Male hair loss.

How hair grows-Here’s a simple way to understand the hair growth cycle: Hair doesn’t grow like grass. If it did, you would expect every hair to be growing at the same rate on your scalp. After a period of time, all the hairs would end their life span together and fall out simultaneously. This would leave you totally bald until a new crop began to grow.

Instead, the hair growth cycle prevents this all-or-nothing scenario, because every hair grows at a different rate on your scalp. At any one time, about 90 % of the hairs are in a growing phase, a process that can take from two to six years, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

As such, 10 % of the hair rests for several months until it’s ready to shed, writes AAD. Once a hair falls out, the body immediately gets busy growing a new hair to replace it. Per day, you can lose up to 100 hairs, according to AAD.

What affects the hair cycle

Many circumstances can impact the hair cycle, increasing the amount of hair that falls out. These include chemical hair treatments, heredity, age, hormones, fever, infection and medications. After you’ve recovered, however, hair can resume its normal growth rate.

Noticing a pattern

Hair loss doesn’t happen overnight; it typically starts in your 20s or 30s. By age 50, up to half of men experience hair loss. Common male pattern baldness can result from androgen levels and genetics.

• Hormones: A man’s higher levels of testosterone — an androgen — are largely responsible for male pattern baldness. An enzyme turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone or DHT. Then, a reaction occurs between DHT and hormones in hair follicles. The result is less growth of new hair or no new hair growth at all.
• Genetics: Some researchers believe that the X chromosome — passed on by your mother — is related to hair loss. In fact, a German study found that “the resemblance should be greater between affected males and their maternal grandfathers than between affected males and their fathers,” writes Miranda Hitti for WebMD. So, if your mother’s father was bald, there’s a chance you might be as well.
  
  For most men, hair loss follows a specific pattern. The so-called “pattern” of male baldness starts at the front of the hair near your forehead, where your hairline recedes. In addition, “hair at the crown also begins to thin,” notes MedHelp. As this happens, more and more scalp on the top of your head will become visible.

Treatments to try

In the past few years, dermatologists have seen a rise in hair loss consultations — probably due to a variety of reasons. For one, today’s increasing emphasis on cosmetic appearance makes people more aware of the issue than in previous generations. Also, education on hair loss and new treatments are bringing more patients with alopecia to dermatologists.
Topical treatments such as minoxidil (Rogaine) slow hair loss as well as promote hair regrowth.Research shows that 10 %of men who use Rogaine have “cosmetically acceptable regrowth.” How? The mechanism isn’t completely understood, but minoxidil can encourage new growth from hair follicles.
Be patient — it can take up to six months before you notice any changes.This treatment option may work best for younger men with small bald areas who are just starting to lose their hair.
Unfortunately, if you stop using Rogaine, hair loss will return. Also, some men can experience scalp itching or redness from Rogaine.
Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.
Take care of your scalp by using proper hair products

Hormone Sensitivity, Inflammation, and Nizoral

Male Pattern Baldness is hormonal and genetic. Sensitivity to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) which develops in the scalp. This sensitivity can cause tingling, inflammation, itching, and scalp pain.

Controlling both the DHT sensitivity and calming the scalp are critical to successfully treating hair loss.
This is why no matter what treatment regimen you use, Nizoral shampoo absolutely must be included.

Though it is marketed as an anti-dandruff shampoo, it effectively handles both the hormonal and inflammation-related causes of hair loss. It is the only shampoo that can do this. In fact, your first order of business is to go out and get Nizoral today, whether or not you have any current itching. Use it once every 3 days, and let it soak for the duration of your shower.

Talk to your G.P for further information on how to treat hair loss or ask to be referred to Hair Restoration Clinic in Blackrock (contact details below).

Hair Restoration Clinic,
Samson House,
Sweetman’s Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin,
Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0)1 209 1000
Fax: +353 (0)1 209 1001
E-mail: info@hrbr.ie

Scalp oil treatment.

Pukka herb - Bhringaraj oil is made with organic sesame oil and is traditionally used in Ayurveda to nourish the hair. It is renowned for preventing early greying and balding. Ayurveda's view on these conditions is that due to high testosterone levels, pitta becomes very high and literally wilts the hair roots. Bhringaraj is also considered to be very nourishing if early greying is caused by nutritional deficiencies following illness or stress.

Instructions: Apply to the scalp twice daily – ingredients are Bhringaraj & Sesame Oil.Warm oil to blood temperature and massage in all over scalp leave for 15/30 minutes and wash as normal. You will buy this in a Health Store that carries the Pukka Herb range. Warm sesame seed oil is also good for the scalp.