July, 2011

Identify the Level of Male Pattern Hair Loss by Using the Hamilton-Norwood Scale

The Hamilton-Norwood scale is a standard measurement scale of male pattern baldness, which ranges from stages I to VII. (The higher the number, the more advanced the loss). It was initially introduced by Dr. James Hamilton in the 1950s and later revised and updated by Dr. O’Tar Norwood in the 1970s.

We can use the Hamilton-Norwood scale to categorize the level of male pattern baldness. It’s one of the easiest ways to determine how far along you may be with hair loss and what you can expect if left untreated. May be this scale is not a perfect way of measuring baldness, but it is the most common and widely recognised way available so far.

THE RATE OF HAIR LOSS

The rate at which men lose hair is very independent. It can begin in your teens, 20s, or 30s. Usually 50% of men will experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 30, but some men will lose their hair very rapidly in their 20’s and come to stage 3 or stage 4 and stay at that point for the rest of their lives. Other men can have no detectable amount of hair loss until they are in their 50’s, only to advance to a stage 6 or stage 7 in just a few short years.

Normally if the individual begins to thin early in life there is a very good chance that he is destined for a great deal of hair loss. The family history is an important indicator that we can study to possibly help determine how far hair loss will advance, look at both sides of your parents, especially any older males: your grandfathers, father, uncle, brothers, etc.

2 MAIN TYPES OF HAIR LOSS: ANTERIOR AND VERTEX

Men typically losing their hair in 2 main types, first are receding at the temples, we call it Anterior (front), and the other is on the top back of the head known as Vertex (back).

As we can see from the chart clearly, from Stage 1 to Stage 2 is mild, only slightly recession of the hairline and the central front part of the scalp become less dense. Prevention is better than cure, early detection of hair loss problems means that you can start the treatments at the early stage and more likely you are to get back a full head of hair if you follow the proper recommendations.

From Stage 3 to Stage 4 is moderate, hair loss is clearly visible. The hairline move deeper to the back compare to Stage 2 with bald spot grows larger. It is the crucial moment, and you should take more aggressive action to save your hair. Without treatments, the conditions would become worse!

Finally from Stage 5 to Stage 7 is severe, basically any topical or medication will not effective much in these two stages, but you should look at it a different perspective, there are still some solutions available, you can consider: Hair transplant, Hair weaving, Wearing hats or wigs, Do the bald look!

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Suggestions for Stopping Hair Loss

There are only a few things that are more uncomfortable than losing your full head of hair. Hair loss has a great impact on ones self image and confidence. Not only does this affect men, but women are also susceptible to hair loss.

You may feel unable to look in the mirror comfortably because of your hair, or lack thereof. You are looking older and your sense of self is becoming skewed. If you feel too insecure, going bald may be difficult for you.

You may have heard that this happens to other folks at any age. You might go bald at any age based on a number of factors. Everyday life choices, the setting you live in and even your family genes may be causing your hair to fall off. You can still maintain your full head of hair by using several techniques.

Methods to Stop Hair Loss – 3 Tips

1. Prevent it

The health of your hair and scalp is directly affected by your nutrition. Your hair is affected by your moods and the amount of proteins and vitamins in your diet. Some other folks who are stressed on a daily basis lose their hair faster. Tension can eat away at your sleeping time and prevent you from taking care of your body more. Sanitation in your environment is also a factor. A dirty setting will lead to more problems other than thinning hair.

You can also try changing the shampoos and hair conditioners that you use. Shampoo that is too strong may be causing your hair loss. You can replace your more potent shampoo with a more organic and natural one. Macerating some aloe leaves and making use of the macerated leaf tissues as shampoo is an excellent idea.

2. Ointments

If you look at all the balding products out there, you will find out that there are a few effective ones. But not everybody who wants to can employ these things. Pay attention if you are taking other prescribed medication which may cause hypersensitive reaction reactions.

First time use may turn other people off, especially when the unwanted effects kick in. Eye inflammation may also be a sign that you are allergic to the product. Some other people also experience fainting spells and nausea. When you recurrently use the product, try not using it for a while to check if the indicators will fade away.

