Actually, nothing! We are giving our bodies the best chance for a healthy, long life. However, sometimes we need a boost in certain areas, or we need a “tune-up” in our products or our routines. What is the latest in treatment for thinning hair? New knowledge is something we thirst for, so here it is!

 Mix it up!

Just as in our exercise regimen, we need to mix it up! Mix up products, that is! We need to make sure that if we occasionally use heavy styling products, gels, mousses, etc. we need to make sure that non sulfite shampoos are used to not add to this buildup and take away any excess products left on our scalp. Just like us, our scalp need to breathe. Our follicles need to be out in the air and not mired under product or grease. A healthy follicle is a happy, thicker hair producing follicle.

Medications – only what is necessary per your doctor’s advice.

Sometimes we MUST take certain medications to right a problem with our systems that diet and exercise alone cannot fix.  However, sometimes these medications can also be wreaking havoc on our scalp and hair follicles. We cannot stop taking medications our body needs, but we can ask our doctors if there is something else that we could take that may not have certain side effects that may be damaging our scalp. General skin dryness, dry mouth, itchy skin, splotches, etc. can all be signs that medications are affecting our bodies in ways other than the way intentioned. Ask! Also, here is that plug to make sure that you are keeping hydrated. Water is so important every day, and especially when we are exercising.

Quit covering up

OK, we need to use sun block and yet get our daily dose of vitamin D from sunshine, but we need to make sure that we are not suffocating the very follicles that our hair needs in order to begin and hopefully stay a healthy shaft of hair. Aside from products mentioned above, we need to make sure that our scalp can breathe freely. Long times with tight ponytails, especially in a sweaty gym, chlorine pools with bathing caps, really any head covering that is continually tight and may retain  moisture makes a haven for germs to live in and feed on particles our body naturally sloughs off. This is when we need not to overdo the cleansing so that we dry our scalp out, but that we don’t under do it either.  Fresh air is as good for our scalps as it is for our lungs.

Breaking BAD

Breakage of hair shafts is an easy way to have your hair look thinner. Not a good look! Elastic bands, wind and sun damage, chlorine, yoga mats, hair clips, helmets, gym shower “free” products…they all contribute to hair breakage. We just need to be conscious of limiting these effects, and making sure that we don’t add to the dilemma by over coloring, over styling, and fad dieting with unhealthy nutrition. What could be better than this natural hair loss treatment? Keep hair breakage to a minimum, and our hair (and we) will look younger and healthier too!

Botox for hair?

Like Botox, but better: Botox for hair? Not really…but we now have a non chemical means to rev up those follicles and bring them back to youthful health. As long as they are still viable, follicles can benefit by increased blood flow to keep them in shape. Check out the latest in laser hair therapy products to kick-start new hair growth. The latest Nutreve Personal Hair Therapy Laser naturally delivers the power for each hair follicle to be its best…all in under 30 minutes every other day! Include it in YOUR healthcare routine.

In this set of articles, I would like to approach each of the potential causes of women’s hair loss and give possible hints as to what we can do to correct, reverse or deal with each. (Sorry, Men….I will get to you soon!

Understand the Plight of Women Suffering from Hair Loss

In the meantime, you can read these articles so that you may better understand the plight of the women in your life, and garner a little more insight into what may be on the minds of your spouse, sister, mom, co-worker, girlfriend or even your daughter.)

Hair loss can be sudden, or it can start with subtle thinning around the hairline. The reasons can be medical, physical, environmental or emotional. Losing hair may be caused by a medical condition known as Alopecia. This condition may be temporary (Alopecia Areata) or permanent (Alopecia Totalis).

Women’s hair loss may also be the result of prescribed drugs for other problems. In the area of physical reasons, there are the issues of physical trauma, burns or scarring. Environmental issues such as chemicals, radioactivity, extreme temperature or even poor diet can be a culprit.

Finally, emotional trauma can not only have our bodies negatively reacting to stress, but also contribute to hair twisting and hair pulling as nervous activities.

As you can see, not only are there four basic areas of concern, these areas interact to sometimes heighten the amount of hair loss experienced…which, in turn may lead to even more loss of hair. For example, medication may be given for a medical issue, hair is lost, the patient is physically and now emotionally stressed, depression sets in and more medicines are taken. The cycle becomes “vicious” and many of these female victims cannot find their way out.

Hopefully the following information will shed some light on not only possible causes, but possible solutions as well. Let’s get started with an overview of HOW ANY of the above causes of thinning hair or hair loss in women can happen.

How does hair grow and what causes it to stop?

Hair is formed in follicles which are “bulbs” located below the upper layer of skin. They contain the root of the growing hair shaft and are fed by elements in our blood. Proper nourishment will ensure a strong, healthy hair to grow through four phases.

There is the 3-6 year growth phase (when hair grows approximately 6 inches a year), a 1-2 week transition phase and a 5-6 week resting phase (while waiting for a new hair to form) and a return to growth phase (while the new hair grows and pushes out the old hair shaft). This can be compared to the growth of our teeth (we get baby teeth, then after a while new tooth buds form and they come up and push out the baby teeth and become our permanent teeth)…except this hair cycle continues over and over again throughout our lifetime.

Hair growth is stopped by either the closing off of the follicle, lack of nourishment to the follicle, or physical trauma to the follicle. The chemical DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is  naturally occurring testosterone (good) changed by an enzyme produced in a female’s adrenal glands and ovaries to one which attaches to weak follicles and chokes them off (bad).

Natural sebum and oil buildup can also physically block the follicle. Poor blood circulation in the scalp to the root of the hair causes less “food” to be delivered to feed the follicle. Unfortunately, some trauma (physical injury) cannot be avoided, but that caused by poor habits can. This stopping or slowing and “miniaturization” of the follicles is what we see as thinning, hair loss and balding.

Normally there are about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on an adult head and we may naturally lose about 100 hairs a day with our body generating this same number of new hairs a day on a healthy head. However, with slowed growth, weakened hair shafts and dying follicles the problems begin to show.

Up Next Hair Loss in Women the Four Main Areas of Concern

My next articles will now focus on each of the four main areas of concern as to what causes hair loss in women and their interrelations…and what we can do to improve this situation. Whether it is dietary changes, hair products for hair loss, physical or medical options, they will all be explained to help you make an intelligent choice as you care for the health of your hair.

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