How Brown Fat Helps Grow Healthy Hair: Part 2

Last week I explained how brown adipose tissue (brown fat) may encourage strong healthy hair growth, and a lack of it can be linked to androgenetic alopecia.

Research has shown that the follicles where hair loss rarely occurs (such as the occipital region at the back of the scalp) contains a thick layer of brown fat. But, in those with androgenetic alopecia there is a lack of brown fat around the miniaturized follicles of the hair loss region.

This strongly suggests that brown fat serves a supportive role for hair follicles and hair growth.

There are two reasons for this:

1. Brown fat encourages angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).
2. Brown fat can provide a protective cushioning effect.

So, how can you increase your scalp brown fat levels?

This newsletter provides the answer to that question…

The Omega 3 fish oils, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acids) have been associated with brown fat activity. So, it may be that by consuming a very high Omega 3 diet you can do something to help your hair grow. Perhaps the best evidence for this idea comes from the Inuit people (Eskimos) who consume extremely high levels of Omega 3 fish oils from their diet, and have a very low incidence of androgenetic alopecia.

You may be able to increase your levels of BAT from Omega 3 fish oil supplements containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Alternatively, Omega 3 can be obtained from eating oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, etc.



However, there is uncertainty as to how much Omega 3 will get converted into brown fat and then find it's way into your scalp.

Whilst diet might improve the growth of your hair, it is sensible to try a number of ideas in your battle against baldness: the hands-on techniques I used to regrow my own hair are now helping many others to do the same.



Some more BAT facts...

• BAT (i.e., brown adipose tissue) serves as a heat insulator, shock absorber and provides energy for the body.


• BAT has the ability to produce heat without the need for shivering and is of interest to scientists right now because it does this by burning calories from normal fat (white adipose tissue). This means that it may have an application in the weight loss industry.


• Recent research shows that BAT is related to skeletal muscle.


• BAT is brown because it is highly vascularized (i.e., it contains blood vessels) and contains a large number of mitochondria (which provide energy).


• Exposure to the cold will activate BAT activity.

How Brown Fat Helps Grow Healthy Hair: Part 1

There are many factors that can affect hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia. This article explains how brown adipose tissue (brown fat) may encourage strong healthy hair growth, and a lack of it can be linked to hair loss.

Brown fat is found deep down in the subcutaneous layer of the skin (see diagram below). It is often referred to as "baby fat" because it comprises as much as 5% of the body weight in a newborn baby. Brown fat levels decrease with age, but it has recently been discovered that it is still present in adults.

It is most abundant in younger women and much less so in older, overweight men. So, basically this means that most men lack brown fat and suffer androgenetic alopecia, whereas most women and children possess higher levels of brown fat and suffer no androgenetic alopecia.

I do not believe this is simply a coincidence…



Research has shown that the follicles of vigorously growing hair are embedded in a layer of brown fat. But in people with androgenetic alopecia there is a lack of brown fat around dormant follicles: bald areas are mostly depleted of fat tissue, but in the lower rear (occipital) region where hair loss does not occur, a thick layer of fat tissue is present. It appears that this loss of fat layer occurs before the follicle miniaturization and hair loss processes begin.

This suggests that brown fat serves a supportive role for hair follicles and hair growth.

Androgenetic alopecia develops due to skull bone growth (skull expansion). This progressively constricts the blood vessels of the scalp and reduces the blood supply required by the follicles to grow hair. So, it may well be that brown fat will offer some resistance against this process.

There are two possible reasons for this:

1. Angiogenesis/vascularization
2. Cushioning effect against the skull expansion process

1. Angiogenesis/vascularization

Brown fat encourages angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation). Hair undergoes a growth cycle. And during the growth phase, follicles will continuously try to grow deep down into the dermis of the skin where they can receive an abundant supply of blood. But in those with androgenetic alopecia, this process is hindered (by skull expansion). So, if brown fat levels can be increased, this might create new blood vessels and allow healthy hair to grow.

2. A cushioning effect

Given that a layer of brown fat will increases the thickness of the dermis, it may provide a cushioning effect that can reduce blood vessel constriction and increase scalp flexibility.

So, how can you increase your scalp brown fat levels?

The answer to that question is given next week.

Magnetic Hair Loss Products

Magnet therapy (or magnetic therapy) has been widely used to treat a whole range of conditions and diseases including hair loss.

Several magnetic hair loss products are available. These include:

• A magnetic hair brush.


• A magnetic helmet.


• A plastic roller (with plastic teeth on the outside and magnets on the inside).

First of all, let me state the obvious: magnet therapy does not involve "pulling" the iron in your blood around your scalp follicles - you do not have tiny pieces of metallic iron floating around your body, and your blood is not magnetic!

The iron in your body is attached to a protein called haemoglobin. Oxygen bonds with this organic form of iron and is then circulated by your red blood cells. There is no product that can create an increase in circulation through any magnetic force of attraction.

So, how does magnet therapy work? And can it really help your hair?

A magnetic field can move (or spin) electrons and also ionize (charge) oxygen atoms within water (and therefore blood). This is called ionisation by magnetic induction (IMI).

Apparently, the oxygen ions that magnetic fields create through IMI can restore normal blood pH.

