Did I Inherit A Hair Loss Gene?

Men who start to go bald even before a mid-life crisis may have their mothers to blame, according to a new study. Researchers have found that the main construction manual for a full head of hair is located on the X chromosome, which sons always inherit from their mothers.

This genetic storage space contains the so-called androgen receptor gene, a long time balding suspect. Looking at men who were losing their hair at a relatively young age, a team led by Markus Nothen, PhD, of the Life & Brain Center at Bonn University, Germany systematically examined all of the genetic patterns within the X chromosome to see why certain hairlines recede faster than others. It’s not a pretty picture.

The study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, claims that a single alteration in the androgen-receptor gene is the major reason why some men end up going bald before their fathers. Nearly half of bald men would not be bald if they did not have this genetic variation. The hair loss in these younger men, he added, was much more severe than in the men who still had a reason to use a comb in their 60s.

The two approved medicines to treat hair loss (Rogaine and Propecia) need to be taken for a long time to see results. With Propecia, doctors sometimes advise their patients not to expect any results before at least six to eight months. And both need to be used indefinitely to maintain its effect. Once you stop, hair loss will continue.

Although there are only two medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss, many people are interested in other, alternative treatments. The herb saw palmetto has been used for many years in Europe to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate and there is some evidence that it may also be effective in treating hair loss.

Determing Which is the Best Hair Loss Product

You have probably asked yourself time and time again, what is the best hair loss product available?  That question was asked on a Google answers site, and the experts answer?  They stated that there is no answer to that question. 

They are correct in that there is no general answer to that question, but there is an answer to the alternative question, “What is the best hair loss product for me?”  It’s still not an easy question to answer though, and you’ll probably need to find the answer via good old-fashioned trial and error methods.

Home Remedies   
There are many kinds of home remedies for hair loss.  I’m pretty sure some of them can be disregarded — like rubbing cow manure on your head — but some of them probably do help some people.  Here are a few of the more promising home remedies for hair loss:

§ Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar and sage tea.
§ A variety of oils have been used—almond oil, castor oil, olive oil, and amla oil.  Usually the oil is warmed, which will at least feel good and make your hair shiny. 
§ Applying coconut milk or aloe vera gel to your scalp.
§ Applying a masque of honey and egg yolk to your hair and scalp.

All of these concoctions should be washed out (except the apple cider and sage tea rinse) after use.

Hair Care Products

The best hair loss product for you could be as simple as a good shampoo or conditioner.  Some people swear by Nizoral shampoo, and say it puts an end to hair loss.  Some people love Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner, because it makes their hair look and feel fuller and thicker.  Your hairdresser may have some suggestions about hair care products that help you with your hair loss.

Herbal Remedies

Some people believe that the best hair loss product is an herbal remedy.  There are a number of herbal lotions and potions as well as nutritional supplements specially formulated to treat hair loss.  An herbalist may be able to recommend the best products for your particular type of hair loss.  Here are a few herbal remedies that seem to help:

§ Ginko biloba
§ Green tea
§ A Chinese herb called “he shou wu”
§ Pygeum
§ Aloe vera
§ Saw palmetto
§ Stinging nettle

Some of these are taken in pill form and some are made into preparations that you rub onto your scalp.  Some (like, for instance, stinging nettles) can cause a reaction, so use all herbal preparations with care.

Minoxidil (Rogain®)

A lot of people consider that this is the best hair loss product.  It’s available without a prescription at any pharmacy, and it works for a lot of people.  Minoxidil helps both men and women to grow more hair.  Remember, though, that as soon as you quit taking minoxidil, your hair will start to fall out again.

Prescription Medications

A prescription medication, such as Propecia, could be the ideal hair loss product for you.  You need to see the doctor to get it, but that’s a good thing, because she will conduct a check-up to see if there is some underlying cause to your hair loss that can be taken care of permanently.

Wigs, Rugs and Weaves

It could turn to be that the best hair loss product for you is a cover up of some kind.  This is especially true when the hair loss is temporary, such as when your hair falls out while undergoing chemotherapy. 

There are a lot of options available to you to treat hair loss, but only you can decide which is the best hair loss product for you.  Test a few things, and when you find something that works for you, stick with it.  It may not work for everybody, but the important thing here is that you will have found the best hair loss product for you.