3. Laser Treatment and Surgery

Contemporary knowledge has allowed people to have their hair restored using laser technology and surgery. There are benefits and disadvantages, of course.

In grafting, dead hair roots in the bald spots, are replaced by vigorous ones. Since the hair roots on the bald spots are assumed to be non-functional, exchanging them with functional ones may do the trick. These undeveloped hair roots are treated with laser rays to reactivate them. Below the bald areas are hair roots that are dormant, and laser light is meant to stimulate them again.

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Hair Replacement Systems

Baldnessor alopecia comes in a variety of forms. It can occur to both men and women. This condition can also mean partial loss of hair or complete baldness. Effects can also be permanent or treatable-it all depends on the degree of severity and cause. Genetics, certain diseases (and their treatments), and other external factors can cause loss of hair. Knowing the cause will help your doctor determine which hair replacement system is best for you.

Hair extensions and hair pieces are temporary and inexpensive hair systems that will help you cover your bald spot. There are different varieties of wigs and hair pieces to choose from. A specific type of wig is suitable for everyone. These hair systems differ in size, texture, manner of manufacturing, color, and cost. Finding the right one to lessen the negativity of baldness should be easy if you know your options.

SYNTHETIC WIGS

These hair pieces are machine-made and not from human hair. They are durable and come in all sizes. The apex is at the cap and adjustments can be made at the nape. Styling these can shorten their life spans but it is possible to do so. Just handle it with care and comb it every day to avoid tangling. There are special shampoos that are meant to wash these hair pieces. Regular shampoos should be avoided.
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HUMAN HAIR WIGS

These are generally more expensive but are of top quality. Unlike other types of hair replacements, human hair wigs move, feel, and look like they’re your own. European hair pieces are the most high-end but will last you for a long time. Remy or unprocessed hair pieces are also preferred by people with alopecia because of the fact that it hasn’t been touched by any form of chemical. The base of human hair wigs are made with special skin-toned silicone or mesh, making it unnoticeable. You can adjust the size of the base by cutting at the base or infront.

HAND-TIED WIGS

These are also considered high-end hair systems because the strands of natural or synthetic hair are tied by hand onto the base. The appearance is the same as that of human hair wigs. You can style them with less worry because the strands are secured by strong bonds. It is important that these are maintained using soft brushes and special shampoos so that they last for a long time-about a year or more.

CUSTOM CRANIAL WIGS

Obviously, these hair replacement system means it’s specifically designed to fit one person. The size is personalized to fit your head and the hairline is specified according to your original hair. Men and women who are completely and permanently bald benefit most from this because it lasts the longest and it is specifically made just for them.

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Reasons to Increase Your Biotin Intake to Encourage Hair Growth

Introduction

Have you heard of Biotin and why you should ensure you get enough of it for your hair? Biotin is part of the vitamin B family, but when it was discovered, it was referred to as vitamin H. Further studies showed that it was actually part of the B vitamin family.

Here are some reasons on why you need it and why it is important for your hair.

Why Biotin Is Important For Your Body

Biotin helps you transform protein fat and carbohydrates that you receive in your food to energy that is needed by your body.

If you should develop a Biotin deficiency you may develop the following problems:

  • Loss of Appetite
  • Depression
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Loss Of Hair

 

But it is rare for a person to develop a deficiency in Biotin but deficiencies can occur if you are being fed by a tube or are an athlete that consumes large amounts of raw eggs. You don’t really need to be an athlete; you just need to consume raw eggs on a daily basis.

The reason raw eggs can produce a deficiency in Biotin is because raw eggs contain avidin, which binds with Biotin to prevent its absorption in the body.

Biotin And Hair Growth

Biotin was first discovered in the 1940s, so very little is known about it, But in regards to hair this much is known:

  • Promotes the growth of your hair.
  • Prevents hair from becoming dry.
  • Increases the elasticity of your hair.
  • Stops your hair from becoming brittle.
  • Makes your hair look fuller by increasing the diameter of your hair shaft.