Most people have slightly acidic blood (i.e., low pH) usually due to excessive protein consumption. Cell walls and capillaries are pH sensitive. And, if the blood pH is acidic, blood flow and therefore oxygen delivery will be restricted. So, by restoring normal pH, a magnetic field may improve circulation.

In fact, it has been recorded that, in some cases of extremely poor circulation, a 300% increase in blood flow has occurred within minutes of applying a magnetic field.

Obviously this suggests that magnet therapy may help improve the blood supply to your scalp and therein help your hair grow.

Blood treated in one part the body will circulate to all other parts. This means that you only need one magnetic product, and can apply it anywhere to gain the benefits it produces. In other words, you can wear a magnet on your wrist - you don't need to strap one (or roll one) around your head! Also, you can wear a wrist strap magnet 24 hours per day, but it's unlikely that you would use a magnetic roller or brush for any more than maybe 10 minutes per day.




I myself wear a very powerful magnetic wrist strap. However I should stress that this is not how I managed to stop my hair loss and start growing healthy hair again - I only started wearing it several years after I found success with my own hands-on techniques. I wear it because, as a nutritionist, I know that maintaining a balanced blood pH is healthy. And, whether it helps or not, wearing it is completely effortless.

Whilst any beneficial effect magnetic products could have on your hair growth might be unclear, the magnetic roller should help increase scalp circulation through rolling the hard teeth over your scalp.

But, this raises the question: why pay $50 for a device when you can simply use a hard toothed comb for free?

Try it! Grab a firm, fine-toothed comb and press it into the scalp. How hard you press and for how long is up to you. But there's no doubt that it will increase blood flow locally for a short time.

You can test this by pressing the teeth of the comb into say the soft tissue on your hand. Very quickly it will turn red (which, of course, indicates that there's an increase in blood flow to the surface of your skin). You'll be surprised how long it remains red.

Note: you have to be careful with this idea - the blood flow represents a reaction to the trauma you're putting your skin under - if you press too hard and for too long you may make the skin raw and could even cause bleeding.

Also, if you lie face down on a bed with your head over the end while doing this exercise, you'll be using gravity to assist you. This will further encourage blood to flow to your hair roots, making this idea even more effective.

So, there you go, I've just saved you $50!

How Skull Expansion Explains Successful Hair Transplants

Some people ask me: If skull expansion causes hair loss, how do you explain the success of hair transplant operations?

It's a good question. Follicles from the back of the head (occipital region) transplanted to the balding (MPB) region can successfully grow hair. But, follicles from the MPB region transplanted to some other part of the body do not.

Why?

I believe there are a number of reasons:

First of all, at the time of a transplant, a patient will already be experiencing severe hair loss. This indicates that, in the area which will receive the transplant, skull expansion has probably already fully developed * and so no more (or very little) bone growth will occur following the procedure.

* Obviously the skull doesn't keep growing indefinitely, this process does eventually stop: the extent to which it grows depends upon skull shape. This also explains why some people will lose nearly all their hair whilst others lose hair in just one area (e.g., receding temples) or to a lesser extent (e.g., thinning hair).

So, if either existing MPB region follicles can be rejuvenated or healthy donor follicles/follicular units are transplanted to this area, normal healthy hair will be produced.

However, hair transplantation is a complicated process, so there's a lot more to it than that.

Transplanted follicles are avascular (i.e., without blood vessels) and must successfully stimulate angiogenesis (new blood vessel generation) if they are to survive. Follicles transplanted from the occipital region can successfully stimulate angiogenesis because:

1. They are healthy and active, vigorously producing hair.

2. They are normal sized, not miniaturized. This means that, when inserted, they should be slightly closer to the microcirculation (blood supply) beneath the follicle than are the remaining (miniaturized) follicles in the MPB region.

3. They have a small protective layer of brown adipose tissue (brown adipose tissue).

Brown adipose tissue is a type of fat (the other type being white adipose tissue) and has already been explained in a previous newsletter. If you missed it you can find out more from the following page:

http://www.top-hair-loss-remedy.com/brown-fat.html

Brown adipose tissue (or brown fat) accumulates around the follicles of healthy actively growing hair (such as in the occipital region), but not around dormant follicles such as in the MPB region. And it's been observed that the transplant technique known as follicular unit extraction (FUE) often lacks the protective layer of fat that other transplant techniques manage to extract from the donor site. In consequence of this, poor hair growth may result.

Also, studies have been made that link brown fat to angiogenesis.

So, for all these reasons, it is likely that brown fat assists in hair growth.

The picture below shows hair follicles penetrating deep into the fat layer, and the blood supply beneath it, in a healthy region of the scalp.



Follicles transplanted from the MPB region to some other part of the body cannot adequately grow hair because:

1. They are weaker and less active than follicles from the occipital region.

2. They are miniaturized and so will be further away from the microcirculation when inserted.

3. They do not carry any supportive adipose tissue.

Angiogenesis and healthy hair growth are, therefore, much less likely to succeed.

So, I would suggest that these are the reasons why transplanted follicles can grow hair in one region but not in another.

Rather than suffer the trauma of surgery, I believe the most effective way to beat hair loss is to treat the underlying cause: skull expansion. Many men and women are now using the techniques I developed to successfully stop their hair loss and restore normal hair growth again.

