A famous quote by Coco Chanel goes, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”
How we cut and style our hair definitely affects the way we look and carry ourselves. Ladies with gorgeous long hair exude bold confidence as they flip their hair in ads and even in real life. Have you ever had times when you walked out of a beauty salon or a barbershop and were extremely aghast with the horrific nest that the stylist made out of your hair? No, hair pulling will not make them grow back faster. It also will not help if you actually pull out patches of your hair altogether.
While we are on the topic of hair being pulled out, let us focus on one condition that affects both men and women: hair loss.
It is a widely known fact that men are more prone to hair loss or going bald as compared to women. Balding in men is attributed to their age, hormones, and genes. In the United States, it is said that about 50 million men experience balding and about half of this number will lose parts of their crowning glory by the time they reach the age of 50. This is why hundreds of thousands of people daily are actively searching for different methods and tips for hair loss treatment.
Women, on the other hand, may not lose hair entirely and expose their bare scalp, but some will experience hair thinning when they grow old. Hair thinning in women can be caused by various factors, such as genes, hormonal changes, a rare autoimmune disease called Alopecia areata, medications, hair products, or hairstyles worn frequently that causes the hair to be pulled tightly (Traction alopecia).
As of this time, the cure to hair loss or balding is yet to be discovered. Products and treatments for restoring hair growth continue to be explored by medical science and according to the online health portal Foxeny.com, the following procedures may hold the future answer to this stressful hair problem.
Beetroot
This often overlooked vegetable is packed with vitamins, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. Beetroot may not be as enticing as other vegetables because of its dark purplish appearance, but this root crop is being considered as one of the answers to hair loss. Two of the singled out components of beetroot that may help fight alopecia are betalain and carotenoid.
Vitamin D
A study done by researchers in one university in Egypt has found out that a little over 90% of people who are diagnosed with alopecia areata lack a tremendous amount of vitamin D2 and iron. Because of this finding, it is exiting what this vitamin can do to avoid hair loss as scientific researches continue to uncover its potency.
Genetic testing
Testing the DNA is another proposition that is being explored when it comes to detecting the possibilities of an individual in having a condition that would lead to hair loss. This procedure is highly considered as one of the steps in hair loss intervention as testing the genes of a person can shed light to whether or not their bloodline carries the genetics that can cause hair loss.
Propolis
Japanese scientists did research and experimented on a substance called Propolis during recent years. This substance is produced by bees and is used in making their beehives. Scientists discovered that Propolis is composed of anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-inflammatory can help prevent hair loss that usually happens when the scalp becomes inflamed. Likewise, an experiment done with lab mice showed that the substance contributed to the process of hair growth by stimulating the production of keratinocytes, which helps in the creation of the hair shaft as well as the production of hair follicles. While Propolis showed promising results of hair growth in mice, it is still up for more testing to see if they can do the same for people with hair loss problems.
Scalp scraping
In a different study done on mice by a team of medical researchers in the US, they found out that scraping the skin of the tiny rodents led to the development of new hair follicles. This idea was shelved for a long time as many deemed that it did not help with preventing hair loss. However, scientists now are revisiting this discovery as a way to prevent the production of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is thought to contribute to balding in males, by using procedures, such as micro-needling, to slightly “injure” the skin and open its pores in preparation for the application and maximum absorption of minoxidil, a medicine that counters DHT’s creation.
Stem Cells
The use of stem cells is popularly known for the regeneration of other organs in the body. It is due to the progress in this area of science that it is also being considered as a solution to hair regrowth. Scientists and researchers have published in their studies the success of using stem cells in producing and growing human hair on mice. Following this achievement, scientists are now eyeing to try this experiment on humans.
With these ongoing studies to find the best and lasting solution for hair loss, patients are anticipating that the cure is just around the bend. Only time can tell how soon these hair loss procedures or products will hit the market. For patients, you can lose hair in the moment, but do not lose hope.