What Are The Common Hair Loss Causes?

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.


Ayurveda Can Help Stop Hair Loss

Most hair loss sufferers seek solutions from Western medicine or turn to remedies derived from local traditions. Some experts however argue that the ayurvedic system of medicine has much to offer in dealing with hair loss conditions.

Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine practiced in India and Sri Lanka. It is a complete approach to health care designed to promote a way of life rather than an occasional treatment. As a holistic system of medicine ayurveda focuses on our uniqueness and takes into account our mental attitude, lifestyle and spirit which should not be treated in isolation from each other.

According to ayurveda, the following principles are beneficial to healthy and plentiful hair:

- The scalp must be kept cool, so protection from sun and washing in cold or lukewarm water are paramount.

- Sound nutrition is key, so a hair-friendly diet should emphasize proteins, iron, zinc, sulfur, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-Complex and essential fatty acids.

- Use should be made of hair analysis to ascertain toxicity levels and nutritional deficiencies.

- Oils, for example sesame and coconut, should be applied to the scalp to nourish, lubricate and strengthen the roots. This will also improve circulation to the head.

You can find out more about alternative hair loss treatments by visiting the site listed below.


How To Care For Your Floral Arrangements

The more you can learn about fresh cut flowers and their special care, the healthier your arrangements will be.

Lets start with vases & containers. Most people will grab a vase out of the cupboard and fill it with water and place the flowers in it. I would like to suggest that you rinse it first with hot water and get any dust out of it. Then put a few drops (and I do mean only drops) of bleach. This will keep out and kill any bacteria and it will not harm the flowers. When you buy flowers, most places will supply a packet of flower food. If you have no flower food, not to worry, you can always put a teaspoon of sugar in the water.

Now you are ready to prepare your flowers.

Take each stem and remove any leaves that may be below the water line. You do this so you don’t get microbial damage to your flowers. Leave as many leaves as possible above the water line as this is a design element. When you are dealing with roses, most people like to remove the thorns but I recommend that you leave as many thorns on as possible. This is because stripping them off causes wounds to the rose and allows possible microbial invasion causing your roses to die sooner than they need to.

You will want to cut about an inch off the bottom stems. Cut them at an angle with a sharp knife preferably under water. You do this so that the flowers drink water, not air. You can get air pockets in the stem preventing them from drinking which ensures early death.

There are some flowers that require special handling. Such is the case with freesia. This flower does not take well to chlorine so you’ll want to use distilled water. Tulips do better in a vase with a penny on the bottom. The petals stay closed a little longer. Note, tulips can still grow after they have been cut, as much as an inch per day! Hydrangea prefers being in a vase. This is because it needs to be hydrated. If you put them in floral foam, their life span will be much shorter. Note, if your hydrangea shows signs of wilting, you can revive them by turning them upside down in water for about an hour.

Some flowers last longer than others, such as carnations and daisies. They can last as long as 3 weeks. An arrangement with roses and lilies will not last as long, usually 4 to 7 days. Determine what you want the flowers for.


The Language of Flowers

The “language of flowers" was originally brought to Europe in the early 1700's where many secret communications and love messages would be exchanged with flowers. A bouquet of flowers could hold an entire conversation. Each flower had its own meaning. The favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love, was thought to be the red rose and came to represent true love.

Today when you send flowers you are in fact communicating something whether it be a birthday wish, anniversary, cheer you up bouquet or expressing your deepest sympathy. If you are like most people you know that flowers have meanings but could not tell you what they are. Though meanings of flowers have been mainly agreed upon there can be some dispute as to its accuracy. To help you with your flower purchases here are some of the more traditional meanings of the flowers that are the most commonly purchased:

CARNATION (GENERAL) - Fascination, Woman Love

CARNATION (PINK) - Undying love

CARNATION (RED) - Admiration

CARNATION (PURPLE) - Capriciousness

CARNATION (WHITE) - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love,

CARNATION (YELLOW) - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection

DAISY - Innocence, Loyal Love, Purity

IRIS - Fleur-de-lis, Emblem of France, Your Friendship Means so Much to Me, Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor, My Compliments

LARKSPUR (PINK) - Fickleness

LILY (WHITE) - Purity, Majesty, It's Heavenly to be with You

LILY (YELLOW) - I'm Walking on Air, Gay

LILY (CALLA) - Beauty

LILY (TIGER) - Wealth, Pride

LILY OF THE VALLEY - Sweetness, Return to Happiness, Humility, You've Made My Life Complete

ORCHID - Love, Beauty, Refinement, Beautiful Lady, Chinese Symbol for Many Children

ROSE (PINK) - Perfect Happiness, Please Believe Me

ROSE (RED) - Love, I Love You

ROSE (TEA) - I'll Remember Always

ROSE (WHITE) - Innocence and Purity, I am Worthy of You, You're Heavenly, Silence

ROSE (YELLOW) - Decrease of Love, Jealousy, Try to Care

ROSEBUD (RED) - Pure and Lovely

ROSEBUD (WHITE) - Girlhood

TULIP (RED) - Declaration of Love

TULIP (YELLOW) - There's Sunshine in Your Smile

Online flower delivery is fast becoming the way to order flowers. Not only is it easy for you but most florists will give you a visual of the arrangements plus their price. Now armed with some of the meanings, happy hunting!