Hair Loss in Children

As the parent of a child suffering from hair loss, you want the safest solution to your child's problem. However there is a lot of conflicting data on the web.

The good news is that in many children with alopecia hair loss, a small patch can correct itself without treatment. In many children it reverses on its own and may be gone for ever. In some cases the childs alopecia may return at a later date. There is currently no way of being certain.

However the dilemma that a parent such as you faces is that in many children the patch (or patches) can spread rampantly and may extend to the eyebrows and eye lashes too. So it is difficult to just wait and hope that in your child it stays contained.

That is why we encourage parents of such children with alopecia hair loss to seek help as fast as possible. The standard medical treatment is Corticosteroids which act on the immune system by blocking the production of substances that trigger allergic and inflammatory actions.

However, they also impede the function of white blood cells which destroy foreign bodies and help keep the immune system functioning properly. This immune supression increases susceptibility to infection so this is not a treatment that can be used over a prolonged period of time.

So all in all, seek medical advice as early as you can.

Where can I get help?

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (www.naaf.org ) was founded in 1981 when a young Californian with the disease looked for others to share and understand her problems. It has grown into the world center of alopecia areata information, research, and service. Located in San Rafael, California, the Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has a professional Chief Executive Officer and staff. The Foundation is represented in Washington, D.C., and the Chief Executive Officer and others have testified before Congressional Committees.

Herbs that Slow Down Hair Loss

Herbs have been embraced for centuries. Herbal remedies offer solutions to many different types of symptoms in the body. From the common cold, to acne, toothache, and even baldness–herbs can enrich our overall well-being and appearance. For years many men and women have relied on herbal remedies to prevent premature hair loss and stress-induced hair loss. The following remedies are some of the most popular around the world:

Green Tea: Drink several cups a day, as this tea contains the enzyme 5 Alpha Reductase. What does it do? It converts male testosterone into DHT. Men who have pale pattern baldness swear by this natural remedy. Seeing is believing, what do you have to lost? Drink up. Cheers!

Ginko Biloba: By increasing circulation to the brain and skin–with this herb, you can deliver more well-needed nutrients to the hair’s natural follicles. Spread 120 - 160 mg of the dry extract onto the scalp in a period of three dosages.

Saw Palmetto: The hair loss Treatment of choice by males. It protects a man’s prostate from cancer and studies show it encourages hair growth. Take it in capsule form twice weekly. It’s most potent taken in its natural form (extracted from berries–not dried berries).

Stinging Nettle: Known to prevent hair loss, men rely on stinging nettle at the first sight of thinning, or slight balding. Take a capsule which contains 50-100 mg a day to keep hair loss away.

Pygeum: If used properly (60-500 mg per day in capsule form) the effects of Pygeum are much like those of green tea. Use this herb for treatment of male pattern hair loss or prostate problems.

He Shou Wu: Embraced by the Chinese, this herbal remedy has been known to reduce the effects of hair loss, as it’s been said to delay the process. This herb can be taken in tea-form or in a capsule.

Before scientists started creating hair loss topical ointments in laboratories, these herbal remedies were relied on by many men (maybe even an ancestor of yours!). While there are many skeptics, who say that herbal treatments are laughable, others beg to differ. What does it come down to?

What works for some, may not work for others. 

Herbs are safe and practical if taken in their proper dosages. Perhaps this is why many men are eager to experiment with them. In-hair-it some of these and other only high quality herbal ingredients in it’s unique formula designed to slow thinning hair.

One Minute Hair Loss Prevention Tips

It would only take a minute to learn these Hair Loss Prevention Tips FAST!

Ready, set, Go!

- Stop coloring or perming your hair very often for it can damage it 
- Limit exposure of your hair to chlorine
- Avoid exaggerated brushing or combing wet hair
- Use a conditioner every after shampoo to make grooming manageable and easier
- Regulate heat exposure. Blow-drying, hot-curling and exposure to straightening irons may damage your hair over time
- Avoid medications that can lead hair loss such as Vitamin A, testosterone products, beta blockers, certain antidepressants and certain cholesterol-lowering agents
- Too much alcohol should be avoided. Be careful in choosing your hair care products as some contain alcohol and can contribute to hair dryness, brittle and hair that is prone to breakage.
- Tight ponytails and braids can lead to hair damage
- Maintain a healthy diet, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and drinking enough water
- Birth control pills can contribute to hair loss
- Consult your doctor if should you notice abnormal hair loss, as certain medical conditions such as lupus or having polycystic ovaries, or hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss

Drugs that Cause Hair Loss

Do you know that some perscription drugs are known to cause hair loss?
What are they? Check the list out!

Cholesterol-lowering drugs:

1. clofibrate (Atromis-S)
2. gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Antidepressants:

1. tricyclics, amphetamines
3. High blood pressure:
4. atenolol (Tenormin)
5. metoprolol (Lopressor)
6. nadolol (Corgard)
7. propranolol (Inderal)
8. timolol (Blocadren)

Antithyroid:

1. carbimazole
2. Iodine
3. thiocyanate
4. thiouracil
5. Ulcer drugs:
6. cimetidine (Tagamet)
7. ranitidine (Zantac)
8. famotidine (Pepcid)

Anticoagulents:

1. Coumarin
2. Heparin

5 Hair Loss Myths

Here are 5 things you should stop believing about hair loss!

Myth #1: Hair loss of an individual is inherited from the mother side.

Not true. Genetics is one factor of hair loss, it can be inherited from either the father's or the mother's side.

Myth #2. Frequent cutting of hair will make it grow thicker.

Not true. Although when the hair is cut, it would appear thicker at first, after three days or so, your hair would drop off and new hair would grow, having the same diameter as the pre cut hair.

Myth #3. Wearing a Hat Can Cause Hair Loss.

Not true. The hat can help by blocking off the sun's harmful rays. Although wearing a hat for a very long period of time may cause sebum accumulation due to temperature changes and can react with cholesterol creating a hardened sebum plug that will cut off oxygen circulation causing the hair to fall out.

Myth #4. DHT is the reason for hair loss.

Not true. Although an over production of DHT is a significant reason for hair loss, it is not the only cause.

Myth #5. Frequent shampooing and blow drying lead to hair loss.

Not true. Heat can damage the hair, reason for brittle hair; it does not harm the roots of the hair.