How Finasteride Treats the Secondary Effects of DHT

It is well known that DHT is linked to androgenetic alopecia. It's also quite well known that the drug finasteride can help reduce the rate at which this type of hair loss develops (and may even encourage new hair growth for some people).

However, it is not so well known that the purpose of DHT in the body is for hair growth, not hair loss. This steroid hormone is used by the body to promote the growth of bone, muscle and hair.

I believe the primary effect of DHT in the hair loss process is that it contributes to skull expansion by stimulating certain skull bones to grow. But DHT also has a secondary effect. This newsletter explains what this secondary effect is, and how finasteride provides some resistance to it.

Hair loss develops because skull expansion causes a reduction in the capillary blood supply to the hair follicles. Eventually, this causes follicle miniaturization which chokes hair growth. The body reacts to this by starting "upregulation" (hyperandrogenicity). This means that the body tries to restore normal healthy hair growth again by increasing DHT production* within the follicles that are affected by skull expansion.

* Remember, that's what DHT does: it stimulates growth, not loss.

Now, higher DHT levels will accelerate mitosis (cell division) and so should help struggling hair to grow.

But, when the rate of mitosis is increased, the blood supply becomes insufficient to grow hair that fast (i.e., because skull expansion has reduced the capillary blood supply). As such, the (papillae) cells in the root of the hair fail to meet the growth demand placed upon them by DHT.

Instead, the result of all this extra DHT is to make the body rush through the growth phase (anagen) and reach catagen (the shedding phase) and telogen (the resting phase) much sooner than it normally would.

This obviously causes the amount of hair loss to increase. It also means that more hair follicles are in the resting phase. And, whilst the hair growth cycle will restart again, strong healthy hair growth is less likely due to the progressive effects of skull expansion and further accumulation of DHT.

Also, since hair growth in the outer (dermal) layer of the scalp has been restricted, DHT will instead promote more rapid cell division at a deeper level of the scalp (called the stratum germinatum layer).

This interference with normal cell division can result in skin cells rising up towards the surface of the skin faster than normal, causing increased shedding of the skin - dandruff. (This was explained in a previous newsletter).

Finasteride treats this secondary effect of DHT by reducing levels of 5 alpha reductase (an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT). And so, by reducing DHT levels in this way, finasteride extends the shortened anagen phase which, of course, allows more hair to grow.

However, finasteride does not reverse the miniaturization of the hair follicles. I believe this is because it does not effectively treat the skull expansion process (i.e., the underlying cause of hair follicle miniaturization). It only addresses the negative effects caused by the body when it increases DHT production (upregulation).

Another problem with finasteride is that further upregulation can easily occur. Many people experience this when they start using this drug.

Basically, the body can compensate for the reduction in 5 alpha reductase forced upon it by finasteride. Essentially, it tries even harder to increase the quantity of 5 alpha reductase and DHT production in the affected region of the scalp.

This explains why there can be an initial increase in hair loss when people start using finasteride and again when they stop using it.

Although finasteride and other drugs such as dutasteride and minoxidil are used by some people to treat hair loss, there's a risk of developing side effects.

The method I used and recommend is completely drug free.

The Best Shampoo For Hair Growth

What's the best shampoo to use for healthy hair growth?
And are there any types of shampoo you should avoid?

Well, first of all, if you read the last newsletter, you'll understand why I believe that anyone who suffers hair loss should shampoo quite frequently, perhaps even every day.

Obviously this means using a frequent use shampoo since these are less likely to contain the harsh chemicals that might strip the cuticle (outer layer of your hair) or slowly accumulate within your scalp.

So, what are the "harsh chemicals" that you should avoid?

The following list of ingredients can commonly be found in any type of shampoo.

All these ingredients are potentially harmful to the health of your hair!

Also included are the possible side effects associated with each ingredient, so you might want to check your own shampoo with this list - even those products the manufacturer's claim will promote hair growth might still contain some of these substances.

• Benzophenone-3 - protects shampoo from sun exposure.
  Contact dermatitis, photosensitivity (lack of tolerance to the sun).


• Benzyl alcohol - a preservative.
  Skin irritant (contact dermatitis). Harmful if swallowed.


• Cocamidopropyl betaine - a foaming agent.
  Skin irritant (contact dermatitis and contact allergies). May form carcinogenic nitrosamines.


• Cocamide mea - an emulsifier.
  Skin irritant (contact dermatitis and contact allergies). May form carcinogenic nitrosamines.


• Dmdm hydantoin - a preservative.
  Skin irritant (contact dermatitis and contact allergies). May form carcinogenic formaldehyde.


• Etidronic acid - a stabilizer.
  Reduces fertility in women. Causes problems during pregnancy.


• Linalool - a scent.
  Facial psoriasis. Respiratory problems.


• Parabens - a preservative.
  estrogenic activity (possible hormone disruption).


• Propylene glycol - prevents shampoo from drying out.
  Carries chemicals deep into the skin. Alters skin structure/inhibits cell growth.


• Sodium benzoate - a preservative.
  Asthma, skin allergies and affects those with aspirin sensitivities.


• Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) - a foaming agent.
  Removes the skins natural oils causing severe dryness. Eye irritant. Inhibits hair growth.


• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) - removes oils.
  Allows chemicals to pass deep into the skin. Corrodes hair follicles. Inhibits hair growth.

