Too much has already been written about pills and potions that promise to halt hair loss. Most of the claims in such articles and ads are unsubstantiated. On the other hand, not enough has been said about products on the market that contribute to hair loss, supplements and pills that many people take, unaware of their side effects.



Let's look at a few of the key offenders:

* Growth hormone supplements

Growth hormone supplements increase the testosterone level, which increases DHT (a hormone that destroys hair follicles when present in the system in large amounts). DHT can cause hair loss and baldness.

* Creatine

Creatine is tauted for increasing muscle mass, but it also increases testosterone. In the presence of high testosterone levels, too much DHT is produced in the body, resulting in unwanted hair loss.

* Certain protein shakes

Certain protein shakes that are not organic have growth hormone in them, which causes high DHT levels. Too much DHT destroys the hair follicles needed for a full head of hair. For a protein shake to not affect hair loss, it should say "growth hormone free" on the primary label. "Branch amino acids" should NOT appear on the ingredients label.

* Fat burners or diet pills

Fat burners or diet pills are another big offender contributing to baldness in unsuspecting buyers. Anything that changes the metabolism very quickly causes a fluctuation in hormones which starves off healthy cells and leads to hair loss.

It is an unfortunate irony that many "nutritional" products people take to improve their appearance have the side effect of causing them to go bald. They then lose their looks in a new way, adding to their appearance problems.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," goes the old saying. Take care of the hair you were born with. It isn't something you want to take for granted.

If you are already suffering from major hair loss and are looking for the best remedy, beware of the pills and potions, gadgets and gimmicks. Many things touted on the market as hair replacement solutions are fraudulent, while others produce hair that's not much better than peach fuzz. Some remedies require a lifetime of medication-taking or three-times-a-week therapy.

The best and only permanent solution to hair loss is hair transplantation, a science which has made great strides in recent years in its ability to produce a natural-looking hairline and good coverage. One or two sessions, for the majority of people, are usually all that's necessary with a qualified specialist.

In this procedure, a small strip of hair follicles is extracted from the back of the head where hair is genetically programmed to keep growing. These follicles are planted one-by-one or by twos or in threes into tiny incisions in the scalp where new hair is desired. Natural, quality hair results from this, and typically the hair will keep growing the rest of one's life.

The key to successful hair replacement surgery is finding an excellent surgeon. Not all hair doctors are created equal. It is good to see a transplant procedure in progress but it is most important to speak to many references. A qualified hair transplant surgeon has personally done thousands of cases. Beware of large groups which make that claim, when in fact they are speaking of the procedures performed by all their doctors collectively, not each one individually. A physician who has only been in practice a few years will not truthfully be able to claim extensive experience. If a doctor won't let you view a procedure or speak with satisfied customers -- whatever the excuses you are given -- keep looking. Be prepared to travel when you find the doctor of choice, as specialists in state-of-the-art technology are still rare. But if you commit to giving yourself the best, the results you get will be much more than worth it.