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Black Hair Loss Treated

27.10.2009 in BLACK AFRO-CARIBBEAN HAIR LOSS, HAIR LOSS [ PHOTOS ] TREATED

Traction alopecia is hair loss caused by constant tension of braids and extensions on the hair, such as that created by an over-tight ponytail, plaiting or through using too tight rollers to style the hair.  The action of pulling on the hair over a long period of time results in the gradual shrinking of the hair follicle and so the hairs produced become finer and finer and permanently damaged if not treated.

Chemical trauma can be caused to the hair by bleaching, relaxing, perming or even dying the hair.  The chemicals involved in these processes can damage the protein structure of the hair, making it brittle and often causing hair loss.  As well as damaging the hair, these chemicals are also not good for the scalp and can irritate it. 

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Stress related hair loss.

22.10.2009 in Uncategorized

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Stress has been identified as a cause of hair loss in both men and women. Stress related hair loss is often temporary and may not be noticed until the stressful period has passed. This is because of how stress affects the hair growth pattern, which is explained below.

Hair follicles grow in cycles, which are broken down into three phases, the Anagen or growth phase, the Catagen or transitional phase and the Telogen or resting phase.

In a health hair cycle, the majority of hair grows during the Anagen phase. This can last between two and six years, and hair grows approximately 10cm a year. The Catagen phase lasts about one or two weeks and during this phase the hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length and the lower part is destroyed. Finally during the Telogen phase, which lasts around 5-6 weeks, the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle. Approximately 10-15 % of all hairs are in this phase at once.

At the end of the Telogen phase the hair follicle re-enters phase one and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not already fallen or been brushed out, the new one pushes it out and the process begins again.

When a person is under stress, their body can produce chemicals, which cause the hair follicles to enter the Telogen phase. This means that for the following few months, the hair continues to fall as usual but no new growth takes place. This results in a thinner looking head of hair and eventual hair loss.

Once the stressful period has passed, the hair will usually re-enter the Anagen phase, where new growth occurs. However sometimes the individual will find the hair loss itself extremely stressful, particularly in cases of women’s hair loss. This new stress, can lead to the production of more chemicals that further disrupt the hair cycle.

Whilst stress related hair loss can be caused by extreme periods of trauma, such as the break-up of a primary relationship, or the death of a loved one, it can also be caused by chronic low level stress. Whatever the type of stress you are under, it will help if you learn more about the causes of it and practise techniques to manage it.

Stress related hair loss – contact us now for a free consultation 0207 976 8686

What is stress?
Stress is the term used to describe the physical and emotional strain on the body caused by a person’s response to pressures from the outside world. A certain amount of stress is positive and helps a person feel motivated and stimulated by life. However when a person is under too much pressure, whether that is because of too many demands on their time or because of internal worries, it can lead to a decline in physical health, problems in their relationships and a reduced enjoyment of life.

Stress causes a range of physical, mental and emotional symptoms and these vary from person to person. Some examples include headaches, tense muscles, frequent minor illnesses, stomach upsets and IBS, panic attacks, palpitations, sleeping problems, irritability, tearfulness, withdrawal from socialising, sleep problems and tiredness.

Stress can be caused by external and internal factors. External factors can include things such as money worries, problems at work or difficulties with neighbours. Sometimes these stressors can be eliminated by making life changes. However often a person cannot for example move or change jobs immediately, so relief must be sought through stress management techniques, whilst plans for the future are made.

Internal stressors come from the way a person perceives a situation. These can be harder to change and control as they are often deeply ingrained. Examples of internal stressors include worries over not being good enough, body and appearance issues and feeling frustrated by life. These are best dealt with through personal development techniques and working with a trained counsellor.

There are many things you can do to manage your stress better.

Make time each day to relax and do something you enjoy. This will give you time to unwind and take a break from your problems.
Take regular gentle exercise. This helps to relieve stress and release pent up emotions.
Talk through problems with a friend or a trained counsellor. This can help you find solutions to the things that are worrying you.
Learn meditation or listen to relaxation CDs. These will give your tired mind a rest and may help you feel more positive.