 

Besides all this it is also believed that it can slow hair loss, but the jury is still out on that.

Where to Get Biotin

You can get Biotin through your normal diet. This vitamin is found in such products as liver, soy, brewers yeast, and egg yolks to name a few. You can also go to your local supplement store and purchase Biotin supplements if you think you need them.

Biotin is also being added to shampoos and conditioners, but it is believed that the body has a hard time absorbing this vitamin. It is best if you receive your Biotin from your diet or supplements.

Conclusion

As time goes on and more research is done on this vitamin, more benefits to the scalp and hair may be found from using or ingesting Biotin.

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Major Causes Of Hair Loss In Men And Women

During a cycle of hair growth, there is little shedding. It is absolutely a normal thing and a natural process. But, for a large number of people, there is unusually excessive hair fall. It finally leads to partial or total baldness. This is a serious matter that must be attended instantly. The problem needs immediate treatment. Before moving towards the solution for this embarrassing disturbance, it is necessary to have a deep insight of what actually causes it.

  • Genetics

Experts reveal that the most common of all causes of hair loss among women and men is their genetic makeup. However much of the details are not known yet. It is fully understood now that the gene for hair loss is dominant in such people. It can be transferred either form mother or father. In people with inherited hair loss, the problem is progressive. It continues to occur throughout years or for their entire life. For some, early twenties is the age when they start experiencing this trouble. For others, it occurs later in life.

  • Hormonal disturbance

Any changes in normal hormonal level in body cause various syndromes. One of these is hair loss. These are briefly described here:

  • Hyperthyroidism:

Overactive thyroid leads to thin damaged hair.

  • Hypothyroidism:

Under-active thyroid is also detrimental for hair growth. It makes them coarse and rough.

  • Male and Female hormone imbalance:

In women, if any imbalance in sex hormones of male and female occurs, it causes hair thinning and loss.

  • Pregnancy:

It is widely known that pregnancy causes hormonal changes that ultimately lead to excessive hair loss. A large reserve of protein and calcium is taken up by fetus so there is a dearth of essential nutrients that are beneficial for hair growth. This major transfer of nutrients leaves a woman severely deficient in hair food.

  • Menopause:

Some women suffer from hair loss when they enter menopause phase. The main cause is estrogen lack.

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy:

It is often given to treat health problems and symptoms related to menopause. This mostly causes hair shedding in women.

  • Malnutrition

A diet deficient in essential nutrients necessary for hair growth leads to baldness. Although, a poor dietary intake is not directly related to this problem but, it has serious implications upon the growth and health of the hair. People who are deprived of proteins, biotin, vitamin A and other important vitamins or minerals for a considerably longer time are more likely to face such problems, as compared to those who take a well-balanced diet.

  • Disease

Several diseases such as diabetes, psoriasis, lupus, dermatitis, hepatitis and breast cancer are also a causative factor for loss of hair.

  • Infection

Ringworm fungus makes scalp infectious in children. It also causes weakening of hair shaft and patches all over scalp.

  • Medications

Anticoagulants or blood thinners, overdose of vitamin A, anti-depressant drugs, contraceptive pills and gout-treatment medicines can cause hair loss.

In order to treat hair loss, its causes must be clearly understood with no ambiguities and myths. When the main factor is confirmed, its cure can be more effective and focused.

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Ten Foods Protect Your Hair

The foods we eat can provide essential nutrients to maintain the normal growth of our hair. For example, protein provided by lean meat can accelerate the growth of hair. Generally speaking, ten foods can protect your hair. These foods include salmon, spinach, beans, nuts, chicken, eggs, whole-wheat food, clam, milk and carrots.

Salmon contains w-3 fatty acid, protein, vitamin B12 and iron ions. W-3 fatty acid is the essential substance to keep your scalp clean and healthy. A lack of w-3 fatty acid can decrease the glossiness of hair. Therefore, eating salmon is an important way for you to improve your hair. If you are a vegetarian, you can eat moderate linseed to absorb w-3 fatty acid.