So, given all this information, it might be wise to use an organic, frequent use, herbal shampoo instead.

And you might also want to consider using different types of organic shampoo on alternate wash days. This will give your body a short break from specific ingredients and so prevent your body desensitizing to any beneficial effects they have.

It should be noted that those who keep their hair throughout life and never suffer permanent hair loss, will probably do so regardless of what shampoo they use or how frequently they use it. The chemicals in normal shampoos might not help their hair grow, but it's the strong scalp circulation that keeps it growing - and nothing to do with the type of shampoo they use.

However, given the potential these chemicals have to harm us in other ways, maybe this should encourage everyone to play it safe and stop using these products. And, if everyone did this, perhaps the major manufacturers might eventually listen and start using organic ingredients instead.

Whilst I believe everyone should use an organic shampoo, I don't think there's any particular type that's better than any other. However, greasy hair will require a more acidic shampoo, so if this applies to you, a citrus-based product might be worth trying (and it may also help reduce DHT levels).

I'm sure there's no shampoo that can grow back lost hair all on its own, but I do believe that any organic shampoo might help hair grow to some extent by removing contact with these potentially dangerous chemicals.

Whatever you choose to use, I hope it helps.

Wash or No Wash? Part 2

Last week I explained that, soon after I started my hair loss research, I came across the suggestion that going without shampoo for a long time can be healthy for your hair.

And that, after about six weeks, your body will restore a natural balance to the level of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands inside your hair follicles.

I also revealed that I tried this idea out on myself.

So, did it work?

No!

It didn't do a thing for me. In fact, it actually increased my rate of hair loss!

This exercise gave me six weeks of "bad hair days"!

Given that my own rate of hair loss was particularly severe, my DHT and sebum levels would have been very high indeed. So, perhaps in cases of rapid hair loss, down regulation might simply take longer to kick-in. Maybe if I had continued for several months, the rate of sebum and DHT production might have slowed down a bit.

However, I felt like all my hair would fall out if I continued. I also figured that this whole idea is a mistake for anyone suffering from androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness) - if you go back maybe a thousand years, I'm pretty sure most of our ancestors didn't wash their hair very often, if at all.

But, they definitely did suffer androgenetic alopecia.

So, having experimented with this idea myself, I'm convinced that a high level of hygiene is a necessary component of good hair care. And I also believe that there's a good psychological effect to frequent hair washing - having clean skin and hair simply makes you feel good!

Whilst I've obviously made my decision, you might decide to give it a go. Everyone's different of course. So, what didn't work for me, might work for you. It may be worth trying. If it works, great. But you must also be prepared to suffer and not gain a thing from this experiment (apart from knowing that it simply does not work). So, if you try this idea, I wish you good luck!

I believe the most effective way to beat hair loss is to treat the underlying cause - skull expansion. I developed techniques to successfully stop my own hair loss and wrote an ebook so that others can do the same.

Wash or No Wash? Part 1

Soon after I started my hair loss research, I repeatedly came across the suggestion that going without shampoo for a prolonged period of time is healthy for your hair.

The reasoning behind this idea is that your body will, after about six weeks, restore balance to the level of sebum (oil) produced by the sebaceous glands inside the hair follicles (see diagram below).



For most people (including myself) this would mean a reduction in sebum rather than an increase. That's because, if you suffer hair loss, sebum and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the affected region of the scalp will become excessively high.

At first I thought this radical approach to hair hygiene seemed ridiculous. Most of us are exposed to pollutants virtually every day (exhaust fumes, chemicals in foods, cleaning agents, cosmetic products, etc). So I considered using shampoo every single day as a sensible measure. After all, we wash every other part of the body on a daily basis, so why not the hair?

Furthermore, other research suggested that a clean scalp encourages hair growth, whilst a scalp clogged up with sebum, dirt, etc will not.

However, given that sebum production is controlled by DHT (a hormone definitively linked to hair loss) I wondered whether DHT levels could be "down regulated" (reduced) using this approach. In other words, if my hair follicles got all clogged up with sebum, after a while would the sebaceous glands eventually get the message to decrease production? And, in turn, would this also reduce DHT levels?

I decided it was worth finding out the answers to these questions. So I performed this experiment for six weeks.

Within 48 hours, my hair, scalp and follicles were all clogged up with sebum. I wanted to quit of course (everyone does when they first try this sort of thing). But I persevered for the full six weeks.

So, did it work?

Alliums – What Are They? And How Do They Help Hair Grow?

Some home remedies for hair loss include rubbing natural substances like garlic and onion onto your scalp!

This newsletter discusses the benefits and practicalities of using these ideas as well as alternative variations you might prefer.

The reason why these substances can help hair growth is because of the sulfur they contain which boosts circulation when applied topically. And, since hair growth is dependent upon strong blood circulation, you can see why these compounds can be beneficial if you rub them on your scalp.

Unfortunately, the sulphur content also explains why they have such a pungent smell. And do you really want your hair smelling of garlic or onions?

No, of course not!

It's all well and good eating garlic and onions or taking supplements as they are extremely healthy for your body. But, rubbing them on your scalp at night, three or four times every week, then trying to sleep with both you and your room stinking of sulfurous compounds is completely impractical both to you and your partner in bed.

