that hair loss is caused by things like bad circulation, stress, sweat and dirt on the scalp, or even from wearing hats. With the exception of stress, none of these factors has been proven as a definitive cause of hair loss but stress is also not very likely unless you have undergone extreme physical or psychological torture but fortunately this hair loss is can also be temporary in nature.
It is also possible to have a hair loss problem if you have been subject to chemotherapy, have taken pills to control depression or hormones, if you have a diabetes and even an excess of vitamin A can cause the condition along with infections of the scalp. Science is only at the early stages of understanding our genetic make-up so it make take some time before permanent solutions can be found to this age-old problem.
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