Spinach is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. Both vitamin A and vitamin C are the essential components of synthetic fat. The oily fat secreted by hair follicles is a kind of natural hair conditioner to protect your hair. In addition, spinach can also provide iron and calcium for your body. If you do not like to eat spinach, you can choose green cauliflower.

Beans are regarded as effective foods to provide nutrients for hair and accelerate the normal growth. According to the research, beans are rich in protein, iron, zinc and biotin. These nutrients are all the nutrients needed by your hair to maintain its growth. The experts of American Dietetic Association advise people to eat three to four cups of hyacinth beans each week.

Nuts are the important sources of selenium, fatty acid, zinc, and so on. Selenium is an important mineral substance to keep your scalp healthy, and zinc can effectively help you prevent hair loss. Therefore, nuts are the major components of a healthy diet. You can frequently eat walnuts, almonds and cashews to protect your hair.

Chicken contains abundant protein. A lack of protein in your body can seriously hurt your hair and cause hair loss. The color of your hair can even be changed. Therefore, it is necessary for you to supplement adequate protein in time. The quality of protein contained in chicken is good and the protein can be easily absorbed by the body.

Eggs can provide high-quality protein, biotin and vitamin B12 for your body. Protein, biotin and vitamin B12 are effective in beautifying your hair.

Whole-wheat food contains abundant zinc, iron and vitamin B complex. You can eat whole-wheat food after you consume the physical strength.

Clam has an important effect of protecting the hair. This is because clam contains a plenty of zinc. Zinc can effectively resist oxidation and protect your hair. If you can not frequently eat clams, you can often eat whole-wheat food, nuts, beef and mutton to absorb zinc.

Milk is an important source of calcium. As a major member of mineral substances, calcium can effectively improve the growth of hair. What’s more, milk contains high-quality protein which can also nourish your hair. In order to absorb calcium, zinc and w-3 fatty acid at the same time, you can add the powder of linseed or the walnut powder into milk.

Carrots contain abundant vitamin A. Vitamin A is very effective in improving scalp and maintaining normal eyesight for human body. A healthy scalp is an important key to enhance the glossiness of hair.

A lack of nutrients can seriously affect the normal growth of hair, decrease the glossiness and even cause hair loss. Therefore, you should eat beneficial foods like salmon to absorb essential nutrients including vitamins and mineral substances. The adequate supplementation of nutrients is the premise for you to protect your hair and prevent hair loss.

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Choosing Branded Hair Products

Caring for your hair requires right nutrients to nurture it from within and when combined with the application of quality products, you can provide the best care for your locks. Here are some of the branded hair products which you may consider when looking for good products.

Redken has produced a range of great products for haircare. Nature’s Rescue is one of the product lines offered by Redken. The shampoo product under this new line is formulated with plant and marine extracts to provide nutrients for your locks. It gives your locks a gentle wash without burdening them with preservatives and chemicals like paraben, sulfate and silicone. This formulation is suitable to be used for all hair types- be it dry or oily strands.

Nature’s Rescue has also released another product known as the Refining Sea Polish which clears off residues from your strands and polish them with extra smoothness. Continuous use of this product can restore the shine and radiance of your crown.

If you are troubled by dandruff, seek help from Redken’s Dandruff control shampoo. This product has pyrithione zinc, a therapeutic compound which removes dandruff very efficiently. As a result, you will experience less irritation in your scalp. The unsightly flakes will also be greatly reduced.

hat are frequently exposed to sun and harsh environmental factors. The Color Extend Sun After-Sun Shampoo helps to remove residues like chlorine and minerals on your scalp.
Besides Redken, you can shop for branded products from Pantene as well. Pantene has a range of products from shampoo, conditioner to styling products and hair treatment for consumers. They have formulated shampoo products which clean and preserve the original color of your locks.

If you have dry and brittle locks, try out the Dry to Moisturized Shampoo by Pantene. This formula provides a layer of ultra-light moisturizer to your strands to prevent dryness after a gentle wash. The extra moisture shields your scalp from damage to give you vibrant and healthy locks.

