How to Thicken Hair
Thinning hair
Hair thinning / loss is a multifactor challenge influenced by genetics, bodily hormones and environmental issues in addition to improper diet, not getting regular exercise, usage of chemical products and many other variables. Thinning hair and hair loss is an extremely distressing affliction for those who experience it, women particularly, who’re extremely conscious of their appearance. Therefore, the knowledge on how to thicken hair will be of some comfort for those seeking it. This is a problem which has an effect on greater than 50% of women (to whom it is also a surprisingly common condition) and men by the time they get to middle age. Thinning hair normally develops progressively and could be patchy or diffuse. The most significant cause of thinning hair in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as hereditary hair thinning. Thinning hair in males as a part of male pattern baldness is brought on by a mix of genetics (hereditary) and male hormones (a higher level of androgens). Should you suffer from this unwanted condition you will undoubtedly want to know why it is happening and is there anything you can do to prevent this condition from getting any worse or even reversing it.
Main causes of Thinning Hair
Something which most people are guilty of is the lack of a good diet and consequently a deficiency in regular consumption of essential nutrients in their proper quantities. Extremely refined and processed foods are delicious, however, the nutritional value and the quality of the nutrients within them will not be what it needs to be for a healthy and balanced body. Your hair is a living body which itself derives from living hair follicles. Living bodies require nutrients for healthy and balanced development and eliminating waste elements created by your body.
Autoimmune dysfunction is generally a congenital condition and results in thinning hair which leads to complete hair loss. In this condition, your immune system is not able to recognise what’s damaging and valuable for the body and destroys your body’s own tissues such as follicles of hair. Epithelial tissues are extremely vulnerable and very quickly become degenerated from the result of autoimmune disorder.
Making use of specific medications like anti-psychotics and chemotherapy could potentially cause thinning hair. However; thinning hair brought on by these factors is usually non permanent and an individual will typically regain any losses after a few weeks of stopping the medication.
Hormonal imbalances have an effect on your hair follicles and in so doing leads to thinning hair. There are numerous factors which induces hormonal imbalances. Being pregnant, the menopause, lack of nutritional substances, anti-psychotics, stress, depressive disorders etc are a handful of reasons for hormonal imbalances. Menopause is an unavoidable factor and many women report they have significant hair loss throughout and following the menopause. Being pregnant and breastfeeding a baby also result in hormonal fluctuations. Hair loss following pregnancy is extremely widespread but a woman will get back hair after several weeks by simply utilizing hair care nutritional supplements and consuming a nutritious diet. Check whether you’ve got any underlying medical problem which accounts for thinning hair.
Factors which will help promote healthier hair
- Most people want to know how to thicken hair naturally. Live a healthy and balanced lifestyle with a good exercise regime. It’s essential to avoid smoking cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption. Consume a minimum of eight glasses of water every day and get a good sleep. Steer clear of hair care products which contain harsh substances (see below) and avoid frequent perming, teasing, etc. All of these actions, in addition to a proper diet consisting of hair nutrients (see below) for thinning hair, may help you make your hair more healthy and thicker.
How to thicken hair
It needs to be noted that there are many products, devises and advice around today covering the topic of “how to thicken hair”. Some of these will work for some people and some will not. It is all down to the root cause of what is making your hair thin. It would be prudent to explore an number of different solutions to your problem before giving up and give each one an opportunity to demonstrate whether it will be effective or not. Regrettably not everyone will be successful in their search for a cure and will then have to consider an alternative course of action to possibly mask the problem.
How to Thicken Hair using Nutrients and Vitamins for Hair Growth
Vitamin supplements could play an important role for proper hair growth. Vitamins could also be a natural hair loss remedy as the strands need to receive consistent nourishment or they may fall out excessively. Many vitamins have been endorsed for hair growth, however, it needs to be pointed out that solid scientific research for a number of these claims are lacking. With that in mind, it does not mean the research that does exist is not accurate. One should simply remain open minded on the topic of how to thicken hair using supplements.
Protein – Hair comprises primarily of proteins so a protein rich diet is important. But not if your primary source of protein is a big steak. In reality, consuming vast amounts of meat could be counterproductive. A steak increases testosterone levels. Increased testosterone levels is linked with hair loss. Eggs are an excellent supplier of protein. Also include seeds, nuts, beans and fish. Other great selections are soy foods, and hemp foods.
Silica – This amazing mineral increases the strength of collagen which will support the hair matrix and enhances the growth of the hair. Silica is abundant in highly fibrous foods which consists of leafy vegetables (dark green varieties). Also of benefit are tomatoes, grapes, figs, apples, onions, berries, & flax seeds. Extremely high on the list is the skin of cucumbers. Regrettably, we have a tendency to peel cucumbers before consuming them for concern about the pesticides which may be on them. Bean sprouts, green peppers, and red peppers are also high on the list. Unfortunately the majority of us have a diet made up of many processed foods. In processed foods, fibre and silica are generally deficient in such a diet!