And trying to shampoo the smell away in the morning might not even work, which is also highly undesirable because it will basically affect everyone you meet!






However, taking garlic internally is something that's usually highly recommended (especially garlic).

Be it raw and fresh (something I personally can never do) or cooking it first (I can handle this in small doses but not every meal or every day) or maybe taking odourless garlic capsules to get a concentrated dose.

All these ideas should help your body and to some extent your hair. But this is not a cure for hair loss! The foods you eat, and supplements you take are important (and for some people with nutritional deficiencies maybe vital), but they will almost certainly not be enough to regrow your hair back and then keep it for life.

A good alternative supplement would be MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane). This substance provides biologically active sulfur and trials have shown that it can improve hair and nail growth. MSM is a very affordable supplement you can buy from most health food shops.

Whilst I try to eat healthy foods, the way I beat baldness was by using a hands-on approach.

If you've already explored my website, then you'll know that male and female hair loss resulting from androgenetic alopecia is caused by skull bone growth. This is something the hair loss industry is still not yet aware of - despite my best efforts to tell them!

To deal with the problem of hair loss, I believe you must treat the underlying cause. And this does NOT mean simply taking DHT blockers or applying drugs like minoxidil and hoping they'll be enough!

My own approach to hair loss doesn't involve taking any supplements like MSM either.

How Dandruff Can Be Linked To Hair Loss

There are several possible causes of dandruff.

These include:

• Dry skin
• Adverse reaction to hair and skin products
• Skin disorders (e.g., psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis)
• Head lice infestation
• Poor diet
• Yeast sensitivity

However, dandruff can also be linked to hair loss resulting from androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness).




Here's the connection between dandruff and the hair loss process:

First of all, androgenetic alopecia is caused by skull expansion (skull bone growth) of the frontal and parietal bones. These bones underlie the male pattern baldness region of the scalp and so, as they grow, they constrict the capillaries that supply blood to the skin. This prevents adequate hair nutrition and growth, resulting in progressive hair follicle miniaturization and hair loss.

The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is largely responsible for this bone growth. That's because it has an anabolic effect on bone tissue (i.e., it encourages bone growth).

To make matters worse, the body then attempts to compensate for this hair loss by increasing DHT levels in the scalp! It initiates this process (known as "upregulation") because DHT also stimulates hair growth (for example during puberty DHT is responsible for body and pubic hair growth as well as bone and muscle development).

However, this attempt to increase hair growth is unsuccessful. There are two likely reasons for this:

1. An increase in DHT levels will further encourage the skull expansion process. This, of course, causes an even greater strain on the blood supply to the hair follicles. And so a vicious circle is created.

2. The body will rush through anagen (the growing phase of the hair growth cycle) and enter catagen (shedding phase) and then telogen (resting phase) much sooner than it normally would. This causes the hair to thin and the rate of hair loss to increase. And, whilst this hair should eventually re-enter anagen and start growing again, strong, healthy hair growth is unlikely due to the progressive effects of skull expansion.


Since hair growth in the outer (dermal) layer of the scalp has been restricted, DHT will instead promote more rapid cell growth at a deeper level of the scalp (called the stratum germinatum layer).

This interference with normal cell division results in skin cells rising up towards the surface of the skin faster than normal, causing increased shedding of the skin - dandruff.

And, as a result of this increased rate of shedding, the skin layer can also become thinner (i.e., because it's being lost at the surface faster than it can be replaced from below).

High DHT levels will also stimulate an increase in the amount of sebum (oil) produced in the scalp. And high sebum levels is associated with seborrhoeic dermatitis - a skin disorder which can cause even more dandruff!

As extensive baldness develops, the rate of dandruff formation should eventually decrease and finally stop. That's because the follicles are only producing vellus (tiny) hair or no hair at all. And, when hair growth has all but stopped, the body will recognize this and reduce (downregulate) DHT and sebum production.

If you suffer dandruff as a result of hair loss (caused by androgenetic alopecia) it may be that by addressing your hair loss problem, you will also be able to reduce or prevent your dandruff.

I believe the most effective way to treat hair loss is to treat the underlying cause - skull expansion. Many men and women are now using the techniques I developed to successfully stop their hair loss and restore normal hair growth again.

How Skull Expansion Explains Successful Hair Transplants

Some people ask me: If skull expansion causes hair loss, how do you explain the success of hair transplant operations?

It's a good question. Follicles from the back of the head (occipital region) transplanted to the balding (MPB) region can successfully grow hair. But, follicles from the MPB region transplanted to some other part of the body do not.

Why?

I believe there are a number of reasons:

First of all, at the time of a transplant, a patient will already be experiencing severe hair loss. This indicates that, in the area which will receive the transplant, skull expansion has probably already fully developed * and so no more (or very little) bone growth will occur following the procedure.

* Obviously the skull doesn't keep growing indefinitely, this process does eventually stop: the extent to which it grows depends upon skull shape. This also explains why some people will lose nearly all their hair whilst others lose hair in just one area (e.g., receding temples) or to a lesser extent (e.g., thinning hair).

So, if either existing MPB region follicles can be rejuvenated or healthy donor follicles/follicular units are transplanted to this area, normal healthy hair will be produced.

However, hair transplantation is a complicated process, so there's a lot more to it than that.