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Male and Female Alopecia

22.10.2009 in HAIR LOSS [ PHOTOS ] TREATED

Male and Female Alopecia
Alopecia is the loss of hair from the scalp, face, body or all three. Approximately forty-six types of Alopecia exist and most of them are a symptom of illness or changes in body chemistry. Fortunately, nearly all are curable and with the right Alopecia treatment, hair nearly always grows back. Diagnosis is essential, as this will give a very strong indication of the prognosis or likely outcome.

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Alopecia affects males and females and can vary in appearance from tiny random bald patches to total baldness. Although the condition does not cause the sufferer any physical pain, it can be the source of deep emotional distress.

Here at The Hair Centre of Trichology we offer a free hair loss diagnosis appointment to all clients. Our Alopecia treatments are all 100% drug free and cause no side effects.

Male and Female Alopecia Treatment – contact us now to arrange your free initial consultation at our London Centre.

Alopecia can be:-

Congenital - Acquired from birth
Genetic - Inherited from parents
Acquired - Caused by some outside factor
Iatrogenic - Drug induced
Cicatricial – Follicles destroyed by scarring
Post natal – Following childbirth
Traction - From continuous pulling

Alopecia Areata
A common condition, where normal hair growth is interspersed with totally bald, round or oval patches. It often begins in childhood and reoccurs throughout a person’s lifetime, but rarely affects the elderly.

In most cases, the condition is confined to one or two spots, but it can spread and become Alopecia Totalis where the entire scalp becomes bald.

Alopecia Universalis is an even more distressing, but rare, condition where the hair is lost on the head, face and body.

What causes Alopecia Areata?
The immune system, which fights off viruses, bacteria and foreign tissue, turns and attacks the hair follicles stopping hair growth.

Although there isn’t one specific cause, but there are number of theories:

Trophoneurotic – Relating to nerve damage or change.

Genetic Influences – There is a genetic link with being prone to autoimmune diseases. Alopecia Areata sometimes occurs in people whose family members have suffered from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, pernicious anemia or Addisons disease.

One in five people with the disease, have a family member who has had Alopecia Areata. And if the relation lost their first patch of hair before age 30, the risk to other family members is greater.

Atopic States – Alopecia Areata does seem to be more common in those people prone to eczema, asthma and nasal allergies.

Emotional Stress – This is thought to frequently trigger Alopecia Areata and its influence has long been underestimated by the medical professions.

Other conditions associated with Alopecia Areata
Alopecia Areata often affects the finger and toe, nails. They may show longitudinal ridges or pitting of the nail plate. The sufferer may also be more prone to eye disorders and Vitiligo, where patches of skin lose their pigment.

How the Condition Progresses
The bald patches sometimes form very rapidly. As they spread, the hair bulbs (papillae) fail to produce normal hair before they stop working. This causes the hair to be finer just above the scalp at which point the hair breaks off.

If you examined these hairs under a microscope, you’d find that instead of being round/oval they are shaped like an exclamation mark. As this type are only found around the perimeter of a rapidly growing patch, they are a clear indicator that the patch is still growing. An absence of exclamation mark hairs, shows that the patch has reached its full size.

This form of Alopecia predominantly attacks dark pigmented hairs, white hairs are usually not affected.

If the amount of hair loss is minimum and the patches are fairly small, hair re-growth will often start in the centre of the patch within a period of three months. White hair often grows back in its place, but normally regains its real colour within a few weeks. If the problem is continuing, old patches will re-grow as new patches form.

In rare cases, the patches continue to spread and multiply until they merge into each other eventually leading to total loss of hair on the scalp.

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Diffuse Hair Loss.

