Can A Blocked Hair Follicle Cause Hair Loss?
For most the balding process is a natural part of life and starts to become obvious somewhere between the ages of 45 and 60. While most people do realize that they will start losing hair at some point, later is always better than sooner. But for those who have some type of follicle problem, including a blocked hair follicle, sooner will be the unavoidable outcome. The best way to drive this point home is to review a little high school biology provided by the American Medical Association.
What is commonly called hair is actually only the hair shaft, which protrudes above the surface of the skin. The root of the hair lies below the skin surface, in the layer called the dermis, originating in a structure called the follicle. The root of the new hair stimulates the development of a hair bulb, which brings the protein keratin and dead hair cells to the growing hair. The keratin and dead hair cells continually push toward the surface of the skin, forming the hair shaft. End
So, as we reviewed this long lost biology lesson it becomes fairly obvious that a blocked hair follicle will not allow the hair shaft to make it to the surface.
Another important point is that most cases of balding are caused by a inherited androgen hormone condition known as androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness). Androgenetic alopecia causes progressive balding when the accumulation of dihydrotestosterone, deep within the follicle, causes follicles to shrink to a point where healthy hair growth is no longer possible. These damaged smaller follicles are much more likely to become blocked due to their ever decreasing size.
Without a doubt a blocked hair follicle or follicle damage are two major factors in both androgenetic alopecia as well as other types of balding.
The good news is that there are a few options that may be prove helpful in unclogging those blocked hair follicles.
Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a FDA approved treatment for hair loss that must be applied twice a day. One of the ways in which it is able to promote hair re-growth is by enlarging follicles, thus freeing up some room for already blocked follicles and making them harder to block in the future.
Aloe vera gel: A daily morning massage with aloe vera gel will help to balance scalp pH levels and cleanse clogged pores. While we can’t say for sure if will unclog your blocked hair follicle it certainly can’t hurt.
Saw palmetto or nettle root extract oral supplements: These two herbs have been shown to be effective at blocking the follicle shrinking hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Saw palmetto is not recommended for women. Nettle is considered to be safe for both men and women.
Herbal topical cocktails: A variety of herbs such as rosemary, sage, and burdock when boiled together and applied daily have been shown to stimulate blocked hair follicles. Also, naturopathic doctors claim that jojoba oil used as part of a daily massage routine in highly effective at stimulating new hair growth.
What 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 reducing harmful hormones and bringing the all important dead or blocked 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.
What is commonly called hair is actually only the hair shaft, which protrudes above the surface of the skin. The root of the hair lies below the skin surface, in the layer called the dermis, originating in a structure called the follicle. The root of the new hair stimulates the development of a hair bulb, which brings the protein keratin and dead hair cells to the growing hair. The keratin and dead hair cells continually push toward the surface of the skin, forming the hair shaft. End
So, as we reviewed this long lost biology lesson it becomes fairly obvious that a blocked hair follicle will not allow the hair shaft to make it to the surface.
Another important point is that most cases of balding are caused by a inherited androgen hormone condition known as androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness). Androgenetic alopecia causes progressive balding when the accumulation of dihydrotestosterone, deep within the follicle, causes follicles to shrink to a point where healthy hair growth is no longer possible. These damaged smaller follicles are much more likely to become blocked due to their ever decreasing size.
Without a doubt a blocked hair follicle or follicle damage are two major factors in both androgenetic alopecia as well as other types of balding.
The good news is that there are a few options that may be prove helpful in unclogging those blocked hair follicles.
Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a FDA approved treatment for hair loss that must be applied twice a day. One of the ways in which it is able to promote hair re-growth is by enlarging follicles, thus freeing up some room for already blocked follicles and making them harder to block in the future.
Aloe vera gel: A daily morning massage with aloe vera gel will help to balance scalp pH levels and cleanse clogged pores. While we can’t say for sure if will unclog your blocked hair follicle it certainly can’t hurt.
Saw palmetto or nettle root extract oral supplements: These two herbs have been shown to be effective at blocking the follicle shrinking hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Saw palmetto is not recommended for women. Nettle is considered to be safe for both men and women.
Herbal topical cocktails: A variety of herbs such as rosemary, sage, and burdock when boiled together and applied daily have been shown to stimulate blocked hair follicles. Also, naturopathic doctors claim that jojoba oil used as part of a daily massage routine in highly effective at stimulating new hair growth.
What 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 reducing harmful hormones and bringing the all important dead or blocked 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.
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