Minerals for Hair Health - Not Many People Realise These Little Known Facts

While most people are now aware how important vitamins are for general health, many people are less aware of the importance of minerals. This is particularly so when considering the minerals that are needed for the healthy growth and condition of your hair.

If you are concerned with premature hair loss, thinning or falling hair, you should find food for thought in this short article.

Below is a list of the minerals recommended as important to maintain a healthy head of hair, and reduce the risk of hair loss and thinning hair. I compiled it while I was training to qualify as a nutritionist, and since then have added to it from further research on the Internet.

• Selenium
• Silica
• Iodine
• Iron
• Copper
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Chromium
• Sulphur
• Potassium
• Manganese

Some of these minerals work together with other minerals (synergistic relationships), and some pairs are antagonistic; so maintaining the correct relative balance is important,.

Yes - vitamins are important for hair health (such as vitamins A, C, E, B3, B5, B6, B12 and biotin), but a fact that isn't well-known is that vitamins need minerals to function and be absorbed correctly. So you could be taking all the vitamin supplements in the world, but without minerals you will not be getting the full benefit from them.

Dr Linus Pauling is on record as having said "The root of all disease is directly related to a lack of minerals". Surprisingly, your body can continue to function for a longer period without vitamins than it can without minerals.

Of course most vitamin supplements these days include a selection of minerals - but did you know that the human body requires at least 60 minerals to stay healthy? If you check a typical multi-vitamin / mineral packaging I'll be surprised if you find all 60 in the ingredient list.

Because minerals are present in food, people tend to make the same (false) assumption as for vitamins. Namely that you can get all the minerals you need from a healthy diet.

But as it is for vitamins this is incorrect, because the same over-farming that has depleted the soil of vitamins has stripped it of minerals too. Reports from WHO, the UK Ministry of Agriculture and the Royal Society of Chemistry confirm the decline of nutritional value of the soil's mineral content since the 1940s.

Many foods that we buy today contain less than 20 minerals, which is why my college training recommended paying attention to mineral supplementation and balance to maintain your health, in addition to watching your diet and lifestyle.

The stark conclusion to draw from this article is that if your body is low on essential minerals needed for the chemical, electrical and hormonal impulses triggered thousands of times a day, it is reasonable to assume that your body will prioritize these life-maintaining functions over the health of your hair.

Only when the vital bodily functions can be maintained will there be spare minerals to use for the health of your hair.

Joy Healey is a qualified complementary therapist, specializing in nutrition, with particular emphasis on the importance of minerals for your health.

The Different Hair Loss Treatments

Hair loss is a common occurrence in many people's lives; it is something some men have to deal with from a very young age as genetic play such a big role. Women are not completely exempt from bad hair loss though, through stress, having children and bad living environments hair loss can become quite an issue. Every person will experience it in different ways, and therefore treatments will also differ. Some people may need a more extensive treatment while others may need something quick and effective. The most important thing to realize is that there is a treatment for every case; no one has to go through life feeling self conscious when there is a solution. You also need to decide what type of result you are looking for.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Hair pieces, bald spots and hats can be removed for every with this life changing treatment. This treatment may sound scary but in actual fact it is quite simple and is a relatively small procedure. In one or two session your hair can be restored, this greatly depends on your current balding situation. The best thing you can do is get a hair transplant before you reach an advance hair loss stage. How these treatments works is the surgeon will make tiny slits between the hairs and make micro grafts; thus not damaging any current natural hair and promote hair growth in the balding areas. After three to four months after the surgery you will see that your hair will start to grow back naturally and never stop for the rest of your life. This surgery is relatively expensive but the results are fast and effective.

Hair Regrowth

This option is best for patients with small hair losing problems. This treatment provides permanent results and has gained big acceptance around the world with many celebrities choosing to go this route. Unfortunately, the only down side is that during the recovery period your hair will most likely fall out but it will then grow back thick and healthy. Overall it should take 12 months for you to see the full results of this treatment. This is a more affordable option and makes use of high technology and techniques to complete the treatment.

Oral Medication

In some cases, especially the women and men going through a stressful situation natural hair loss may occur. During this time it may be good to take oral medication. It will boost your immune system and promote healthy growth again.

All You Can Know About Possible Hair Reduction Treatments

With the transition of time and age your skin starts to change. Now you are no longer a teen and your skin is not as smooth as it used to be. There are various parts of your body that has grown hair and made you feel uncomfortable. We are now living in a world that is completely different from our ancestor's time. Now every girl or woman next door wants to look as beautiful as she can. Want to make her presentable in every perspective.

