There are many causes of hair loss and many different types of treatments to combat this embarrassing condition.
The primary cause is Male and Female Pattern Baldness which affects almost half of adult males and one quarter of adult women.
This cause of hair loss is directly related to your genetic makeup, a change in your hair's supply of nutrition, levels of DHT, the amount of outside stress factors you encounter and your hygiene habits.
Hair Loss Basics Your scalp is composed of three basic layers of skin.
These are the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous layer.
Within these three layers there are nerves, blood vessels, muscles, glands, and hair.
Hair (called keratin) is supported by muscles surrounding the hair bulb (papilla) and shaft.
This muscle tissue and the hair itself depends on blood flow in the vessels, which in turn requires oxygen and nutrients to assure the cells remain active and start new growth.
As hair grows, the sebaceous gland secretes oil in the follicle which coats the hair to ensure a smooth hair shaft thus creating hair with a healthy luster and sheen.
If fewer nutrients than are needed reach the papilla, hair cells reproduce at a much slower rate.
This slower cellular activity produces thin, poor quality hair.
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), causes up to 95% of all hair loss.
DHT shrinks hair follicles by shortening the growth (anagen) phase and lengthening the resting (telogen) phase of your hair's growth.
This causes the hair follicles to eventually die.
This is visible as an increased number of short, thin, fine hairs on the scalp and therefore the increased appearance of thinning and eventually baldness.
For healthy hair growth, DHT needs to be blocked before or once increased hair loss is visible.
The interaction of DHT with the androgen receptors in scalp skin and hair follicles appears to cause male and female pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia).
Sebum is the accumulation of oil from the sebaceous glands.
Sebum collects in the hair follicle and hardens, creating a sebum plug which hinders and eventually stops hair growth.
This excess buildup, combined with existing thin, weak hairs causes increased reduction in hair growth and therefore the increased appearance of baldness.
Genetics plays a role as to how early in life you may notice the aging of your scalp's skin layers much as you may notice the changes in the skin on other parts of your body.
All of us age at different rates, and it seems like there is little we can do to change this part of our hair loss equation.
The Five Basics to Slow or Prevent Hair Loss The good news is, when we begin to notice thinning hair, there is still life in the hair follicle itself.
This follicle's production can be improved by attending to the five main areas mentioned above.
1) Proper hair nutrition includes proper diet, exercise and hydration.
2) DHT blocking can be accomplished by stimulation of the cellular processes in the hair bulb.
Low Level Laser Therapy is the most efficient and safe method available today for penetrating the scalp and utilizing this process of Photobiostimulation to stop hair loss.
3) Proper scalp cleansing and use of shampoos and conditioners which remove excess sebum without drying out the optimum amount needed for a healthy, shiny hair shaft.
4) Reduction or elimination of outside stress factors and taking the minimal amount of medications needed (other than those prescribed by your physician) will also give your hair the best chance for remaining vibrant.
5) The effects of genetics on our aging scalps can only be slowed by the use of all of the above information.
Being pro-active about your scalp health ensures that you will enjoy a shiny, full head of hair for as long as possible.