There are numerous factors that contribute to the hair loss process including heredity, hormones, disease such as diabetes, diet, lack of nutrition, stress, and poor hair care. Illness, stress, and diet are looked upon as temporary conditions and usually the hair loss is reversed when the anxiety producing condition dissipates, when diet is improved, when hair care is modified or when illness or disease is cured of managed. So when looking for answers as to how one might treat baldness these are certainly factors that should be taken into account but are likely not be the root cause.

The root cause is likely a combination of heredity and hormones. This combination is responsible for over eight out of every ten cases of male balding and one in four instances of female balding. The worst part is that hereditary hormone driven hair loss is progressive and will not reverse itself over time.

For those who have a predisposed tendency to balding there is a follicle damaging conversion process taking place in the hair cell, where testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is known as the hair loss hormone and for good reason. Over time the accumulation of DHT deep within the follicle damages and shrinks the follicle itself making it incapable of producing new hair growth. Some follicles will die (this is where balding occurs) others will produce unhealthy growth (often times thinning is noticed).

To treat baldness effectively either DHT conversion or DHT accumulation must be interrupted. At the same time an attempt must be made to reinvigorate dead or damaged follicles.

The two herbs most often mentioned to interrupt DHT conversion and/or accumulation are saw palmetto and nettle root extract. The only FDA approved oral prescription medication prescribed for male and female pattern baldness is finasteride (Propecia). The similarities between the mechanism of both the herbal solutions like saw palmetto and nettle and finasteride are unmistakable, with both blocking the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to DHT (5 alpha reductase type 2).

The only FDA approved topical solution for hair loss is minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil is very effective at protecting follicles yet undamaged by dihydrotestosterone but only considered moderately effective in producing new hair growth. While it has yet to be determined exactly how it works we do know that minoxidil enlarges follicles, prolongs the growth phase of each hair, and stimulates resting hairs to grow.

In summary, one could easily conclude that by using herb oral remedies to inhibit or block DHT accumulation combined with topical minoxidil a person would be giving themselves a very good chance to treat baldness effectively.

What To Do Next? There are currently a handful of hair re-growth products  (specially formulated for both men and women) which have been proven effective both in blocking harmful hormones and bringing the all important dead hair follicles back to life. These specially formulated treatments can be used both as a preventative tool, starting before hair loss becomes severe, or after loss of hair has become noticeable. Whatever the level of balding or thinning you are experiencing these products could be just what is needed to overcome this latest life challenge and treat baldness effectively.

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