Hair loss affects nearly 40% of all men and women in their respective lifetimes.

Hair loss can range from mild thinning to complete baldness. When the loss of hair is constant, it can negate personal coping strategies for self-acceptance. Despite what many experts say, in our appearance-laden culture, your personal value or self-worth is (sadly) often defined by your outer appearance.

In fact, it's been reported that:

• 93% of men and women think about hair loss
• 88% of these persons feel frustrated and helpless about their condition

However, this does not mean that individuals should let intimidation and helplessness keep them from taking steps to prevent future hair loss.

Instead, hair loss sufferers should address the cause through the approaches of modern medicine and nutritional supplementation.

The top influences for hair loss are genetic in nature.

For instance, male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is thought to result from such genetic predisposition. Scientists are still trying to discover the exact mechanisms, or genetic blueprints, that influence hair loss as a whole; but most agree that hair loss is polygenic or is caused by several genes rather than one specific genome.

In addition, the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase is thought to be another causative agent concerning hereditary hair loss. The inhibition of specific growth factors (e.g. TGF-beta2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent androgen, has also been effective in numerous clinical studies aimed at treating hair loss.

However, genetic susceptibility, such as hair follicle sensitivity, hormones, and androgens, are still thought to be the main factors influencing permanent hair loss in both sexes.

The most common form of hair loss is Androgenic Alopecia or male pattern baldness. Other types of hair loss include:

• Traumatic Alopecia - results from hair being torn out of the scalp;
• Drug-induced Alopecia - hair loss caused by the administration of a given medication;
• Alopecia Areata - or patchy hair loss, is thought to occur from an immunological condition and is usually reversible.

It has been clearly established that both parents contribute to a child's risk of developing hair loss.

Asian men are less likely than Caucasians to develop baldness. On average, Asian men develop balding patterns nearly a decade later than whites.

African-Americans are approximately 4 times less likely to suffer from abnormal hair loss than persons of other descent.

Conventional Treatments:

A doctor will usually diagnose your hair loss on the basis of physical examination and your medical history.

This entails evaluating what medications you are currently taking, dietary and nutritional status, and hairdressing/grooming habits. Blood tests and a biopsy of hair is used by specialists to determine the integrity of a given hair follicle.

This evaluation is used to establish the underlying cause of the hair thinning/balding, and to decide what treatment options will prove most effective. In addition, hair samples can also detect conditions within the scalp.

Advecia:

Both diet and nutritional supplementation can provide a positive influence on hair growth and hair health, as deficiencies of specific nutrients can actually promote a loss of hair.

There is no doubt that an adequate supplement program is advantageous for hair health. However, Advecia's synergistic blend takes nutritional application one step further, by including specific nutrients that are not easily obtained from dietary sources alone.

Here are just a few of the ingredients in Advecia that help slow hair loss: 

Saw Palmetto Berries

Functions as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, making it useful in male pattern hair loss.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60% of men treated with a lipo stearolic extract of Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol were rated as improved on the final visit.

Green Tea Extract

Extracts of green tea contain polyphenols which influence hair loss.

A specific component EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is a potent inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase.

In animal studies of spontaneous hair loss, green tea extract has demonstrated the ability to produce significant hair regrowth when compared to control.

Grape Seed Extract

Components found in grape seed extract may be useful in treating hair loss.

Toxicology studies in animals show that grape seed extract is a safe product, not affecting blood cells or producing adverse effects (6).