If you are a man the chances are about 95 to 100 that you will be experiencing thinning hair or balding issues because of Androgenetic Alopecia. This is a genetic condition that is passed down through the generations so if you have uncles who have hair problems there is a good chance you will also. If you are interested in learning how to prevent hair loss then, in order to make a logical decision, you first need to know what is the root cause. Then you can choose the best hair restoration products for your situation.

Male Pattern Baldness: Cause of Hair Loss

Androgenetic Alopecia is also known as Male Pattern Baldness because the person who is balding generally will lose hair in a predetermined pattern on the head. The reason for this is the hair follicles in this area of the scalp are susceptible to being attacked by a hormone in the body known as DHT. DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is a metabolite of the male hormone testosterone. This DHT, once it is metabolized by the enzyme 5alpha-reductase, will bond to the hair follicles that are susceptible to balding and cause them to stop producing keratin or hair shaft material. The key to preventing hair loss is to stop the attack of the hair follicles by either limiting the amount of DHT in the blood stream or inhibiting the bonding of it to the hair follicles. Luckily there are two FDA approved drugs with each targeting one of these problems.

Hair Loss Prevention Product

Finasteride is a drug that was originally developed as a treatment for male prostrate problems. It seems that DHT not only affects hair loss it also is a cause of male urinary tract problems. When clinical trials were in effect it was found that Finasteride not only helped the prostate it also seemed to help in hair loss prevention. This product actually limits the levels of DHT by controlling the enzyme responsible for its production. The most common product that contains Finasteride is Propecia. Caution: This drug is not prescribed to, nor recommended for, women due to the possibility of birth defects.

The second drug is approved for women and men with very little potential side effects. This drug, Minoxidil, works to protect the hair follicles from attack by the DHT. The hair follicles, also known as hair roots, have receptors that the DHT bonds to. Minoxidil actually bonds to the receptors in place of the hormone which in turn allows the follicle to continue to produce hair shaft material. Minoxidil is usually sold under the brand name Rogaine for both men and women. It is a topical product which means it is applied to the scalp twice a day. This is one of the most effective means of preventing hair loss.

Natural Hair Loss Prevention

Some people would rather have a natural hair restoration product than to use drugs. Two very popular natural hair growth remedies are Saw Palmetto Extract, from a palm bush in the Southeastern US, and Stingy Nettle Root, found in several places around the world. These are not as effective as the drugs but many people feel they are safer.

The answer to learning how to prevent hair loss is to start early. None of these remedies will do much once you are bald. At the first sign of hair on your pillow in the morning or at the bottom of the shower start a hair loss prevention regimen and save your hair for years to come.

If you are wondering how to prevent hair loss then you first must understand what causes the loss of hair. For about 95% of the men who are losing their hair it is caused by a condition known as Androgenetic Alopecia or Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). In a nut shell what happens is a metabolite of the male hormone testosterone, known as dihydrotestosterone or DHT, builds up on receptors that are located on the hair follicles. Once enough of the DHT is present on the follicle the production of hair shaft material is interrupted. The follicle slowly starts producing less and less hair material until the hair shaft turns whispy and eventually falls out. In order to prevent hair loss you either have to limit the amount of DHT in the body or you have to shield the hair follicles from the hormone.

It doesn’t matter which hair loss prevention tact you take it will be more effective the earlier you start. Once the hair follicle has been rendered ineffective by the DHT buildup there is nothing you can do to get it producing hair again. The only option is to replace the hair unit with one from an area of the head or body that still has good hair growth.

Hair Loss Prevention Product

There are only two drugs for treating hair loss that have been approved by the FDA. This approval means they are effective at treating the loss of hair either by stopping or slowing the loss or by re-growing some of the hair that has stopped being produced. The first drug, Finasteride, is taken in tablet form and is designed to limit the production of DHT. This drug also is used to treat enlarged prostate in men as that has been tied to DHT production also. Finasteride is not recommended for women because of the possibility it will cause birth defects.

The second drug is called Minoxidil. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp in the area of hair loss. It actually works to limit the DHT from bonding to the receptors on the hair follicles. This drug is effective and safe for both men and women and shows results in over 50% of the patients who use it. This is usually found in the product Rogaine which comes in a 5% solution for men and a 2% solution for women.

Natural Hair Loss Prevention

If you are looking for a natural hair loss remedy then one very popular product is Saw Palmetto extract. The Saw Palmetto is a short palm that is found on the South East coast of the US. It has the same action as Finasteride in that it limits the production of DHT. It has been used for years to treat male urinary tract problems and now is used to prevent hair loss.

Whatever method you choose, the key is to start today to treat your hair loss before it gets too bad. Even if you don’t see loss now, if you have uncles and a father who is bald the chances are good that you will be too. You can never start a preventive hair loss prevention program too early.

Preventing Hair Loss

There are a variety of other reasons why people suffer from hair loss including stress, inadequate or poor diet, medication and trauma to name a few. Sudden hair loss due to chemotherapy is a growing problem with our increased cancer rates but it is really a different issue as the patient’s hair generally grows back on its own. Here are a few tips to help you prevent hair loss.

Nutrition plays a very important role in keeping not only our bodies healthy, but our hair as well, and in preventing hair loss. Fortunately, if your hair loss is directly a result of poor nutrition, that can be very easily remedied. Some of the best vitamins for maintaining healthy hair are the B vitamins. If you suspect that your hair loss is due to poor or lacking nutrition, immediately taking a Vitamin B supplement may help. Other trace minerals that are also important for your hair’s health are iron, magnesium and zinc to name a few. It is possible to find vitamin and mineral supplements online specifically for improving scalp and hair healthy and inhibiting hair loss. Aside from taking a supplement, also be sure to eat healthful meals on a regular basis.

If your hair loss is the result of stress, or in response to some other trauma you have experienced, whether physical or mental, obviously the first course of action in hair loss prevention is to try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can. One of the best ways to do this is to live a balanced lifestyle, getting sufficient rest, exercise and fun and relaxation as well. If a particular situation is extremely stressful, and you are not able to change the situation, get help learning how to cope with the additional strain you are experiencing.

Female Hair Loss Prevention

Hair needs to be handled gently. If you tug or pull at your hair, brush it vigorously to the point that you are dragging a brush or comb through your hair, then you may exacerbate hair loss. As far as female hair loss prevention, women should avoid tying their hair back too tightly, and watch out for clips that pull on your hair.

Finally, there are medications and medicated topical shampoos available that can also radically decrease hair loss in both men and women, such as Rogaine and Minoxidil to name just a couple. With any treatment it is important to start using the hair loss prevention product early if you’re after optimum results.

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