Before you determine the cause of your hair loss, it will be difficult to settle on the proper treatment. The fact is that hair loss can be caused by a wide number of factors, here we will try to outline the most common ones.
General Information on Hair Growth
Some follicles will produce thinner, shorter hair shafts and have shorter growth phases, due to factors such as irritation, damage, and hormonal changes.
In a permanent cycle, hair strands shifts between phases of growth and rest. The duration of each phase varies across individuals. As a rule of thumb, the growth phase will last between two and three years. In a growth phase you can expect the hair to grow approximately half an inch every month. The resting phase is shorter, typically lasting three to four months. At the end of it, the hair strand falls out, making way for a new one, commencing its growth phase.
It is common to shed between 50 to 100 hair strands a day, but since an average individual has about 100,000 strands in the scalp, it won’t be noticeable.
If, however, the shredding starts to exceed regrowth, as often happens with age, the hair will begin to appear thinner. In time it can even lead to baldness. Treatments exist to either slow down shredding or speed up regrowth. What type of treatment is appropriate, depends on the cause of the hair loss.
Specific Types of Hair Loss
In this section we will look at specific types of hair loss.
Pattern baldness
When developing female- or male-pattern baldness, the phase of growth shortens and the hairs become markedly less thick and sturdy. With each cycle, the new hairs are rooted more superficially and falls out more easily. Heredity is considered a key factor. A family history of hair loss puts you at a higher risk, it affects the age where your hair loss starts, the speed with which it develops, and the extent of the resulting baldness.
Cicatricial Alopecia
Cicatricial Alopecia is a form of permanent baldness that happens when inflammation scars and damages the hair follicle, preventing new hair from growing. Several skin conditions results, among other things, in cicatricial alopecia, such as lupus, erythematosus, and lichen planus. What exactly triggers the inflammation is still unknown.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata does not result in permanent hair loss, as, generally, your hair grows back. You may, however, lose and regrow it numerous times. The cause is not known for certain, but it is traditionally classified as an autoimmune disease. Generally, there are no health problems in people who develop alopecia. The exeption is that a few people may suffer from other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease. Some believe that people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata, with a trigger, which could be a virus, setting off the condition.
Telogen Effluvium
Sometimes something occurs that will push your hair roots prematurely into the resting phase of the growth cycle. This change will result in a type of temporary hair loss known as telogen effluvium. The affected hair roots will shred its hairs, and it typically takes a month or two before the follicles become active once more, resulting in renewed hair growth. What can generate the push? It is often some type of shock, either emotionally or physically. Examples of emotional distress leading to telogen effluvium could be death in the family. Physical shocks could be caused by high fever, sudden, excessive weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances.
Traction Alopecia
In cases of extreme and excessive hairstyling, or use of hairstyles where the hair is pulled back too tightly, the result could be scarring of the scalp and damaged hair roots. This will result in hair loss known as traction alopecia. If the hairstyling is stopped in time, permanent damage can be avoided, and the hair will, usually, grow back again.
General Triggers and Causes of Hair Loss
Next, we will look at possible triggers and causes of hair loss.
Poor Nutrition and Extreme Diets
If you do not consume a proper diet, it can lead to hair loss. Especially look out for lack of protein and iron. Poor nourishment is often caused by crash diets, fad diets, and, occasionally, eating disorders.
Medications
Medications utilized in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart problems, gout, arthritis, and depression can cause hair loss. In rare cases, birth control pills can also result in loss of hair.
Diseases
A number of diseases have hair loss as one of the symptoms, examples include diabetes and lupus.
Medical Treatments
Some medical treatments have hair loss as a side effect. Typical cases are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is important to remember, if you are undergoing such treatments, that after the treatments have concluded, your hair will, usually, start to regrow.
Hormonal Changes and Imbalances
Another source of temporary hair loss are hormonal changes and imbalances. These changes could be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, birth control pills, menopause, or an either to active or not active enough thyroid gland. The hair loss might not appear instantly, often it arrives after a few months, with an additional three months for it to grow back again.
Hair Products and Treatments
Certain chemicals used for dying, tinting, bleaching, and straightening the hair, might damage it, if they are used incorrectly or too much. The hair can also be damaged by overstyling and excessive brushing.
Scalp Infections
Certain infections, an example being ringworms, can wreak havoc on the hair and the skin of your scalp, which in turn can lead to hair loss. This is usually a temporary condition, as once infections have been treated, hair grows back.
What Comes Next?
After having identified what kind of hair loss you suffer from and what is the likely cause, it will be easier to decide what, if anything, should be done about it.
A common question for owners of long hair dachshunds is how to groom them. Do you have them groomed with professional hair cuts, do you groom them yourself, or is regular brushing sufficient to maintain their beautiful coats? Dachshunds can be very messy and it is not uncommon for them to return from a trip outside with the backyard attached to their undercarriage! Brushing it out might be difficult. It could be trimmed, but you risk disturbing or altering the beautiful long haired appearance. If you do decide to trim, follow a few simple guidelines, to minimize the risk of changing the coat.
When Brushing Is Not Enough
If brushing your dachshund every night is not enough, you can either do the grooming yourself or go to a professional. Many owners do not feel comfortable going to places like Petsmart, since they bathe the dogs and stick them in cages to dry. The thought of the precious ones in a cage like that can be tough. Instead, try to find a a little ma’ and pa’ shop, where they use hair dryers and not a cage.
