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.

In order to prevent hair loss you should know that for men the condition usually appears at 20-30 years of age and will continue to get worse if not treated. The hair usually begins to thin on the top of the head and at the hair line and eventually you can end up with no hair on the upper portion of the scalp at all.

Multivitamins and omega3s supplements are important to help prevent hair loss but they are generally not the main cause. Iron, zinc and B vitamins are very important for hair health but usually the western diet has these in great enough abundance to not cause hair to fall out. The main culprit is the levels of DHT in the body which act on the hair follicles to shut their production down. This condition is known as pattern baldness or pattern hair loss and it can effect both men and women.

Prevent Hair Loss naturally

Are you asking yourself how to prevent hair loss naturally? Well, the answer is of course to first check your diet and eat more fish and nuts and use olive oil for cooking. These foods contain omega 3 acids that can help strengthen your hair. You should also take multivitamin tablets regularly. Once you have controlled the nutrients in your diet the next step is to find a natural product that will limit the effects of the DHT on the hair follicles. Two natural supplements that seem to do this are Saw Palmetto and Stingy Nettle. Both can be found in any health food store. You also need to remove any of the potential causes mentioned above. If you are using hair care products such as dyes then stop using them and see if that helps. Also, if the cause is because of some other reason such as hormonal changes at birth, medical procedures or hair straightening the problem should relieve itself when these triggers are taken away.

How To Prevent Hair Loss With Medications

If you are interested in using drugs to prevent hair loss then there are only two which have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as actually being effective at treating hair loss. One of these is only recommended for men but the other has been shown to be effective for both men and women.

The first drug, Finasteride, actually works to limit the amount of DHT in the blood stream. With less of this substance available there is less to bond with hair follicles and stop the production of hair. This drug is never prescribed to women though because it can cause birth defects. In fact, women are not even allowed to handle the tablets for fear that the active ingredient will be absorbed through the skin. If you are a woman this treatment is not available and you will have to try the second drug.

The one that is approved for both men and women is Minoxidil. Minoxidil works to limit the affects of the DHT on the hair follicles. Instead of limiting the levels of DHT it actually stops the receptors on the hair follicles from accepting the hormone. This means the hair follicle can continue to produce hair like normal. Minoxidil is most popularly found in the product Rogaine. You can find regular strength Rogaine, extra strength Rogaine, and Rogaine for women. The female version has a 2% solution of the active drug while the male version contains 5%. These levels seem to be most effective for the different sexes.

The key to both of these treatments is to start them as soon as you notice unnatural hair loss levels. If you start early enough you can usually save most of your hair from falling out for years. But if you wait till you actually have bald spots then neither of these hair loss products will do much to help you. At that point, instead of determining how to prevent hair loss you need to look at how to replace the hair you have lost. The best method for this is a hair implants procedure.

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.

]]> http://www.hairrestorationreplacement.com/hair-loss-prevention-measures/feed/ 0