Hair Loss Treatments

Many types of hair loss are due to various internal and external factors. Are you experiencing thinning hair, hair shedding, or receding hairline for weeks or several months now? These are all signs of hair loss, and you may want to consult a medical professional to ensure there are no underlying medical causes of why you are shedding scalp hair in the first place.

Come to think of it, hair loss is a problem people have faced since time immemorial. Its comes as an intrinsic part of aging but this type of balding is medically known as androgenetic apolecia or hair loss commonly experienced by men but also occurs in women. Androgenetic apolecia is the hereditary type of hair loss, and people who are genetically predisposed to hair loss are at higher propensity of going bald, sometimes as early as the age of 20 and progresses as age advances.

It is unfortunate that about 50% of men will be experiencing hair loss when approach the age 50, and although some do fear of having to face their image in the mirror with a receding hairline, many still hope it will never actually occur.

Let's face it, the world of hair loss treatments are not well defined and, currently, only two drugs, Finasteride and Minoxidil, have obtained the approval of the FDA to be safe and relatively effective in hair loss treatment. Before choosing a hair loss treatment product, the first thing that needs to be done is to research about the product, its ingredients, and do not simply rely on testimonials – except for the two mentioned earlier, most of these products are not backed by scientific evidence.

To be on the safe side, you can resort to an herbal hair loss treatment instead than take strong medications that somewhat alter some of the natural biological processes of your body such as the effect of finasteride in inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (the hormone seen to be responsible for hair loss in men). Rogaine (minoxidil), meanwhile, is dispensed as an over-the-counter hair loss treatment drug.

A natural hair loss treatment is also increasingly gaining mass appeal due to the growing evidences surfacing in the open supporting the effectiveness of herbal treatments that delay or curtail hair loss. These herbal hair loss treatments have been found relatively effective in curtailing hair shedding:

Ginkyo Biloba – Is popular among herbalists, and believed to improve the circulation of blood in the skin and brain. Herbalists believe that an increased blood flow going to the brain can deliver nutrients to the hair follicles and promote hair regrowth. You need 120-160mg of dried extract per day, in three divided doses.

Green tea – is known to contain catechins that inhibit the enzyme 5 alpha reductase, which is responsible in converting testosterone into DHT (dihyrotestosterone) that also causes hair loss. It is, hence, believed to be effective in preventing male-pattern baldness. You may take several cups of green tea a day or take the capsule form as directed by the manufacturer.

He Shou Wu – This herb is one of the several Chinese hair loss treatments herbs that can be found in commercial preparations, in capsule form or tea.

Pygeum – Derived from the bark of evergreen, it's effects are similar to green tea and has wide uses for the treatment of prostate problems as well as male pattern baldness. Dosage is 60-500mg each day in the form of a pill or capsule.

Saw Palmetto – The raging popularity of saw palmetto in providing symptomatic relief to prostate problems, retards hair loss, and enhances hair regrowth. The recommended dose for saw palmetto extracts is 160mg twice daily.

Hair loss may generally be controlled by genetic factors, but sometimes it occurs as a symptom to several conditions. It is best to address the root cause of your hair shedding to treat the symptom as well.