Male pattern baldness

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1000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrated Alternative and Conventional Treatments for the Most Common Illnesses Marshall Editions See book keywords and concepts

Men are more prone to hair loss than women (think of the term male pattern baldness), but this does not mean that women are immune. Common reasons for significant hair loss include stress and emotional trauma, nutritional deficiencies, skin conditions that especially affect the scalp such as psoriasis, taking drugs such as chemotherapy, an imbalance in thyroid gland functioning, pregnancy, and menopause. For any of these cases, it will be beneficial to seek help from a homeopathic practitioner who will target treatment to support the body in coping with the situation.

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Genetics and hormones determine the most common reasons for hair loss. male pattern baldness is characterized by a receding hairline and loss of hair, especially on the crown of the head. By age forty, two-thirds of Caucasian men are noticeably bald. Female pattern baldness is characterized by a general thinning of the hair all over the head and a moderate loss of hair on the crown or the hairline. It also occurs between the ages of thirty and forty and often becomes more apparent during and after menopause.

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DHT is also partially responsible for male pattern baldness and for benign prostate hyperplasia.) Point is, it's not the friend of anyone with acne. To complicate things further, a high glycemic (high-sugar) diet accelerates the conversion of testosterone to DHT. (See the Paleo Diet for acne, page 203.) Enter saw palmetto. The Testosterone Connection Saw palmetto is an herb with a documented ability to prevent some of that conversion of testosterone to DHT. The question is, what role exactly does DHT play in acne?

We know it plays a big role in male pattern baldness, it probably plays an even bigger role in female hair loss, and it definitely plays a starring role in benign prostate hyperplasia. How much of hormone-driven acne is due to testosterone and how much is due to its metabolite DHT (which I like to call "son of testosterone") no one is quite sure. But it's very possible that DHT plays a substantial role, and if so, limiting the conversion of testosterone to DHT—which saw palmetto can clearly do—would be a boon for acne sufferers. Richard Fried, M.D., Ph.D.

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But in male pattern baldness, the hair follicles shut down production over time. male pattern baldness is unpredictable. Some men begin to lose their hair in their twenties, while others keep a full head of hair for a lifetime. (Actually, the term male pattern baldness is something of a misnomer, because the condition also affects many women, though rarely enough to be noticeable.) Over the years, I've suggested that men concerned about male pattern baldness try saw palmetto for hair preservation.

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Baldness and prostate cancer High testosterone levels are associated with male pattern baldness. In a study of 4,421 males over 21 years, prostate cancer was diagnosed in 214 subjects, more so among balding men (17.5 versus 12.5 per 10,000 person-years of life, or about a 50% increase). [Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers 9: 523-27, 2000] Inflammation is involved in virtually every disease.

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Problems begin with female menstruation; male pattern baldness; White blood cells begin attacking body nerve cells to multiple sclerosis; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; kuru, triggered by a viral attack; Alzheimer's disease, and senility. Differentiation; after three doubling stages (eight cells), each cell, if separated and allowed to continue dividing, can develop into an entire and normal animal (as identical twins); after this, cells become specialized differentially into particular tissue type of nerve, muscle, or skin, and so forth, limiting regeneration.

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If saw palmetto could affect DHT, it was only a short stretch to assume that it might be effective in treating male pattern baldness, too. But theory isn't always good medicine. There is also research suggesting that saw palmetto does not affect DHT and that it exerts some other action that may be the reason for the improvement in BPH symptoms. Further, there is no reason to assume that saw palmetto is safer than Propecia (active drug ingredient finasteride). In fact, there are reports of similar side effects (Sources: www.naturaldatabase.

One study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology (February 2004, pages 341-345), stated that because melatonin has been reported to have a beneficial effect on hair growth in animals, it was of interest to evaluate the effect of melatonin on hair growth in women with male pattern baldness. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 40 women suffering from diffuse alopecia or androgenetic alopecia. Either a 0.1% melatonin solution or a placebo was applied on the scalp once daily for six months.

Stress can be a factor in hair loss, but it is extremely low on the list of reasons for hair loss, especially in comparison to male pattern baldness, health issues (particularly taking certain medications and rapid weight loss), hair breakage caused by problematic styling techniques, and physical trauma or injury (Sources: Cosmetic Dermatology, February 2004, pages 123-126; and The Journal of Dermatology, December 2003, pages 871-888). Wearing your hair in a ponytail can cause hair loss. This isn't quite a myth because it all depends on how tightly hair is pulled back and how often.

