5 Reasons Why am I Losing so much Hair



So you think that you are doing everything you can to keep your hair as healthy as possible. But why is it that it doesn't seem to grow the way you hope it to be? This often boils down to two factors, and these are the hair care techniques and the products that you use. But let us go to five specific reasons that hamper healthy hair growth.

Hormones

Did you know that you are also producing some amounts of male hormones? In addition to estrogen, your body also produces testosterone. The outcome of hair growth depends on the critical balance between these two hormones.

Estrogen is the hormone that aids in the growth process, and even elongates the growth cycle when a woman enters pregnancy. When a woman has higher levels of testosterone in the body it can cause the hair to become thin and eventually shed, however it tends to grow thicker in areas such as the chin and the chest.

So if you notice that your hair is starting to get thin and shed in excessive amounts, it might be a sign that you should get your hormone levels checked.

Supplement overkill?

Taking supplements gives a boost to the health. The good thing about this is that they are easily available giving everyone the chance at optimum body function. However, a lot of people self-prescribe which lead to large doses of the nutrients. Too much of the good thing may actually be no longer beneficial for the body, and one side effect of this is hair loss.

If you think that you are falling short on some vitamins or minerals, it pays to get yourself checked by your doctor so that you can be prescribed with a blood workup.

Eating disorders

Your diet is one of the very things that you have to assess when you start to notice hair fall. If you are suffering from certain eating disorders, it also follows that hair can eventually suffer. For instance forgoing a lot of foods particularly those rich in protein can make the hair prone to breakage, slow growth and even hair loss.

If you sense that you have an eating disorder, it is best for you to seek counseling. The physical symptoms will also start to improve once the root cause of the problem is also resolved.

Low Iron Levels

A very important mineral for hair growth is iron, and when you have low levels of these there is a tendency for you to lose hair excessively. A blood workup can check your iron levels, and results can tell you if you need iron supplementation.

However, it doesn’t always follow that low iron levels can lead to hair loss. Some individuals don’t necessarily go through with this. If iron is an issue when it comes to your overall health, it is best for you to consult your doctor. Although it has a handful of benefits, iron is something that you also should not take in excess.

Thyroid heath

The hormones that your thyroid produce affects the growth and health of your hair, that is why if you have an under active thyroid, you would notice your hair that grows slower and sheds faster. Experts suggest that supplementation using synthetic hormones can help regain balance which also restores the normal growth phase of the hair. Again a blood workup is needed to check for thyroid function. Medications or supplements can be taken to reverse or halt any process of hair loss that could occur.

The Latest Trends in Cosmetic Surgery for Men



In a recent report by Fox News men are pining for more masculine features making it the latest trend for male cosmetic surgery for 2013. Gone are the days where the guys go for rounded chins and pert noses similar to that of Zac Efron or Leonardo Di Caprio.

Today, ethnic features are in particularly those with the likes of Daniel Craig, Jon Hamm or Michael Fassbender. According to Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, who is an associate professor of plastic surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine, “There’s less of a desire now for conventionally beautiful white-bread face. People are embracing strong features like ethnic, non-traditional noses.”

With these demands, people are opting for combination procedures that complement each other such as chin implants and nose surgery. Along with the square and defined jaws, it would indeed look better with a nose that would suit it perfectly for an overall improved result.

But one concern that men have is fitting these procedures into their tight schedules. With everything being so hectic they want something that would give them faster results.

Experts address this problem through smaller instruments which create finer incisions that also heal faster. Adding to that procedure such as micro-liposuction can help define the jawline which is often a problem area, particularly for those men in their thirties.

This is because of sun exposure and excess fat. With just mild sedation and half an hour of surgery with no sutures, one can already get the sculpting that they want with only very minimal bruising. Other options which are non-invasive in nature include Ultherapy.

This is known to be a non-invasive treatment which requires ultrasound technology that provides heat to the skin. It then heats up the collagen layers stimulating the skin tissue to tighten and generate new ones as well.

Less invasive procedures are more suitable for men in their 30's, who are not yet showing significant signs of aging. They don’t have much skin laxity to address that is why they don’t require too many alterations. This also allows them to go back to work the next day.

But one concern that is raised with non-invasive cosmetic treatments is that they can be addictive. With it being so easy to get and fast to recover from, some men can find themselves hooked into it. Take for instance the human Ken doll, Justin Jedlica, who  just made a total artwork out of his face by using dermal fillers which is just one of the 113 cosmetic surgeries he had.

This can make you question whether the men today have gone extremely vain.

There are a lot of factors at play as to why male cosmetic surgery cases have increased in the past year. The media is one major influence and the highly competitive nature of the workforce also pushed some of these guys to get the enhancements needed. On that note, men are also becoming more critical on looks when it comes to their female counterparts. In a recent survey, men are saying that they would like their girl to get cosmetic surgery to improve their looks.

Procedures that they would want their girlfriends had done include liposuction, breast enhancement, nose jobs and Botox.

Hair Problems Men Face in the summer and How to Deal with It



Summer not only gives you salty skin and load of fun memories, but this season can also give you a string of hair problems. This can also be a problem to men as the very hot weather makes them vulnerable to it. The damage can be substantial with hair loss that is 3-4 times than usual, or it could be create significant shedding.

The summer can create more hair loss because this season can result to an abnormal secretion of the hormones that are responsible for hair growth. But this would also be affected by the state of your hair. For example, if your locks already have low density you are definitely more at risk for hair shedding. With the heat of the sun at its peak during the summer, one reason that could cause hair loss is dehydration.

When our system is unable to get enough water, it can leave the hair to become malnourished. Not enough water also means fewer nutrients which eventually cause the hairs to fall in excessive amounts. Another problem that most guys encounter during the season is flaky scalp due to the inflammation caused by the summer heat. If ever you start to notice flake formation the only way to combat this is to choose the right shampoo. Use one that is formulated particularly for dry hair and contains the ingredient ketoconazole.

This has an anti-yeast action since dandruff may be caused by an overreaction of the normal yeast that is found on the skin. Other ingredients that work the same way include zinc, selenium sulphide, tar, and salycilic acid. If one product does not work for you, you can shift to other brands with a different active ingredient.

But if ever the dryness and flakiness persists, it would certainly help to make an appointment with your doctor because you might already need a prescription-strength dandruff shampoo.

It is also inevitable to get exposed to too much sunlight during the summer which causes the scalp to get burnt. Men are more prone to get sunburn on their scalp because this area is often not protected. The characteristic of sunburn can come in small patches particularly in areas near the hairline, or it could affect larger areas that don’t have that much hair. You can treat sunburn to the scalp by massaging the affected area with a UV-healing shampoo which also has a cleansing action. Aloe Vera extract applied to the burnt area can also relieve the problem, but you have to make sure that it doesn't contain any alcohol.

For thinning or bald spots apply sunscreen over it with an SPF of 30 for proper protection. A spray form would be easier to apply. If the degree of sunburn already results to blisters, you can apply an antibiotic ointment to those that have ruptured and opened. This promotes immediate healing and prevents the introduction of infection.

The summer season can also bring in textural changes to the hair due to the hot temperature. You can apply petroleum base to the scalp to promote deep conditioning to the scalp. It improves blood circulation to the area and restores moisture. Those products that add extra body can also give your hair better coating making it shinier. But if your hair is too short or naturally straight you can do away with conditioners and opt for a combination shampoo/conditioner instead.

You can enjoy summer without having to worry about hair loss, you just have to learn how take care of your scalp and hair during the season. These are simple precautions which can leave you with a healthy head of hair you can enjoy for the rest of the year!