Thinning Hair Loss and Solutions Part 1

Thinninh hair can be devastating. 60% of women experience hair loss at some point. Some have hair that is thinning all over, while others see the center part gradually widen. Still others develop distinct baldness at the crown of the head. Unlike men, women rarely develop a receding front hairline.

Way to Grow
After growing for two to six years, hair rests awhile before falling out. It's soon replaced with a new hair, and the cycle begins again. At any given time, 85% of hair is growing, and the remainder is resting.
Normal Hair Loss
Because resting hairs regularly fall out, most people shed about 50-100 strands every day. You'll typically find a few in your hairbrush or on your clothes
Abnormal Hair Loss
Abnormal hair loss can happen in several ways. You may notice dramatic clumps falling out when you shampoo or style. Or your hair may thin slowly over time. If you're concerned about changes in your hair, check with your doctor.
The Cause
Hair loss in women can be triggered by about 30 different medical conditions, as well as several lifestyle factors. Sometimes no specific cause can be found. As a starting point, hair loss experts recommend testing for thyroid problems and hormone imbalances. In many cases, hair will grow back once the cause is addressed.
Measuring Womens Hair Loss
The Savin scale is a common measure that ranges from normal hair density to a bald crown (very rare). It's helpful in documenting female pattern baldness, which affects about 30 million American women. Experts think genetics and aging play a role in androgenic alopecia, along with the hormonal changes of menopause. Hair may become thin all over, with the greatest loss along the center of the scalp

Some Solutions

 

 If your hair loss was triggered by a specific event (like a reaction to a new medication), it will grow back once that issue is addressed. If it's chronic, there are two FDA-approved treatments available. Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) comes in 2 percent and 5 percent over-the-counter formulas; applied topically twice a day, it can help stop thinning and (in about 40 percent of women) regrow some hair. If you're postmenopausal, your doctor can prescribe finasteride (brand names Propecia and Proscar), an oral medication that stops the production of one of the androgens that can exacerbate hair loss (most doctors won't prescribe it to women in their childbearing years because it could cause birth defects in a male fetus). Some doctors also use lasers to help treat hair loss, but there are no large independent studies proving their efficacy. If you'd consider surgery, you could be a candidate for a hair transplant, which can now create natural-looking results in women.

The future looks bright. Two areas of research that are particularly promising:    

1. The drug company Allergan is currently seeking FDA approval for a topical hair-loss treatment containing bimatoprost, the active ingredient in the eyelash-growing drug Latisse. Clinical trials are under way, and doctors estimate that a treatment could be available in 2014.
                                               
2. Researchers have already shown—in mice—that it is possible to use stem cells to grow new hair. "Within the next ten years, that technology could be a reality for humans," says Michael Longaker, MD, codirector of Stanford School of Medicine Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Stem cells would be removed from an area where you have dense hair growth, then injected into thinning areas to stimulate new growth.

Are Relaxers Affecting Your Health?!

Whether or not a Relaxer is harmful to your health- has been the topic of debate for years. With all the contradicting evidence its hard to pin point whether or not relaxers are indeed harmful to your health. Chemical relaxers or (Sodium Hydroxide) are a goldmine for the beauty industry, they are not regulated by the FDA, and a complete list of their ingredients is not mandatory, therefore making it unclear on what types of chemicals they contain. So we have no way of knowing how much sodium hydroxide or any other chemicals for that matter we are being exposed to when applying the product to our hair.  After doing some research here is what I have found;

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) During the use of a  Relaxer only a small amount is believed to be absorbed into the system through the skin.While absorption through the skin is minimal, the concern is the inhalation of fumes during the process.The fumes from the process could be harmful to unborn babies during pregnancy.

According to the latest report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology,scientist from Boston University followed more than 23,580 pre menopausal Black women from 1997 to 2009 and discovered that the women suffered scalp lesions and burn from using hair relaxers. The chemical seeped through their bodied and into their urine and as a result acquired Uterine Leiomyomata also known as uterine fibroid, which are leading indication for hysterectomy in the
United States.
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So far, there is only an association rather than a cause and effect relationship between relaxers, fibroid tumors.
Fibroid Facts
Fibroids are tumors that grow in the uterus. They are benign, which means they are not cancerous, and are made up of muscle fibers. Fibroids can be as small as a pea and can grow as large as a melon. It is estimated that 20-50% of women have, or will have, fibroids at some time.