Paul Mitchell is another great brand worth looking out for. The product line which is known as Strength, consists of super strong daily shampoo, conditioner, treatment and liquid treatment. These products wash, condition and provide treatment for your crown so that damaged strands and split ends can be repaired effectively.
If you need to tame your fuzzy strands, give Mitchell’s detangling spray a try. The spray makes your strands more manageable as you can comb through them easily without the tangles. After the spray, your crown will also look fuller with a natural shine.

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Preventing Female Hair Loss

Introduction

There are many non-drug products on the market today that claim to stop hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia or other conditions such as alopecia areata. Several studies have been performed on some of these non-drug products and they have shown that they are effective at stopping hair loss and in some cases re-growing hair in women.

The reason these non-drug products cannot label themselves as promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss is because they have not been approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). To be able to advertise this type of claim, millions of dollars in research must be done in order to be approved by the FDA. So far, the FDA has only approved one drug for use in the prevention of hair loss and re-growth of it in women.

Three non-drug products that studies have shown help prevent the loss of and re-growth of hair in women are:

Crinagen- This product contains two important ingredients in preventing hair loss. One ingredient is zinc and the other is saw palmetto, and both are believed to prevent DHT from developing. Both of these two ingredients prevent the formation of DHT by blocking the enzyme five alpha-reductase. DHT has been found to attach itself to the hair follicle causing the hair fallout and the follicles to die.

Folligen- Folligen is available as either a lotion or cream. This non–drug helps to make your scalp healthy. By having a healthy scalp it prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth. The primary ingredient in this product is copper peptides. They tend to help increase the number of blood vessels supplying nutrients to the follicles resulting in more and better looking hair.

Semodex- This non-drug product contains many natural products such as ginseng, saw palmetto and biotin. This is provided in either shampoo form, as a rinse or as an ointment. The makers of this product found that men and women were losing their hair have a large amount of lipase in their scalp. This enzyme, lipase, damages the hair and scalp causing hair loss. By removing lipase with Semodex, hair will stop falling out and in most cases will re-grow.

Conclusion

These three products are not promoted specifically for preventing loss and re-growing hair studies have found that they can stop and re-grow hair. Remember there is only one product on the market that has been approved by the FDA for the specific purpose of stopping loss of hair and re-growing it in women, Minoxidil.

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Supplements to Prevent Hair Loss

Hair growth and hair loss are currently very popular topics since a lot of people are experiencing premature balding, and still more people are concerned with growing thicker and healthier hair. There are a lot of different options out there and a lot of unsubstantiated claims, but to be honest, there’s no miracle cure. I’m not saying that growing stronger and healthier hair or preventing balding isn’t possible though. Here are some of the most effective supplements associated with hair loss.

1. Biotin

Biotin, also known as vitamin H has been found to be associated with hair growth. It has also been linked to stopping premature graying in some individuals.

2. Pantothenic Acid

Taking Pantothenic Acid is associated with the growth of thicker hair, and deficiency in can lead to a reduced capacity to grow hair. Pantothenic acid is a mineral, not a vitamin.

3. Vitamin B
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Vitamin B has been found to strengthen hair follicles and for this reason has become very popular in shampoo products. Getting vitamin B in your diet, however, may be much more important than vitamin B in shampoo.

4. Protein

About 90% of the structure of hair is made of protein, so it’s no wonder that it’s important for hair growth. Dietary protein is likely to be especially scarce in people eating high-carb diets.

5. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is extremely important for the body, but some research has found that excess vitamin A may hamper hair growth.

6. Zinc

Scalp problems often result from Zinc deficiency, which eventually leads to hair loss.

7. Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating the hair growth cycles, therefore influencing patterns of hair loss or growth. Sufficient vitamin D is essential to healthy hair.

All of that being said, I want to emphasize that while all of these supplements are related to hair loss or hair growth, they’re not guaranteed to work for any particular person. Everyone is different and has different deficiencies. Moreover, hair loss is often related to genetics or deficiencies in diet which supplements can’t always be a substitute for. Through writing these articles, my goal is to give you the best information I can, not to sell you something. Please don’t get the idea that any of these vitamins will magically regrow hair 100% of the time. If you want to try some of the hair-loss supplements, great, but just keep in mind that there are often a lot of other factors to account for.