HAYASHI SYSTEM HlNOKI Note: Hayashi claims the hinokitol (hinoki oil) in the products below can block the conversion of the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a process that is one of the causes of male pattern baldness, and that this oil can therefore stimulate hair growth. However, there is no evidence or research to support this. © Shampoo Volumizing Cleanser for Fine and Thinning Hair ($8for 8.4 ounces) is a very good shampoo for all hair types, and poses minimal to no risk of buildup. © Conditioner Texturizing Rinse for Fine and Thinning Hair ($9for 8.

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DEFICIENCY SIGNS: Hepatic coma, hepatic cirrhosis, fatty degeneration of the liver and other liver malfunctionings; inhibited ammonia detoxification; male pattern baldness, poor skin tone, toxic waste buildup, possible forerunner to most degenerative disease; L-Cysteine deficiency leads to Vitamin B6 deficiency. CYSTEINE SOURCES: Wheat, cabbage, onions, garlic, alfalfa, carrots, beets, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, apples, currants, pineapples, raspberries, brazil nuts, filberts, (eggs).

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In part because of the conversion of testosterone into dihy-drotestosterone, the same mechanism involved in male pattern baldness. The average adult head has about 100,000 hairs and loses about 100 a day. Usually, they grow back. But in male pattern baldness, the hair follicles shut down production over time. male pattern baldness is unpredictable. Some men begin to lose their hair in their twenties, while others keep a full head of hair for a lifetime.

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Hair has a growing/resting cycle; in male pattern baldness hair follicles spend more of their time resting; atrophied fol 1 ic les not necessari ly dead, with proper growth-stimulants Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from Testosterone-5 -alpha reductase, or from cholesterol. Take Vitamins B-Complex, Bl; B2; B3; B5; 50 mg.B6 (and Amino acids); Choline; Inositol; Folic acid; Biotin; PABA; Vitamin C; Bioflavonoids; and VitaminE. The Minerals: Indium; Copper; Sulfur; and Zinc. Mullein solutions effectively grows Hair on bald heads; as does Garlic; and Patchouli oil.

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Most of the medical treatments for hair loss are designed to address male pattern baldness. The drug minoxidil (Rogaine), originally a blood-pressure regulator, was found to cause hair growth as a side effect (often undesirable) in certain individuals, and so was adapted for topical use to treat male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, it rarely results in a significant regrowth of hair, and it must be used on an ongoing basis. ¦ The latest drug therapy for male pattern baldness is finasteride (Propecia).

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Alterna claims that the azelaic acid in this shampoo can stop DHT (dihydroxytestosterone, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness) activity by "acting on receptor sites" and blocking the enzyme (5-alpha reductase) that converts testosterone to its more potent form, DHT. Research shows that azelaic acid does indeed have this blocking effect, but so far this has been shown to be true only in a petri dish, not on real hair (Source: British Journal of Dermatology, November 1998, pages 627-632).

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Finasteride (Propecia), a prescription medication, is said to be effective for younger men with male pattern baldness who have at least half of their hair remaining. It usually takes at least three months to be effective, and results last only as long as the medication is continued. Q In some people with alopecia areata, cortisone injections into the hairless patches of the head can trigger hair growth. Anthralin (Dritho-Scalp) cream, applied to the scalp and washed off after an hour, can sometimes stimulate hair growth after a few months of use.

A less dramatic, but more prevalent, type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia (AGA), or male pattern baldness. AGA is common in men. As the name implies, a genetic or hereditary predisposition to the disorder and the presence of androgens—male sex hormones—are involved in this condition. Research indicates that the hair follicles of individuals susceptible to AGA may have receptors programmed to slow down or shut off hair production under the influence of androgens.

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We have botulinum toxin for the treatment of wrinkles; minoxidil for male pattern baldness; tooth whitening treatments; hormone replacement therapy,' says Shah Ebrahim, professor of epidemiology of ageing at Bristol University. 'Hollywood and the media may promote positive images of older people, but it would be surprising if society's stereotypes of beauty were to be reoriented towards images of old age. So demands for medical fixes for ageing are likely to grow.

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Rogaine, a topical solution developed by the Upjohn Company and containing 2 percent minoxidil, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of male pattern baldness. This product is now available over the counter in drugstores. However, researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada, have reported that this drug may cause heart changes if used for long periods of time. Also, although using minoxidil does result in hair growth, the quality of the hair is usually poor and hair growth ceases when use is discontinued.

