History of Hair Loss (Hair grew)

History of Hair Loss

              Although hair loss is regarded as a modern day problem nothing could be further from the truth. The ancient Egyptians were searching for a cure over four thousand years ago. The bible also has a few mentions of hair loss within its pages.Hair loss, it’s problems and the search for a cure is not anything new. For thousands of years, men and women of all countries and races have shared the tragedy of premature hair loss and the hope of discovering a cure. There is indeed a vast fortune just waiting to be collected for anyone finding the elusive cure.

Hair grew!

The hair was white. And the hair gurus don't know if new hairs would grow if these were removed. Human trials are three to five years away. So that gives us a lot of time to ponder other milestones in the age-old battle against baldness.

Biblical times: 

In the Book of Kings, mean kids call Prophet Elisha "baldhead." The humiliated Hebrew is said to have slapped bear grease on his pate as a remedy. For centuries, other bald men do the same. Their rationale: Bears are very hairy.

50 B.C.: 

Julius Caesar's laurel wreath? It's his version of a toupee.

1940s: 

Rest easy, male-pattern bald man. You did not cause your condition by emitting heat from thinking too hard or, as Samuel Johnson proposed in 1778, by having a "dry" brain. Nor is it the fault of dandruff or air pollution, as some thought. Research points to heredity and hormones.

1950s: 

A New York doctor moves plugs of hair from a fecund area to a bald patch, where the hairs follow genetic orders: Sprout! Thus begins the era of hair transplantation.

1988: 

The FDA approves minoxidil, an ointment applied to the scalp to stop hair loss and stimulate growth. Dermatologists say two-thirds of balding patients see minimal to moderate improvement. Women reportedly get better results than men.

1990s: 

Hair in a Can hopes guys will pay to spray their scalp the color of remaining hair. Meanwhile, the stylish baldness of basketball star Michael Jordan launches a head-shaving craze.

1997: 

Finasteride, the first prescription pill for balding men, gets FDA OK. According to one study, the prostate-drug derivative offers a 75 percent chance of halting hair loss for men ages 18 to 40, but only a 37 percent chance of regrowth at the front of the scalp.

2007: 

The FDA approves the first device to combat baldness, a laser comb. In tests, 123 men used the light-emitting contraption three times a week. Nine out of ten reported fewer hairs lost; some saw new growth. Dermatologists weren't entirely skeptical. A rare side effect from laser hair removal is … hair growth!

Hair Structure

Hair Structure 

We will begin by defining the hair. Hair is composed primarily of proteins (88%). These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. Keratin protein is comprised of what we call "polypeptide chains.” The word, polypeptide, comes from the Greek word "poly" meaning many and "peptos" meaning digested or broken down. In essence, if we break down protein, we have individual amino acids. Many (poly) amino acids joined toget her form a "polypeptide chain". Two amino acids are joined together by a "peptide bond", and the correct number of amino acids placed in their correct order will form a specific protein; i.e. keratin, insulin, collagen and so on. The "alpha helix" is the descriptive term given to the polypeptide chain that forms the keratin protein found in human hair. Its structure is a coiled coil. The amino acids link together to form the coil and there are approximately 3.6 amino acids per turn of the helix (coil). Each amino acid is connected together by a "peptide bond". The peptide bond is located between the carbon atoms of one amino acid extending to bond with the nitrogen atom of the next amino acid.

A Helix Coil: In the organization of a single hair, three "alpha helices" are twisted together to form a "protofibril". This is actually the first fibril structure of the hair. Nine protofibrils are then bundled in a circle around two or more to form an eleven-stranded cable known as the "microfibril". These microfibrils are embedded in an amphorous unorganized protein matrix of high sulfur content and hundreds of such microfibrils are cemented into an irregular fibrous bundle called a "macrofibril".

Bonding in Keratin Protein: When the hair is in its normal unstretched state. It is referred to as A of alpha keratin. The original configuration of the hair is held in place by the bonding found in the cortex layers of the hair. 

The Salt Bond:The salt bond is also an ionic (electrolytically controlled) bond formed by the electron transfer from the side chain of a basic amino group (an amino acid with an coo- group) to the side chain of an acidic amino acid, i.e. NH3+. (This is two positive and negative charges attracting one another.