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Can Hair Loss Be Inherited?

If your father is suffering from hair loss, is it a myth or a fact that you would acquire the same condition too? Unfortunately, it is a fact. You can inherit hair loss. And it won’t just be from your father’s side alone. Your mother’s genes can be the culprit as well. Worse, you can’t stop or cure this type of hair loss if it happens to you. The least that you can do is to prevent its onset. If it has already occurred, your best fighting chance is to delay it.

Such a condition can be inherited because one or more of the genes you got from your parents activate the internal body program that causes the abnormality in the functions of the hair follicles. This usually happens on the testosterone level. Such a condition is more commonly called as the male pattern baldness. There is such a thing as female pattern baldness as well, showing that women are not spared from the condition either.

While inherited hair loss has no direct cure, certain factors can either deter or exacerbate the condition. These factors are the patient’s age, eating habits, lifestyle, and the time he started to see the signs of hair thinning. Malnutrition is the most common reason for the increased loss of your hair, as much as leading an unhealthy lifestyle would. Vitamin deficiency, improper caring of the hair, and subjecting the hair strands from too much styling are all reasons why you are seeing your hair recede around the crown much faster than expected.

It is then quite important for anyone with hair loss problems to know the root cause of their condition before doing anything. While the use of the best hair loss shampoo proves to be beneficial, it still pays to know the trigger point of the disease. Doctors would advice you on the proper route to take just in case the best hair growth shampoo can’t do anything for you.

However, you can do some self-discovery by simply observing the hair loss pattern in your family. You might want to know if anyone is suffering from noticeable thinning of hair even before they reach the right age. If you are able to confirm this as true, then you might as well start taking care of your hair so you don’t have to go through accelerated balding issues more than you should. You are at a higher risk of acquiring the condition so you better do your best to prevent it.

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Anatomy Of Hair Loss In Women

Introduction

One of the conditions confronting women today, is the loss of their hair. There can be various conditions that can cause this such as stress, hormone changes and other conditions. But 20 to 30 million women in the United States experience hair loss in the form of androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss is similar to that found in men called male pattern baldness.

Both are caused by genetics and both are caused by the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) that comes from the combination of testosterone and the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. Since testosterone is mainly a male hormone, how can women develop DHT? Lets do an anatomy of women’s hair loss caused by female pattern baldness.

Testosterone In Women

All women have small amounts of testosterone in their bodies that is released after puberty. But this hormone is kept in check by the female hormone estrogen. If the estrogen hormone becomes imbalanced, such as after menopause, testosterone is allowed to combine with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase creating DHT.

DHT And Hair Loss

Hormones that affect hair loss are classified as androgens. Thus DHT and testosterone are considered androgens. Testosterone is the most plentiful androgen found in both men and women.

Women, who have inherited the genes for female pattern baldness, have higher levels of the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. This enzyme can be found in the root of the hair follicles and through a chemical reaction convert testosterone into DHT.

If you wanted a substance to have an adverse effect on your hair, then select DHT. DHT will shrink your hair follicles through a process that is called miniaturization. Blood vessels to the follicle shrink stopping the flow of nutrients to the follicles and hair strands. This will cause the hair strand to shrink, have a shorter growing period before falling out and will eventually cause the follicle to shrink and die.

Stopping DHT

To stop hair loss caused by DHT you need two things:
DHT Blockers: The main thing you need to consider is a DHT Blocker. This should act on the enzyme 5 alpha reductase to inhibit it from interacting with testosterone to form DHT. One DHT Blocker that has been found to be effective in inhibiting the 5 alpha reductase enzyme is Saw Palmetto

Stimulate Blood Flow: The other thing needed is to stimulate blood flow to the scalp that will allow for nutrients to get to the hair follicle and hair strand. A Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication that stimulates the blood vessels in the scalp is Minoxidil, which was originally used to help people with high blood pressure.

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