Transplanted follicles are avascular (i.e., without blood vessels) and must successfully stimulate angiogenesis (new blood vessel generation) if they are to survive. Follicles transplanted from the occipital region can successfully stimulate angiogenesis because:

1. They are healthy and active, vigorously producing hair.

2. They are normal sized, not miniaturized. This means that, when inserted, they should be slightly closer to the microcirculation (blood supply) beneath the follicle than are the remaining (miniaturized) follicles in the MPB region.

3. They have a small protective layer of brown adipose tissue (brown adipose tissue).

Brown adipose tissue is a type of fat (the other type being white adipose tissue) and has already been explained in a previous newsletter. If you missed it you can find out more from the following page:

http://www.top-hair-loss-remedy.com/brown-fat.html

Brown adipose tissue (or brown fat) accumulates around the follicles of healthy actively growing hair (such as in the occipital region), but not around dormant follicles such as in the MPB region. And it's been observed that the transplant technique known as follicular unit extraction (FUE) often lacks the protective layer of fat that other transplant techniques manage to extract from the donor site. In consequence of this, poor hair growth may result.

Also, studies have been made that link brown fat to angiogenesis.

So, for all these reasons, it is likely that brown fat assists in hair growth.

The picture below shows hair follicles penetrating deep into the fat layer, and the blood supply beneath it, in a healthy region of the scalp.




Follicles transplanted from the MPB region to some other part of the body cannot adequately grow hair because:

1. They are weaker and less active than follicles from the occipital region.

2. They are miniaturized and so will be further away from the microcirculation when inserted.

3. They do not carry any supportive adipose tissue.

Angiogenesis and healthy hair growth are, therefore, much less likely to succeed.

So, I would suggest that these are the reasons why transplanted follicles can grow hair in one region but not in another.

Rather than suffer the trauma of surgery, I believe the most effective way to beat hair loss is to treat the underlying cause: skull expansion. Many men and women are now using the techniques I developed to successfully stop their hair loss and restore normal hair growth again.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

I explained how dandruff can sometimes be linked to hair loss. I also mentioned that dihydrotestosterone (DHT) will increase sebum production which might then lead on to seborrhoeic dermatitis - a skin disorder which can cause even more dandruff!

So, in this newsletter I'll explain more about seborrhoeic dermatitis, as well as other causes of dandruff, and how to treat it.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a skin disorder that can affect the scalp, face and trunk. Symptoms include scaly, flaky, itchy, red or inflamed skin as you can see from the picture below. When it affects the scalp it can also cause severe dandruff (usually forming larger, greasier flakes than other types of dandruff).



Whilst its cause remains unknown, there are several possible factors that may be involved: genetic, environmental, hormonal and the immune system.

However, perhaps the most likely cause is the yeast (or fungus) called malassezia furfur* (which was formerly known as pityrosporum ovale). It's possible that an inflammatory response to this yeast might occur.

Research also suggests that, since seborrhoeic dermatitis mostly affects areas where sebaceous glands are abundant (i.e., the scalp), this yeast feeds upon the sebum these glands produce, allowing it to proliferate.

This theory is also supported by the fact that anti-fungal agents have proven effective against this condition. This yeast usually exists on your body and scalp all the time without causing any problems. So it may well be that a combination of high sebum levels and inadequate washing is what triggers this condition.

Malassezia cannot live in acidic (low pH) conditions. Skin has a slightly acidic pH of 5. But, oils (including sebum) do not have a pH value. So, if your scalp is constantly saturated in sebum, your scalp may be open to the spread of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Shampoos can vary in pH between 4 and 8.5 but anti-dandruff shampoos should be low in pH.

* Note that other strains of malassezia (globosa and restricta) have also been linked to seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Anti-fungal shampoos

The anti-fungal agents these shampoos contain include:

• Ketoconazole
• Zinc pyrithione
• Selenium sulphide
• Coal tar
• Salicylic acid
• Tea-tree oil

Salicylic acid will remove dead skin cells and decrease the rate at which they form. Zinc pyrithione kills malassezia furfur. Selenium sulfide and Ketoconazole will each accomplish what salicylic acid and zinc pyrithione achieve combined. Research suggests that Nizoral shampoo (which contains Ketoconazole) Is the most effective anti-fungal shampoo.

Other Causes Of Dandruff And How To Treat It

 Dandruff can be caused by both internal and external factors.

Internal factors include:

• Hormone imbalance
• Poor health and diet
• Allergies
• Stress
• Genetic predisposition

External factors include:

• Poor hygiene (e.g., infrequent hair washing and poor rinsing of the scalp).
• Excessive use of hair sprays, gels, and products containing alcohol (which over dry the scalp).
• Excessive use of hair-coloring products.
• Overuse of hair curlers. Hair dryers can also over dry the scalp.
• Cold weather, indoor heating causing excessive dry scalp.

Treatment for dandruff

First of all, there's no cure for dandruff. But there are plenty of things you can do to control it.

These are the top tips for eliminating and preventing dandruff:

1. Choose a mild dandruff shampoo - strong, detergent-based shampoos clean the scalp, but often cause excessive drying. So, if you shampoo every day, use organic (or baby) shampoo.

2. Brush your scalp before you wash your hair - this will loosen flakes of skin.

3. Use a shampoo with a low pH - as stated with seborrhoeic dermatitis, most anti-dandruff shampoos will normalize the pH of the scalp - i.e., to give a slightly lower (acidic) pH.