Biotin and Hair Loss

Falling hair is normal, when you take bath roll in the bed, do combing and such other activities, you lost some of your hairs. It is very natural. But if your hair falls and that too in such a quantity that makes your head poor haired then it is a deficiency, which may ultimately lead to baldness. If this is the case, then you are suffering with hair problems. The causes may be many and you need to identify them, but ultimately your body is deficient of Biotin. Yes, Biotin, it is the vitamin, which makes your hair healthy, strong and good looking. It is clinically proven, so maintaining a good level of Biotin in your body system is as essential as maintaining other vitamins and minerals. Biotin is necessary for your hairs health and overall well being. Medical specialists advise that the persons suffering with Hair Problems must take Biotin in addition to other medications.

So if you are suffering with hair problems, must go for medications with Biotin substitutes.  Foods like eggs. Yolk and liver contains a lot of Biotin, you need to consume these foods in rich quantity to maintain your health and prevent hair loss.
Using a Biotin enriched shampoo may also help in improving your hair health.

Some more foods rich in Biotin are; brewer’s yeast, green peas, oats, soybeans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, green peas, bulgur and brown rice, etc. Eating these foods and food products will help your body in maintaining a good level of Biotin.

A person who is a patient of heartburn, acid reflux or GERD absorbs less amount of Biotin, and hence may trap into hair problems. This is because; a person suffering with above-mentioned disease takes a lot of antacids.
So now, you will definitely agree with the fact that Biotin is a hair food, and important for good hair health.

What Biotin else does for your body?

Biotin is a member of Vitamin B complex family also sometime known as Vitamin H or Vitamin B7. This is soluble in water, which means, if body has high level of Vitamin H at a certain day or time, it pass out through Urine. This vitamin is produced in the intestine with the help of bacteria in the intestine. Biotin helps in metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and helps in maintaining steady blood sugar. So, it is good for the persons suffering with Diabetes. Diabetes is a major disease across the globe and affects several men and women.

Biotin do processing of glucose and we know glucose is one of the source of energy of our body to perform work and maintaining wear and tear of the body. Biotin also helps in making of DNA, RNA and nucleic acids and production of fatty acids. Growth and replication of cells depends on Biotin.
Thus on one hand Biotin helps in maintaining good hair health and on the other hand it is important for several bodily functions.

Sources of Biotin

The main sources of Biotin are; liver, kidneys, milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products, egg yolks, oysters, lobsters, poultry, cauliflower, avocados, bananas, strawberries, watermelon, grapefruits, raisins, mushrooms, green peas, blackcurrants, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, nuts, beans, lentils, oat bran, whole grains, oatmeal, peanut butter, molasses, and foods like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herrings (foods rich in Omega – 3 fatty acids).
A healthy person and pregnant woman must take 300 grams of Biotin in daily diet. Breastfeeding mothers need about 350 micrograms of Biotin.

Symptoms of Biotin Deficiency

People affecting with Biotin deficiency may show dry or scaly scalp, a loss of appetite, hair problems; closely associated with Biotin deficiency, nausea, depression, dermatitis, anorexia, and anemia.

A Guide To Balding Men's Hairstyles

It’s unbelievable how difficult it is to find any decent information on the internet about balding men’s hairstyles. 

You’ll know this yourself if you’ve ever tried to do a search on Google for ‘balding men’s hairstyles’, ‘hairstyles for balding men’, ‘balding hairstyles’ or any other amount of variations on the theme.

This is surprising considering how many balding men there are who deserve a decent hairstyle as much as any one else…

So… faced with this injustice I’ve put together my own guide to balding men’s hairstyles…

It’s a fact that 95% of all balding or bald men suffer from male pattern baldness.  Male pattern baldness usually starts with a receding hairline at the front and is frequently accompanied with thinning at the top.

Over time, this thinning turns into a full fledged bald spot, and the bald spot grows to cover the head, apart from the sides and around the back.

Regardless of this, as long as there is a single hair left on my head I’ll still demand a stylish coiffure.  So, what balding hairstyle options are available?

The worst balding men’s hairstyle is the comb over.  This is the classic look beloved of men of a certain age whereby the hair is grown longer on one side of the head and ‘combed over’ the bald area to the other side.

This strategy only spells disaster even in the slightest of breezes and is to be avoided at all costs.

But assuming you already know this, what are the other do’s and don'ts to balding men’s hairstyles?

The first common mistake is combing the hair straight back.  This may cover bald spots, but it only exposes the forehead and draws attention to the receding hairline.

The second is growing your hair longer at the back to make up for what's lacking on top.  This unbalances the head and draws even more attention to the scalp and the baldness.

Younger men with thinning hair might be tempted to use gel… but this isn’t recommended.  Gel clumps your hair together and reveals the scalp.

Likewise, growing your hair long in an attempt to cover up actually causes hair to separate and show more scalp.

So, what are the do’s?

Get more natural looking fluff to your hair by using mousses and conditioners.