20.10.2009 in HAIR LOSS FACTS

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Diffuse hair loss is the gradual thinning of hair from all parts of the scalp. The thinning is usually fairly even and without definite bald patches. In nearly every case it is shown to be a disturbance of the normal growth cycle of the hair with a large number of hairs entering the telogen phase (cessation of growth) at the same time. The replacement of old hairs by new ones (anagen) may be delayed so tha t the hair becomes sparse all over the scalp sometimes to the degree in which the scalp can be seen through the hair.

Unlike male balding the hair around the ears and at the nape of the neck are equally affected. The problem is more common among women than men and usually follows the event which caused the disturbance in the growth cycle often occurring about three months after the causative event.

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In most cases the hair may be expected to re-grow unless the hair fall is being affected by a continuing cause.

Whilst there are many causes, and these must be carefully examined and eliminated, the most common factors are:-
Following pregnancy
Hormone imbalance
Drugs and radiation
Nutritional disorders
Physical stresses
A number of other factors may be held responsible…

Emotional stress
Accident or surgery
Fevers
Sepsis and septic foci
Iron deficiency anaemia
Depression
Traumatic hair loss

Emotional Stress
Whether acute or chronic can cause diffuse hair fall. Treatment lies in treating or coming to terms with the causes of the stress whilst at the same time using local measures to stimulate the growth of new anagen hairs by massage and regular treatment.

Accident or Surgery
Any form of traumatic injury to the body will also cause a temporary interruption of the normal growth cycle, giving variable degrees of hair loss not necessarily related to the degree of injury. Surgery and the accompanying anaesthetics, possible loss of blood and the medications including antibiotics which may be needed to assist and promote healing may cause similar effects. Following complete healing of wounds, treatment is advised.

Fevers
Although far less common than they used to be any form of fever, and this may include the more severe forms of influenza or pneumonia which are capable of causing a degree of hair loss. A rise in body temperature above 39° C will cause telogen hair loss within two and a half months of the onset of fever. The hair loss is only partial and is related to the maximum temperature and the length of time the temperature stays above 39° C. Re-growth of hair follows recovery from the illness and can usually be seen within two months from the onset of hair fall. As all of the hair does not always recover by itself, Treatment needs to be given following the illness.

Sepsis and Septic Foci
Occasionally chronic localised inflammation or infection may also cause diffuse hair loss. Bladder or urinary infections, impacted or infected wisdom teeth, gum inflammation or tooth abscess may be to blame as can chronic eye disorders such as blepharitis or conjunctivitis. Abscess occurring in any other part of the body will have the same effect.

Treatment involves finding the cause and having the appropriate treatment required. Once the focus of inflammation or infection has been found and treated, the hair will gradually try to improve within a few months. Local treatment is recommended to help speed up the instigation of new growth.

Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Occurs mostly in women. If diagnosed by a Doctor after a simple serum or blood test, iron supplementation will normally improve the hair growth within a few months.

In anaemia the hair also becomes dry and brittle and breaks off more easily, the fingernails may flake off in layers and usually there is a general feeling of tiredness and weakness often accompanied by low blood pressure.

Treatment of the anaemia solves all of these problems especially from the point of view of the poor hair growth and weakness of the fingernails.

Depression and Depressive Illness
For those unfortunate individuals who suffer from chronic depression, hair fall is a common occurrence. Some Psychiatrists look for this as evidence of a depressive state. Whilst depression can to some degree be controlled but rarely cured.

Traumatic Hair Loss
Although not a true form of diffuse hair loss, this problem may be the result of over enthusiastic hairdressing particularly colouring, straightening or perming. This may easily be confused with diffuse hair loss and has been mentioned for this reason.

Another form of apparent diffuse hair loss is that which is self inflicted and this is covered under Hair Oulling or Trichotillomania.

Diffuse hair loss without obvious scalp disease requires painstaking examination and questioning. A general medical examination by a Doctor to eliminate many of the possible causes may be advisable. Trichological Treatment is normally essential.

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Hair Loss – The Effect of Vitamins and Nutrition on Hair.

