Hair loss affects both men and women and can occur for a variety of reasons. We lose an average of 50 to 100 strands of hair every day. However, multiple factors may trigger hair loss at an accelerated rate. The most common form of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia. For men, its most common characteristic is the shape that occurs over some time in which the hair thins or recedes in the pattern of the letter “M.”

According to the National Institute of Health, women do not necessarily experience the same male-pattern baldness symptoms but rather, hair merely thins but does not recede.  

How do you begin to manage hair loss or thinning hair? As with anything, you have to get to the root of the cause. In many instances, hair loss has everything to do with DHT or dihydrotestosterone, a by-product of the male hormone testosterone.

Aging and Hair Loss

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a male sex hormone that contributes to hair loss in both men and women. DHT is potent despite the small amount of it that is circulating in our bodies. It binds to tiny receptors in our follicle, causing them to shrink. This process is harmful to the structure of our hair shaft and causes it to become thinner and weaker with each hair growth cycle.

With age, testosterone levels tend to decrease in men. Meanwhile, DHT increases. The repetitive nature of this process of events eventually leads to thinning hair and baldness. What can you do to stop this process? Believe it or not, the answer to this question may lay in the combination of hair products you are using as a part of your daily hair care regimen.   

Hair Restoration Laboratories Hair Restore Shampoo has a fantastic formula which includes saw palmetto and other ingredients known for successfully blocking DHT which is essential for hair restoration. Your conditioner should also be just as effective and have the same powerful formula to support your hair goals. Hair Restoration Laboratories Hair Restore Conditioner compliments the shampoo product and can move you closer to achieving stronger hair.

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw palmetto is an herbal, alternative remedy that is proving to be useful in the fight against thinning hair and balding. Saw palmetto is a palm tree that thrives in warm climates along the southeast coast of the United States.

Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss: How Does It Work?

Extracts of the fruit from saw palmetto is potent enough to help stabilize hormone levels throughout our bodies –including those potent testosterone levels. This action helps to slow down the hair loss process.  Many people deem this herbal remedy as a tiny miracle with significant results for those who dare to try it.

Saw palmetto blocks DHT production. By blocking the enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) which aids in the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and stabilizing DHT production, you can prevent hair loss.

Saw palmetto also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which is useful for scalp care. Healthy hair growth begins at the scalp level. If your scalp is suffering from irritation or inflammation, it can disrupt your efforts to achieve healthy hair growth.

According to a Colorado study in which 28 women and 34 men between the ages of 18 and 48 applied saw palmetto extract topically via shampoo and lotions for three months. Thirty-five percent of the study’s participants experienced an increase in their hair thickness.

Saw Palmetto Side Effects

Saw palmetto is not without its risk of side effects. As seen with any herbal remedy, saw palmetto can trigger a few unwanted symptoms if ingested for an extended period (i.e., three years) including stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. There are reports of liver, cardiac and pancreatic problems as well. It can even impact other sex hormone levels such as estrogen.

In summary, hair loss or balding can be devastating for some people no matter how much someone tells you it’s a part of life. If your hair loss is the result of androgenetic alopecia, you should consider seizing the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits that products containing saw palmetto can offer to you. Saw palmetto is an excellent, potent, herbal remedy that has the power to block or stabilize DHT. By preventing DHT conversion, you will ideally experience an impressive change in the overall structure and thickness of your hair which will help to reduce hair loss or hair thinning episodes.