Grow your remaining hair by a few inches, get it layered and brush it forward to break up the receding hairline.

If your hairline isn’t receding too badly, but the top of your head is thinning, you can get away with keeping the front long and combing your hair straight back to cover the bald spot. 

Eventually however, your bald spot will expand.

The ultimate balding men’s hairstyle when faced with a shiny bald dome, is to go the whole hog and shave it off or at least a very close trim.

You’ll probably be amazed at people’s reactions and the compliments you’ll get – the shaved look is a totally acceptable balding hairstyle these days.

Start with electric clippers like you find in the barbers. After you've clipped the heavy stuff, lather up with shaving gel.  This gives you a closer, smoother shave than shaving cream.
 
Then using a razor, start at the top and shave down with the grain taking care at the back -  it’s recommended to watch what you’re doing with a small mirror.

Shaving your head only takes a few minutes and you don't need to do it every day (two to three times a week is fine).

Taking care of your new shaved head is much like taking care of your face. Wash regularly with moisturizing soap, rather than a harsh deodorant soap that can dry out the skin on your head. 

Also use a good quality moisturizer after every wash – cheaper moisturizers will just clog up your pores.

For the summer, find a moisturizer with a sun protection factor of at least 15 to avoid sunburn on your head. And you'll need a warm hat in winter to maintain your body heat.

If shaving doesn't tickle your fancy then you can always opt for a hairpiece as a last resort - though I wouldn't recommend it :-)

A Family Affair for Hair

Out of the hundreds of procedures he performs each year, the last thing hair-transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Dorin expected to do was perform surgery on his father.

Robert M. Dorin Sr. had been losing his hair for many years, but few people knew how much it bothered him. Then, one day at a family function, the elder Dorin casually mentioned to his son that he was considering treatment.

"It surprised me because my father knew what type of work I do and he never said anything," Dorin said.

Caught unawares, Dorin was nevertheless delighted that his father was taking matters into his own hands. "My father's hair loss finally reached a point where most of the hair in the frontal area had fallen out," he said.

So Dorin decided to come up with a surprise of his own.

"Given that it was a week before my dad's birthday, I figured it was a great opportunity to give him a gift that he would enjoy for the rest of his life," he said. "I scheduled a procedure for my father for the very next week."

On the day of the surgery, the two discussed the details of the procedure and what to expect.

"I could feel and see my dad's excitement grow as things took shape," Dorin said. "He realized just how much hair he had lost over the years and how much I would be able to put back in just one procedure."

The procedure required 1,571 hair-transplant grafts and took about 7 hours. Three weeks later, there are no telltale signs of the hair transplant. He should begin enjoying his new look in three to six months.

"Working on my dad was something extra special for me," Dorin said. "It was an honor to be able to do something that would have a lasting, positive impact on his life. It is very similar to the way his actions and support have shaped my life."

A Cure For The Age Old Problem Of Hair Loss

Men aren't the only ones looking for a cure for hair loss. Some women are also affected. One solution is delving into the Internet for answers. Cyberspace will provide you with a number of solutions to this confidence-breaking problem. You can even sift through a variety of reviews posted by individuals who have tried specific products.

Depending on what you're willing to spend, there is surely a cure for hair loss suitable to you. I recall when my older brother began losing his dew toward the end of high school. I felt awkward about this I must admit. Why do some guys start losing their hair at such a tender age? Much actually depends on genetics and stress. I'm guessing it was stress in this case since my mother's father has a full head of hair.

If you watch television, then you've most likely spotted a hair loss commercial or two. Those sometimes quirky, yet cheesy ads don't offer much solace when we start going bald up top or the forehead starts to expand. Luckily there are quality solutions at hand. The first step you should take concerning a cure for hair loss is consulting a family doctor or possibly a trichologist. He or she will be able to present you with some decent options.

The good news is many of these products are effective, but not so expensive these days. You can get your hair back. You just need to exhaust your resources in order to pinpoint that perfect cure for hair loss.

This certainly is the simplest choice, but it doesn't have to be your only option. You can find an effective cure for hair loss if you do your homework. In the cosmetically advanced world we currently reside in, there's no reason why you have to take your hair loss like a man.

Are you in desperate search of a cure for hair loss? Many men across the world are going through a daily struggle with hair loss. The inevitable affliction sadly becomes a reality for many of us. Although most men do not prefer a bald scalp, some are taking this route and avoiding the struggle altogether.

This can be helpful in your search for the right and ideal cure for hair loss. You've simply got to love the Internet. If you discover an over-the-counter cure for hair loss, you can likely pick it up at any corner drug store.