Female Hair Loss Causes
By Sarah Rowe | August 2, 2008
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There are many different reasons as to why women would suffer from hair loss, although probably not to the same extent that men do. Yet because a woman’s hair is very important to her concerning her looks, she can often quickly become desperate if she starts to see more hair in the sink than she would consider normal after washing it. Below we will look at one reason for what is a cause of female hair loss.
However, although we are learning more about female hair loss, many people still believe that it is something that is only a problem men have to face. You will find in the United States alone, there are around 30 million women who will suffer from some form of hair loss at some stage in their lives.
For quite a few women the reason that they start losing hair is because of their genetics. All women have hormones in their bodies called androgens, but for a few, these can actually interfere with the way that their hair grows normally. The main hormone in this group, which causes such a problem, is testosterone.
For some unknown reason because of a woman’s genetic makeup, there are times when the testosterone hormone in her body comes into contact with an enzyme that makes it convert easily into DHT. When it does this the DHT is able to bind to the receptors deep inside the hair follicles which prevents messages from being able to gain entry and so prevent them from growing as normal.
Generally, this build up of DHT on the hair follicles takes some time so a woman will only see a gradual increase in their hair loss. The build up also causes the hair follicles to shrink and so the pattern for natural hair growth in a person begins to alter. Often as this happens, a woman is likely to notice that they are beginning to suffer from female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia if you wish to use its medical name.
Yet even though this form of baldness in women is similar to the version that men get there are some slight differences between them. In most cases for women, it will be very difficult to see because it is diffused and often is a thinning of the hair rather than them losing hair and becoming bald. As for men they will start to see the line of hair begin to thin and then recede altogether. The most common place it occurs on women is on the top of their scalps, as for men it happens at the crown, on the temple, or at the back of the head.
In addition, the other difference with this particular kind of hair loss in women compared to men is that in men not only is it related to their genetic makeup but also to their age. With women, however this particular form of hair loss can be suffered at any stage of their lives and may well be caused by some other underlying medical condition.
As well as the above, there are other reasons as to why a woman may suffer from hair loss. Certainly, when it comes to deciding what the cause of female hair loss is in a particular woman it may come down to a number of different factors. With Some women, the cause can be from a traumatic event in their lives, whilst for others it could be down to some kind of medical condition or treatment.
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Know Your Sources of Vitamin D
By Alison Addy | August 2, 2008
Versatility of Vitamin D
If you’ve ever gone to nutritional store and browsed through the vitamin section of your grocery store, you’ve seen hundreds of different vitamin supplements. Vitamin D is probably one of the most popular vitamin supplements on the market today. One reason is that Vitamin D provides us with many important and valuable benefits for a healthy life. Another reason is that most people prefer to take a Vitamin D supplement rather than the natural form of the vitamin. This is because with the exception of milk, some of the food sources for Vitamin D may be difficult to cook.
Food Source of Vitamin D
There are many different food sources of Vitamin D. Most of the food sources for Vitamin D are found in fish live oils or fish such as catfish, mackerel, salmon, tuna, sardines and eel. Although fish is a popular food for many people, some of these sources are not foods that we keep in our kitchen on a regular basis. In addition, some of these fish are quite expensive when served in a restaurant. Some other foods that we consume on a daily basis are yogurt, margarine, milk, bread, pastries and oil spreads are enriched with Vitamin D. While they aren’t as high in Vitamin D as the fish are, many individuals consume them regularly and still choose to take a Vitamin D supplement.
Cod Liver Oil As An Important Vitamin D Supplement
Cod liver oil has been sold in supermarkets for years and is actually popular considering how nasty it can taste to many people. For those that are looking for a natural supplement of Vitamin D, cod liver oil is an excellent choice. One tablespoon of cod liver oil provides you with 1,360 IU of Vitamin D. Lucky for many, there is a gel form of a pill for cod liver oil that is much easier to swallow than a tablespoon of the liquid. If you feel that you may be Vitamin D deficient, this pill may be the easiest and best choice for you.
The Purpose of Vitamin D
As with all vitamins, they all have their own purpose for our body. The purpose of Vitamin D is to promote that necessary ingredient, calcium, in our body. Calcium is a necessity because it is what gives up strong bones. Although many people feel that Vitamin D and calcium is needed when we are young and growing, the truth is that we need it all of our lives, especially as we get older. Elderly and postmenopausal women need supplements of
Vitamin D if they are not getting enough in their daily diets. At this stage in their lives, their bodies do not produce enough calcium on their own, which can lead to osteoporosis, a crippling disease caused by weakened bone mass. It is vital that this group of individuals get the correct amount of Vitamin D.
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Knowing Why Stretch Marks Itch And Burn
By Maia Pells | August 1, 2008
Human skin is fairly elastic. This is usually evident when people reach the puberty stage or when women are pregnant. But at these times, skin health is quite crucial and our skin must be able to withstand tearing as it stretches.
Three layers make up the human skin: the epidermis, dermis, and then the subcutaneous stratum. Now, elasticity is very important in the dermis as it is this layer that stretches the most and yet is not as strong as the epidermis. When the dermis tears, this is the beginning of the formation of stretch marks. And when they do occur, stretch marks itch and burn; sensations that are very irritating and not good for our skin.
Signs
When your skin itches and burns, it can only mean two things: The areas that do itch or burn could lack a lot of moisture and the skin in those areas is most likely very dry. You might also notice that the areas of your skin that are extremely dry will sometimes show stretch marks. Now, it isn’t the stretch marks that cause the itching and burning. It is because the dermis has not been hydrated enough that itching and burning might occur.