16.10.2009 in HAIR LOSS SCIENCE

The Effect of Vitamins and Nutrition on Hair

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Whilst most cases of hair loss in men and women are caused by genetics, medical problems or hormonal imbalances, nutrition plays a part in maintaining healthy hair. This article discusses the importance of good nutrition and how deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can lead or contribute to male and female hair loss.

If you are suffering from male hair loss or female hair loss, contact us today to arrange your free hair loss diagnosis. Call us on 0207 976 6868  to book your appointment.

The Importance of Good Nutrition
Your hair is just as responsive to a healthy diet as your body is. Deficiencies in Iron, B complex vitamins, essential fatty acids and amino acids are likely to cause or contribute to hair loss.

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To maintain a healthy head of hair it is important to eat a varied and well balanced diet. This should include protein from white meat and fish, whole grain carbohydrates including brown pasta and rice, healthy fats from oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The suggestions above are just a starting point and it is a good idea to read up on nutrition and explore different foods that are available. The more variety you can get into your diet, the better it will be.

If possible it is best to get most of the vitamins and minerals required for healthy hair from the diet that you eat. This will ensure you receive a balanced amount of each and they are easily absorbed. 

The vitamins needed to maintain a healthy head of hair are essentially, A, B, C, E  and H together with a selection of minerals. We will examine these in greater detail below.

Vitamins for Healthy Hair

Vitamin A
Vitamin A promotes healthy cell and tissue growth in many parts of the body and in particular, the scalp and hair. Deficiencies in this vital vitamin lead to hair loss and dandruff.

Vitamin A Sources

Green leafy vegetables
Fruits
Liver
Eggs
Fish oil

It is possible to have too much vitamin A. It builds up in the body and this can be detrimental. Therefore always take professional advice before taking Vitamin A supplements.

Vitamin B
The B vitamin complex is broken down into many categories and a deficiency in one of these areas can lead to hair loss. We rely on vitamins, B6 and B12 together with Folic acid in the creation of haemoglobin. This is essential for carrying oxygen around the body and to the hair cells.

Vitamin B Sources

Meat
Fish
Milk
Whole grain
Eggs
Brewer’s yeast
Turkey
Fresh fruit

It is not possible to have too much B vitamin. It is a water-soluble vitamin and so does not build up in the same way as vitamin A.

The B vitamins that prevent hair loss are as follows:
Vitamin B3 (niacin)  – this allows proper blood circulation in the scalp region
Vitamin B5 (panthenol) – this helps prevent hair loss and assists in hair re-growth
Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 – this helps in the growth of healthy hair

Vitamin C
As well as a useful preventative against cold and flu, Vitamin C helps to strengthen hair.

Vitamin C Sources

Citrus fruits
Red and green peppers
Kiwis
Pineapples
Strawberries

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an anti oxidation agent that ensures rapid circulation of blood to the hair follicles helping them to grow strong and healthy.

Vitamin E Sources

Sunflower seeds
Almonds
Vegetable oil
Tomatoes and tomato products
Mixed nuts
Carrot juice
Broccoli
Sweet potatoes
Spinach
Greens

Vitamin H
Vitamin H or biotin prevents premature greying of hair and is essential for stopping the loss of hair.    

Vitamin H Sources

Beans
Breads
Brewer’s yeast
Cauliflower
Egg yolks
Fish
Kidney
Legumes
Meat
Dairy products
Nuts
Oatmeal
Oysters
Poultry
Wheat germ
Whole grains

Iron
Whilst iron is not a vitamin, it is vital in maintaining the health of your hair. Many women suffer from a lack of Iron after pregnancy and this is never more obvious than in the condition of their hair. Iron tablets are readily available to combat this and when treated, it is not a problem that lasts.

Iron Sources
Red meat
Eggs
Pulses
Green leafy vegetables
Dried fruit
Fortified breakfast cereals

Our consultations are carried out in Central London. Call us now on on 0207 976 6868 to arrange your free appointment.

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