Hair Loss in Women

There are many kinds of hair loss, including what is known as; Alopecia areata (patches of baldness that usually grow back); Telogen effluvium (rapid shedding after childbirth, fever, or sudden weight loss); and traction alopecia (thinning from tight braids or ponytails). All of these types of hair loss can be alarming but, fortunately, they are most often mild and temporary or reversible.

The General types of Hair Loss
The majority of people who lose their hair, however, do it gradually and all through the scalp, with some emphasis on the frontal part. Doctors refer to this process as "androgenetic alopecia" which implies that a combination of hormones (andro-) and heredity (genetics) is needed to develop the condition. Men lose more hair earlier and get big bald spots (this is the familiar male-pattern baldness).

Women start losing their hair later in life and almost never lose the frontal hairline, no matter how thin their hair gets (this is called female-pattern baldness.)

Although all of us develop thinning of our hair as we age, it’s interesting to note how people can go to any lengths for looking good. Most of us might cringe at the suggestion, but for people who practice urine therapy, this is their way of life. We understand that urine that is expelled out of our bodies is done so because of the digestive system taking charge of the system from the inside. However, the first urine of the day is important as it has the collective mixture of the appropriate nutrients that are richest in the morning hours. This is so as over a period of time, we have rested enough to create a complete amalgamation of all juices of the appropriate nutritive value. This when applied to the hair or even on your skin, can be the cheapest and most wonderful potent known to man.

Like I said earlier, it’s gruesome for many of us who have to even imagine of a situation like this one. But from the results that have been received so far, its interesting to note that this sort of therapy especially for the hair, gives your mane the bounce and shine that you have yearned for, what’s even more interesting is the fact that you can actually have your hair darker and in the same hue that you were born with. This simply means that this is an ant-graying agent of sorts.

An insight on the scene today
How thin our hair gets all depends on how much hair we start out with and the overall appearance of hair within the family. Women who still have full heads of hair often exclaim: "This is nothing--you should have seen how thick it used to be!" Notions about baldness being inherited through the mother's family, just like stories about hats choking off follicles or long hair pulling on the roots, are just folklore. (It is known that genes influence the occurrence of male-pattern baldness, that is androgenetic alopecia, but the exact nature of these genes and how they are inherited are still not known.)

Since we can't change the families into which we were born (not that we aren't sometimes tempted), what are we to do? Here’s what you can do!

* First, don't stop coloring, perming, or conditioning your hair if you like the results of these processes. Hair styles that pull tightly can cause some hair loss, but hair coloring and "chemicals" do not.
* Ask your doctor about minoxidil (the generic name for Rogaine.) This is over-the-counter and available in 2% and 5% concentrations. It's something of a nuisance to apply but it helps conserve hair and may even grow some.
* Propecia is a drug that helps men retain their hair but unfortunately has no use for women. Propecia is not safe for women of childbearing age and it just doesn't work for older women. This is unfortunate but, for the moment, this is the situation.
* Surgical procedures like hair transplants can be useful for some women as well as men to "fill in" thinned-out areas.
* When women express concerns about hair loss, I sometimes say: "No matter what, you will never look like me." Many of them somehow find that reassuring!