Male Pattern Baldness: Finasteride to Prevent Further Hair Loss

Any man that has experienced premature hair loss and balding, or is experiencing such problems at the moment, will know just how debilitating this can be. Whilst some people may think that hair loss is just an aesthetic problem and that men should just get over it and play the hand that they have been dealt, this is actually a problem that can go much further than just aesthetics.

Of course, some men have no qualms about losing their hair and to them it really is plain and simple aesthetics. However, for many other men, losing their hair can have a profound effect on the way they feel. Many men lose their self-esteem and confidence along with their hair and this can make a big difference to their overall quality of life.

Finasteride is a drug designed to help men who are experiencing hair loss and baldness. This medication is aimed at helping to stop any further hair loss; so the earlier men consider taking it, the better. However, this medication is unable to stimulate hair regrowth, it can only stop hair loss or further baldness.

There are in fact a number of main benefits that come with this hair loss treatment and some of these include the following:

- This medication may be able to stop any further hair loss in men that have been losing their hair. It can therefore prove very effective for men who start taking it early before too much hair is lost

- Finasteride comes in the form of a small pill, which only has to be taken once a day in order for men to start benefitting from its effects. This means that there is no need for inconvenient ointments that have to be rubbed onto the scalp each day. It also means that you can take your medication discreetly even when you are away on a holiday or business trip

- Whilst there are side effects that are associated with this treatment, many men experience no side effects at all from taking finasteride, and instead enjoy only the benefits of the treatment

- Clinical trials have been carried out on the effectiveness of finasteride in men that are suffering from baldness and hair loss. The results of the testing have shown that for many men, finasteride can be very effective, in terms of stopping further hair loss

Is Caring for the Hair as Good as Preventing Hair Loss?

Whether or not you will lose your hair is really up to your genetic code and internal workings. Caring for your hair can, however, have an effect on the timing of your hair loss, if this is your fate.

If you keep your scalp and hair healthy, you can postpone your hair loss, even if your family history makes it unlikely that you can avoid it forever. You may be wondering who you can trust, with so many people offering their own suggestions on how to treat your hair. What follows are a few time-tested hair care practices to avoid hair loss.

Exerting a lot of pulling on your hair for any style is not recommended. Very tight ponytails, or even the bun, is not a good idea due to the pulling. Pigtails are not a good idea, or anything that involves very tight curls is a bad idea. Just try to avoid pulling because it puts stress and strain on your scalp and it weakens the hair. You can actually cause your hair to shed in amounts you won’t want to see. You’d be surprised at how much you can help your hair if you merely made your styles a bit looser.

You are also better off skipping the blow dryer, except for occasions when you really need to dry your hair fast. The best way to dry your hair is to let the air do it. You can’t argue with this. The more heat you force into your hair, the more brittle it can become. The heat can also cause your scalp to increase oil production which your hair will like but the rest of your head will not. Plus, if too much oil is produced, all of the hard work you did on cleaning your hair will have been for nothing.

Letting the air dry your hair is simple and effective. Just run your comb through your hair and let it dry at its own pace.

You know what kind of hair you have, so use a shampoo that’s suitable for it. You may want to see a stylist for help with this. You can get the best possible evaluation, and then she’ll tell you the best products to use for your hair.

Finer hair can easily be weighed down by very heavy shampoos. If your hair is oily, then too much conditioner will not look flattering. These and more facts are best gotten from your hairstylist.

Preventing hair loss can be tricky. It’s true that some women are more likely to have hair loss. But you should still try to do all you can for yourself. Yes, hair care that is done right can very often spell the difference between the quality of hair and amount of it.

It’s kind of simple, do all you can as much as possible to keep your hair in good condition and health. There are more tips and suggestions for healthy hair, so just try to learn and use them.

When Baldness Takes Its Course

You may have heard that baldness is caused from an overabundance of testosterone in the body and that bald men have higher levels of testosterone. Neither of these statements is true. A form of testosterone called DHT is to blame, however. It is a powerful sex hormone that promotes facial and body hair growth while leading to hair loss on the scalp. In genetically prone individuals, DHT starts the process of shrinking the hair follicle. Each time it sheds, it grows back smaller and smaller.