So, how do you find the pH of shampoo?

Good question. Some shampoos may state the pH on the packaging, or you could buy pH test strips or just email or Google the company before you buy.

Shampoos have many ingredients - ideally you would use a shampoo which contains only organic ingredients.

4. Nutrition can also help control dandruff. If you eat lots of sugar and saturated fats, you will encourage DHT and sebum production. So, eating healthy and getting plenty of B vitamins is recommended. Garlic, onion and oil of oregano are also said to help.

How Finasteride Treats the Secondary Effects of DHT

It is well known that DHT is linked to androgenetic alopecia. It's also quite well known that the drug finasteride can help reduce the rate at which this type of hair loss develops (and may even encourage new hair growth for some people).

However, it is not so well known that the purpose of DHT in the body is for hair growth, not hair loss. This steroid hormone is used by the body to promote the growth of bone, muscle and hair.

I believe the primary effect of DHT in the hair loss process is that it contributes to skull expansion by stimulating certain skull bones to grow. But DHT also has a secondary effect. This newsletter explains what this secondary effect is, and how finasteride provides some resistance to it.

Hair loss develops because skull expansion causes a reduction in the capillary blood supply to the hair follicles. Eventually, this causes follicle miniaturization which chokes hair growth. The body reacts to this by starting "upregulation" (hyperandrogenicity). This means that the body tries to restore normal healthy hair growth again by increasing DHT production* within the follicles that are affected by skull expansion.

* Remember, that's what DHT does: it stimulates growth, not loss.

Now, higher DHT levels will accelerate mitosis (cell division) and so should help struggling hair to grow.

But, when the rate of mitosis is increased, the blood supply becomes insufficient to grow hair that fast (i.e., because skull expansion has reduced the capillary blood supply). As such, the (papillae) cells in the root of the hair fail to meet the growth demand placed upon them by DHT.

Instead, the result of all this extra DHT is to make the body rush through the growth phase (anagen) and reach catagen (the shedding phase) and telogen (the resting phase) much sooner than it normally would.

This obviously causes the amount of hair loss to increase. It also means that more hair follicles are in the resting phase. And, whilst the hair growth cycle will restart again, strong healthy hair growth is less likely due to the progressive effects of skull expansion and further accumulation of DHT.

Also, since hair growth in the outer (dermal) layer of the scalp has been restricted, DHT will instead promote more rapid cell division at a deeper level of the scalp (called the stratum germinatum layer).

This interference with normal cell division can result in skin cells rising up towards the surface of the skin faster than normal, causing increased shedding of the skin - dandruff. (This was explained in a previous newsletter).

Finasteride treats this secondary effect of DHT by reducing levels of 5 alpha reductase (an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT). And so, by reducing DHT levels in this way, finasteride extends the shortened anagen phase which, of course, allows more hair to grow.

However, finasteride does not reverse the miniaturization of the hair follicles. I believe this is because it does not effectively treat the skull expansion process (i.e., the underlying cause of hair follicle miniaturization). It only addresses the negative effects caused by the body when it increases DHT production (upregulation).

Another problem with finasteride is that further upregulation can easily occur. Many people experience this when they start using this drug.

Basically, the body can compensate for the reduction in 5 alpha reductase forced upon it by finasteride. Essentially, it tries even harder to increase the quantity of 5 alpha reductase and DHT production in the affected region of the scalp.

This explains why there can be an initial increase in hair loss when people start using finasteride and again when they stop using it.

Although finasteride and other drugs such as dutasteride and minoxidil are used by some people to treat hair loss, there's a risk of developing side effects.

The method I used and recommend is completely drug free.

Hair Loss Course - Hair Loss Treatments

Hair Loss Course - Hair Loss Treatments
Facts and Fiction About Male Hair Loss Treatments


   Hair loss is something many men secretly fear and hope will never actually occur. After all, a good head of hair is associated with youth, virility and attractiveness, so when hair loss occurs, it can come as something of a shock.

Some very creative but ultimately fruitless concoctions have been devised in an attempt to reverse hair loss. Cleopatra used a mixture of horse teeth, bear grease, burnt mice and deer marrow in her attempt to cure Julius Caesar's baldness (it didn't work). Hedgehog urine was also thought to be beneficial. The smell in the heat of the Egyptian sun must have been something very special!

There is currently no cure for baldness. However, there are some treatments that can help slow down the process.


Medications for Male Hair Loss

There are two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to have a positive effect on male balding -- finasteride and minoxidil.

Finasteride (known by the brand names Proscar and Propecia) is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, preventing the enzyme from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is DHT that causes male pattern baldness. Originally prescribed by doctors for benign prostate hyperplasia (prostate enlargement), finasteride has been shown to stop hair loss and in some cases reverse the balding process.

Finasteride takes about three months to show results, and hair loss typically recurs a year after the drug is stopped. Side effects are uncommon but can include impotence, reduced libido, ejaculation disorders, breast tenderness and enlargement, and hypersensitivity reactions, such as rashes and lip swelling.

Women of child bearing potential should not touch finasteride, and condoms should be used during sexual intercourse, as the drug is excreted in semen and there is a risk of birth defects.