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Botanical medicines that inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT (the hormone that causes acne and male pattern baldness), such as saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), can be used to control the virilization seen with PCOS. Saw palmetto also inhibits the binding of DHT at the cellular level.63 In vitro studies of nettle root (Urtica wrens) have shown it to be an up-regulator of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), in part due to the lignans found in the root.

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Alpha-reductase inhibition represents a potentially effective therapeutic approach to benign prostate enlargement (page 58) and male pattern baldness. Isoflavones may reduce the risk of hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast (page 65) and prostate cancer (page 371), as well as other cancers. One study of soy research found that 65% of 26 animal-based cancer studies showed a protective effect of soy or soy isoflavones.4 Human research also suggests a protective role of soy against cancer,5'6 but the data are currently insufficient to form any solid conclusions.

Smart Medicine for Healthier Living : Practical A-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Adults Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND See book keywords and concepts

The drug minoxidil (Rogaine), originally a blood-pressure regulator, was found to cause hair growth as a side effect (often undesirable) in certain individuals, and so was adapted for topical use to treat male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, it rarely results in a significant regrowth of hair, and it must be used on an ongoing basis. ¦ The latest drug therapy for male pattern baldness is finasteride (Propecia). This is actually the same drug marketed under the brand name Proscar and used for benign prostate enlargement, but at a lower dosage.

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High blood pressure, male pattern baldness. What Are the Possible Side Effects/Adverse Effects? This is such a dangerous drug that it is recommended only as a last ditch effort if no other hypertensive drugs have worked. It can cause a serious condition called pericardial effusion, and it can make angina worse. In animals it caused all kinds of gross abnormalities of the heart, as well as lesions and infertility.

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More research is sure to follow, as this is a highly popular and profitable area of research. Over the last several years, more consumers and practitioners have been learning of nettle's many uses for prostate problems, arthritis and inflammation in general, allergies, and hair loss, and it follows that more nettle products are showing up on the shelves in stores. Nettle root, nettle leaf, and whole herb (leaf, stem, and root) products in tablets, capsules, and tinctures are now widely available at most health food stores at very reasonable prices.

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Usually, men's hair loss is genetic male pattern baldness. If you have this problem, you also have many medical options, from medications such as finasteride (Propecia) to hair transplants. If you decide to seek professional medical treatment for male pattern baldness, find a dermatologist who is willing to work with you to explore your options and help you solve the problem, rather than one who uses one treatment for all hair-loss patients, says Spencer David Kobren, a New York City-based consumer advocate for people with hair loss.

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On some level, male pattern baldness might be tied to increased testosterone levels during puberty, which are often the result of a high-fat diet or eating too many animal products," says Dr. Klaper. "If you look at Japan, male pattern baldness was almost unheard of prior to World War II. The Japanese diet is now far more fatty and Westernized, and Japanese men are going bald everywhere. It's clear that a high-fat, meat-based diet raises testosterone levels, and that may adversely affect hair follicles. I'm not sure eating low-fat foods will stop hair loss, but it might slow it down.

Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me Paula Begoun See book keywords and concepts

The vials contain primarily water, alcohol, silicones, plant extract, whey, citrus oil, plant oil, coloring agent, lavender oil, preservatives, vitamins, and coloring agents. What each vial does not contain is anything that can have even a minor impact on hair loss or on encouraging hair to grow. It is a waste of time and money and is not recommended. Revlon Realistic For years, Revlon had a presence in the hair-care isles of drug and mass-market stores.

The Green Pharmacy Anti-Aging Prescriptions: Herbs, Foods, and Natural Formulas to Keep You Young James A. Duke, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

Actually, the term male pattern baldness is something of a misnomer, because the condition also affects many women, though rarely enough to be noticeable.) Over the years, I've suggested that men concerned about male pattern baldness try saw palmetto for hair preservation. I've kept up with a few of them, and some seem to feel that their hair loss had slowed, maybe even stopped. I have saw palmetto growing in two plots of my Garden of Youth—ones devoted to prostate enlargement and balding.

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This is the case with "male pattern baldness," which is especially common when hair growth begins to slow, around age 50 or 60. It is the male hormone testosterone, helped along by certain genes, that encourages hair roots to shut down. Genetic researcher and dermatologist Mary Sawaya, M.D., headed a team from the University of Florida in Miami that discovered certain enzymes in balding scalps that double testosterone's potency and thus discourage hair growth. Because of this enzyme-testosterone connection, this harmless but distressing problem afflicts mostly men—and a lot of them.

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