Eventually the scalp is left with “peach fuzz” or just barren. Way back when, Aristotle noticed that neither eunuchs nor women grew hair on their chests and he correctly surmised this was due to the lack of testes. DHT also affects prostate tissue and leads to noncancerous prostate enlargement.

You may also have heard that baldness comes from your mother’s side of the family. If only it were that simple. This myth can be traced back to a paper published in 1916 and has been propagated throughout the medical and lay literature since. There is no single way to get hair loss from your parents, as it is a complex genetic trait most likely coming from both sides.

Balding is not unique to humans. Gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans all show some different degrees of baldness. Some psychologists have even proposed that a gorilla’s high forehead (simulating baldness) creates a larger show for the face, and hence a more powerful social standing.

Being bald used to mean you were either seriously ill, a religious freak, a slave or maybe the loser of a bet. Then suddenly Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi made it acceptable for men to shave their heads. They unlocked a new world for bald guys. No longer would balding men be compared to Telly Savalas or Mr. Clean.

So one day I woke up at 2 a.m. and shaved my head for the first time. I then climbed back in bed with my wife. I should mention here that I didn’t discuss it with her beforehand, so one can imagine her surprise waking up next to a Hare Krishna. Fifteen years later, I’m still shaving it (only there is less and less to shave each year). An interesting psychological point is that it took about three years of being bald in the real world to see myself as a bald person when I dreamed. I think it took that long for my ingrained self-image to adjust.

In conclusion, I’d like to share an amusing Biblical reference I came upon in preparing this article. Kings 2:23: “From there, Elisha went to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Go on up, you baldhead!’ they said. ‘Go on up, you baldhead!’ He turned round, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out off the woods and mauled 42 of the youths.

I guess even holy man can be sensitive about their hair loss! And God obviously loves bald men.

The King of Hair Regrowth Treatments

If you haven’t worried about hair regrowth, you’re luckier than most. Male pattern baldness (MPB) affects about 40 million men in the United States alone. Yet most Americans haven’t heard of the hair loss treatment called bhringraj.

Even when referred to as false daisy, most people shake their heads, their brows knitted. Maybe it rings a bell? Otherwise, known by its Latin name, Ecliptica alba, this plant is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic practices, but it is almost unknown outside of Asia. According to Ayurveda, the translation of the word bhringraj is ‘king of hair’.

In Ayurveda, bhringraj is considered a rasayana plant, which rejuvenates and promotes longevity to whatever it is applied to. In Taiwan, bhringraj is a common remedy for the treatment of bleeding, itching, hepatitis, diphtheria and diarrhoea.

In China, bhringraj is taken orally to support the mind, nerves, liver, and eyes because of its soothing, cooling, and restorative properties. Applied topically, the powdered leaves of the plant combat skin conditions like athlete’s foot, eczema, and hair loss. Not only has bhringraj been used successfully for hair regrowth, the black dye obtained from its leaves is used to darken hair, so it doubles as a natural remedy for going grey!

Now, where to find bhringraj? It grows in warm moist climates all over the world, and is widespread in Southeast Asia, and Brazil, where it is also used as an antivenin for snake bites. It is native to North America, and the USDA reports that it is widespread in the Midwest and in eastern states. It can be found growing wild near creek beds, swamps, and other water sources, especially during summertime. The plant can’t survive exposure to temperatures below freezing or drought.

There are no recognized commercial sources for the original ‘king of hair’, though the internet turns up some independent providers of the plant in various processed forms.

Skip the expensive commercial stuff — why put that on your head when a free plant by the riverside would do just as well?

Treat Hair Loss with the Right Hair Loss Shampoo

Every person wants to have strong, beautiful hair. Hair loss is one of the most devastating things imaginable and many people will go to any length to prevent it from happening. In terms of prevention, a great way to prevent further hair loss for both women and men is a hair loss shampoo. There are various kinds of hair loss shampoos. The majority of hair loss shampoos strengthen existing hair, help grow more hair, and prevent hair loss.

But not all hair loss shampoos will work for all of us. What type of hair loss shampoo you need to use depends on many factors. Are you a man or a woman? How much hair have you shed? Would you like to regrow lost hair?

To choose the ideal product, you need to do some research. It is important to know what you’re looking for in a shampoo before you begin your search. You will find several types of shampoo to prevent future hair loss, and to regrow lost hair. As soon as you decide which you are looking for, your search will narrow.