The Cystine Bond : The cystine bond also known as the disulfide bond, sulfur bond, or just S bond is formed by cross-links between cystine residues (amino acids) of the main polypeptide chains. This bond is perpendicular to the axis of the hair and between the polypeptide chains. 

The Sugar Bond: The sugar bond is formed between the side chain of an amino acid having an OH group and an acidic amino group. This bond is also formed perpendicular to the axis of the hair. 

Hair Loss Causes

Hair Loss Causes

        

        
       Hair loss causes are a quite controversial issue as there is no general agreement about what are the main factors that cause loss of hair. As a matter of fact, different clinics have their own opinion on this problem and develop their own ways of treatment accordingly. Regrow-hair.org is by no means preconceived in this case, so in this section we’ll give you a synopsis of different views of medical professionals taken together. Some scientists consider the male hormone testosterone to be one of the major hair loss causes. Testosterone is closely connected with heredity. If a man has inherited the necessary genes for loss of hair, a little of testosterone is formed by some of the hair roots into a derivative called dihydrotestosterone. And in fact, it is dihydrotestosterone that is responsible for hair loss. So dihydrotestosterone is present in the surface sebum of hereditably predisposed people. When a hair is shed it enters the follicle reacts inside there chemically. Dihydrotestosterone miniaturizes the hair root and follicle and the new hair growing through it will be finer. When the new fine hair is later shed dihydrotestosterone again miniaturizes the follicle and hair root and so on until baldness occurs. Thus, male hormones, precisely, testosterone, are sponsoring baldness. Actually, male hormones start “working” when a man is sexually mature, so there’s little danger of hair loss before puberty.Among other hair loss causes there are also the following:

Emotional strains, stresses and nervous disorders

Aging,

Infections,

Hormonal imbalance,

Polluted environment,

Toxic substances,

Injury and impairment,

Radiation.

        It is normal to lose between 50-100 hairs a day, this is part of the hair renewal process. However most people suffer from excessive hair loss at one time in their life. There are many reasons for this including medication, radiation, chemotherapy, and exposure to chemicals, hormonal and nutritional factors, thyroid disease,generalized or local skin disease, and stress. Many of these causes are temporary and a few are permanent. These are some of the more common reason for hair loss.

 Alopecia Areata This type of hair loss is believed to be caused by the immune system reacting to hair follicles as if they were antibodies and shutting them down. The hair loss is usually limited to a coin sized area and all the hair in the area is lost leaving a totally smooth round patch. In a more severe rarer condition called Alopecia Totalis, all hair on the entire body is lost, including the eyelashes. Treatments include topical medications, a special kind of light treatment, or in some cases drugs.

Stress  Stress can cause hair loss is some people. Usually it occurs 3 months after the stressful event has occured and it may take 3 months after the stress period has ended for the hair growth to resume. In most cases it is temporary if the person is not predisposed to genetic or Androgenic Alopecia, if they are stress may trigger the onset of genetic hair loss.

What is Hair loss?

What is Hair loss?

Hair loss

Hair loss is the thinning of hair on the scalp. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia can be temporary or permanent. The most common form of hair loss occurs gradually and is referred to as "androgenetic alopecia," meaning that a combination of hormones (androgens are male hormones) and heredity (genetics) is needed to develop the condition. Other types of hair loss include alopecia areata (patches of baldness that usually grow back), telogen effluvium (rapid shedding after childbirth, fever, or sudden weight loss); and traction alopecia (thinning from tight braids or ponytails).

Alopecia affects both men and women in which 20% of women would be affected and about 60% of men. At present, few treatments are effective and recalls that the indication transplant requires still have hair alive. It is therefore important to have a comprehensive care of the fall of the earliest possible hair. One of the best techniques for treating hair loss and stimulate regrowth is the combination of mesotherapy sessions and sessions of LED (light emitting diode).

Causes: Alopecia is the decrease in the density of hair. It may be diffuse or localized acute or chronic. There are different causes: androgenic alopecia, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, vitamin deficiencies, overly restrictive diets, stress, overwork, physiological falls in autumn or post-delivery. The alopecia is classified according to two classifications of incipient baldness: Hamilton humans and Ludwig women.