Doing it Yourself
You can groom your dog yourself, it might not be as pretty as when it is done by a professional, but it can still work decently, and save you money. Sometimes it is just impossible to afford $50 bucks every month for a professional grooming.
When doing it yourself, it can be helpful to follow the guidelines provided by show grooms.
Show Grooms
Show grooms do involve cutting the coat, but you have to do it with thinning shears. Get a good pair, 20 tooth minimum. You can cut the underbelly hair to any length you desire, and it won’t come in curly. You can thin the neck out too, on top and underneath.
Bathe the dog at least once a month, and use a conditioner and a baby shampoo, so it doesn’t hurt the dog’s eyes. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, you can use what you use yourself.
Hopefully this was helpful and you now feel more comfortable. If done right, grooming long hair dachshunds will help keep the dog’s coat clean, smooth, and beautiful!
Aloe vera plants have been known for centuries to have a wide range benefits. They have been used to help burns, cuts, and other skin ailments. If someone got hurt, either by a cut or burn, people would break an aloe leaf apart to extract the gel from inside the leaf, it was then applied to the cut as a natural healing salve. However, as modern research shows, the benefits of aloe vera, does not stop here.
In these times with increased commercialism and the booming market for all-natural products, aloe has become an essential ingredient in many skin care and health products. Commercial aloe products include a wide range of products, everything from creams and lotions, to nutritional supplements in pill or drink form. Often the products combine aloe gel with other ingredients, in an effort to enhance the gel’s natural healing abilities. As an example, some products combine aloe with natural extracts taken from organic honey and a Hawaiian Kalo herbal plant.
Natural Aloe-Based Solutions for Skin Care and Health
Aloe gel, especially when combined with additional beneficial, natural ingredients, can do much to enhance the skin and its ability to replenish skin cells. New, young skin cells must replace the old, as they die, to promote a healthy skin. This slows the aging process and keeps the skin moist, smooth and beautiful. Aloe creams and gels can help enhance this rejuvenating process.
Other benefits from aloe vera creams and gel are the easing of and help with itching, burns, cuts, psoriasis, shingles, and other skin conditions. Aloe vera gel have antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, allowing skin ailments to heal rapidly, while reducing the risk of infection. Some claim aloe-based products help soothe and dry up chicken pox as well. As mentioned, aloe gel have long been used as a natural anesthesia to reduce or alleviate pain caused by burns, cuts, and skin rashes. A similar use, is for severe sunburn and/or sun poison, where aloe vera gel cool the burning skin, speeding up the healing process.
Buying Natural Aloe Vera Products
One solution for obtaining aloe vera is growing your own plants. But this might not be a practical solution for all. Another way is to buy natural aloe-based products. Before buying, check if the products are all natural, with as few, or preferably no, added artificial ingredients that could decrease the aloe’s beneficial properties. Read the label on each product to figure out if and why certain ingredients were added.
One place to shop, which certainly carries a selection that cannot be beat, is online. Here you can search according to a number of parameters; as an example, you could try to find aloe-based products that are unique to your skin and health needs. If you have psoriasis, for instance, be on the hunt for creams, gels, or lotions designed to soothe this condition. If you spend a great deal of time in the sun, look for aloe products that will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays.
While not exactly a miracle cure, aloe vera does offer a number of benefits. In the struggle to achieve a smooth, beautiful, and healthy skin, this plant is one valuable weapon in what should be an extensive arsenal.
Tags: Aloe Vera, Benefits of Aloe Vera, Herbal Remedies, Herbal Remedies for Psoriasis, Psoriasis
If you have a mild case of acne, you should take care, making sure you suffer no flare-ups, worsening the condition. The products you use in your daily life can either improve or worsen how hard you are hit. Here are a few easy tips on which products to use and which to avoid.
Tip 1: Electric razors is the best option, when it comes to preventing acne flare-ups and various other skin breakouts.
Tip 2: If opt not to select a electric razor, a single-edged blade is actually the best choice. This is because double- and triple-edged blades rip up hair follicles from below the epidermis. In the process, your skin will attempt to heal itself, closing the holes, in turn making it hard for future hair follicles to grow outward. The result of all this? Skin irritation and inflammation in these areas.
Tip 3: Make sure to thoroughly clean any area where cosmetics are applied, especially if used combined with exercising or other sweat promoting activities, to avoid the risk of the chemicals being absorbed or soaking into your pores.
Tip 4: To avoid clogging pores and irritating skin, which can worsen acne, use products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free”.
Tip 5: Use a lip gloss giving a matte finish instead of a high gloss alternatives, which tends to promote pore-clogging. Note that, the more the shine, the more then comedogenic content, the more the pores can clog. Eye creams tend to contain larger concentrations of moisturizers, than regular creams and lotions, this results in a higher potential of clogging pores in surrounding facial areas.
Tip 6: Use caution with hair styling products. If they contain oils, alcohol or adhesives, make sure to keep them away from the skin. Before exercise, wash out the products, as sweat can cause them to seep into pores. Especially dangerous are hair gels and mousses. In general, use mild, natural products.
For mild cases, basic, sensible skin care can go along way in making the struggle against pimples manageable. For more basic care, check out this post on acne remedies. For more severe cases, and how to treat them, read the post on removing acne.
Tags: Acne, Acne Remedies, Beauty Products