From being presentable to be hygienic it has become necessary for women like us to remove unwanted hair. There are several methods and techniques that can help you in hair reduction. By using the technique of your choice you can oomph out any other girl in the town. These famous hair reduction techniques are:-

• Waxing- These hair removal creams can be availed at any other shop in the market today. Manufacturers have made comfortable packs so that you can use it easily. Roll it two ways just to get rid of the unwanted hair. On one hand where waxing proves to be a reliable solution, you have to look at the other side of it as well. If you have a sensitive skin then you need to be extra cautious with the waxing procedure as a little ignorance can make your skin red. Moreover you cannot use waxing under public areas.

• Laser removal- Laser hair reduction has become popular among the teens and the ladies as it removes the hair completely without any pain or irritation. With just a few sitting for the treatment at your physician will let you forget about removing hair again from that particular area. If you have a little higher budget then you must go for this option.

- Laser treatments have become so famous that now it is not limited to hair reduction only. With the help of laser treatment you can now undergo various treatments such as skin stretching, tightening of the jaw line, turkey neck, tattoo removal and wrinkle reduction. Several machines have been manufactured that has made the joy of looking young possible. With a constant exposure to sun and dust, it has been seen that even young skin starts losing its beauty and glow at a very early stage. But scientist and experts have done experiments which support the young look of women.

• Shaving- Shaving is yet another method of removing hair, but not as successful as laser hair reduction treatments. The reason that why shaving is limited to only hand full of people is the fact, that when it is done on a regular basis it could leave the skin dry and red. In some cases it has been seen that the new hair that grow up are hard and coarse than the earlier one.

- With all the facts and possible treatment in front of you for hair removal, wrinkle reduction and tattoo removal you can easily find out the best possible way out. In case if you are going for the laser treatment. Make sure that you get all the essential checkups done before you go for the actual treatment. Do consult a doctor to have a happy and safe treatment.

Hair Loss After Illness or Surgery

Although hair loss after illness or surgery is a common occurrence, many people are not aware of this problem until it happens to them. Rarely are they warned in advance of the possibility of losing large amounts of hair after dealing with illness or surgery. Because the increased shedding begins two to three months later, the association may be overlooked.

The most common type of hair loss that occurs after illness or surgery is telogen effluvium. These conditions can create a shock to the system. The hair growth cycle, being very sensitive, thrives on balance and equilibrium. It does not like to be disturbed. Any change, imbalance or stressor that forces the body to have to adapt can cause telogen effluvium. When this happens the normal hair growth cycle that is delicately balanced between growing hairs, resting hairs and shedding hairs becomes disrupted.

In the normal hair growth cycle approximately 85% of hairs are in the growing stage. The other 15% are in the resting/shedding stage. With telogen effluvium a higher percentage of hairs start to retreat to the resting stage where they will be shed approximately three months later. The longer the condition lasts, the more the ratio changes.

When the illness is acute, meaning it comes on suddenly and is short-lived, the shedding will return to normal within several weeks to six months maximum. The thinning will hardly be noticeable to others. A long-lasting internal imbalance can cause prolonged shedding and severe thinness that is noticeable to others. The condition is then known as chronic telogen effluvium.

When surgery is involved, this creates another shock to the system. Whether surgery is due to a medical disorder or a broken bone, hair loss can occur.

Anesthesia, medications and additional medical procedures are also known to cause hair loss. Antibiotic use that is necessary for illness and surgery can cause other undesirable conditions that can cause hair loss if one does not restore beneficial intestinal flora that was destroyed through antibiotic use. All of these components can contribute to the occurrence of telogen effluvium.

The more complicated the condition and procedures are, the more likely one may develop telogen effluvium. Some people are more prone to this condition than others. Once a person develops telogen effluvium they are more likely to experience it again when another opportunity presents itself.

If a person is otherwise active, healthy, fit, youthful, well nourished, and emotionally well, the hair growth cycle will have an easier time restoring itself. If other physical or emotional ailments exist when telogen effluvium begins, the condition may persist longer and become more severe. Our built-in healing system is based on priorities. It will not bother trying to grow hair when it has to re-establish balance in other areas.

The best defense against illness or surgery related telogen effluvium is to take the time to fully heal and recover. The body will need extra nourishment during this time, especially if medications are being used, as certain medications are known to deplete a variety of nutrients that are ndcessary for healthy hair growth.

We live in a society that does not often honor taking the time for proper healing after illness and surgery. Being good to oneself and getting lots of rest, pampering and nourishment should not be considered a luxury. Not only is it necessary, it will also decrease the chances of long-lasting telogen effluvium and other possible complications.

Female hair loss can be improved or reversed in almost all cases. UNDERSTANDING FEMALE HAIR LOSS explains the types, causes and natural treatments for female hair loss. Includes step-by-step information to create your own natural hair loss remedies using essential oils and other natural ingredients.