Hair Loss - Path to Hair Restoration

The Path To Hair Restoration
by Jerry Blackburn

Normal hair loss is a common occurrence. At any given time,
approximately 10% of your hair is dormant and susceptible to
normal shedding. The problem is when the shedding is excessive.
It is when thinning hair becomes obvious that most people become
concerned with hair restoration options.

Some of the reasons of abnormal hair loss may include:

+ Health concerns such as major illness, fungal infections,
hypo or hyper thyroidism, and hormone imbalances;

+ Reaction to medications used to treat cancer, diabetes,
lupus, gout, birth control, and anti-depressants;

+ Improper hair care, including excessive use of chemicals and
blow-drying;

+ Genetics;

+ Poor diet, including too much fried and fatty foods, a lack
of fruits or green vegetables, and dehydration.

What are the options?

While an estimated 95% of all excessive hair loss is generic,
there is a chance a family doctor or a professional hairstylist
can provide the quickest and least expense answer to hair
restoration. A medical doctor can do a full physical, do the
appropriate blood work, and review medications and diet. He can
recommend changes that may help with hair regrowth. The
hairstylist can look at the condition of the hair and work up a
hair care routine that may correct the damage. This routine may
include hot oil treatments, scalp massage, and a change of
conditioner and shampoo. The stylist may also recommend a
haircut to reduce the appearance of thinning hair.

In the event the doctor or hairstylist is unable to assist in
reducing the hair loss back to normal levels, topical
minoxidil, marketed as Rogaine, was the first FDA approved
method of regrowing hair. To be effective, minoxidil is applied
to the scalp twice a day. It works best for those who are young
and have only recently begun to experience abnormal hair loss,
according to Pharmacia & Upjohn. Skeptics question whether the
product actually promotes as much new growth as it does reduce
the amount of loss.

Also available to sufferers of hair loss is the FDA-approved
finasteride, which is marketed as Propecia. Propecia works best
on male pattern baldness. Not only has it been proven to restore
hair growth, it also improves the thickness and strength of each
hair strand.

Often, Propecia, Rogaine, or a combination of both is used in
conjunction with hair transplants to optimize the hair
restoration process. The process of hair transplants involves
removing hair from the densely covered areas of the head and,
using a needle, implant those hairs to the thinning section of
the head.

Those suffering from male-pattern baldness may also choose a
scalp reduction. A scalp reduction is the surgical process of
removing large sections of the bald scalp, then the skin from
the densely haired sections of the head are stretched to
replace the area of scalp that is removed.

If medications and surgery seem too extreme, those suffering
from abnormal hair loss still have the option of wearing a
hairpiece. While no two toupees, or hairpieces, are created
equally, a toupee can look natural. Many who opt for the
hairpiece option join a "hair club," which offer members
service that will keep their hairpieces cleaned, colored, and
offering the optimal fit.

Remember, all medications and surgical procedures involve a
certain amount of risk, and no hair restoration solution is
guaranteed to work. Before agreeing to a hair restoration
regime, consult with a doctor and know your risks.

Making the right hair restoration decision

Deciding whether hair restoration is right for you is a
personal decision. Some people are more concerned than others
with hair loss. Deciding which hair restoration method will
work best for you is something to discuss with a doctor who
specializes in treating hair loss. Many issues such as health,
habits, budget, and tolerance to pain will need to be
considered before creating a plan of action.

Jerry Blackburn distributed a lot of articles
for http://www.hair-loss-tips.com/ an online source of
information. Robert is particularly focusing on Hair
Restoration http://www.hair-loss-tips.com/hair-restoration.html
and Hair Replacemnt.