Hair, like water, food, or air... is something we rarely think about.  Until it starts to go away.  Then PANIC sets in and we have to fix the problem RIGHT NOW!  But what to do?  Sure, there are all kinds of choices advertised on the internet and each sounds great.  At first blush.  Once we get sucked in and spend our money, our time, our hair, we may find out that the reality is not always consistent with the promise.  So how to avoid the pitfalls and make the right choices?  In this series we'll explore some of the various things that are offered in this category, and in particular we'll focus on the caveats.  When we can understand the downside of each treatment choice we can make a more informed decision so at the end of the day, we are more likely to be satisfied with the decision(s) we've made.   

What Are The Causes Of Hair Loss?

The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary baldness, or androgenetic alopecia (AGA) also known as male pattern baldness.  Strikingly, as we age pattern hair loss may ultimately affect almost as many women as men. Other less-common causes of hair loss include disorders which may be linked to underlying diseases, medications, medical treatments, normal hormonal changes, stress, and poor nutrition.

Until recently, scientifically-validated hair loss treatments consisted entirely of compositions formulated to block a key precursor enzyme (5 alpha-reductase).  This enzyme precipitates the conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  DHT has been compellingly and repeatedly demonstrated to represent an important negative factor in the onset and progression of pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA).