Hair loss treatment: Take this natural supplement to increase hair count and thickness

HAIR loss treatments are a market ripe for exploiting because people are often desperate to find a solution. While it is important to put on your sceptical cap, evidence has found certain products to be effective, including a natural dietary supplement. Hair loss is usually a harmless sign of ageing or a stressful episode that will subside. Either way, the effect it can have on your self-confidence should not be dismissed. In fact, the popularity of products purporting to treat hair loss is a sign of the lows it can cause. Unfortunately, scam artists are acutely aware of people's deep-seated insecurities. It would be wise to bear this in mind when browsing the internet for products. There is a surfeit of sham products out there but you shouldn't rule them out altogether. Some natural remedies are backed by evidence and one example of this is probiotic supplements. READ MORE: Hair loss treatment: The herbal supplement shown to increase hair growth In fact, a recent study concluded that probiotics could reverse hair loss. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that provide myriad health benefits, especially for your digestive system. According to Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, a group of male patients with stage two to five patterns of hair loss, and females with stages one to three patterns of hair loss, were given 80ml twice a day of a probiotic kimchi and cheonggukjang probiotic product. The stages of hair loss are the generally recognised phases in which hair loss becomes weaker and thinner with each cycle. DON'T MISS Hair loss treatment - best oil for promoting hair growth and preventing alopecia at home [TIPS] How to live longer: The hot beverage proven to boost life expectancy [TIPS] Hair loss treatment - best remedy for hair growth and preventing alopecia at home [TIPS] As Dr Lee reported, one of the bacteria used to ferment, cheonggukjang, contains poly-γ-glutamic acid (UHMW γ-PGA, which has been shown to inhibit the activity of 5-α reductase in mice. 5-α reductase or 5AR is an enzyme which converts the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is an active form of testosterone that's considered to be responsible for scalp hair loss or male pattern hair loss so suppressing DHT can stop hair loss. "The results showed that hair count and hair thickness had significantly increased at one month, and at four months, with no adverse effects for example, no diarrhoea," said Dr Lee. The authors suggested that probiotics improve gastrointestinal health and have a positive effect on hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and atherosclerosis – all of which may affect hair growth, she noted. "They also improve metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Use or probiotics could result in improved blood flow to the hair follicles," added Dr Lee. If natural remedies do not yield results, you can pursue cosmetic options but some of them are not available on the NHS. Cosmetic procedures include: It is also important to note that losing hair can be upsetting so emotional support may be worth considering. "If your hair loss is causing you distress, your GP may be able to help you get some counselling," advises the NHS. You may also benefit from joining a support group, or speaking to other people in the same situation on online forums, it notes.