Beauty Article

The most common cause of hair loss
especially in men
is androgenetic
or male pattern baldness. Mid-teens or puberty starts the ‘balding’ process for individuals whose genetics predispose them to baldness.

The normal production of hair by the follicle is altered by the pubertal increase in testosterone production resulting in an increased production of DiHydroTestosterone. Hair strands become thinner
grow slower and fall out at shorter lengths with each cycle until eventually the follicle stops production altogether. The case becomes severe when the follicle is lost permanently and hair production literally comes to a halt.

In an attempt to obtain a normal looking head of hair or to slow hair loss
American male population alone reportedly spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on lotions and potions
tonics and aerosol spray cover-ups
toupees
and hair-plug transplantation. And then there are the more sensitive procedures like hair transplant and scalp surgery. The great lengths of search for baldness cure goes on. As such
the U.S. economy generates something close to $1 billion annually in revenue generated by the treatment of baldness.

Indeed
the great hair cure has been sought for centuries
however
until recently men has come to their senses that when they age between 18 and 80 they loose their hair at a rate closely related with their age. This is no hair fluke
so to speak. Research revealed that 12% to 80% of men ranging in ages from 18 to 80 experience cosmetically moderate to significant hair loss from the front to rear crown area of their head. Of the respondents
younger men where in early stages of hair loss
while older men were completely bald over the entire crown area of their heads. In this regard
“It comes with age” appears to be a qualified statement.

And so
over the last 40 years
medical doctors have sequentially stumbled upon several hair loss cures and treatments loss.

Exotic topical creams and liquids in the form of lotions and potions
even shampoos and conditioners with ‘natural ingredient’ claims may simply regenerate hair growth.

Aerosol hair spray cover-ups are merely colored powders or fibers that simply color the scalp and thicken thinning hair. The appearance of an almost natural thick-looking hair is temporary and deceiving. Its name actually says it all – cover-up!
Several highly publicized alternatives offer real potential promise. One potent alternative is a topical drug called Minoxidilฎ which has been proclaimed to somewhat slow hair loss and in very few cases
to stimulate hair regeneration
albeit limited. Very recently the brand Rogaineฎ -- a topical alcohol mixture consisting Minoxidilฎ is demonstrating relative effectiveness. Sufficient scalp penetration is advised to achieve best results.

The latest hair loss product is generically called Finasteride
an antiandrogen that inhibits the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. It is being branded in the market as PROPECIAฎ and PROCARฎ. The pill taken orally/once a day claims that it can regenerate hair growth on bald or balding areas of the scalp.

Another alternative discovery that is slowly gaining popularity is rather procedural and involves meticulous process. The technique uses surgical scalp transplants to redistribute remaining hair on the scalp to balding or completely bald areas of the scalp. But the procedure
however credible
is not easily accessible to majority of the balding population because of its high cost and maintenance.

With the still growing concern for hair loss
a more realistic and easier to achieve method now runs on prevention rather than cure. This observation is regarded as more practical approach since most cases of progressive baldness can be identified at an early stage.