Zinc – It has been found that a zinc deficiency is typical in men suffering from hair loss. Whilst supplements are generally advised there are food options. The food most abundant in zinc is the oyster. Other foods rich in zinc consist of crab, lobster, cashews, almonds, kidney beans, chick peas, mozzarella, yoghurt, flounder, & oatmeal, etc.
Vitamins to Thicken Hair
The most crucial hair vitamins for development of healthy hair are B vitamins, vitamin C (increases the rate of growth of cells. Follicles of hair are comprised of epithelial tissues that regularly replace themselves and require more vitamin C. Responsible for developing collagen within the body in order to hold body tissues together. A lack of this vitamin contributes to split ends in hair which hinders the growth of the hair). Vitamin E (cuts down on the stiffness in blood capillaries boosting the circulation of blood towards hair follicles as well as the scalp and supports faster growth of hair). All of the B vitamins, such as, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, piroxidine, folic acid, cyanocobalamin, & biotin, are good for hair. Most notable, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin. Folic acid stimulates the production of new cells, helping to make each and every strand healthier and fuller. Vitamin A is a great vitamin for developing strong hair cells which will surely assist the volume of your hair as well as the texture. Besides this being particularly beneficial for your hair it is additionally really good for your skin. Sources of vitamin A include things like eggs and liver.
Potential chemicals which may cause thinning hair
Something which many individuals are not aware of is the potential harmful nature of some of the ingredients in the products they currently use on a day to day basis. This is a whole separate subject in its own right that is something well worth you time to research so we will only give a brief mention. In a nutshell you must make sure you know your ingredients and which ones to avoid. Apart from the potential of these ingredients to cause thinning hair, they may also pose potential health risks as well. Be careful particularly for phthalates (banned in a great many countries), parabens and petrochemicals.
- Phthalates – usage of this substance has been prohibited in children’s toys & childcare products in certain countries.
- Sodium lauryl sulfate – (also known as SLS) – present in body washes, shampoos & conditioners, toothpaste. It is a powerful detergent which could bring about permanent damage to the eyes, especially in kids, skin rashes, loss of hair, thinning hair, mouth ulcerations and flaking of the skin to mention but a few of the harmful effects of this substance. When used in combination with other ingredients it can form nitrosamines that are carcinogenic. Can lodge within the heart, liver, lungs and brain.
Further chemical substances to look out for and research are:
- methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraban
- stearalkonium chloride
- pvp/v copolymer
- synthetic colours
- propylene glycol
- synthetic fragrance
- petrolatum
- triethanolamine
- imidazolidinyl urea
What about drugs for preventing/reversing thinning hair?
Two drug-based treatment options which have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and one product which has been cleared by the FDA for dealing with androgenetic alopecia. The two treatments approved by the FDA are finasteride (marketed for the loss of hair as Propecia) and minoxidil.
Finasteride
A pharmaceutical organization apparently sought to discover the smallest effective level of finasteride and analyze its long-term effects on 1,553 males between age ranges 18 and 41 with minor to moderate thinning hair. According to their study, 1 mg every day was selected, and following 2 years of daily treatment, more than 83% from the 1,553 men suffering from male hair loss had essentially retained or improved their locks count from baseline. Visual examination concluded that in excess of 80% had improved appearances.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil was initially utilised in tablet form as a medication to deal with high blood pressure, however, it was noticed that some individuals undergoing treatment with Minoxidil encountered increased hair growth (hypertrichosis) as a side-effect. Additional investigation demonstrated that by the application of Minoxidil solution straight onto the scalp, it could possibly prove to be effective to individuals experiencing loss of hair.
FDAclinical trials established that 65% of males with androgenetic alopeciapreserved or enhanced their hair count from the utilization of minoxidil 5% in liquid form. 54% of these men encountered moderate to thick re-growth and 46% experienced hair loss stabilization and slight re-growth.
In controlled clinical tests of females aged 18-45, two out of three women with modest levels of hereditary hair loss claimed re-growth following using 2% minoxidil. Initial results come about at four months with optimum results occurring at eight months.
Additional forms of treatment to help stimulate hair growth
Laser Therapy
A low level laser beam is shone directly onto the scalp to stimulate growth of hair by means of “Photo-Biostimulation” of the hair follicles. There is certainly some debate over the FDA’s acknowledgment on the Lasercomb, but it’s been accepted by the FDA as effective in the submitted claims. The Lasercomb was cleared by the FDA for being Substantially Equivalent (SE) to predicate devices legitimately marketed prior to 28th May 1978. This clearance is not equivalent to approval since it only pertains to the lasercomb and not to any other comparable laser based thinning hair products.
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