More than that, the stretch marks indicate that the area of skin around the itching and burning is not moist enough. This is true because if your skin was hydrated enough then the dermis would not have torn and therefore no stretch marks may have appeared to begin with. This is the only connection that can be made when trying to find out why stretch marks itch and burn.
How To Ease The Itching & Burning
Lotions and Creams - People who do suffer from the itching and burning caused by skin that is not moisturized well, there are many cosmetic lotions and creams that can help the dryness. These lotions are not very effective in the long term because they are only temporary and you might find yourself using too much lotion or cream without results.
Hydration - The best thing to do is to get rid of the problem at its root. The root of all dry skin is unhealthy skin. You can address this issue by first making sure that you drink a lot of water (at least 8 glasses a day to be exact) and also by using products that are known to address these skin issues properly.
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Fennel Seed Suppresses and Promotes
By Susannah Singer | July 31, 2008
Though native to Europe, especially the Mediterranean region, fennel is today cultivated in many other parts of the world, including North America, Asia, and China. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a perennial plant. The leaves, bulb, and stalk of fennel resemble white celery and are all edible. The seeds are used in herbal medicines and as a spice in cooking. Fennel is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine and has a sweet licorice taste.
Fennel has been used throughout European history. It may be found growing wild in many parts of the world in dry soils near the sea-coast and upon river-banks, particularly on limestone soils. For medicinal use, it is cultivated in the south of France, Saxony, Galicia, and Russia, as well as in India and Persia. The odor of Fennel seed is fragrant, its taste warm, sweet and aromatic.
Fennel is a beautiful plant. It has a thick bright green root-stock, stout stems, and grows to be about four to five feet tall. The branched leaves produce bright golden flowers that blossom into thirteen to twenty rays in July and early August.
The stems are used in soups or salads. Some even claim that eating the peeled stalks relaxes the body for sleep.
The presence of terpenoid anethole in fennel has made it famous for treating digestive ailments since the time of the ancient Egyptians. It has the ability to calm the gastrointestinal tract and relieve cramps. Often fennel is mixed with wormwood, peppermint, and caraway to treat heartburn, indigestion, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Fennel has aided many woman with health issues. It will relax the uterus and promote natural breast enhancement. Fennel is also used to treat hormonal imbalance which causes PMS, menopause, and low libido, and to stimulate menstruation and milk production in nursing mothers.
Some have used fennel as a decongestant to loosen phlegm in the bronchial passages. Fennel tea is also effective in some to reduce a persistent cough. To make this tea, crush 1 to 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds into a cup of hot water.
Some believe that fennel has some diuretic effect, and may help reduce a problem with water retention. Fennel for some reduces the appetite and is therefore effective in weight loss.
Fennel can be purchased as an oil, seed, capsule, tincture, or liquid seed extract. You can also grow it yourself but keep it away from tomatoes or caraway as this will hinder their production. Use 2 to 12 drops of the oil, or 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of the seeds, or .5 teaspoons of the liquid daily.
Note these cautions. Pregnant or nursing mothers should not take fennel. Neither give it to small children, or take it for extended time yourself. A few cases of asthmatic and allergic reactions have been reported as well.
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Causes Of Female Hair Loss
By Sarah Rowe | July 31, 2008
There are many different reasons as to why women would suffer from hair loss, although probably not to the same extent that men do. Yet because a woman’s hair is very important to her concerning her looks, she can often quickly become desperate if she starts to see more hair in the sink than she would consider normal after washing it. Below we will look at one reason for what is a cause of female hair loss.
Although it has always been considered to be predominantly a male problem, today you will find that some women are just as likely to suffer from serious hair loss as well. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is a problem that now affects around 30 million women in the United States alone.
For some women the reason that they start to lose hair is because of their genetic makeup. This kind of hair loss comes down to the way that the hormones known as androgens in their body interfere with the natural processes. The hormones, which make up this particular group, are androstenedione, testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone or DHT. All of which both men and women produce, but a woman’s amounts are much smaller than those produced by a man’s are.
Although all women have this hormone in their bodies, when it is able to connect with a particular enzyme it can then convert easily into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This then binds itself to the woman’s hair follicle receptors and starts to interfere with the growth of hair on her body.
Generally, this build up of DHT on the hair follicles takes some time so a woman will only see a gradual increase in their hair loss. The build up also causes the hair follicles to shrink and so the pattern for natural hair growth in a person begins to alter. Often as this happens, a woman is likely to notice that they are beginning to suffer from female pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia if you wish to use its medical name.
Yet even though this form of baldness in women is similar to the version that men get there are some slight differences between them. In most cases for women, it will be very difficult to see because it is diffused and often is a thinning of the hair rather than them losing hair and becoming bald. As for men they will start to see the line of hair begin to thin and then recede altogether. The most common place it occurs on women is on the top of their scalps, as for men it happens at the crown, on the temple, or at the back of the head.
As well as this difference in the two types of baldness, the other is that it only occurs in men as they grow older. Whilst for women they can start to suffer from female pattern baldness at any stage in their lives. For some women who get it when they are young it is because they may well be suffering from some other medical condition.
Along with the reason above, as to what can be the cause of female hair loss in women, there are other factors that may be the cause of this problem. Some women may, as previously mentioned, may have an underlying medical condition. Whilst for others the reason that they have begun to lose their hair is that they have suffered some kind of traumatic event in their lives.
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