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is found to be effective in about 25% of men with baldness on the crown. Applied twice a day in a cream, foam, or liquid, the hair growth only occurs as long as it is used. Minoxidil was originally approved to treat high blood pressure. Side effects are uncommon, but Rogaine should not be used by people with a history of heart problems, sudden weight gain, chest pains, fainting, or rapid heartbeat.


Surgical Intervention for Male Hair Loss

There are a few surgical options for treating male hair loss.

Hair transplants involve taking very small plugs of hair from the side or back of the scalp and transplanting them onto the bald patches. The procedure has improved over the years, but it still takes a number of months to give a good effect.

During tissue expansion, tiny balloons are inserted under the scalp between the areas of dense hair and gradually inflated over a number of months. This makes the area up to one third larger and it is this area that is surgically removed and the sides are pulled up to the top of the head.

In scalp reduction for male hair loss, loose skin on the scalp is surgically removed, pulling the hair on the sides of the head up. As the skin on the forehead is also sometimes slightly lifted, it can have the side benefit of lessening wrinkles.

Hair Loss Treatments for Men

Facts and Fiction About Male Hair Loss Treatments

 Hair loss is something most men secretly 'fear' but hope it may never actually occur. After all, thinning hair and baldness is something that kids use to identify the elderly, despite the fact that the process can begin before 20 years of age! A good head of hair is associated with youth, virility and attractiveness, so when hair loss occurs it can come as something of a shock.

Since records began, men have documented their attempts to reverse the process of hair loss and cure baldness. The bible tells the story of how when Samson's hair was cut he lost his strength and power. The unspoken agenda for men is that to be hairless, or for the hair to be depleted, equates with a loss of power and virility, something that is clearly not the case.

Some creative but ultimately fruitless concoctions have been devised in an attempt to get the thatch back. Cleopatra used a mixture of horse teeth, bear grease, burnt mice and deer marrow in her attempt to cure Julius Caesar's baldness (it didn't work). Hedgehog urine was also thought to be beneficial. The smell in the heat of the Egyptian sun must have been something very special!

Facts About Cures for Baldness
There is currently no cure for baldness. There are some lotions that can help slow down the process but there is no cure for male pattern baldness. There are, however, a number of things that you should consider.

Life Coach Suggestions for Male Hair Loss

Emphasize your other facial features. Lots of men are using products to improve their looks. There are many products in the department and drug stores that improve your skin. If you have great eyes think about getting your eyelashes dyed. Seek advice from a beautician, health expert or friend.

--Update your clothes style. Good clothes and attention to your appearance can make you look much younger and more attractive.  Make the most of what hair you do have. One of the most effective is to get a good hair cut. Short, cropped and styled. Consider having a light perm, it can add volume. Shaving it off completely looks great.


--Get a hair piece. Covering up a bald area can be the answer. Hair pieces now look very realistic. Good ones can be very expensive but last a long time when cared for properly.



--Wear a hat. There are great hats around - from cool to just plain stylish.

Medications for male hair loss
There are two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are shown to have a positive effect on balding, Finasteride and Minoxidil (Rogaine).

Finasteride is a 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor, that is, it works by blocking 5-Alpha reductase and so prevents the enzyme from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is DHT that causes male pattern baldness. There are two drugs that contain Finasteride, Propecia and Proscar. Originally prescribed by doctors for benign prostate hyperplasia (prostate problems), the drug has been shown to stop hair loss and in some cases reverse the balding process. Finasteride takes about three months to show results and hair loss occurs a year after the drug is stopped. Side effects are unusual but can include impotence, reduced libido, ejaculation disorders, breast tenderness and enlargement, hypersensitivity reactions such as rashes and lip swelling. Women of child bearing potential should not touch the drug and condoms should be used as the drug is excreted in semen as there is a risk of birth defects.

Minoxidil (Regaine) is found to be effective in about 25% of men with baldness on the crown. Applied twice a day in a cream the hair growth only occurs as long as it is used. Minoxidil was originally approved to treat high blood pressure. Side effects are unusual but Regaine should not be used by people with a history of heart problems, sudden weight gain, chest pains, fainting, or rapid heartbeat.

Surgical Intervention for male hair loss
In the case of hair transplants very small plugs of hair are taken from the side or back of the scalp and transplanted onto the bald patches. The procedure has improved over the years but it still takes a number of months to give a good effect.

Tissue expansion for male hair loss Tiny balloons are inserted under the scalp between the areas of dense hair and gradually inflated over a number of months. This makes the area up to one third larger and it is this area that is surgically removed and the sides are pulled up to the top of the head.

Scalp reduction for male hair loss Loose skin on the scalp is surgically removed pulling the hair on the sides of the head up. As the skin on the forehead is also sometimes slightly lifted it lessens wrinkles.

Beware of Baldness treatment Rip-offs
There are plenty of sharks around just waiting to get their hands on your money by offering false hope of a cure for baldness. Some may even guarantee success for their pills, potions, scalp cleansers and stimulators or diets. These companies or so called tricologists rely on their ability to change company address or names at the drop of a hat. They also rely on people being too embarrassed to follow up complaints through legal channels. The words they use to describe their products often incorporate ambiguous phrases that basically say, if it does not work, you will be one of the unfortunate few. The words barge-pole and steer-clear come to mind.