Hair loss shampoos which prevent further loss and those which regrow hair are usually formulated differently, so make sure you choose the most suitable for your needs. Those which claim to do both rarely solve either problem, which is why it is important to determine your needs before purchasing. If a hair loss shampoo does not specifically state which condition it’s trying to fix, it is best to avoid it. Make sure to study the packaging very carefully to ensure that the shampoo you are purchasing is apt to your specific hair loss needs.

If you are uncertain of whether a product is best for your needs, talk about your needs and considerations with a physician. A hair loss shampoo is definitely worth trying to find out if it helps you, but one hair loss shampoo surely doesn’t work for everybody. Be realistic in your expectations because every individual is different and may respond in a different way. A money-back guarantee on the product can give a secure feeling in the event the product does not work for you.

A Solution for Stressed Men Suffering with Hair Loss

As the economy declines, it is no coincidence that so does the hair growth, as many men experiencing stress have found, and been reported in clinical research. Stress hormones (CRH) are released when the body reacts to stress so energy is lost to the roots and ultimately fuels the hair loss. This cause-and-effect has been proven scientifically, as CRH stops the hair from growing, it was shown that with the introduction of caffeine, the negative effect of CRH disappeared completely, so incorporating a caffeine shampoo or treatment into the hair washing routine could make a big difference.

Hair loss and baldness has remained a sensitive issue for many men, and a receding hairline and fine hair can cause a lack of confidence even for the most successful, fit and dynamic man. It has been reported in many articles and clinical studies that hereditary hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia, is due to the changing hormonal balance of testosterone. Many claims made by companies offering hair loss pills and supplements abound and different types of treatments are available at clinics including ultra violet treatment and lasers; for some, these can be extreme measures and would prefer a simpler method to try first such as using a shampoo formulated with caffeine. So why does the modern man find hair loss such an embarrassment knowing there is no cure?

Old wives’ tales abound with stories of impotency, and men often resort to a shaven head rather than try to manage the bald patch scenario. Some women find a bald head to be very attractive; and remember, confidence will always be the key to coping with something embarrassing. The addition of caffeine to a shampoo along with other active ingredients such as saw palmetto, nettle, fennel, and grape seed extracts have returned positive results. Men can experience better hair growth and stronger hair growth after using such organically formulated shampoo.

Home Remedies to Prevent Further Hair Loss

A recent study shows that two-thirds of women suffer from hair loss at some point in their life. However, such hair issues are more severe in men than in women. Hair and health experts suggest many ways to prevent hair problems.

Believe it or not, one of the natural remedies that is said to have an effect on the loss of hair is to rub onion juice on the scalp. This procedure should stimulate the growth of hair and stop further hair loss as well. Rubbing onion juice is not a solution for everyone as onion juice will make your eyes water and has a terrible smell — so don’t leave your house with onion juice in your hair.

The essential aromatic oils of herbs like jojoba, lavender, aloe vera, cedarwood, and grape fruit are very useful in treating this condition. Massaging these oils on the scalp improves the blood circulation and helps in hair growth.

A woman’s hormone levels can affect the rate at which her hair grows. If there is a shift in the amount of hormones in the blood, the hair can start thinning. This can be caused by childbirth, the use of birth-control pills, menopause, or thyroid disorders. In these instances, a hair growth treatment may not be necessary. The hair will often start to grow back on its own after the hormonal levels return to normal.

Coconut oil and almond oil are effective in stopping hair loss and in stimulating growth. Lavender oil, if used at least three times a week, increases hair growth significantly. You can also mix various oils together and massage your scalp with the mixture. Make sure to also add some olive oil because this will make your hair grow healthy and look shiny.

One of the major factors of hair loss is due to decreased blood circulation, according to many hair loss experts. The easiest way to improve the blood circulation in your scalp is by massaging and kneading your scalp a few times a day. By doing so, you will be able to improve the blood circulation in the scalp area and hopefully this will slow down the thinning and balding of your hair.

Before you start trying any home-based remedy to arrest your hair fall problem, you should first put a finger on the root cause of your problem. Androgenic alopecia, otherwise known as pattern baldness in men and women, is the foremost type of hair loss experience by many people. This condition is due to the presence of high amounts of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. This hormone prevents the hair follicles from receiving any nutrition which leads them to become weak and thus excessive hair fall.