| The problem with a hair loss cure is that if it works, | | | | in the population of Japan after World War II |
| why are there so many different products on the | | | | demonstrates that hair loss can be influenced by diet |
| market. If an actual cure for baldness were found, it | | | | and lifestyle. |
| would be in the headlines of all the major newspapers | | | | Hair transplantation involves relocating (transplanting) |
| and magazines. While these so-called hairloss cures | | | | bald resistant hair follicles from the back and sides of |
| may work and spur hair growth, the process takes a | | | | the head (the donor areas) to a person's bald or |
| long time and anyone using the products has to have | | | | thinning areas. The transplanted hair follicles will typically |
| a lot of patience. | | | | grow hair for a lifetime because they are genetically |
| Minoxidil is a vasodilator and originally was exclusively | | | | resistant to going bald. In recent years hair |
| used as an oral drug (LonitenÂ(R)) to treat high | | | | transplantation techniques have evolved from using |
| blood pressure. It was discovered, however, to have | | | | large plugs and mini grafts to exclusively using large |
| the side effect of hair growth and reversing baldness, | | | | numbers of small grafts that contain from between 1 |
| and in the 1980s, Upjohn Corporation received FDA | | | | to 4 hairs. |
| approval to market a topical solution that contained 2% | | | | Some more tips for hair loss and baldness treatment: |
| minoxidil to be used to treat baldness and hair loss as | | | | Most hair-coloring products contain chemicals that can |
| Rogaine. Minoxidil is applied topically to the scalp, and | | | | do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used. |
| has been shown to promote hair growth in about 25% | | | | But will it instigate hair loss? Not a chance. |
| of men and women, though it may take several | | | | Hair loss may occur in extreme cases in which there's |
| months to work. | | | | been surgery or an otherwise stressful event, which |
| While there are a number of genetic factors which | | | | can cause a shutting down of hair production. |
| determine a person's susceptibility to androgenic | | | | However, it does not cause male pattern baldness, as |
| alopecia including androgen receptor polymorphisms, | | | | hair growth will resume in time. |
| 5-alpha-reductase levels in the scalp, androgen | | | | Since hair loss appears at the follicle level, the sun |
| receptor density and distribution in the scalp, and other | | | | would have to penetrate at this depth to do any |
| factors some of which may not have been | | | | damage. Fortunately, your hair acts as a shield against |
| discovered. Some speculate the increase in baldness | | | | the sun. |