WHY Hair is no longer their Crowning Glory

As women grow older, though, many find their hair is no longer their crowning glory. It loses its body and shine and becomes thinner, sometimes resulting in bald patches that undermine self-confidence and can cause great distress.

Hair loss can be due to stress, poor diet, the menopause and even overuse of hairdryers, hair straighteners, colouring and other styling products that damage the follicles.

For many women, finding clumps of hair on their brush or in the shower room is one of the most worrying symptoms of menopause and also one of the most common.

It is the result of falling levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone before and during the menopause, heightening levels of male hormones such as testosterone. This affects the follicles, causing the hair to fall out and become much thinner.

There may also be a genetic factor behind androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), where the male hormones impact on the follicles in sensitive areas of the scalp in those people predisposed to the condition.

Treatments range from making simple dietary and lifestyle changes, reducing stress and scalp treatments to, in the most extreme cases, hair transplant surgery.

Some treatments include extract of the plant saw palmetto, which is believed to block production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that helps the body to produce DHT (dihydrotestosterone), the hormone that causes follicles to shrink and hair to fall out.

Some women who suffer from thinning hair have found massage helpful in boosting blood flow to the scalp, helping to keep follicles healthy and active.

A healthy, well-balanced diet is also important, as thinning hair is often a sign of poor nutrition or vitamin deficiency.

Vitamins B and D, along with iron and zinc, are believed to help maintain healthy follicles, while regular intakes of the essential fatty acids found in oily fish and nuts are also necessary for healthy hair, nails and skin.

via:http://www.pleasestopmyhairloss.com/why-hair-is-no-longer-their-crowning-glory/